Rumor Squash: Best Buy Not Receiving iPhone 5 Display…Yet

Remember a few days ago when we told you about that mysterious display showing up to Best Buy brick and mortar locations stating on October 21st? The interwebs(we were hopefull) assumed it was material and a set date for the newest iPhone release based on the start time they wanted Managers or key holders to be in store for delivery.

Well, as many of the other rumors that have been churned out of the mill – this one has been squashed. Sources for MacRumors are stating that the display mentioned in the memo are that for an iPad end-cap display to give the retail giant adequate space to display the iPad 2.

We have heard from several of our Best Buy sources, however, that this is not the case. The “C2 end display” cited in the calendar listing is the location of Best Buy’s iPad display, and updates to this display are fairly routine with new promotional materials or other layout changes. We have heard that Best Buy may be planning to enlarge these “endcap” displays with this event to be able to display more iPad units.

Hopefully this means we’ll see the iPhone a bit earlier in the month. But here we are, September 7th and we still don’t have any proof of a September Event or any type of normal September music party. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Rumor: Best Buy Memo Puts iPhone 5 Pre-Orders This Week – iPhone In October

Well, as Mikey posted earlier today about Best Buy Managers being called in to be in store for an Apple fixture being constructed and displayed on Oct 21st, we are now seeing more Best Buy leaks claiming that the Big Box locations will begin taking pre-orders of Apples newest baby this week and putting it in our hands the first week of October. This leaked memo also adds fuel to the Sprint iPhone release as well, making them the 3rd carrier to have the iPhone in it’s arsenal.

Rumors have been flowing out of the mill around the launch being in late September / early October, does this confirm it? Best Buy does state that Apple product launch dates are subject to change.

You readers think we’ll be seeing the iPhone rocking the Sprint logo? Will Apple announce the iPhone this month? Rumors won’t stop funneling through our fingers, but as always, they are just rumors.

Don’t Go To Best Buy For An iPad 2 (Or Anything Else).

The damming news surrounding various Best Buys’ “new policies” concerning iPad 2 purchases isn’t getting any better as the days progress. Initial reports were that Best Buy was simply withholding iPad 2s for pre-orders as well as trying to sell expensive protection plans (read: useless protection plans). As the brouhaha has risen over the past few days, more information stating that Apple gave BB special permission to employ such tactics for a “special promotion”. The “promotion” it seems is just as was thought before — BB is trying to force potential iPad 2 customers to purchase a $109 service plan/protection package with each iPad 2.

Luckily for us, one diligent CrunchGear reader took the plunge and bought into the “you have to buy a protection plan to walk out with an iPad 2″ game the local BB manager was playing. After said purchase, the reader went to another BB location in the area and inquired about this new “policy”. Wouldn’t you know it, the manager denied any such policy existed.

And that, folks, is why you shouldn’t shop at Best Buy for an iPad 2, TV, CD, and pretty much anything else.

White iPhone Signage Hits Best Buy. White iPhone Lacking LED Flash?

Hey look — the white iPhone 4 finally making its way into Best Buy stores. Don’t let the $599 scare you away — that’s sans contract. What is slightly worrisome though is the absence of any LED flash in the picture. From the reflection above, it doesn’t appear that there is an LED directly next to the camera lens. That could mean that it is on the other side of the phone in order to reduce lighting issues with the camera (the main reason the white iPhone has been delayed thus far). Either way, we’re just glad to finally have a white iPhone. However, if it is in fact lacking an LED, some hard decisions will have to be made.

Would you buy a white iPhone 4 without an LED flash?

Best Buy Launching Mobile Device Buy Back Program.

For cellphone users who are constantly upgrading phones every few months, news of an upcoming “Buy Back” program from Best Buy Mobile no doubt perks your ears. According to the leaked documentation above, the “Buy Back” (clever) program will go as follows:

• $59.99 at time of handset purchase

• Between months 1-6: 50% of phone’s full retail price.

• Between months 6-12 and 12-18: 40%

• Between months 19-25: 20%

What’s more enticing is that the Buy Back program will also cover other devices as well — not just cellphones and smartphones, but tablets as well. For people who aren’t as OCD about upgrading every time the latest and greatest gadgets come out, this isn’t all that important. But for those of you who are constantly eating money when upgrading your phones every few months, even the lowest 20% buy back price helps.

