Best Buy is now selling the Palm Pre for $99 with a 2 year contract, $100 less than the previous price. As usual, purchasing a phone at Best Buy also means that you don't need to futz around with a mail-in rebate, all rebates are instant.
We're not sure exactly what to file this under:
- Sales need a boost
- Inventory is great, time to start moving the sucker
- Time to start competing with the iPhone 3G
- Crazy Carl, former used car salesman, is now in charge of smartphone pricing at Best Buy
Whether this is a permanent price drop for Best Buy or a temporary thing is as-yet unclear. But the bottom line is that if you are still in the hunt for a Pre (or want to pick up a second one for a family plan), it would seem like a good idea to hit up your local Best Buy this Sunday afternoon.
Thanks to Eric for the tip and photo!
Update 2: As some have noted in our comments, the pricing was an error. Best Buy Twelpforce participant, Best Buy Marketing Manager John Bernier tweets (and confirms - Thanks John!) that Best Buy is returning the price to its rightful spot. The price is $199. Anybody manage to eke out the $99 price point? [via Engadget, thanks Wiski!].
Update: Farhan has helped us figure out the pricing change. As you can see in the commercial below, Best Buy Mobile's "Twelpforce" is from the future. Since it was probably inevitable that the Pre would drop to $99, they're just a little ahead of their time. :D
Comments
UGH.
I feel like I just got duped.
It's also like a slap in the face to the people who just bought the Pre.
Edit: I also saw that commercial. I was happy that the Pre was featured for a bit.
I just took my receipt into best buy and they credited back $214 for my two PRE's I purchased less than 30 days ago! Thanks for the intel on this! Now I feel like I bought one and got one free ;)
- D2G
OH! I verified that the price listed on the display is exact as above - in Omaha, Nebraska at the Village Point Best Buy incase anyone is wondering.
- D2G
I just got home from BestBuy and this is legit. The manager even held the last one for me since I have been on the waiting list at the store since day one. I had 6 un-used reward point worth 65 bucks and used it towards the phone, screen protector and case. 144 bucks with tax after applying reward points. Couldn't be happier. I guess things work out when you're patient. =)
My best Buy has them this afternoon (7/22) for $99, not $199. It was not a call, went to store.
differing emit emit stricter warmest leading
This is ridiculous. This is a sheer insult. Not even 2 months into release they're dropping the price? Thanks for the horrible advertisement! Thanks for the crappy commercials that just shows people sliding tabs! YAY! SLIDING TABS! Thanks for pushing once again that Sprint is cheaper than AT&T, anyone with half a brain knows that. This is a last ditch effort by Sprint and Palm. I don't think Dan Hesse is too happy, they need new marketing stratagies, they need their second wind. Sprint should be happy 5,000 ppl were signing up a week for this thing specially since they lost a heavy amount of customers around 11million in the first quater of the year. Wait to the SDK is fully evolved, I think then, they'll have more to show besides people sliding tabs and saying "bing" and talking about Dunkin Donuts in Space. Let's bring the fight to earth first before we talk about what they can achieve in space. Thannk you!
The first iphone dropped 200$ after 2 months... and after many complaints Apple decided to "give back" a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store.
Yeah, but how many of us wanted to be treated as shabbily as the poor iPhone chumps got ganked? I bought from a Sprint store and had to hassle with the mail-in rebate (pending) and less than two months later I find that if I'd waited, I could've saved over $200 (incl. tax) if I'd waited. Along with the utter lack of apps and those insipid Creepy Girl ad, this raw deal for the early adopters and not a smart move for Palm/Sprint unless some make-goods are offered to balm the hurt they caused.
You will receive your mail in rebate so you could've saved $100 not $200.
If I'm a chump, then you're a chump too. We're all early adopter chumps. So go to hell loser..
"Sliding tabs"? What are you talking about? They are "cards"! It is at the core of the design of the OS. They are full functioning live applications that allow for true multitasking. Do you know anything about the phone?
By the way, it is BestBuy that is dropping the price, not Sprint, not Palm. It is still the original price everywhere else! This an effort on Best Buy's part. They are trying to compete with the rest of the retailers!
i like how this guy is flipping out an then it trns out to be a mistake lol
idk how to feel about this.. ive had my PRE since launch date but seeing this price without the mail-in-rebate plus $100 off is a bit irritating.
but this is a good price point for new customers. but if the reports in the forums are true then Best Buy will only have a handful in-stock every week or so...
I'll consider my extra $100 spent on the Pre as helping Palm to stay afloat.
Me too. People need to stop their whining.
The Pre is worth what we paid for it originally and is a steal at this price. Hope it brings in more Palm Pre faithful.
Price changes occur it hapoens all the time... If it goes to 99 at sprint this will be a good thing more pre sales mean more developers means more apps and more pre support by palm for the phone.
