Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
Heads up, this deal has expired. Want to create a deal alert for this item?
expired Posted by treo • Mar 23, 2023
expired Posted by treo • Mar 23, 2023

256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G 2-in-1 Smartphone (Various Carriers)

(Activation Required) + Free Shipping

from $300

$1,800

Best Buy
1,739 Comments 314,752 Views
Visit Best Buy
Good Deal
Save
Share
Deal Details
Best Buy has 256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G 2-in-1 Foldable Smartphone Tablet (AT&T or Verizon) on sale from $299.99. Shipping is free or select free store pickup where available.

Thanks to Community Member treo for finding this deal.

Note: Activation on cellular carrier is required. Be sure to select your carrier and select 'Activate Today' to see pricing. Availability for store pickup may vary by location.

Available Carriers:Available Colors:
  • Phantom Black
  • Phantom Green
  • Phantom Silver
Specs:
  • Screens:
    • Main: 7.6" Infinity Flex display - Cover: 6.2" Dynamic AMOLED
    • 120Hz AMOLED 2X Screen
  • Memory: 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Main Camera: 12MP Wide, 12MP UW, 12MP Tele + 2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom, 10MP Front
  • Battery: 4,400mAh / 25W Super Fast Charge
  • S Pen Support
  • IPX8 rating

Editor's Notes

Written by powerfuldoppler | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Activation on a cellular carrier is required for from $299.99 pricing. Activation fees may apply and vary by carrier.
  • About this product:
    • Rating of 4.4 from over 140 Best Buy customer reviews.
  • Additional Note:

Original Post

Written by treo
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Best Buy has 256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G 2-in-1 Foldable Smartphone Tablet (AT&T or Verizon) on sale from $299.99. Shipping is free or select free store pickup where available.

Thanks to Community Member treo for finding this deal.

Note: Activation on cellular carrier is required. Be sure to select your carrier and select 'Activate Today' to see pricing. Availability for store pickup may vary by location.

Available Carriers:Available Colors:
  • Phantom Black
  • Phantom Green
  • Phantom Silver
Specs:
  • Screens:
    • Main: 7.6" Infinity Flex display - Cover: 6.2" Dynamic AMOLED
    • 120Hz AMOLED 2X Screen
  • Memory: 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Main Camera: 12MP Wide, 12MP UW, 12MP Tele + 2x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom, 10MP Front
  • Battery: 4,400mAh / 25W Super Fast Charge
  • S Pen Support
  • IPX8 rating

Editor's Notes

Written by powerfuldoppler | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Activation on a cellular carrier is required for from $299.99 pricing. Activation fees may apply and vary by carrier.
  • About this product:
    • Rating of 4.4 from over 140 Best Buy customer reviews.
  • Additional Note:

Original Post

Written by treo

Community Voting

Deal Score
+132
Good Deal
Visit Best Buy

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Top Comments

stealth805
136 Posts
95 Reputation
Want this phone for $299 and not have to pay the monthly fee and be able to use another carrier??
Let me save y'all about 4 hours, which is how long it took me to finally get to the right people to make this happen. Here is how I got this handled
I ordered a $5 Tello number, selected e-sim, received number within a few minutes. Make sure to register the pin they give you in the email, it gives you all the port out info access. Theres a code there that is needed to enter in Best Buy portal when you port it over to ATT.
Ported that number in to ATT via Best Buy portal
Picked up phone
Powered on Phone with ATT sim
Finished ALL account creation, including pin number creation etc via ATT email
Spent 3 hours getting tossed around 10 different reps and departments and supervisors via online chat, disconnected multiple times, told no multiple times, etc etc etc.
Don't bother submitting request online for unlock, it will be denied.
Just call technical support, JUST CALL!!! 1800-288-2020. Call from a phone other that the Z Fold 3. Reason you call from other phone is you will want to pop your sim in from other provider to get to the sim unlock prompt while you are on the phone with them. Tell them you need technical support, you may get tossed around one more time, but you WILL get someone that can help you.
Have your link ready that states phones paid in full at purchase can be unlocked without waiting 60 days. I had to legit provide not just the wording, but the exact link. The rep will literally navigate to it and will be super surprised and state that this is the first they've ever heard of this policy and that they always get hassled by the unlock team and ultimately never get the unlock code for the customer.
Have your receipt from Best Buy ready ready to go (I had to legit take pics with my phone and text them to a number they gave me).
After about 10 minutes with the rep, they provided the unlock code.
Make sure to input the unlock code prior to getting transferred over to cancellation department.
Get sent over to cancellation department and submit for cancellation under buyer's remorse policy.
Done and done. Save yourself a lot of time and just call them. I paid $299 plus tax and have a fully unlocked phone on T-mobile with no issues at all. ATT service is shut down, I didn't care about the Tello number, much easier to pay the $5 for a Tello than mess with a number you actually care about keeping. Just cancel the service and it is over and done with.
I obviously can't promise this is gonna work for every single person. I suppose a non-cooperative rep might not wanna go the extra mile for you, but my telephone rep was super helpful and patient. She admitted I had done my diligence with researching the terms and pushed the "unlock team" to help her with the code. YMMV of course, but this worked for me. Just be patient and courteous to the rep. I was frustrated with how long it was taking but you need to acknowledge that each new person you talk to, it is their first interaction with you, they have no idea how long you've been dealing with people. You can avoid a lot of frustration by just calling to start out instead of trying to manage the situation via online chat.
Questions, feel free to ask, perhaps I wasn't completely thorough, but that was basically what I went through. Good luck all.
quantecipher
2786 Posts
1616 Reputation
As soon as yo have the phone in hand.

