New iPhone (Looooong)

Bipolarcy

Well-Known Member
Oct 27, 2008
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I went to Best Buy today to try to buy a new iPhone. Does it seem ridiculous to anyone besides me that they wouldn't show me the new one, the iPhone 3G S? They had some $99 iPhone 3Gs on display and the dude tells me they are the same exact thing and I can look at them.

I say, "Oh, then that means you're selling the 3G S for $99? Cool, I'll take one."

"No, the 3G S sells for $299."

"But I thought you said they were the same exact thing. You see here's the problem I want to see the new 3G S, not the old 3G."

"Sir, I can't take them out of the box?"

"why not?"

"They won't let me."

"So you want me to buy a new $300 phone sight unseen? Does that make any sense to you?"

"The 3G is the same exact thing."

"But we just established that they aren't the same exact thing and I don't want to buy a 3G, I want to buy a 3G S."

Then he proceeds to tell me that the $299 phone is the 16 gig 3G S and the 32 gig 3G S is $399. The prices are supposed to be $199 and $299, which I tell him.

"There is no $199 3G S, sir," he tells me.

At which point, I just throw up my hands and let him have it.

"I don't think you know what you're talking about. The well-advertised prices on the new 3G Ss are $199 and $299."

"Sir, I have an 8 gig IPhone myself. I know what I'm talking about."

"Ah, see, there's your problem, you way overpaid for the old technology and are hopelessly far behind on the new. Maybe you can get someone over here who knows what he's doing?"

"Sir, there is nobody else. I'm just telling you how it is."

After he tells me I'd have to sign a contract with AT&T for cell phone service to get the cheapest 3G S at $299, or buy it without the contract for $799, I give him one parting shot and just walk out.

I have a friend who just got a new 16-gig iPhone 3G S for $199 on Wednesday and he never had to sign a contract with AT&T. He got the phone and is using his old cell phone service with it. No contract, I tell him on the way out the door.

Was I out of line or does this guy need to find a new job?
 

IcSyU

Well-Known Member
Nov 27, 2007
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Well, did you tell him you're a man? And that you're 40? If not, you were out of line. :yes:
 

sodakjoe

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2006
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1st: He is incorrect in stating his price, and should be more knowledgeable about the product.

2nd: The 3G and 3GS have the exact same body, and look the exact same. He is correct in stating that they are 'the same thing' because in terms of appearance, they are.

3rd: Many companies have a policy for not unboxing product, and it's not unreasonable for him to refuse to do so. If that is what he has been trained to do, he will tell you the same.

Overall, I think he needs more knowledge, but the way you've described the interaction, I'm sure he went to his co-workers after the exchange and said, "I just tried to help this guy and he was a total *******."
 
Last edited:

theodore

Member
Sep 24, 2008
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I went to Best Buy today to try to buy a new iPhone. Does it seem ridiculous to anyone besides me that they wouldn't show me the new one, the iPhone 3G S? They had some $99 iPhone 3Gs on display and the dude tells me they are the same exact thing and I can look at them.

I say, "Oh, then that means you're selling the 3G S for $99? Cool, I'll take one."

"No, the 3G S sells for $299."

"But I thought you said they were the same exact thing. You see here's the problem I want to see the new 3G S, not the old 3G."

"Sir, I can't take them out of the box?"

"why not?"

"They won't let me."

"So you want me to buy a new $300 phone sight unseen? Does that make any sense to you?"

"The 3G is the same exact thing."

"But we just established that they aren't the same exact thing and I don't want to buy a 3G, I want to buy a 3G S."

Then he proceeds to tell me that the $299 phone is the 16 gig 3G S and the 32 gig 3G S is $399. The prices are supposed to be $199 and $299, which I tell him.

"There is no $199 3G S, sir," he tells me.

At which point, I just throw up my hands and let him have it.

"I don't think you know what you're talking about. The well-advertised prices on the new 3G Ss are $199 and $299."

"Sir, I have an 8 gig IPhone myself. I know what I'm talking about."

"Ah, see, there's your problem, you way overpaid for the old technology and are hopelessly far behind on the new. Maybe you can get someone over here who knows what he's doing?"

"Sir, there is nobody else. I'm just telling you how it is."