RadioShack price matches with ads. More stores started stocking them last week.
I'm kinda miffed. I bought my Pre on day one, and I was ok with a price drop coming after the six-month break-in time period. But this? Less than 2 months later? Are they really desperate for customers? This phone is most definitely worth more than $99. Look at sprints other $99 phones, are any of them even close to the functionality of the Pre? Nope.
Funny how similar this is to what happened with the iPhone when they ended up issuing credits to people for the price drop so soon after launch.
Though the 8GB iphone was 599 and got dropped to 399 and I got a 100 dollar credit.
Refurbished 8GB iphones are now $49.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/07/26/att-drops-pricing-on-refurbish...
At first there was only a 200 dollar drop. Only after many complaints Apple decided to give a 100 dollar credit which was not a real refund as you had to use it to buy Apple stuff.
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/openiphoneletter/
Has anyone verified this??? I just bought a Pre yesterday. If so I'm going down there and raising some hell.
If you bought it yesterday, return it and buy the cheap one. If you got it from Best Buy, get a price adjustment...
My brother and I each got a Pre from Best Buy 2 weeks ago, and had no trouble getting the price adjustment from them today: $213.50 with taxes. I thought $200 was a decent price, but $100 is a steal. My mom is going to upgrade to one soon because of it.
As for all the gripes, I think early adopters have come to expect that, especially with cell phones. I can't even count the number of times I've bought a new CPU, TV, monitor, video game, etc. and then seen the price drop by 50% or more within a few weeks. It's frustrating, but it's not like I'm ever all that surprised either; it's the price we pay for needing to have these things first. Palm isn't out to screw its users here. $200 was a fair price for the Pre (unlike $600 for the iPhone, which was absolutely outrageous). The price cut will hopefully keep the Pre alive going into the next several months at least. The price convinced my mom to upgrade; hopefully more people follow.
Here's my question, I bought one online yesterday as an upgrade at sprint.com, so does that mean I should return it and go to Best Buy now to save another hundered dollars? Will that work?
I don't get it. I paid $199 on release, because that's represented a great value for me. After almost 2 months, the price drops to $99. So for someone on the entry-level plan, your cost just went from:
$70x24 + $199 = $1879
$70x24 + $199 = $1779
That's a 6% cut after 2 months. This is the way of the world. One guy pays $250 for a x-country R/T flight, the guy next to him pays $1000.
Really, why does someone getting a better deal make you angry? Would you rather have Palm/Sprint get the extra $100, or you would like to see your fellow consumer pocket that cash.
Finally, this is a classic case of supply/demand. If it was released at $100, Palm would have sold EXACTLY as many phones, not a single one more, as they were supply limited. So in order to manage demand, they priced it at a point where they'd sell just enough.
This is capitalism, folks, and it's a great economic system. While you might prefer to live in a country where the government sets the prices for goods & services, you don't. And you should be grateful for it.
What if you bought multiple Palm Pres?
Those hundreds stack up.
Another life lesson that I've learned is never buy something in the first couple months.
People who bought the Pre the month it came out have to deal with hardware malfunctions and the fact that there's a price cut 2 months later.
Hmmmmmm let me see:
$70x24 + $199 = $1879
$70x24 + $199 = $1779 ???????
this price drop really hit u hard!! ;)
Your math typo aside (grin), I'd like to shake your hand.
We're early adopters, people. This happens. Life. Grow up.
Your math is off and so is your logic. There is no way to tell how many units would have been sold from day one until today at a lower price point. Barring a lack of product, I would guess a $200 purchase day savings would sway a few more people to sign up. Also, the immediacy of the savings is more tempting and real than spreading that savings over 2 years. Although your thought is true it is not a real world representation of consumer psychology. Now for the airplane thing, hell yeah I want as good a deal as the next guy, who wouldn't?
P.S.
Tell Rush and Newt I say what's up.
It's widely acknowledged that there has been a shortage of product. So my statement is true as stated.
Moot point now anyway.
Are people happier now that people won't be able to save $100 on a Pre?
Wow! uh.. I'm speechless, almost.
Price drops are inevitable but not two months after launch for a flagship device(?).
Sprint hasn't lowered the price so maybe it's a Best Buy thing, maybe it's temporary or maybe it's more nefarious.
Add this to the above list:
:Sprint's exclusivity is running out, sooner than it should(?) and the price drop is to bring as many people over now before the Pre drops on another CDMA carrier."
Either way more WebOS devices are good for us all.
More users = more developers = more great apps.
But is this accurate? Not listed on the Best Buy Web site.
Right but where was this picture taken? If I just bought my phone (less than 24 hours ago) I should be entitled to my money right?
