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October 29, 2009 9:40 AM PDT

Best Buy taking Droid orders with instant rebate

by Bonnie Cha
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(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

On Wednesday, Verizon Wireless officially announced that its first Google Android device, the Motorola Droid, would hit streets on November 6 with a price tag of $199.99. Of course, to get that price, you need to sign up for a two-year contract and deal with a $100 mail-in rebate; however Best Buy Mobile is making things just a bit easier for customers.

According to the consumer electronics retailer on Thursday, it is now taking preorders for the Droid and will not require a mail-in rebate. An instant rebate will be applied at the point of purchase, so you'll pay $199.99 upfront (taxes excluded, obviously) and not $299.99 like you would at Verizon. Sounds like a pretty good deal to us. Who's in?

(Via Engadget Mobile)

Bonnie Cha is a senior editor for CNET, covering smartphones and GPS. When she's not testing the latest gadgets, you can find her chasing after her crazy lab or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California. E-mail Bonnie.
Topics:

Phones,

News

Tags:

Motorola Droid,

Verizon Wireless,

Best Buy,

Google Android,

smartphones,

cell phones

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (17 Comments)
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by dabones_2000 October 29, 2009 9:50 AM PDT
It is too bad they are charging $50 at the store to reserve the phone, so they are only honoring half of the rebate. Final price is $249.99. If they would honor my "new every 2" I would probably do it, but this is excessive.
Reply to this comment
by iroq321 October 29, 2009 10:08 AM PDT
uhhh...so don't reserve it. wait for it to be avalable and you won't have to worry about that extra $50.
by dabones_2000 October 29, 2009 11:58 AM PDT
Thanks for the tip. I was just trying to inform the readers that it's not as good a deal that this article makes it out to be. It's like free money for Best Buy on top of the revenue they actually earn for selling you the phone. It's the principality of the situation. Of course, people will pay the premium, but I don't see this fee being mentioned in any of the press releases about it. Advertise one price, get you in the store, then throw a fee at you.....classic bait and switch.
by Ray180 October 30, 2009 6:12 AM PDT
I'm pretty sure the $50 goes toward the purchase price of the phone. I've never heard of a store charging to reserve something then requiring full payment on delivery.
by mcbjor17 October 31, 2009 7:48 PM PDT
I just reserved a droid at a local best buy and they take your 50 dollars up front and then give you a 50 dollar gift card that you use toward your droid when you pick it up. So when you go pick the droid up you will pay 150 since you have already put down 50 for them to reserve a spot for you. Its not on top of the 200.
by becazican November 3, 2009 6:11 PM PST
Yes I too have pre order the phone from best buy, but here the catch they dont know whether they will be able to fill the pre orders that they have, i am third on the list, and the woman told me if they only get 2 phones that i would have to wait, they pre order by selling you a gift card with your deposit and when i said well i want it refunded since i thought my chances will be better at my verizon store at 6 am they said they dont give refunds on gift cards, what a rip off. Best buy sucks, i will never do business with them again.
by Certifiedfryguy October 29, 2009 9:58 AM PDT
Does best buy have a 30 day return policy like Verizon does? Thats the great thing about Verizon, you have 30 days to exchange the phone if it turns out to be a POS...
Reply to this comment
by CP873 October 29, 2009 1:01 PM PDT
I work in BBY mobile, i am fairly certain that the 50$ will be deducted from the final price of the phone. Much like reserving a video game. So it will be 50 now, then pay the rest (149.99) + taxes on Nov. 6th.
Reply to this comment
by rhansen79 October 29, 2009 2:11 PM PDT
Just called Best Buy so here's the scoop. You go in and pre order and pay 50. They give you a 50 dollar gift card. When you come in to pick up the phone you can use the 50 dollar gift card towards the purchase of the phone. I'm up for renewal and was told I would also receive my 50 credit for signing another two year agreement as well. Bottom line it's just as cheap to go to Best Buy and get it as it is to go to Verizon directly. I've decided to go to Best Buy because of their 9.99 a month warranty on the phone. Includes accidental breakage and no deductible. Hope this helps
Reply to this comment
by CP873 October 29, 2009 4:07 PM PDT
Different stores will deal with it differently, but as a company BB carries a no rebate policy which most people like. So this way its only 200 up front rather than 300 now from verizon (you get 100 back from verizon via mail in rebate after 6-8 weeks)
by Ray180 October 30, 2009 6:16 AM PDT
I thought Verizon gave a $100 credit for a renewal, once you're eligible for New Every 2. Are you saying it's only $50?
by sean82tf November 5, 2009 2:06 PM PST
In changed in February to $50. I called in to complain since I am renewing for the Droid and said that I could call in after buying the phone and they would credit me the additional $50.
by a4vdigital_dotmac October 29, 2009 8:35 PM PDT
Can we order on-line and pick up at a store ???
Reply to this comment
by CP873 October 29, 2009 10:01 PM PDT
You may be able to do an in-store pickup online when the phone is released but generally they ship all of the phones directly to the stores due to availability. I would personally go in to the store and personally pre-order it. if you cant go in, then i recommend you call and do reserve it over the phone depending on the store you call...hope that helps
by randyoaks187 November 1, 2009 10:46 PM PST
I never mind the mail in rebates. I am getting new phones for my wife and I, and they are just like $200 worth of free miles/
Reply to this comment
by bikerider08 November 5, 2009 5:03 AM PST
Just a heads up, i was at a best buy yesterday and the mobile rep was unpacking the "droid" I asked to see the box and it was the HTC eris not the motorola droid. When I asked about the Motorola droid he had no idea what I was talking about. Beware.
Reply to this comment
by JonFarber November 6, 2009 5:13 AM PST
Verizon just cut the price to $100 net with contract. Did Best Buy follow suit?
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