Port out the line to cancel. Line automatically cancels as soon as the number it ported out (5-10 mins). You can port to Tello for $2.50.
https://slickdeals.net/f/16531969-tello-50-off-selected-plans

These phones are subsidized by the carriers and hoping people would switch or add more lines and stay with them, etc; therefore different carrier may offer different prices.

You can request unlock right away because it's paid in full with no money owed; i.e., no monthly installment,

Yes.

Port out the number to cancel right away (5-10 min, as soon as the number is ported) so that you don't have to deal with rep that doesn't allow you to cancel. You can port to Tello for $2.50.
https://slickdeals.net/f/16531969-tello-50-off-selected-plans

Yes, but you can cancel right away.
snoopykul
26 Posts
18 Reputation
Option 1 worked for me

I picked up my Fold 3 this morning from bestbuy. ATT variant.
Ordered online with the porting in option as it wouldn't let me order otherwise. Used a random boost mobile number I had and have no intention of porting in a number.
BB didn't ask for anything in store, just gave me the phone and i walked out.

Received att emails after pickup, created account, created ATT PIN, jotted down account number, and saw $60 plan but $0 due.

unboxed and booted with t-mobile sim card, asked for unlock code.

tried to unlock from my att portal, but denied.
tried to unlock using the request unlock website for non att members, but denied via email

Started a chat with att to cancel service and request unlock.
I mentioned having bad service reception in my area and wanted to cancel and wanted to unlock phone to use it for work which was a different provider.
They wanted me to reset the network, but i said not interested just want to cancel.

They also mentioned that i lose my port in number if i cancelled. which was wierd since i never actually ported in the number yet.

Eventually, they said, "Since the total due balance if $0.00 there will be no charges now. Your services with AT&T will be completely shut off."

Then i asked about the network unlock, which they said they sent directly to my phone. Didn't work even though she said it was unlocked on their system. Eventually they provided the unlock code which worked.

Now my fold 3 is cancelled with att service with 0 payments or fees and unlocked so i can use my Tmobile sim.

hope that helps some of ya.

1,738 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Mar 29, 2023
1,478 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Mar 29, 2023
garymeter48
Mar 29, 2023
1,478 Posts
Quote from fungo45 :
Still not a bad deal for a $1800 phone, so just need to figure out if this is the phone I want long term. Not sold yet on the size.
worst case scenario, I cancel this week and throw it on Swappa to try and break even
I'm in a similar situation as you. I suspect many of these purchased phones will end up on Swappa, eBay, Marketplace, etc..
Mar 29, 2023
1,478 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Mar 29, 2023
garymeter48
Mar 29, 2023
1,478 Posts
Quote from iNICK20 :
Ask them to create an case, and it should be unlocked within 24 hours.
This is what happened to me today. I spoke with advanced tech support, and they created a case for me, gave me the case number. I don't hold out much hope for the unlock to come. If they do actaully unlock, does the sim card need to be in the Fold 3, or just connected to wifi? Also, do they provide a unlock code or somehow remotely unlock?
Mar 29, 2023
11,063 Posts
Joined Mar 2011
Mar 29, 2023
gibsonbass
Mar 29, 2023
11,063 Posts
Your package should arrive Thu, March 30 - Sun, April 2
We're working on shipping this item. It's unlikely, but if your item isn't available by Wed, April 12, we'll issue a refund.