Yes, if you just bought it at 'full price' it sucks that it's lower now... but at what point do you just suck it up and realize that you got a bit unlucky? It's not like you go back to Costco 2 months later and complain because a TV got cheaper. True, it's half of the original price, but still.
And to anyone who thinks this is a bad move, consider one fact: it makes this phone ridiculously irresistible! Anyone with a level-headed judgment on the iPhone vs. Pre comparison has to admit that the Pre is AT LEAST "as good as" the iPhone albeit different. It's great that the iPhone has thousands of apps, but at the end of the day, is the Pre really missing that many apps that do the important things? No... and more apps will be popping up VERY quickly due to the low barrier to entry on creating new apps as compared with learning iPhone development.
It's a phone, not a TV though. Completely different product.
Some guy used a car as an example, and it still doesn't work.
We're talking about phones here.
Also, a TV and a car usually have much higher costs.
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't mean much.
But this is a 50% price cut on a phone that's $199.99, and it's two months after the release.
argh, i just bought mine yesterday for $199..I also wonder if that means I can head to Best Buy since they dropped the price today...
It's pretty immature to complain about them lowering the price. You bought the Pre at or near its launch, a price reduction is to be expected. Unfair? I don't think so. Apple did the same thing, except it was permanent and a manufacturer price reduction (best buy is doing this on their own) and only gave out iTunes credits when people got angry. Please, quit overreacting. You're embarrassing yourselves.
"and only gave out iTunes credits when people got angry"
Please stop spreading misinformation to try to make your argument seem stronger.
Apple issued $100 Apple Store credits, for anything at the Apple Store. Not "iTunes credits". You are embarrasing yourself.
Best buy did the same type of thing with the the BB Tour when it was released by Verizon. The web site didn't advertise it, but they sold it for $99 new contract, $149 upgrade price instead of $199 for either. Also the $70 mail in rebate was instant. So my savings day one was $120 if you count the mail in money that stayed in my pocket. It felt great to know I got the best price out there, you should try it.
-O
Has anyone actually verified this? I checked the best buy site and it isn't advertised at $99... I am more apt to believe that this was a picture taken at a best buy that made a mistake in the pricing... I just can't believe they would lower the price to $99 already.
If it is true, I have a couple of days to return my pre at Sprint, and go pick up one at Best Buy, is that allowed?
Best buy did the same type of thing with the the BB Tour when it was released by Verizon. The web site didn't advertise it, but they sold it for $99 new contract, $149 upgrade price instead of $199 for either. Also the $70 mail in rebate was instant. So my savings day one was $120 if you count the mail in money that stayed in my pocket. It felt great to know I got the best price out there, you should try it.
-O
Meant to reply here!!! X(
This is frustrating for those who have already purchased, but really they had to do something. How can they compete with the iphone at $99?
I'm currently eligible for a one year upgrade on Verizon. If this phone launches at $99 on Verizon I'm pretty sure I won't be able to pass it up.
???Losing $100 is a huge thing now a days! I feel that if the price drops within a week of purchase you should be able to get a credit or something. It may seem like complaining but I have only had my phone for less than 24 hours and i'm already getting screwed. I thought only verizon did that;)
It's pretty immature to complain about them lowering the price. You bought the Pre at or near its launch, a price reduction is to be expected. Unfair? I don't think so. Apple did the same thing, except it was permanent and a manufacturer price reduction (best buy is doing this on their own) and only gave out iTunes credits when people got angry. Please, quit overreacting. You're embarrassing yourselves.
It's pretty immature to complain about them lowering the price. You bought the Pre at or near its launch, a price reduction is to be expected. Unfair? I don't think so. Apple did the same thing, except it was permanent and a manufacturer price reduction (best buy is doing this on their own) and only gave out iTunes credits when people got angry. Please, quit overreacting. You're embarrassing yourselves.
holy dejavu....i'm seeing the same post over and over and over;)
Crap, that's mine. I was refreshing the page on my phone and resending the POST data. I need a prompt for that like real browsers do...
GLAD I waited, so will my bro... I still think the $199 is worth the price of the phone... I HOPE you felt it was worth it...
SHame though, because I DOUBT Palm will copy Apple's MO and offer a price break to early adopters... (they really need the ca$h)...
Just confirmed over live chat with Sprint that I can return my phone and head to Best Buy for the new deal if it's real, but she couldn't confirm the Best Buy deal!
$100 is not enough to make me want to do business with Best Buy. I worked there, and left on good terms, yet and I want nothing to do with the place again.
I'm on the website; says $199 with service plan. I think that might have been an ad mistake.
While I do feel it kinda sucks that I paid $100 more just a month or so ago, I can't really complain. The Pre is worth what I paid for it, if it wasn't, I wouldn't have bought it.