After he tells me I'd have to sign a contract with AT&T for cell phone service to get the cheapest 3G S at $299, or buy it without the contract for $799, I give him one parting shot and just walk out.

I have a friend who just got a new 16-gig iPhone 3G S for $199 on Wednesday and he never had to sign a contract with AT&T. He got the phone and is using his old cell phone service with it. No contract, I tell him on the way out the door.

Was I out of line or does this guy need to find a new job?

maybe a little out of line...usually just best to walk away. just wondering why you would go to BestBuy to buy anything? They have the worst return policy and seldom the cheapest prices.
 

CycloneErik

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Jan 31, 2008
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You are what we would have called in my retail time the "Customer of the Day."

There's hardly ever a reason to go off on some sales guy, and your story makes you sound like you were just looking for somebody to go off on, be difficult with, and this poor dude just happened across your path.

For our money, we found the Best Buy folks very helpful for what we needed to do. We checked at a large # of stores, and the Best Buy ones were the only ones that took time to answer and even research questions to help us out.
 
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ISUboi12

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Apr 12, 2006
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True dat.

You let an employee making $9 an hour have it... You aren't going to get product knowledge from an 18 year old at a bargain-box store.

Even after reading your view of the event I'd have to say you sound like the one who was being difficult. IMHO. :smile:
 

everyyard

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I went to Best Buy today to try to buy a new iPhone. Does it seem ridiculous to anyone besides me that they wouldn't show me the new one, the iPhone 3G S? They had some $99 iPhone 3Gs on display and the dude tells me they are the same exact thing and I can look at them.

I say, "Oh, then that means you're selling the 3G S for $99? Cool, I'll take one."

"No, the 3G S sells for $299."

"But I thought you said they were the same exact thing. You see here's the problem I want to see the new 3G S, not the old 3G."

"Sir, I can't take them out of the box?"

"why not?"

"They won't let me."

"So you want me to buy a new $300 phone sight unseen? Does that make any sense to you?"

"The 3G is the same exact thing."

"But we just established that they aren't the same exact thing and I don't want to buy a 3G, I want to buy a 3G S."

Then he proceeds to tell me that the $299 phone is the 16 gig 3G S and the 32 gig 3G S is $399. The prices are supposed to be $199 and $299, which I tell him.

"There is no $199 3G S, sir," he tells me.

At which point, I just throw up my hands and let him have it.

"I don't think you know what you're talking about. The well-advertised prices on the new 3G Ss are $199 and $299."

"Sir, I have an 8 gig IPhone myself. I know what I'm talking about."

"Ah, see, there's your problem, you way overpaid for the old technology and are hopelessly far behind on the new. Maybe you can get someone over here who knows what he's doing?"

"Sir, there is nobody else. I'm just telling you how it is."

After he tells me I'd have to sign a contract with AT&T for cell phone service to get the cheapest 3G S at $299, or buy it without the contract for $799, I give him one parting shot and just walk out.

I have a friend who just got a new 16-gig iPhone 3G S for $199 on Wednesday and he never had to sign a contract with AT&T. He got the phone and is using his old cell phone service with it. No contract, I tell him on the way out the door.

Was I out of line or does this guy need to find a new job?

Why not just go to a different store? geez. I am surprised he had the patience to answer the same question 60 times. I mean he told you right away he couldn't show you one, did you think whining enough was going to change his mind??
 

professor

Member
May 26, 2006
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That's why you never buy cellphones at an agent store.

That's very interesting that your friend got the $199 price w/out signing a contract. Someone is going to be in trouble whenever they find out who did it because that is considered theft on the employee part.

I work for a corporate AT&T store and customers come in and ask us why our phones are priced a little more (excluding the iPhone) than places like Bestbuy, Walmart, Radio Shack, etc, it's because we know what the hell we are doing.

With that being said, the iPhone 3G S is amazing and you should just go to a corporate store or Apple store to get one.
 

06_CY

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
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I went to Best Buy today to try to buy a new iPhone. Does it seem ridiculous to anyone besides me that they wouldn't show me the new one, the iPhone 3G S? They had some $99 iPhone 3Gs on display and the dude tells me they are the same exact thing and I can look at them.

