iPhone sales black friday

[buzz1fan]

im looking at Walmart or target to replace my sons phone with a new model and get a gift card. I’ve done this in the past except it was a new line or an upgrade for me.

This phone will be a present for son for xmas. They said I will need to activate it before leaving the store. How do you suggest I do this since I want to hold on to it to xmas.
I was told I can activate it with his number but his current phone would turn off. Then when I leave store I would call Verizon and have them turn it off and go back to his old one. Then xmas I call back and switch.

Is it easier for me to add it to my number then call Verizon and change it back?

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[570traveler]

When I bought new iPhones last year from Best Buy (with a great gift card offer that I turned into Disney gift cards), I did not have to activate them. I bought 4 phones and my brother and son did not want theirs activated since they weren’t with us and wouldn’t be home for several hours. It wasn’t an issue and the clerk even told us how to activate them (change the SIM card) once home. My son activated his that night and my brother didn’t activate his for several weeks. I’d definitely ask if they must be activated in the store.

 

[wenrob]

I bought DD an iPhone for Christmas one year and was able to wait to activate it. I’d talk to someone else. Once you sign the contract you’re locked in so it shouldn’t matter when you activate it.

 

[descovy]

At least the target will make you activate it. (As I have done the same thing). I assume Best Buy will too.

Here’s what I did... I switched the SIM cards. So, for a period, your sons phone won’t work. But you can offer to “look at it” and put the new SIM card into his old phone when he’s not looking. Blame Att the weather or whatever. You’ll get away with it!

 

[BruinEd03]

Part of the reason they want you to activate it right there and then is to prevent people from just buying them and selling them online.

 

[pigletto]

We've bought IPhones for dd and other phones for Dh as Christmas presents. We set up the contract before leaving the store, but set the start date as the 24th or 25th so it's not active until that date.

 

[arminnie]

Given that you are with Verizon who knows what crud they will pull. I bought a phone via Verizon a few years ago when they advertised that you could try it for 30 days.

Within 48 hours I decided that I hated the phone. Verizon let me return it but charged me a $350 restocking fee. And then charged me $116 dollars for the "service" that month - the 48 hours where I used no data and made maybe 4 phone calls. They are the most unethical people I've ever dealt with.

 

[buzz1fan]

I stopped by store tonight and she said it must be activated to his phone number that night. So I plan to bring his phone with me get a new one and have it activated. Then I will call Verizon and have them change phones to his old one. Then I will switch it back xmas! What a pain but oh well.

I just need to make sure Verizon is open thanksgiving night for customer service.

 

[MikeNamez]

You will have to hand over the old phone in order to get the Target/Walmart/BestBuy gift card. As for a surprise, this wont work.

 

[wenrob]

You will have to hand over the old phone in order to get the Target/Walmart/BestBuy gift card. As for a surprise, this wont work.

What? If the OP owns the previous phone, it’s hers.

OP, I just had a thought. If you have to activate the phone (which I think is ridiculous, they’re going to get their money whether you activate now or later) why not activate on your number? Then just pull the SIM from the new phone and put it in your phone. Christmas Day put the SIM from DS phone into the new one. Of course if you are on contract or are making payments this won’t work.

I have never had to activate a phone in store if I choose not to but we have AT&T and usually go through Apple. Is this a carrier thing or where you plan to buy thing? You’re committing to a plan so I don’t understand what difference it makes. Someone up thread said it’s so you can’t sell but, yes, you can. All you’d have to do is pay off, and pull the SIM. Honestly, the $50 wouldn’t be worth it to me if it ruined the surprise.

 

[buzz1fan]

Getting the phone at Walmart over a cell store gets us a 300 gift card. That is why I’m okay with the hassle.

 

[570traveler]

You will have to hand over the old phone in order to get the Target/Walmart/BestBuy gift card. As for a surprise, this wont work.

We did not hand in our old phones at Best Buy last year. They did offer to purchase them (which we refused)

 

[wenrob]

Getting the phone at Walmart over a cell store gets us a 300 gift card. That is why I’m okay with the hassle.

Sorry, not sure where I got $50 from.

 

[scard192]

My sister is hoping to get a new iPhone on BF.She is on T-Mobile, any suggestions for deals?Most of the ones we have seen are not T-Mobile.
TiA

 

[MikeNamez]

We did not hand in our old phones at Best Buy last year. They did offer to purchase them (which we refused)

They must have changed this. I went to do this last year and they wanted me to hand my iphone 6s over as part of the promotion.

 

[wenrob]

They must have changed this. I went to do this last year and they wanted me to hand my iphone 6s over as part of the promotion.

Was your phone still financed?

 

[wishuponastar1984]

Does anyone know about the quantity available? We don't eat Thanksgiving dinner till the evening so I can't be there on Thursday. Do you think Walmart or Target will run out that night? I am happy to get up bright and early.

 

[MikeNamez]

Was your phone still financed?

No, at that point I had owned the phone. After they wanted to take the phone from me and some issues with ATT service i ended up switching to iPhone Forever from Sprint.

 

[mdurette]

Glad I found this thread. DD will be getting her 1st phone for xmas this year, we have Verizon and I was just going to go to the store and add it to my account. A couple of questions if you don't mind.

1. I see here it may be cheaper for me to buy somewhere else and then bring to Verizon. Correct? (looking at an iPhone - thinking a 6 series)

2. She has an ipad now with cell service and a phone number. I'm thinking of taking that off our plan to save the money when I have to add her new phone. (hoping for a wash). Would this make sense to do. With the phone, I don't see her having a super need for the cell service on the ipad anymore.

 

[descovy]

Does anyone know about the quantity available? We don't eat Thanksgiving dinner till the evening so I can't be there on Thursday. Do you think Walmart or Target will run out that night? I am happy to get up bright and early.

If you’re flexible on color and size, I’d give Target a shot ($250 gift card). They close at midnight Thursday this year instead of being open all night. So you may have a decent shot Friday morning.