If BB cancel my order, I won't get the phone but I ll be charged for the service?
Pro
Mar 29, 2023
4,470 Posts
Joined Aug 2014
Mar 29, 2023
iNICK20
Pro
Mar 29, 2023
4,470 Posts
Quote from garymeter48 :
I'm in a similar situation as you. I suspect many of these purchased phones will end up on Swappa, eBay, Marketplace, etc..
I mean yeah MSRP was $1,800 but the device is currently selling nowhere near that price atm online. Swappa shows pre-owned for under $600.
Pro
Mar 29, 2023
4,470 Posts
Joined Aug 2014
Mar 29, 2023
iNICK20
Pro
Mar 29, 2023
4,470 Posts
Quote from gibsonbass :
Your package should arrive Thu, March 30 - Sun, April 2
We're working on shipping this item. It's unlikely, but if your item isn't available by Wed, April 12, we'll issue a refund.

If BB cancel my order, I won't get the phone but I ll be charged for the service?
I assume so.
Mar 29, 2023
11,063 Posts
Joined Mar 2011
Mar 29, 2023
gibsonbass
Mar 29, 2023
11,063 Posts
Quote from fungo45 :
I was also unsuccessful through chat in getting this unlocked with the person citing the newly changed policy (even though she claims it's always been that way). What I did not like is that she said it has to be active for 60 days, not just 60 days after purchase. My plan was to cancel service and throw it in a drawer for 60 days and then unlock.
So it seems (at least to me) that if I want to use this on T-Mobile, I need to pay for 2 months of service, unlock, and then cancel.Bummer. So my $300 deal is closer to $550 when it's all said and done. Still not a bad deal for a $1800 phone, so just need to figure out if this is the phone I want long term. Not sold yet on the size.
worst case scenario, I cancel this week and throw it on Swappa to try and break even
Quote from iNICK20 :
I assume so.
That would be like double whammy.
Mar 29, 2023
981 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Mar 29, 2023
xjimmyx
Mar 29, 2023
981 Posts
It's available again for shipping.

I've read this whole thread, and 99% of the comments regard unlocking. However, I am wondering if I can get the phone locked at $299 and not have to pay activation or any amount of service. Is this doable? Do they charge activation and 1 any service time at the time of ordering?

I was going to do the port in during order and immediately port out thing, then just use my existing Cricket SIM in the Fold.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Pro
Mar 29, 2023
4,470 Posts
Joined Aug 2014
Mar 29, 2023
iNICK20
Pro
Mar 29, 2023
4,470 Posts
Quote from xjimmyx :
It's available again for shipping.

I've read this whole thread, and 99% of the comments regard unlocking. However, I am wondering if I can get the phone locked at $299 and not have to pay activation or any amount of service. Is this doable? Do they charge activation and 1 any service time at the time of ordering?

I was going to do the port in during order and immediately port out thing, then just use my existing Cricket SIM in the Fold.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
They don't charge anything upfront. Just the cost of phone plus tax. So you'll be good 👍
Mar 29, 2023
32 Posts
Joined Nov 2016
Mar 29, 2023
amtu15ive
Mar 29, 2023
32 Posts
Haven't heard back from FCC. Just followed up with a complaint to the FTC.

Opening a case with AT&T won't work they will follow up and deny you the next day. You have to out pressure on them. They changed the policy so they not trying to accommodate with the unlock code. It's simply luck of the draw.
Mar 29, 2023
1,478 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Mar 29, 2023
garymeter48
Mar 29, 2023
1,478 Posts
Quote from xjimmyx :
It's available again for shipping.

I've read this whole thread, and 99% of the comments regard unlocking. However, I am wondering if I can get the phone locked at $299 and not have to pay activation or any amount of service. Is this doable? Do they charge activation and 1 any service time at the time of ordering?