Ok.. This a bit disturbing... The device is great, do not get me wrong. I was patiently waiting for months for a release date, then when it was released I waited for inventory to allow me to purchase (then personally waiting for my $$ to coincide w/ BB inventory). I was happy (@ that time) w/ walking out for $242. Also so happy, my wife can get her's for under 150. But to lower the price so quick (less than 2 weeks for me) is not right to early adopters. My opinion is that we were/are part of a beta community; with all the issues (none personally), having to use homebrew apps (once again not upsetabout supposed "lack of apps") and a multitude of other reasons (check forums for examples). I am still within my 30 day limit, and am seriously contemplating returning it just to buy it back, unless I get word of compensation. To leave us as is, is in a way penalizing us for finding the bugs and supporting, in spite of newness of device and OS.
Once again, the device is awesome (minus small things that ppl should really learn to accept for now, especially knowing this was a new device and had not been tested by public) and there a no to very very few problem (@ least w/ mine). But do not penalize me for being patient since Feb. and even still. To appease me (like that's Sprint or Palm's goal :p) just send me difference, that's good business in my eyes.
Can someone answer the return and rebuy.
The special at Best Buy is apparently running for 1 week until August 1st. Just got off the phone with a rep in GA.
If that is true, than I am not so upset. Only for a week, those of you buying at this price-point are very lucky.
A bit annoying but I guess that's the price of early adoption.
Palm and Sprint could score some serious points with their users though if they act quickly and make it up some how to us early adopters. I can't help but compare this to a similar situation with Apple when one of the iPhones dropped in price, I think Apple gave out gift cards or something.
It would probably be one of the cheapest forms of advertising they could do and it would definitely get a lot of attention.
You think you're mad? How many Instincts do you think Samsung will sell now that it's head-to-head with a Pre?
Can you get a $100 difference back if you are withing the return/exchange period?
Hmm...lots of buyers of the Pre, up until now, shelled out $299(plus tax on the full price) and are still waiting for their $100 rebates. Now you can just walk into a Best Buy and get it for $99. What's next?
Ok.. This a bit disturbing... The device is great, do not get me wrong. I was patiently waiting for months for a release date, then when it was released I waited for inventory to allow me to purchase (then personally waiting for my $$ to coincide w/ BB inventory). I was happy (@ that time) w/ walking out for $242. Also so happy, my wife can get her's for under 150. But to lower the price so quick (less than 2 weeks for me) is not right to early adopters. My opinion is that we were/are part of a beta community; with all the issues (none personally), having to use homebrew apps (once again not upsetabout supposed "lack of apps") and a multitude of other reasons (check forums for examples). I am still within my 30 day limit, and am seriously contemplating returning it just to buy it back, unless I get word of compensation. To leave us as is, is in a way penalizing us for finding the bugs and supporting, in spite of newness of device and OS.
Once again, the device is awesome (minus small things that ppl should really learn to accept for now, especially knowing this was a new device and had not been tested by public) and there a no to very very few problem (@ least w/ mine). But do not penalize me for being patient since Feb. and even still. To appease me (like that's Sprint or Palm's goal :p) just send me difference, that's good business in my eyes.
ouch what a slap in the face I bought mine just over a month ago and paid the 199 at best buy and now they drop it to 99
what is the termination fee? Any ideas?
Ohhhhh I hope that this includes eligible upgrades as well. If so, I might just get one today.
Ok.. This a bit disturbing... The device is great, do not get me wrong. I was patiently waiting for months for a release date, then when it was released I waited for inventory to allow me to purchase (then personally waiting for my $$ to coincide w/ BB inventory). I was happy (@ that time) w/ walking out for $242. Also so happy, my wife can get her's for under 150. But to lower the price so quick (less than 2 weeks for me) is not right to early adopters. My opinion is that we were/are part of a beta community; with all the issues (none personally), having to use homebrew apps (once again not upsetabout supposed "lack of apps") and a multitude of other reasons (check forums for examples). I am still within my 30 day limit, and am seriously contemplating returning it just to buy it back, unless I get word of compensation. To leave us as is, is in a way penalizing us for finding the bugs and supporting, in spite of newness of device and OS.
Once again, the device is awesome (minus small things that ppl should really learn to accept for now, especially knowing this was a new device and had not been tested by public) and there a no to very very few problem (@ least w/ mine). But do not penalize me for being patient since Feb. and even still. To appease me (like that's Sprint or Palm's goal :p) just send me difference, that's good business in my eyes.
I know it can be upsetting, but the way I look at it, is no one can make the excuse that it's cheaper to buy the iPhone 3G now. palm Pre is even on price and storage, and it's just a matter of time before the apps start rolling in.
i just called my best buy and they told me to bring my receipt in for a price adjustment i bought mine 7/05/2009
This is from Best Buy website.
