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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 314,701 Views
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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
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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

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Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Joined Dec 2021
Apr 6, 2023
SeriousKitten2924
Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Quote from sbihue :
Its not an error, the system is denying your unlock request. Since you have exhausted all avenues o unlock your phone, One last thing to try, If you have family/friends on AT&T, you can insert their SIM into the Fold3, make a few calls, etc until the phone shows up as a device under their account. Once it does that, you can try submitting a new unlock request from the device itself (my ATT app). If that doesn't work then you are pretty much out of options. You can pay on ebay to get it unlocked or wait 60 days or file an FCC complaint.Read the thread on how to to the latter and what to expect and when.

good luck
I didn't get why SIM swap method didn't work for me as many here reported was flawless. I still able to call with that number, but can't receive calls. Perhaps this is the problem? Porting department said number ported, but why I still have Google Voice voice mail on this number?!
Apr 6, 2023
6,976 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
Apr 6, 2023
lou2004
Apr 6, 2023
6,976 Posts
Quote from SeriousKitten2924 :
I didn't get why SIM swap method didn't work for me as many here reported was flawless. I still able to call with that number, but can't receive calls. Perhaps this is the problem? Porting department said number ported, but why I still have Google Voice voice mail on this number?!
your main page needs to show XR. put the sim back to XR. make few calls. restart phone. make few calls or use data. If you still dont see XR, call support and tell them u have issue with your phone. They will reset from their end. Once u see XR on main page. then try unlock again as non customer.
Apr 6, 2023
102 Posts
Joined Aug 2014
Apr 6, 2023
NFS851
Apr 6, 2023
102 Posts
Quote from evets88 :
My screen protector also is starting to lift after a week. Did you have to call Samsung to get authorization before taking it to ubreakfix or just take it straight to ubreakfix?
So I went to the ubreakifix store first since its on my way home from work and asked them if they do the replacements/had them in stock. They said yes to both but couldn't fit me in that day and to just make an appointment online for the following day which I did through their website. When I took it in the following day they did everything, verified it was under warranty still and replaced it. No contacting samsung on my part, just dropped it off and picked it up when it was done.
Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Joined Dec 2021
Apr 6, 2023
SeriousKitten2924
Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Quote from lou2004 :
your main page needs to show XR. put the sim back to XR. make few calls. restart phone. make few calls or use data. If you still dont see XR, call support and tell them u have issue with your phone. They will reset from their end. Once u see XR on main page. then try unlock again as non customer.
No, I see XR everywhere in account. But it doesn't receive calls! When I call to that number I just hear tones and after Google Voice Voice mail promt. So seems they didn't transfer my number and maybe because of this I have this problem with unlock. Have just chatted with AT&T, she asked my iPhone imei, said she fixed and closed the chat. But nothing fixed, after restart it still under Google voice when receiving calls
Apr 6, 2023
11,063 Posts
Joined Mar 2011
Apr 6, 2023
gibsonbass
Apr 6, 2023
11,063 Posts
Quote from bjsguess :
Here is my latest. This is the brief version Smilie. I promise this is an accurate accounting of this disaster.

3/24 - Place my order. Go through the port process online. Show up at BB right before they close to pick up my phone. They say there is an issue with the port. Can't release the phone until it's resolved. Their phone people are gone for the day.
3/25 - Back to Best Buy. 2.5 hours in store as BB tries to work with AT&T to get this resolved. I eventually leave the store with the phone and waiting for my number to port.
3/26 - Number not ported. Check AT&T and my account is closed. I try to unlock my phone and get the 14 day error on the unlock portal. I call (my first interaction with AT&T). 45 minutes later I am assured that the problem will be resolved. Rep says the request has gone to the "Back office". I will get a ticket number in 24-48 hours. Then another 24 hours for the unlock to be processed. Spoiler - 10 days later and no ticket has been generated.
3/28 - Waited my 48 hours. No response. No interest in starting over again, I file my complaint with the FCC based on the recommendations of those in this thread.
3/29 - Receive a phone call (no email or text like others received) asking me to call back the person from the Office of the President. This was a result of the FCC Complaint. I call back. Get VM. Leave my information and, as per the VM, my preferred time (any time after 2:30 PM).
3/30 - No calls after 24 hours. I call back and leave the same VM but include my working cell number and email.
4/4 - No call back Friday - through Monday. I call on Tuesday (4/4). Get a VM again but this time it doesn't let me leave a message. It just hangs up after saying that the person can't take my call. Frustrated I start an online chat. 45 minutes later I have a new case number and every assurance that the situation will be resolved in 24 hours.
4/5 - I wake up to a response from AT&T. Literally, this is the email "We have finished working on your case number xxxx and the case has been closed." Zero mention of what was done. How it was resolved. Nothing. Fire up the chat again. First rep looks into the system to see the details. He posts "Device Reason: Device DENIED for unlock ; IMEI NOT ACTIVE -IMEI tracked, close case. Email sent to the customer". I ask what this means. He can't answer. He tells me that Tech Support can answer this. It won't be a problem though. I get transferred. That person tells me that chat can't do anything but if I call into 800-331-0500 they will resolve this immediately. Ironically, this is the first number I called 10 days ago. I immediately call. After spending 5 minutes of prompts and holding, the call disconnects because I'm outside their working hours.

Finally, I call my Office the President person back. Of course, get a VM. I ask her to get back to me.

I had a bad experience with Google Fi a couple years ago. Somehow AT&T has managed to top them. I have now spent 5+ hours on this. 1 long phone call, 2 long chats, 4 unreturned phone calls from the Office of the President and 4 reps that have told me that this isn't a big issue and that they would have it resolved.

