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Are you going to pitch a tent (perverts) for the Motorola Droid, camping out overnight to ensure you’re one of the first lucky owners? You might not have to – while Verizon Wireless isn’t anticipated to be taking Pre-Orders it appears as if BestBuy will right now. In fact, they’ve published a press release about it claiming you’ll get an INSTANT rebate instead of having to deal with a mail, rebate process.
While they try to make it SOUND like you’ll get the phone now by calling it a “pre-sell” you aren’t going to get your hands on it before the November 6th launch date. For this one, I think I’ll try to snag one online as soon as the site goes live online or visit my Verizon retailer store who I think will have more inventory than BB. But that’s just me.. how about you?
Here is the full press release:
Best Buy® Mobile Offers Pre-Sells of Motorola DROID in Stores Beginning October 29
Best Buy Mobile will apply rebate savings for the new smartphone at the point of purchase to help customers avoid the hassles of mail-in rebates.
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Best Buy Mobile, the mobile specialty retail unit of Best Buy Co., Inc., will pre-sell the highly anticipated Verizon Motorola DROID smartphone beginning October 29. The phone will land in stores November 6. The Motorola DROID is the first Verizon device running on Google’s innovative Android operating platform.
Customers who purchase the smartphone at Best Buy Mobile can avoid the hassle of mail-in rebates with instant savings applied at the point of purchase. The phone will retail for $199.99 with two-year activation.
“We’re excited to feature this new device for our consumers, as it represents the latest and greatest in mobile technology,” said Best Buy Mobile President Shawn Score. “Bringing the DROID to Best Buy Mobile expands our already unmatched assortment of smartphones allowing customers to compare high-end devices like the iPhone 3GS, HTC Hero and DROID all under one roof. The fact that customers can purchase the phone first at Best Buy through the pre-sell is an added bonus.”
Best Buy Mobile has become a leading destination for smartphone purchases, in part because of the promises the store offers its customers: better choice of phones and networks; impartial, informed advice; straightforward pricing; and someone to be there for the life of the phone.
The new Motorola DROID comes equipped with a 3.7” high-resolution screen, a 5 megapixel camera with AutoFocus, image stabilization and dual-LED flash, DVD-quality video, 3G internet capabilities and access to thousands of applications and hundreds of widgets available on Android Market™. DROID is the first device with Google Maps Navigation, providing turn-by-turn voice guidance as a free feature of Google Maps. It also comes preloaded with a voice-activated Google search function, integrated Gmail™, Exchange e-mail capabilities, and enhancements to Google services including Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Talk™.
In addition to the pre-sell and instant savings, Best Buy Mobile offers an array of services aimed at improving the mobile phone buying experience, including:
* Upgrade Checker: A quick and easy in-store service that gives customers the ability to see when they are eligible for their next phone upgrade. When the upgrade time is nearing, customers receive a complimentary reminder call or email.
* Walk Out Working™: Free in-store smartphone setup by a Best Buy Mobile Phone Specialist who will sync personal email accounts, set up Bluetooth® headsets, transfer contacts and activate other services to allow the customer to leave the store with a fully functional new smartphone.
I’m hoping stock levels are robust because robmust have his own permanent Droid.
My local Best Buy said they will only be getting three or four. It is a smaller store than most.
So who’s ever done a “Pre-sell” order with BB? Do I dare or wait my turn at the Verizon store/online on the 6th?
I went late this morning and the reps didn’t seem to know too much about it. After some looking they found the info and said yes the pre-orders start today, great! So I tried to do it and the systems weren’t ready yet to accept the order. They were asking for $50, which they then give you a $50 gift card that you can use toward the purchase of the phone, so I tried to do it and the systems weren’t ready yet to accept the order. However, they did put my name, number etc on their pre-order list. So come 11/6 we’ll see what happens…crossing fingers. The good news is that BB applies the mail in rebate righr at the time of purchase!
I did at lunch today. I was the first at my local BB. They told me that I would defiantly get the phone on the 6th. Needless to say I will be standing at the front door at 10:00am that Friday.
DroidDoes is still insisting there will be enough stock. I will see if Best Buy preorders run out really quick then I will decide if I’m going to camp.
rob. i’ve been pitching a tent for this phone ever since its first rumor. ;P
FYI – Pre-ordering the DROID is still on a first-come first-serve basis on November 6th… that is to say, you’ll need to beat out the other people who have a pre-order as well, if necessary.
At least that’s what they told me when I just wrapped up my pre-order at Best Buy. Long story short, you should still show up a little early… just in case. :)
I was the first person to pre-order at my bb…he said im guaranteed to get one on release day. Go early!
I’ve heard that Best Buy does not recognize “New Every Two” upgrade rebates–anyone know about this?
DO NOT FORGET.
BEST BUY WILL NOT HONOR YOUR “New every Two” DISCOUNT.