I say, "Oh, then that means you're selling the 3G S for $99? Cool, I'll take one."

"No, the 3G S sells for $299."

"But I thought you said they were the same exact thing. You see here's the problem I want to see the new 3G S, not the old 3G."

"Sir, I can't take them out of the box?"

"why not?"

"They won't let me."

"So you want me to buy a new $300 phone sight unseen? Does that make any sense to you?"

"The 3G is the same exact thing."

"But we just established that they aren't the same exact thing and I don't want to buy a 3G, I want to buy a 3G S."

Then he proceeds to tell me that the $299 phone is the 16 gig 3G S and the 32 gig 3G S is $399. The prices are supposed to be $199 and $299, which I tell him.

"There is no $199 3G S, sir," he tells me.

At which point, I just throw up my hands and let him have it.

"I don't think you know what you're talking about. The well-advertised prices on the new 3G Ss are $199 and $299."

"Sir, I have an 8 gig IPhone myself. I know what I'm talking about."

"Ah, see, there's your problem, you way overpaid for the old technology and are hopelessly far behind on the new. Maybe you can get someone over here who knows what he's doing?"

"Sir, there is nobody else. I'm just telling you how it is."

After he tells me I'd have to sign a contract with AT&T for cell phone service to get the cheapest 3G S at $299, or buy it without the contract for $799, I give him one parting shot and just walk out.

I have a friend who just got a new 16-gig iPhone 3G S for $199 on Wednesday and he never had to sign a contract with AT&T. He got the phone and is using his old cell phone service with it. No contract, I tell him on the way out the door.

Was I out of line or does this guy need to find a new job?

Way to go, tough guy. :no:
 

Gink

Well-Known Member
Apr 23, 2007
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you probably weren't even looking at an iPhone. the 16GB iToush is $299 and the 32GB is $399.
 

4429 mcc

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2007
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Does Iowa even have the 3G network?

I love it when people call out employee's....I swear in Iowa most people would bend over and take it, instead of voicing displeasure.
 

aeroclone

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2006
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In defense of buying a cell phone at best buy, I believe a lot of times they give you an instant rebate instead of the mail in rebate. If you already know what you want and have no need to talk to someone knowledgeable, then I think it is a good move versus waiting 8 weeks for the phone company to mail you your money back.
 

BigBake

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Mar 17, 2006
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A phone is always priced higher for a non contract sale. I highly doubt your friend got a legit sale from an At&T retailer unless someone screwed up.
 

acrozier22

Well-Known Member
Mar 17, 2006
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Southeast Iowa
Does Iowa even have the 3G network?

I love it when people call out employee's....I swear in Iowa most people would bend over and take it, instead of voicing displeasure.

Yes, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines both have it.

To the original poster of this topic, way act like a cool guy at the store. You are awesome! :jimlad:
 

jumbopackage

Well-Known Member
Sep 18, 2007
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Yeah, unless you're eligible for an upgrade, you're not getting a 3GS for 200 or 300 bucks.

Those are the new contract prices. For existing customers, you're going to be plopping down 400 for an 16gig or 500 for a 32gig, and you're going to have to sign up for a new 2 year contract to do even that.

Unless you don't want a new contract at all, then you'll be forking over 500 for an 8 gig, 600 for an 16gig or 700 for a 32gig.

So, after all that whining, the Best Buy guy was right, and you were wrong:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10260285-1.html
 

Wesley

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Apr 12, 2006
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Bipolarcy

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Oct 27, 2008
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OK, I went to work today and told this exact same story to some people at work. I also told the exact same story to some friends away from work. They all reacted much differently than you guys did.

And they all agreed to a man, about 15 people is what I'm talking about, that it is completely ridiculous for someone to expect you to buy something that costs $300 sight unseen and that no matter how similar they are, a 3G and a 3G S are not the same thing.

Maybe the difference in reactions is the difference in writing something down and telling it in person, where you can see the story-teller's facial expressions, and hear the inflections in his voice.

Oh, and for the guy who thinks I'm wrong about the prices, you link the monthly cell phone service rates and say I'm wrong about the price of the cell phones? What's that? The price of the phones is $199 and $299 and has nothing to do with the type of service you get with it.