Kudus to AT&T for figuring out to rise above the rest with the absolute worst customer experience possible. There is no scenario where I would ever consider being their customer again. The level of incompetence is just staggering. That's across their awful process, telephony system, agents on the phone, agents in chat, and the cream of the crop folks over in the Office of the President.
I am also on the similar boat. I got an email from the office of president to send him proof of purchase. No response after sending proof of purchase. too . Then I made a call to that guy, which went to voice. I have already cancelled the service too.
Last edited by gibsonbass April 6, 2023 at 11:05 AM.
Apr 6, 2023
4,599 Posts
Joined Jul 2006
Apr 6, 2023
bjsguess
Apr 6, 2023
4,599 Posts
Quote from gibsonbass :
I am also on the similar boat. I got an email from the office of president to send him proof of purchase. No response after sending proof of purchase. too . Then I made a call to that guy (Francisco Lopez is his name) which went to voice. I have already cancelled the service too.
I have a different person. Sorry to hear that they have multiple people working in the Office of the President that don't seem to be able to respond to VM's and emails. The weird thing for me is that I didn't cancel my service. It was canceled but I didn't do it. I left BB with all my contract paperwork and the port was showing in progress. The service was canceled by the next day without me doing anything.
Apr 6, 2023
11,063 Posts
Joined Mar 2011
Apr 6, 2023
gibsonbass
Apr 6, 2023
11,063 Posts
Quote from bjsguess :
I have a different person. Sorry to hear that they have multiple people working in the Office of the President that don't seem to be able to respond to VM's and emails. The weird thing for me is that I didn't cancel my service. It was canceled but I didn't do it. I left BB with all my contract paperwork and the port was showing in progress. The service was canceled by the next day without me doing anything.
After I quoted your post, I did get the call back. He said he will start the process. Only problem is, since I have already cancelled the service, device is not showing up in the account anymore. How he gonna figure out unlock code without IMEI? I feel like I should have waited to cancel the service till the completion of the unlock process

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Apr 6, 2023
79 Posts
Joined Aug 2021
Apr 6, 2023
UniqueSnow487
Apr 6, 2023
79 Posts
Quote from stussybub :
So I unlocked and cancelled it a day after I received the phone (because AT&T customer service was closed for the evening). Now I see a bill for $4.04, for 2 days worth of activated service. Is this something anyone else has an issue with? Just wondering how I should proceed.
I see $8.13.
Apr 6, 2023
2,196 Posts
Joined Nov 2009
Apr 6, 2023
eore227
Apr 6, 2023
2,196 Posts
Looks like back in stock, so was this a hard pull or soft for a new line?
Apr 6, 2023
1,291 Posts
Joined Dec 2014
Apr 6, 2023
unknownanonymous
Apr 6, 2023
1,291 Posts
Is Fold 3 worth upgrading from S22? I have been considering this deal since past two weeks but worried about the potential of screen protector bubbling reported on multiple websites. I already have an AT&T line so I am not that bothered about unlock.
Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Joined Dec 2021
Apr 6, 2023
SeriousKitten2924
Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Have a talk this morning that my number was still with Google Voice and they finished port-in. Now I'm able to call/receive.

Once again did these:

1) Put ATT sim into Fold. Made calls, used data, the phone showed in account.

2) Removed sim and inserted into unlocked Iphone Xr. Made calls, data, after an hour iphone appeared in account.

3) Tried to unlock via ATT.com/unlock and got error again: The device you want to unlock is active on another AT&T account. The account owner needs to remove the device from their account first. For assistance, call 800.331.0500.

Damn ATT. Looks like sim swam doesn't work anymore?

Tried to unlock with ATT sim in Fold as current customer via myAtt. Error: you have to be on active service for 60 days until unlock.

I had to reorder my Fold, because first time Best buy or ATT ruined port-in completely. Reordered on 28th March, the date when they changed they policy.

Am I still eligible to get unlock with FCC help?
Talked to Facebook ATT support, chat support,
frightened them that I have to have to file complaint with FCC and they calmly agreed that I can do whatever I want and they don't care.
Apr 6, 2023
195 Posts
Joined Nov 2020
Apr 6, 2023
CyanMeerkat9809
Apr 6, 2023
195 Posts
Quote from unknownanonymous :
Is Fold 3 worth upgrading from S22? I have been considering this deal since past two weeks but worried about the potential of screen protector bubbling reported on multiple websites. I already have an AT&T line so I am not that bothered about unlock.
Last September 2022 I upgraded my s22u to a Fold 4, and I love it
Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Joined Dec 2021
Apr 6, 2023
SeriousKitten2924
Apr 6, 2023
359 Posts
Someone who got unlock through FCC, please share link and text of the letter to FCC. I'll put my information and file complaint. I have to hurry, while 14 days of cancellation window.
Apr 6, 2023
4,599 Posts
Joined Jul 2006
Apr 6, 2023
bjsguess
Apr 6, 2023
4,599 Posts
Quote from gibsonbass :
After I quoted your post, I did get the call back. He said he will start the process. Only problem is, since I have already cancelled the service, device is not showing up in the account anymore. How he gonna figure out unlock code without IMEI? I feel like I should have waited to cancel the service till the completion of the unlock process
That's funny. I also got a call right after I posted (literally within 30 minutes of posting). The person provided my unlock code. Popped in the new SIM, entered the code, and everything worked fine. I had provided my IMEI earlier. They will definitely need that before the unlock code can be generated.

I am glad the fiasco is over. Still just shaking my head that this took so much time and effort. AT&T has got to know that when they treat people like this they lose customers for life + others who read about it will not stay away.

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Apr 6, 2023
4,178 Posts
Joined Apr 2009
Apr 6, 2023
emofals
Apr 6, 2023
4,178 Posts
is $600 a good price to flip this?

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