Get the phone for $199, or $99.
Your choice. Go to a Verizon Store.
Isn’t the new every two discount only $50 now?
Will best buy be able to port my number from AT&T?
@ will
What do you mean $99? I thought it was $299 at Verizon…and then $199 with the mail in rebate.
@Brian:
You are not correct about the pre-ordering proble, it is just the opposite…if you pre-order it is NOT on a first come-first serve basis. If it was the way you said it was it would completely defeat the purpose of pre-ordering. Think about it. What WILL happen is that even if you pre-order, you might not get the phone on Nov 6th if they only get in a certain number of preorders. For example, if you are the 10th person to pre-order from a particular store, but they only get 9 pre-orders in, you won’t get it on Nov. 6th.
my verizon store is not taking pre-orders, my local best buy is clueless and it’s looking more and more like i’m either not going to have this phone on the release date or i’m camping out that day.
BB does honor your “New Every Two”. They check to see if you are eligible for an upgrade, if you are, you get the “New 2-yr plan/Upgrade” price. So the phone that is $299 at a Verizon store will be $199 at BB because they automatically take off that $100 MIR.
My local Verizon store won’t take a pre-order, but they put my name on one for the Nov 6th launch. They’ve been good in the past, so I’ll hold my breath and show up early.
What’s the difference between getting the phone at Best Buy vs. getting it at the Verizon store? (Other than the fact that Best Buy is taking pre-orders and offering an instant rebate) I’ve never dealt with Best Buy. I’m on a family plan, but want to get a Droid (+ data plan for it), will buying the phone/data plan at Best Buy be the same as if I were to buy it at the Verizon store and add a data plan to our current family plan?
I plan on camping out either way, I live in a small town of about 30,000 and will be waiting out in front of either best buy or Verizon. I know it is going to cost me a lot, as I have 1 year left on my contract with them and the buy out or it is 200 so it will cost be 200 + 199 + another 100 for rebate, which I will get back. Not as bad as I was thinking. I talked to Verizon rep and she said that they will not be able to tell me the real retail price of the phone, but it was going to be over $550 so at least I am saving a little.
@Jeff
$99 dollars assumes you have a New every Two, which credits you for $100.
So at a verizon store with your New every Two:
$299 with 2 year agreement.
-$100 mail in rebate
-$100 New every Two credit
= $99
@Chubbs
You’re wrong. Call them. They are a third party, and therefor have NO access to the Verizon New every Two promotion. The $100 mail in rebate is NOT the New every Two promotion.
@Will
Sorry, I forgot about those who were grandfathered in for the extra $100 rebate on the primary line. AFAIK, VZW changed that this year and will only do $50 after ’09.
I went to Best Buy after work and asked the guy in mobile about it. He said he hadnt heard of any pre-order and I told him it just started today. He had just started his shift so he hadnt heard yet.
He looked it up on him system and said “well there you go”! He said that the system showed that no one else had pre-ordered so I would be the very first one to get it from that store.
So I got my $50 gift card/deposit and will be losing my mind for the next 7 1/2 days…
Thanks Will, I gotcha now, I wonder if I qualify for that…
I am on a family plan and we used verizon since 06 or 07. I plan to get the Droid and go on a plan by myself, my contract ends in about 2 months. I’ve been debating whether or not to get the upgrade or wait 2 months and get a new contract by myslef.
@ N54
Not sure but I suspect the only diffference is that Best Buy will charge an activation fee.
Talked to the local best buy sales people here in Portland, OR and they are not taking pre-sales. They have not confirmed they are getting the Droid on the 6th as of today either. Confused now.
Larry, same here in Vancouver, WA …. wtf is wrong with all of them, dont they keep up with the world?
i just talked to bb and they said that the big v will have it a day before them so i contacted vzw and they said no it will be on the 6th and they will be plenty stocked
doesnt the press release state the following…
* Upgrade Checker: A quick and easy in-store service that gives customers the ability to see when they are eligible for their next phone upgrade. When the upgrade time is nearing, customers receive a complimentary reminder call or email.
– this should mean they honor the new every 2
I was the first at my BB too. They said they honor the NE2, and will price match anything verizon does in the local store (not website). My BB doesn’t open til 11am (LAME), and verizon opens at 9am. I’ll stop buy verizon first and if they have any before I goto BB. If they do, then the $50 gift card from BB goes to “Assassins Creed II”!!
The girl there said she is pretty sure they will arrive on the 1st, and they will call me as soon as they get there… I wish.
i called BB this morning (Brooklyn, NY), the lady was clueless and she told me to call back in a couple of days. WTF???
I just got back from BB (Fresno) – I was able to pre-order, and the rep said they would call me as soon as the phones came in which she expected to be as soon as tomorrow!
