Yes, it’s finally here. The iPhone 3G S. Where can you get one? Cruise on down to one of these fine retailers near you:
Round up the kids, put grandma in the trunk, and head on out for some sexy, cutting-edge tech at Walmart.
Best Buy currently has a special promotion for this week offering its Premier Silver Reward Zone members $100 off the price of an iPhone 3G. That brings the price of an 8G iPhone 3G to $99 and a 16GB to $199. That is the best price yet on a new iPhone 3G (AT&T Wireless has a similar deal on refurbished iPhones). The deal lasts all this week until February 28, 2009. Regular Reward Zone members get $50 off.
So how do you become a Premier Silver Reward Zone member? Best Buy lists the following qualifications:
Qualify for Premier Silver status when you spend $2,500 on eligible purchases at Best Buy or BestBuy.com in a calendar year. As a Premier Silver member, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of regular membership, plus:
* 25% point bonus
* 50% point bonus if you are a Reward Zone program MasterCard cardmember
* Point banking
* Access to the Awards Catalog for unique products and services
* Extended return policy
* Free standard shipping at BestBuy.com
* Dedicated Premier Silver Customer Service Line.
* Complimentary Geek Squad home theater consultation once per year
* Complimentary 6-month trial of Geek Squad Online Data Backup service
The normal Reward Zone Membership is available to anyone.
There are currently five places where you can purchase an iPhone in the US: Apple, AT&T Wireless, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Sam’s Club. If you just want to run in and purchase the phone, any of these locations can offer a convenient shopping experience. However, if you have questions about voice or data plans or how to use the iPhone, you can get very different results. If you’re looking for a cheaper price on the iPhone, you have a few options.
Wal-Mart has the cheapest base price for the iPhone, but it’s only a savings of $2 ($197 for 8GB, $297 for 16GB) compared to other stores ($199, $299). The real bargains are found with refurbished iPhones.
From December 28, 2008, to December 31, 2008, AT&T Wireless had a brief post-Christmas sale of refurbished 8GB iPhone 3Gs for $99. The sale has not since returned. *Update 2/17/09* AT&T has brought back the $99 Refurbished iPhone 3G sale for a limited time .
Refurbished iPhones are the best deal for purchasing an iPhone. Refurbished 8GB iPhone 3Gs go for $149.00. They can be purchased at Apple.com, Best Buy Mobile brick-and-mortar stores, and AT&T Wireless. Refurbished 16GB iPhone 3Gs are $249.
The best place to purchase a refurbished iPhone is either from Apple or Best Buy as they both offer a 1-year warranty on the phone, which is the same warranty that a brand new iPhone has. AT&T Wireless only offers a 90-day warranty on refurbs.
Check Apple’s online stores first for refurbs, as Apple has the best quality-assurance program. Refurbs from Apple undergo a certification process. Also, I have heard nothing but good things about Apple refurbs. Best Buy also has quality-assurance testing for refurbs and should be the second place you look to buy a refurb from.
Because of the popularity of refurbs, it may by difficult to obtain them from Apple or Best Buy. Buyers can check Apple’s website and contact their local Best Buy and Apple stores. If you don’t care about their smaller warranty, AT&T Wireless refurbs are usually pretty plentiful on their website.
If you have questions about the iPhone, it’s recommended you go to either a AT&T Wireless or Apple Store. Voice plan and data plan questions (eg, corporate discounts, family plans, international rates, coverage, etc) are best answered at AT&T stores. If you’re looking for instruction on how to use the iPhone, Apple stores are the best to go to.
Apple also offers Genius Bars and free workshops on how to use the iPhone at their stores. Note that the Genius Bars are almost always busy, as they offer a terrific one-to-one customer service experience. You’ll need to make an appointment a few days ahead of time. Call your local Apple store to check their Genius Bar schedule.
Refurbished products at Apple.com.
Refurbished iPhones at Best Buy (info only, must buy in-store).
The new Apple In-Ear Headphones are now available for purchase online at Apple.com for $79.99 with free shipping. The headphones were originally slated for an October 2008 release.
The most exciting feature of the heaphones are the dual drivers in each earpiece–a woofer and a tweeter. This feature is normally found in much more expensive headphones, although we’ll reserve judgment on Apple’s quality until we can review them ourselves.
The headphones also feature a microphone and a control button with three buttons: volume adjust, play/pause + call answer button, and record voice memo button.