Will the above offer entire anyone to do more mobile shopping at Best Buy Mobile?

Best Buy T-Mobile Activation Service Down. Nexus S Buyers Have to Pay Full Price.

Potential Nexus S owners will want to avoid Best Buy for the time being. As tempting as it is to stroll to your local BB store, doing so won’t net you a shiny, new, subsidized Nexus S. For almost a week now, BB’s T-Mobile activation system has been down with no ETA for a fix in sight — this according to a few BGR readers. Because of that, BB can only sale contract-free, unsubsidized Nexus S phones. Not good if you don’t have $500+ burning a hole in your pocket.

I would think we would have heard more of this issue if it were really down across the country. Nonetheless, an email has been sent to BB for clarification. In the meantime, you might want to look elsewhere for your Nexus S fix.

Best Buy Removes Restocking Fees On Most Electronics Starting December 18th! #bestbuy

In a move that will hopefully spread to other retailers, Best Buy quietly announced today via their website that their will no longer be any restocking fees, save for special orders:

Best Buy continually listens to our customers, and they told us they want to give confidently this holiday season and every other day of the year — and with that comes easier returns. Effective Saturday, December 18, Best Buy is improving its return policy by removing restocking fees for all products except special orders.

However, the website Consumerist was able to snag a copy of the email being distributed to Best Buy stores nation wide, detailing the new restocking fee changes as well as touching on refunds for users who were charged restocking fees between November 17th-December17th:

Effective Saturday, Dec. 18, the 15 percent restocking fee will no longer apply to computers (including notebooks, tablets and iPads), projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, GPS navigation, in-car video systems, DJ equipment and lighting, or Pro-Audio equipment. The 10 percent restocking fee will no longer apply to iPhones. Restocking fees shouldn’t be charged for any returns of these products going forward.

This policy change is being made because we want to be the best destination for gifts and technology. To do that we need to make it easy for our customers to return product when they need to, which will give them one more reason to love Best Buy.
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If customers who were charged a restocking fee between Nov. 17 and Dec. 17 come into the store for a refund, process a return transaction for the restocking fee amount.

With online shopping becoming more prevalent year after year, big box retailers are having to take drastic measures to keep people away from the world wide web and walking in their physical doors.

Will such a move work on you?

[Update 2] Sorry Samsung, You Can’t Fool Us — Nexus S (Elite?) Spied on Best Buy’s Website.

Samsung came out hot and heavy recently, denying a growing rumor that they were the upcoming Nexus 2/Nexus S manufacturer. For those new to the Android scene, the reason a Nexus 2/S is important is because it gives Android afionados a place to pick up a non-carrier gimped Android device that will (1) be at the top-end of the market hardware wise as well as (2) receive updates as soon as they’re available — being a “Pure Google Experience phone” and all.

But all of that denying was for nought. The screenshot above was snagged by an eagle-eyed Phandroid reader. The chances of the Nexus 2/S being a legitimate device are looking even better, especially in light of those ever persistant rumors and now a major electronics retailer apparently preparing for an upcoming launch. And let’s not forget, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) is due to be officially announced any day/week now. A new “Pure” Android phone would certainly start things off right, wouldn’t you say?

Update:

Also hearing some info that this could be the Samsung Elite. Android Central Forums. But if that’s the case — Samsung branding the device as it’s own, possibly skinning it with TouchWiz — then it won’t be a “pure google phone”. It may still launch with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Though updates would be delayed.

Update 2:

Oh hey, a Best Buy Mobile ad showing an announced phone. Could it be…?

When will it stop: Best Buy to enter Android app store scene?

I agree wholeheartedly that choice is the best thing to have and leave up to the customer. For as awesome as many aspects of iOS are, there are plenty of downfalls — namely the overly closed nature of the platform. Android’s openness on the other hand is equally as awesome though has several caveats of its own. One of the biggest flaws with the “do what you want with it” approach is that it allows carriers and other 3rd parties to actually lock down the platform and restrict innovation and openness. With that said, the Android platform is getting increasingly crowded these days with 3rd party app stores. The most notable of which are the upcoming Verizon Wireless and Amazon branded stores. And yes, we have another one on the way — Best Buy.