Best Buy Retail Store Price Match Guarantee
If you find a lower advertised price on the same available brand and model prior to your purchase or during the exchange and return period, we will match that price. Simply bring in the ad of the local retail competitor or Best Buy, while the lower price is in effect and receive your price match.
The guarantee does not apply to our competitors' website pricing and the guarantee does not apply to our or our competitors':
* Offers that include financing, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors and mail-in offers
* Items that are limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, Outlet Center, refurbished/used items and items for sale Thanksgiving day through the Saturday after Thanksgiving
This really sucks, but it is pretty common in the hi-tech electronics field. Watch the price on most electronics and the price drops rapidly. Phones are really subject to this because of the amount of competition in the market.
I bought mine yesterday and I went to best buy today and they refunded the difference. They do match the price I believe within 30 days of purchase.
Thanks for the heads up guys. I was two blocks from a Best Buy when I saw this story and now I have $106 back in my pocket since I got my Pre last week. My wife is also due a refund...
I just checked Best Buy in Tacoma, Washington. None of the Washington Best Buy's sell Sprint any more. WTF!
I just called my Best Buy and they still have them for $199. They haven't heard of the $99 deal. If they had, I'd be buying a phone instead of typing this.
just calld up both of my local bestbuys to confirm this.
the reps told me the sale last until Aug 1, but that inventory is pretty good for anyone that wants to buy one...i'm out the door in 10 minutes ;)
fuck i just bought one two days ago
Go in and get a price adjustment, Bestbuy offers this for 30 days.
Oh my gosh, I just left Best Buy with $100 in my pocket, I went 10 minutes before closing time, I called my neighbor hood store;this after they made the correction that the price was a error. I felt so down that I would not be able to get in on the deal, but my instinct said call them anyway, and sure enough the sales clerk said just bring in your receipt and we will adjust the price, after getting her name I flew to Best Buy, I was so nervous but I had to try and it worked, this Best Buy's had not been told of the error yet...YEAH!
You are proud of yourself for stealing $100???
Went to www.bestbuy.com and then to their weekly flyer which prompted me to enter my zip code. The flyer shows the Pre at 199.99 w/2 yr agreement ("Prices effective Sunday, July 26 - Saturday, August 22, 2009"). I wonder where the bust buys are that are selling it for 100 bucks less.
Calm down everybody! It's just a 1 week Best Buy promo that ends on Sat, August 1. Just called a Best Buy in my neighborhood and they confirmed it's 1 week, just Best Buy, and goes until inventory runs out.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Palm Pre fans to either load up on another or encourage the fan community to grow. This is not a blanket promo at all outlets, so it's not like when Apple dropped their iPhone price by $200. Just a quick promo to juice up sales.
Go Palm Pre!
OMFG!!!! To the people that purchased the Pre recently (the past 30 days) who are B*tching and Complaining. Are you people effing Retarded or just retarded Liberal/Democrats? Just take the Pre back, get a full refund and go buy it at BB. Or if you bought it as BB, take your receipt back and get the difference. Stop your whining you little b*thes.
Yeah. You really showed us a great example of calmness, reason, and maturity. Thanks for that.
I was just kidding around, Man. Sorry if I offended anyone =)
You think you can just spew obscenities and then claim a mulligan? Your post is a snapshot of what's wrong with our next generation.
Soooo.....I'm guessing you're a Liberal? =/
What does it mean to be "a Liberal"? And don't say "votes democratic", or "doesn't want to outlaw abortion" because that would be a humongous over-simplication and ignorant stereotyping on your part.
okay socialist
So, if you are not a "conservative" then you are a "socialist"... this guy is brilliant!
the conservatives tend to be the whiners.
Yeah clearly he is a conservative if he bashes others in a such an rash, obscene manner and calls them "liberals". Classic hypocritical "conservative".
Amen
Just a little cranky are we;)
i still fail to see why on a CELL PHONE SITE political views are brought in2 question...we're talking about the Pre here, not who's liberal and who's conservative folks =)
Same thing happened with the new Nokia N97. Preorders went for $700. A month later, you could get it from Dell for less than $500.
Thank god i'm still in my 30 days, so i will get the 100 back to my account. I called and confirmed with BB
Bought my pre at Best Buy in Plano Texas on Tues 7/21. I just went to Best Buy in McKinney and they did a price match at the customer service desk. They essentially returned the item at $199.99 and sold it to me for $99.99. It took all of about 3 minutes. I had to show my receipt and also had to show the customer service person the $99 price tag on the pre display. He was pretty surprised it was being discounted. Maybe I was the first person at that store to ask for a price match. precentral you just saved me $100. Thank you!!!
I bought my Pre from BestBuy on the 4th and they price matched me down to $99 today. Thanks to PreCentral I was able to stimulate the economy (ie buy something stupid) with that $100 I got back!
I just stoped by BB and verified this.
If you've baught your phone in the last *30 days, they will refund you the $100.