No word yet on whether the volume controls and the voice record will work with the iPhone, but it seems likely.
Link:
Apple In-Ear Headphones with Dual Drivers at Apple.com
iPhone Alley is reporting that Best Buy is offering insurance for the iPhone 3G via their Geek Squad Black Tie protection plan. The service costs $14.99 a month and only applies to iPhone 3Gs purchased at Best Buy.
The new Geek Squad Black Tie protection plan is for a whole range of consumer electronics purchased at Best Buy, but here are some relevant details for subscription wireless phones:
At $14.99 a month, protecting your iPhone will cost around $180 a year. This might be viable for people who abuse their iPhone. But it should be noted that AT&T Wireless currently offers a free upgrade to your iPhone one year after you begin a two-year contract. You just need to sign a new two-year contract, of course.
Best Buy’s Black Tie protection plan does not cover theft, loss, or water damage. So if you flush it down the toilet, you’re out of luck.
Best Buy Geek Squad Black Tie Protection official page.
(Via iPhone Alley. Shattered iPhone via Wired.com. Toilet image via Ars Technica.)
A quick scan of the iPhone availability page shows most Apple retail stores now have all models of the iPhone in stock. If you were waiting until you were sure you’d get an iPhone, now might be a good time to consider heading on down to the Apple store.
Link:
Apple.com iPhone availability page.
Apple has announced a change to store hours in order to better meet iPhone demand. Two weeks after the iPhone’s launch, long lines are still forming outside of Apple stores for people waiting to purchase an iPhone. From Apple.com’s iPhone availability page:
To accommodate demand for iPhone 3G, all Apple Retail Stores will now open at 8:00 a.m. every day but Sunday. We’re also adding staff to help you get up and running as quickly as possible.
Your favorite Apple Retail Store likely has your iPhone 3G in stock. You can check availability right here. Shipments of iPhone 3G arrive most days and availability is updated nightly.
Select your state and then check the list to see which Apple Retail Stores currently stock iPhone 3G.
Return after 9:00 p.m. to check iPhone 3G availability at your local Apple Retail Store.
Due to the cost of extra staff and working hours, this change would seem to indicate that Apple will continue to resupply stores to meet demand and that Apple stores are unlikely to run out of inventory for long periods of time.
A quick check of the Apple’s iPhone 3G availability website for today shows iPhones are in stock in some stores, but the product remains hot and stores continue to sell out quickly. This is contrary to Engadget’s Ryan Block reporting that there are no iPhone’s left for sale in the US. If you live in Chicago, the Michigan Avenue store has all models currently in stock. Minnesota’s Mall of America has some black 16GBs in stock.
Unlike Nintendo, Apple is known for handling its supply chain well and keeping up with demand. So if you’re still in the market for an iPhone, keep checking.
Link:
Apple.com’s iPhone availability
Yes, most corporate discounts apply to the iPhone 3G (but not the first-gen iPhone). The discounts can be up to 25% off, so it’s worth looking into. If your company has a corporate discount (also know as a FAN or IRU discount), you’ll have to contact AT&T Wireless by going to their Business Center website, calling, or going to an AT&T retail store to have it applied. Apple retail stores cannot apply the discount. From Apple’s support website:
Apple Retail cannot apply the IRU discount because the IRU discount is actually a list of many companies that offer a discount to their employees. Only AT&T’s systems are capable of correctly applying the IRU discount to the contract at point of sale.”
If you’re confused by the acronyms, here’s what they mean:
If you’re unsure if your company offers a discount, a simple way to check is to enter your work email address on AT&T Wireless’ Business Center site. (see picture below)
Helpful Links:
AT&T Wireless Business Center.
IRU discount info at Apple.com.
Discussion at AT&T Wireless forums.
Discussion at Apple.com iPhone 3G forums.
Special thanks to my brother Rob for the info.
Go to an Apple store, not an AT&T store. Customer service is better at Apple stores, employees tend to be better trained and more energetic (in my opinion). At launch, Apple stores will have dedicated roving employees with handheld computers who can sell you the iPhone 3G on the sales floor or at a special iPhone station; you won’t have to wait in line behind someone buying an iMac. Apple stores may look busier, but the lines will move quicker. Expect 15-minute checkout time due to setting up the wireless plan and a credit check.
Bring:
Helpful Link:
More info about the Apple retail store iPhone-purchasing experience at Apple.com.