You never know, she could have been misinformed, but as soon as I asked about the pre-order, she knew exactly what I was talking about.
Here’s hoping!
Alot of the west coast BBY Mobile didnt know the inventory tell it was updated after 3pm and news wasnt released to them tell around then as well. All stores are able to do unlimited pre-sales tell the 1st at midnight. And will be guaranteed that many orders. Alot of stores have already been sent phones but will not be able to release them tell the 6th.
I pre-ordered in Sunnyvale. I have a Friday 11:00 appointment to pick up my droid.
I just received a message back from Best Buy Mobile. It confirmed the following:
“The New every Two is something that is special to Verizon store’s.”
and:
“We are doing pre-orders for the Moto Droid, but we do not know for sure that they will release on Nov. 6th.”
So, it would be $199 at Best Buy without dealing with another rebate gift card or pay $249 at Verizon (after Ne2 discount) and get a $100 gift card for a net $149.
How do I check to see if I am “grandfathered in” on the $100 Ne2?
Anyone know if the Verizon Website will still be a rebate card offer?
I am going to e-mail them now.
@Jason,
did you read the press release? they state that they offer the new every 2 discount.
From press release:
Upgrade Checker: A quick and easy in-store service that gives customers the ability to see when they are eligible for their next phone upgrade. When the upgrade time is nearing, customers receive a complimentary reminder call or email.
Anyone know how much Droid would cost with only a 1 year subscription?
@AdamW
BB does not do the additional discount that you would get via Verizon every two years. BB will allow you to get discounted phones like Verizon, but not the additional $50 or $100 that the primary line gets.
@Jason
I believe if you’ve gotten the $100 previous and are still eligible for an upgrade, you’ll get it. After that, I believe I read that the NE2 is going to go down to $50 from here on in. It’s in the fine print of the Holiday Buyer’s guide for VZW.
Bought an Imagio, last week, and love the phone but hating the WinMo 1/2A, kludge impl of Sense. Even tho Moto won’t have Sense, at least Android has to be a step away and up from WinMo POS. I can return the HTC for $35 stocking charge, but how do I do that and get in line for Droid? Ideas?
I went to my local Best Buy last night to sign up after hearing about the pre orders. My concern was I was not getting the normal plan (I want data-only, I only use voice maybe 5 minutes a month so 25 cents/min is worth it). They assured me if they could even if they could not do it directly (no way to tell until the day) it would just be a call to Verizon to sort it out (and Verizon lists it on their site). I am going to go out on a limb that DC will get a lot of phones, but mine was the second name on the clipboard. I asked, and was told I was guaranteed to have my phone on the 6th (they set aside preorders) and that I could arrive any time that day and it would be held for me.
Oh, BTW, they did not fill out the appt day/times on the forms, even though the blanks were there.
If you’re currently with Verizon and you’re not eligible for a phone upgrade yet, you’ll have to pay full price. I hear it’s between $500-600.
I pre-ordered through Best Buy and they told me that their store will only get 5 and I am number 3 and 4 in line. BUT he said that he is not positive that they will get 5. He said it may be more or less. Hmm….
Just did my pre-order at BB in Fredericksburg, VA. No problem! Just filled out the flyer, paid $50 for a gift card to be applied to the final purchase, got a recipet and a copy of the flyer with my info. The clerk said they write the name of the pre-order people on the Droid box and set it aside. I can pick it up anytime I want after opening on the 6th. My first time getting a phone on release day. I am so cutting edge, lol.
We have an upgrade (NOT NE2) on our family plan, would we be able to get the Droid for $199 @ Bestbuy? Do you have to hand in your old phone?
Thanks…
TB, no you don’t turn your old phone in, they never take your phone in trade. You can drop your old phone in the recycle tube at the Verizon store. They give them to shelters for Battered Women here in Fredericksburg. It allows them to call 911 wherever they are. I have the family plan, and my phone is NOT the primary line, so I don’t qualify for NE2 either, but I too qualify for the upgrade price of $199. When the primary line is up in March, we will get the NE2 discount on it so my wife will get the Droid for $99.
Hey, I was just wondering if since I had altell, will I e able to sign a contract with verizon and get the Droid for 199? I think my two year contract is still active..
Yes I too have pre order the phone from best buy, but here the catch they dont know whether they will be able to fill the pre orders that they have, i am third on the list, and the woman told me if they only get 2 phones that i would have to wait, they pre order by selling you a gift card with your deposit and when i said well i want it refunded since i thought my chances will be better at my verizon store at 6 am they said they dont give refunds on gift cards, what a rip off. Best buy sucks, i will never do business with them again.
will i receive the instant rebate if i do not pre-order, but buy the droid from BB?
Yall I just found out that someone got the phone from walmart today for only $188. Are u kidding me?…I still want to know the price with a ONE YEAR contract…