FREE $25 GC to Microsoft Store if you own a working Smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, PalmOS, WebOS, some Symbian) - B&M Only "Smoked by Windows Phone" thru May 10, 2012

Quote from whataflyguy : I got my pick up email today says I have to pick up by tomorrow lol. Anyways I did the challenge at Tysons VA 3/29 and requested a Titan. I will update again tomorrow.

you serious?
Tysons must be doing this slowly now
i been having a phone for 3 weeks or more already
i did the challenge on 3/28
i remember when I picked mine up, there was a line for pick up
i only saw 1 or 2 people picked their phone up when I visit Tysons last weekend

Quote from jkatakoon : Got this email today too. Does this mean no more $500 gift cards? Anyone with an update from the Santa Clara store receiving a $500 gift card lately?

I went last week to the Santa Clara store and got a $500 gift card. =D

I had a Question, where do you guys find the navigon navi at? i have a problem trying to locate the file, to try out. if anyone has a link they can send my way that would be awesome. If you can't post the link, PM me please.

Thank you

I'm in Atlanta (Lenox store) and did the challenge on 3/27. Had a friend who went with me who received his Titan I about 3 weeks ago. I never received a confirmation email. Turned out they entered my email incorrectly initially. After several emails to the following:
SBWP@microsoft.com
storesoc@microsoft.com

I finally picked up my phone on 5/4 after receiving this email:

Thank you for participating in the Windows Phone Challenge! We're sorry that your preferred choice of eligible phone was not available when you took the challenge. However, we recently received a shipment of eligible Windows Phones at the Atlanta, GA Microsoft Store where you participated. To maximize the chances of receiving your preferred phone before we run out of eligible phone inventory.

Remember, under the rules of the contest, you must bring in the smartphone you originally used in the challenge to be recycled. Phone choice is limited to on-hand stock and will be available on a first-come, first served basis, so please come in as soon as possible.

Thanks again, and we hope to see you at the Microsoft Store soon.


I asked if I could get the Titan II instead but it wasn't stock unfortunately. Also could have received a $200 GC instead of the phone.

Overall, can't complain for the free phone even though got a little anxious towards the end about the wait. What's interesting is I received another pickup email later that night AFTER picking up my phone:


Dear Microsoft Store Customer,

Thank you for participating in the Windows Phone Challenge! We're thrilled to say that the response to the challenge continues to exceed our expectations.

We're sorry that your preferred choice of eligible phone was not available when you took the challenge and we appreciate your patience while we secured more inventory. However, we're pleased to inform you that we recently received a shipment of HTC Titan I Windows Phones at the Atlanta, GA Microsoft Store where you participated. Please return to the store before May 6, 2012 to select from the available handsets.

Remember, under the rules of the contest, you must bring in the smartphone you originally used in the challenge to be recycled. Stock of the Titan I is limited and will be available on a first-come, first served basis, so please come in as soon as possible.

If you'd like to transfer contacts, activate your phone, or make adjustments to your account, we invite you to schedule a 15-Minute Answer Desk appointment. Simply visit your local store page here and select the "schedule an appointment" link to get started.

Thanks again, and we hope to see you at the Microsoft Store soon.

went to santa clara store with fds today because one of my fd got an email for pick up titan
thought they don't hv challenge anymore, but they still hv it when we got there.
so four of us got $25 gc for each person.

then my fd when to the counter and ask for the trade. He was trying to get a titan 2 but the staff rejected him because they have titan in stock and titan 2 is OOS. My fd can either get the titan or a $200 giftcard.

maybe my fd could get a lumia 900 if he didn't wait for the pick up email and go there 2-3 days earlier...poor him

Quote from julz05 : I went last week to the Santa Clara store and got a $500 gift card. =D

How were you able to do it? Who did you speak to? What did you say? Did you have any email from Microsoft? If so, which one?

Sorry in advance for all the questions.

So there were no MS stores in Dallas but am travelling to SFO next week...wondering if there's any point in even trying at the store (no more phone swaps i guess just a $25 card?)

Quote from jmman : I am a little perturbed with MS at this point. We received a call today from the Lonetree location that they had Titan 1's in stock and to come down and pick them up. Originally we requested 2 Focus S's, but we were told that they will not be getting any more of those. After a two hour drive we arrive at the store to be told that they are all gone. Huh? Why did I just drive 2 hours for that? And the $200 gift card is not of 'comparable value' to a $550 no contract phone. I just sent a little email to MS expressing my displeasure......

2 hours? there is a possibility that it sold out during the time period. Should've told rep to put it on hold.

Quote from jkatakoon : How were you able to do it? Who did you speak to? What did you say? Did you have any email from Microsoft? If so, which one? Sorry in advance for all the questions.

I don't remember who I talked to exactly. It was a guy. I told him I got an email about getting a gift card instead of phone because the one I wanted was out of stock. I asked him what my options were. So he pulled up my information and told me I had 3 options.

- Wait for the Focus S to be in stock, which most likely won't happen since the phone has been discontinued.
- Pick any other phone they have available right now.
- Take a $200 gift card without trading in my old phone.

I told him that a friend of mine came in a few weeks ago and got a $500 gift card (the value of the phone) and asked if that promotion was still available. He said that they had that promotion for 1 day and that they were no longer doing that. Then he said he would extend the promotion to me that day if that was what I really wanted. =)

I didn't have to show any email. The only email I've received from them was the $200 GC email. Yesterday, a friend of mine tried the same thing but didn't get the $500 gift card because her phone was in stock.

I'm still waiting for the Focus S. Any updates for the Mission Viejo store?

Quote from batizzang : I'm still waiting for the Focus S. Any updates for the Mission Viejo store?

Amen to that. Still waiting for focus S MV since 3/27. Some say they arent getting anymore Focus S so when you go they "say" you got the email already. Thats what some ppl in this thread say. Not sure though

Quote from lp113 : Amen to that. Still waiting for focus S MV since 3/27. Some say they arent getting anymore Focus S so when you go they "say" you got the email already. Thats what some ppl in this thread say. Not sure though

The MV store told me they got 2-3 Focus S on the last shipment and that's pretty much all they've been getting. She said they got a ton of Titan I, but they are reserved for those who have a pickup email only. Of course the email from Corporate contradicts them as first come first served, so how's the phone reserved?

Quote from avalon427 : The MV store told me they got 2-3 Focus S on the last shipment and that's pretty much all they've been getting. She said they got a ton of Titan I, but they are reserved for those who have a pickup email only. Of course the email from Corporate contradicts them as first come first served, so how's the phone reserved?

Want to e-mail MS for us and ask? Probably won't get a reply until Monday though.

it's out of topic but I don't understand the way Microsoft runs their business. There are some products on the website but are not at the physical stores. I cannot use giftcard for purchasing online and store managers refused ordering it for me and also gave me a really wonderful answer "that's the way we are running now" :|