I'm glad to see consumers getting the better end of the deal at Best Buy for once, I wonder if Apphole will act accoordingly?
*Maybe longer if you have black tie protection.
Yeah, I work for BB Mobile, so with that, anyone that is within the 30-day period, just bring in your receipt (yes, we can pull it up if you lost it) and we will credit you the difference. Pretty simple and another reason why getting your phones at Best Buy is worth it! Oh and if you come in next Sunday, forget it. No matching after the fact.
~Matt
Ok, if you're honestly feel "duped" by Palm and/or Sprint because they dropped the price, you're an idiot! EVERY phone ever made has been introduced at one price, then dropped throughout it's life. I purchased the Palm Centro for $99 two years ago. Now, you can get it for 25 bucks! the moto razr came out at $100, then dropped to $50, then they gave them away! And if you don't like it, don't buy a phone the day it comes out!!!
Brandon FL knew nothing about it. Lakeland FL confirmed it. BUT, it requires the $99 simply everything plan.
This is definatly not good to early adopters. I will suck it up to palm staying afloat. Little bit upset myself, I wouldn't complain if it was 6months in. But a 100$ price drop. With the phone build cost, arn't they taking a hit now in price?
Also, we may need to understand, this isn't a GLOBAL price drop unless SPRINT starts selling it at 99$ or 199$ with 100$ rebate. It could just be a sale to help.
This is a clear sign that the Pre is failing... Those idiots at the precentral keep forgiving the shoddy build quality, the sluggishness of the OS, the lack of a useable cut and paste and feature and lack of apps and keep on saying it's not fair to compare to 3GS because that phone is 3rd Gen and should compare it to the 1st gen. NONSENSE... the people that don't go to forums and pound their chest like fanboys, they come in a store and wants a phone that works and no issues and apps and they want it to work as well if not better than the competition NOW. I think the WebOS is pretty cool but Sprint has not supported the phone as it should have... they dont even know they had a winner. The phone is failing. If I were the fanboys, I wouldnt worry about the iPhone. The new android phones will kick plam butt. Heck, Storm 2 might kick plam butt.
More realistically, this says BestBuy can't sell enough Pres for $199.
I personally think that is just as bad.
I was interested in hearing your side, but then you wanted to compare it to the 3GS. I stopped reading.
Thanks for your waste of valuable screen real estate.
I wish I had my Pre right next to this guy to show this idiot how utterly wrong he is about everything he is saying! Clearly he does not own a Pre. He read a review from the intimidated fanboys at theiPhoneblog.com and thinks he speaks towards the reality of the device. He wants to say the phone is failing, when he doesn't even know what "failing" means! This price drop, as confirmed by others, is ONLY BEING DONE BY BEST BUY, AND IS ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME! It speaks nothing to Palm nor Sprint not being able to move the device! Anyone who has ever owned a Pre would never go back to anything else! You should own the device before you go talking nonsense!
And you read those fanboys on the forum that are gonna return the phones and go to best buy? LOL, they're going to kill the Palm by creating more returns and loss for Palm and Sprint. Radio shack will price match killing them. Best Buy is staying king by killing everybody else.
On my way to my best buy now I will let you know how it goed
Refurbished iPhone 3g for $49. Do you still wonder why they dropped the price?
The fact that apple has enough refurbished iphoned to stock 1,700 + at&t stores with refirbished phones is just sad.... What's the 3G return rate? Not to mention the at&T online store lol. That's funny.
I just went to best buy in Chicago and they have never heard of this price reduction is this only certin stores.
YES IT IS I BOUGHT 2 OF THEM TODAY FOR 99 EACH NOW I FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE 299 SHELLED OUT A MONTH AGO... 3 PRES IN THE FAM!
THE PALM PRE IS NOT $99.00 AT BESTBUY I WORK FOR THEM THERE I NO WAY THE PHONE WOULD BE $99.00 AT THIS TIME. tHANK YOU EVERYONE AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
just because you pull the trigger on the price gun, collect the money and clean up the wii aisles obviously does not mean you know everything. I checked my local BB... $99 dollars there buddy.
If the phone was a hit then it wouldnt be on sale... it's not a 3GS competitor... at best its a 3G competitor at $99.
It is not a 3GS competitor? Where in the previous comment did someone say anything about iPhone?!
Pre's OS and UI makes the 3GS user feel old and caged-in. You can't read an incoming text message without quitting your email! You gotta use 3 different email clients when it makes perfect sense to just use one with push for all your accounts! Don't get me started!
Go back to ithePhoneblog fanboy!
Wow, what a great deal. Just called into my local Best Buy, and the girl wasn't aware of the deal but she confirmed it after checking.
Anyone know if it's possible to activate one of the Everything Plus Referral Plans when buying a phone through Best Buy?