I was going to do the port in during order and immediately port out thing, then just use my existing Cricket SIM in the Fold.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
You should be able to use it on Cricket, even with it locked. I've had my locked Fold 3 running on RedPocket at&t without any problems.
Mar 29, 2023
198 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
Mar 29, 2023
mydealcollections
Mar 29, 2023
198 Posts
Quote from xjimmyx :
It's available again for shipping.

I've read this whole thread, and 99% of the comments regard unlocking. However, I am wondering if I can get the phone locked at $299 and not have to pay activation or any amount of service. Is this doable? Do they charge activation and 1 any service time at the time of ordering?

I was going to do the port in during order and immediately port out thing, then just use my existing Cricket SIM in the Fold.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
I am in a similar boat here. Was planning to unlock it (like others did) but it seems the door is closed (with few exceptions). I filed a case yesterday and came back "we are unable to unlock. try again after 60 days: filed another case today and will find out what happens tomorrow. I too a Cricket user so there is no problem using the phone but I want to unlock it so that I can use esim (s) for my 2nd line.
Mar 29, 2023
1,677 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
Mar 29, 2023
techie333
Mar 29, 2023
1,677 Posts
Reading the latest posts on this, I can't believe the SD effect caused them to change their unlock policy LMAO
I bet they are closely monitoring this thread and closing all the loop holes.

I called in for the $110 bill and they are claiming not to pay the bill at the due date and it will be zeroed out in a month which I highly doubt and gives me anxiety. Hate this waiting game, it's BS they can't take care of it right away and hide behind this 'just wait for credit' smokescreen.
Last edited by techie333 March 29, 2023 at 01:08 PM.
Mar 29, 2023
6,976 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
Mar 29, 2023
lou2004
Mar 29, 2023
6,976 Posts
Quote from shibinloy :
I got charged $100+ as well. Refused to waive my activation charge until i quoted the service agreement. It can be found here:

https://www.att.com/legal/terms.c...ement.html

quote:
2.4.5 Your Termination Rights and Ability to Change Wireless Service:
You can cancel any individual line of Wireless Service on your Account or your whole Account at any time. You must pay all amounts owed for Wireless Service used prior to cancellation including applicable taxes, surcharges, AT&T fees, and other fees. Authorized agents may charge additional fees. *If you cancel your Wireless Service within the first 3 days of activation, we will refund your activation fee, if applicable.* If you have a Service Commitment, you can cancel Wireless Service within 14 days of activation by returning the Device you purchased, and you will not be required to pay an ETF. Your Device must be in like-new condition with original packaging to be eligible for return. See att.com/returns for details. AT&T also may charge you a restocking fee for any returns. If you cancel prior to end of your billing period, your monthly Wireless Service charges are not refunded or prorated.
they refunded both service fee and activation fee or just activation fee?
Mar 29, 2023
1,677 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
Mar 29, 2023
techie333
Mar 29, 2023
1,677 Posts
Quote from shibinloy :
I got charged $100+ as well. Refused to waive my activation charge until i quoted the service agreement. It can be found here:

https://www.att.com/legal/terms.c...ement.html [att.com]

quote:
2.4.5 Your Termination Rights and Ability to Change Wireless Service:
You can cancel any individual line of Wireless Service on your Account or your whole Account at any time. You must pay all amounts owed for Wireless Service used prior to cancellation including applicable taxes, surcharges, AT&T fees, and other fees. Authorized agents may charge additional fees. *If you cancel your Wireless Service within the first 3 days of activation, we will refund your activation fee, if applicable.* If you have a Service Commitment, you can cancel Wireless Service within 14 days of activation by returning the Device you purchased, and you will not be required to pay an ETF. Your Device must be in like-new condition with original packaging to be eligible for return. See att.com/returns for details. AT&T also may charge you a restocking fee for any returns. If you cancel prior to end of your billing period, your monthly Wireless Service charges are not refunded or prorated.
Thanks, very useful. Which department did you talk to?

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Mar 29, 2023
1 Posts
Joined Mar 2023
Mar 29, 2023
MagentaClover2303
Mar 29, 2023
1 Posts
Quote from mydealcollections :
Thank you reppedSmilie
I am not able get latest software eventhough unlocked from ATT and now I am able to get Tmobile service and everything but not updated to Andriod 13

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Popular Deals

View All

Trending Deals

View All