I need an Android phone with BT 5.3 & LE Audio. My Samsung S9 only has BT 5.0 and ASHA. I decide a Pixel 8 unlocked with 128GB will fit the bill and it has updates until 2030, whereas the equivalent Samsung S23 only until 2027. I hunt for deals but decide to just buy new from Best Buy and pick up today and call them this morning to ask a few questions. Woman tells me they have an Open Box one with 256GB for just $12 more than the 128GB model.
She says I can order online or at the store. Says ordering online insures I get it, rather than chancing someone else will order ahead of me (I live 3 miles from the store). I order it online. I paid with Paypal. Message said it would be ready for pickup in about an hour and I'd be emailed when it was ready, it gave me the Order#, I'm set.
I got on with my morning and then look at my email inbox and there are messages about my order being cancelled and a refund on Paypal. I follow the links and it says the item is "not available." I call to ask WTH happened. I get a guy. He says (guessing, or maybe he knows, I don't know) someone else ordered it a bit before me but their system didn't update until later, therefore my order is cancelled. I say I think they should provide me with one at the price I paid (which was $461.99, the regular price being $509). He says they can't do that. I insist they should. He says they can't. I ask to talk to his manager. He assures me the manager will say the same thing. I insist, insist again. He puts me on hold, comes back after a while and doesn't put the manager on but says the manager says to direct me to order at regular price and they will make the adjustment.
I meantime, holding my phone in one hand, am navigating their website with the other hand and attempt to order the item. It shows that delivery is not available and that pickup isn't available either. Therefore I can't order it! All the time I'm on the phone with this guy. I keep poking around and discover they have an Open Box one, also top quality, the "Excellent" kind, just like the one I ordered earlier that got cancelled, contains original packaging and items. It says I can pick it up either 30 or 36 miles away or have free delivery on Dec. 3 (Tuesday). I go for the delivery. It's the exact same price I paid for the one that was cancelled.
I call back and ask if I have the 14 day return on this. The guy says for the holidays this is extended until Jan. 14, 2025. I say full refund? He says no, on cell phones they have a $45 restocking fee. Meantime, my provider, redpocket.com tells me I have to provide them with the IMEI number to know if it works on their networks. So, when I get it I have to get the IMEI and call them.