I bought the Pre last Saturday at BestBuy for $199. I went in today, and, sure enough, it's on sale for $99. I brought my receipt and the Pre back in with me and they refunded me $105!! :)
So...
I got mine on July 3rd. Went to get my $100, but I was expecting some difficulty since I used $125 worth of Reward Certificates on original purchase. Needless to say, I was right. They would not give me the cash, and the only way they said they could do it is to CANCEL the whole plan, return the plan, and re-do it, and in that case, it would take 30 days or so to get my certificates back.
Luckily, I was gonna add a line, and get another Pre anyway, so I just asked if I can get another one for free. That worked.
So, if you used Reward Certificates on your Pre, and you're trying to get it price matched, be prepared for a fight.
i got 100 bucks back too today. it was less than 30 days and i bought it there. they gave me cash back too. they said it was a pricing error and it will only be that price today. back to 199.99 after today.
Ok so I went to customer service realized I left my receipt home they printed a new one and igot a total of $106 back and it all tokk 5 minutes at most
I just want apps and OS support. I don't really care how much someone can get it for months after I got mine. IF the price drop helps me get more apps, then great. IF it hurts, then I'll be pissed.
I see a lot of negative comments and positive ones, I just think it is all about choice. For me I had an I got a G1 back when it first came out and like it for the most part, just some minor issues. I kept it for about 12 days and decided that it was not yet an idea phone for me and returned it. Then when over to AT&T and got the iPhone, it was a good phone but was still missing some things I like, and valued in my opinion. I have since got a Palm Pre and like it a lot. There are still things I am hoping it will have in future updates but to me in my own opinion, it covers a lot missing elements that the G1 & iPhone lacked. It doesn't mean that anybody who does not agree with me is wrong or right it is just my own personal opinion.
Each phone fills some kind of niche for that someone. I think it's great that we have so many different smart phones out there, this is called freedom of choice instead of all being forced to have just one smart phone. This is not Henry Ford and the Model t situation where "we can get it in any color so long as it's black." If you don't like the Palm Pre then return it and get something that makes you happy, same thing goes with the iPhone or Blackberry or G1 or what ever is out there. Just be glad that you have a choice.
Look, we all know that the Palm Pre is the greatest phone ever made. Lowering the price does not take away it's value. This just a one week sale by Best Buy to momentarily out-sell the competitor retailers.
How about since when the IPHONE came out and they lowered they price they gave Itune credits or whatever.. Maybe Sprint should give out free touchtones for people who bought it at $200. The touchtone COGS is like $5.00 and they try charging like $70.00 for it. This is a move wouldn't kill them that much instead of refunding everyone a hundred $$ or listening to hundreds of complaints. This might make everyone feel just a little bit better lololol
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/07/palm-pre-and-touchstone-get-torn-down...
I love this phone but mine has that oreo effect that is really annoying and when I asked for a new one they told me that it was, "Cosmetics" and they can't exchange for that. I just need some reasurance from them. I just paid $200 for something that i'm going to be using for the next 2 years or more.
I read stories about people being happy after getting the $100 back from Best Buy. What about those who bought the Pre at Sprint Stores? I bought mine June 29. Help please.
you're not going to get anything from Sprint. Return it and goto Best Buy and get a new one. ASAP.
Sadly, Best Buy in town doesn't sell Sprint products.
You people kill me...the Palm Pre is on sale at Best Buy for ONLY 1 WEEK at this price as a way to place a promotion on the phone's marketing. Let's remember that at this point, other vendors - to include Radio Shack - have become well stocked with the Palm Pre as of recently which has affected Best Buy's sale point. Is it really that easy to misconstrue what is going on. I don't knock Apple Fanboy's - you guys have a great phone to boast about so it makes sense. But to be obnoxious about what this really is when you don't even care to investigate enough to find out its a 1-week promotion is dissapointing. Its like hearing somebody who hit the lottery for 50 million try to put the next guy down who only hit for 1 million; when you're both lucky enough to "have won" in the first place. Whatever with this nonsense...I'm headed to Best Buy to collect my $200 for pricematching (on two Pre's purchased July 3rd); yeah, I came up - did you? No. I have an OUTSTANDING phone plus I'm getting more money back for purchasing it in the first place - did you? Oh, that's right, Apple doesn't do that. Enjoy your phone/fun while it last because Apple is going to have a beast to deal with by this Fall. Remember, Palm Pre is just a device. WebOS is what you really need to worry about and th future looks extremely bright for Palm. You would be delusional to challenge that unless your completely satisfied with your lack of multitasking - oh, thats right...you have your "push notifications" - wow!...I sure wish WebOS had that. Whatever.
And if anyone thinks I am being rude to my fellow Pre Brethren, you're still lost. I wish there could be something for those folks but unfortunately I guess the only incentive is you got yours on or near launch. I'm not sure if that is truly something to hold "near and dear" at this point but it might have meant a lot to some folks to have their's "first" and they made it happen. That's all I can really say other than these thing do happen. Actually, after thinking about it, it happened to me with my last phone (Instinct) and it was to late after purchase to price match after they discounted the phone. So believe me when I say I feel your pain.
LOL
The forums are full or fanbois and even regular users justifying the bugs and lack of features as something you have to accept for being an early adopter. Well wake up, people, paying a higher price for the phone is something else that comes with being an early adopter.
Heck, it's not just phones. You name the electronic product, and people who wait to buy get it for less money (and with fewer bugs, typically).
This wasn't just predictable, it was predicted. As far back as January people were guessing at prices, and almost everyone understood that, whatever the price, it would come down a few months after release.
I called up a bunch of best buys in NJ and PA, that carry the Pre, and they all say the Pre is 199.99. I think the pricing is a glitch in some parts of the country. It doesn't make sense either, if Best Buy were to do a promotion, it would be highlighted in the flier like they did with the HTC Touch Pro. It is also silly that the Best Buy Mobile Buyer's Guide which was published today, has the front page with the pre for 199.99 . Since today is Sunday, I think this will be all over by tomorrow, and so lets have the Apple fan boys have fun for 23 hours.
Thanks for the tip, I never would have realized this without seeing it on your page. Bought my Pre on 7/17 at BB (for $199, which I thought was money well-spent), headed over there today immediately after reading your article, and got $106 back (I live in MD). What a bonus - thanks for the heads-up!
Ummm...did no one bother to check their Twitter feed? The $99 thing was a mistake....
"Thanks everyone for pointing out pricing error for Palm Pre; current price $199; correction in progress for all stores; appreciate patience"
Alundre,
Please send me the link so I can follow them.
Thank you,
It's the Twelpforce link in the story...
http://twitter.com/twelpforce
Best buy in chattanooga confirmed the Pre is $99.99, they do have a waiting list and its for this week only (or so they say), Now Radioshack has them in stock (199/219) but they do price matching. Your best bet would be to grab some advertising from best buy and if they dont have the phone head over to Radioshack
Just returned from the Best Buy in Kansas City. Literally 3 blocks from the Sprint Corporate Campus. Walked out with 2 Pre's for 99. They said both Sprint and Palm reps had been in and they said to keep it at the 99 price but wouldn't guarantee for how long.
So price mistake or not, I got 2.
Well things turned out well for me sence my upgrade discount comes in this saturday. i hope they still have them though,
also if anyone is still wondering, this is a SALE for this week only. so this comming sunday the price goes back to $200
when i went to the store to get my 100 bucks back they said it was an error and will be fixed tomorrow. its not a one week sale!
yeah i didnt know that until i went to the store were my friend works and checked it out. people were pissed that it was an error. quite funny!
just got back with mine... girl who did the setup was unaware of the price until she went over and looked at the sticker herself. :P
Okay, so the price dropped. What phone/gadget/novelty hasn't in time past? I do not own a Pre, but my boyfriend does and I believe he believes it was worth the wait of it's release and it's price. I am still considering the purchase and know of all it's perks. When I am ready, I will pay the cost of the phone and be excited about the item. Because it's an amazing advance in cell phones today. So suck it up folks.
I bought my Pre this past wednesday at Best Buy. Went back today and in less than 60 seconds they credited my credit card for the $100 plus tax. When I went by the phone section and saw the salesperson who greatly helped me last week he even asked if I had gotten the credit. All in all an excellent experience at Best Buy and the price drop only made it better.
This is just a price mistake that got out of hand. Someone at some random Best Buy store must have put the reduced price on the tag, and it caught like fire at a bunch of other stores around the country. I've contacted multiple Best Buy stores and they have all told me the same thing. "Yeah, that was a HUGE pricing mistake, so it's actually available for $199.99." A select few stores are still pricing it out at $99 in an obvious attempt to save face for Best Buy. I'm almost positive Best Buy's got the corporate email out already to all the stores explaining the situation. So people need to quit freaking out about Palm turning its back on its early customers for the Pre . . . that's ridiculous. Just a pricing mistake that went horribly, horribly awry.
After seeing this, I called Local Best Buy at around 4 p.m. Eastern time. They told me the price was $99. I rushed over to the store. When I got there they told me there was an error but they would honor it. So I am happy. you can't beat it. Sprint insurance replacement is $99 for a refurbished phone, or new Palm Pre $99 at Best Buy, you do the math.
If this is a price error, then it's the second one in a month. Remember, they had the same issue with the Touchstone 2 pack. I guess this is what we are going to get from Best Buy now that they won the battle with Circuit City. I sure hope another electronics store gives them a run for the money soon.
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