Best Buy is offering their Google Pixel 8 Unlocked Smartphone (2023) (various colors) on sale listed below after trading Apple iPhone 11 Smartphone Device (in a form of a refund for$415 Off). Shipping is free.
Thanks to community member karthekean for finding this deal
Note, trade in device must be in good/working condition. Damage will incur reduced value.
This collaborative space allows users to contribute additional information, tips, and insights to enhance the original deal post. Feel free to share your knowledge and help fellow shoppers make informed decisions.
Best Buy is offering their Google Pixel 8 Unlocked Smartphone (2023) (various colors) on sale listed below after trading Apple iPhone 11 Smartphone Device (in a form of a refund for$415 Off). Shipping is free.
Thanks to community member karthekean for finding this deal
Note, trade in device must be in good/working condition. Damage will incur reduced value.
Deal History includes data from multiple reputable stores, such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. The lowest price among stores for a given day is selected as the "Sale Price".
Sale Price does not include sale prices at Amazon unless a deal was posted by a community member.
I was not already a Verizon customer. I picked the lowest-cost plan ($75 w/o autopay) when ordering the phone on Best Buy web site. When I picked up the phone, a Verizon SIM was attached to the box, without any kind of instructions to activate. But I got some helpful info from member ProudToBeAnIdian on how to proceed. Here's how it went.
* I created a Verizon account on Verizon web site. They asked for my name, address, email, etc but the SS# and DL info were already provided when ordering through Best Buy in order for Verizon to check my credit. Then it asked me to provide my new Verizon phone number or accout number. I checked "I'lll do it later", then logged out.
* I put the SIM in an unlocked old phone (because I want to sell the Pixel 8 as new-in-box). The SIM was automatically activated and assigned a new Verizon phone number.
* I logged back into my VZ account and linked the new phone number to the account. I looked at a preview of the 1st bill and it was $126.86 including taxes & fees and $35 activation fee. Each month after that is $81.37. Damn, they're expensive for just one line.
* I selected Chat while logged in, told the bot that I wanted to cancel service, it gave me the option to cancel service myself or via a rep, I chose to do it myself WHICH WAS A BAD DECISION. The bot submitted the cancel request but said service would be disconnected on Aug 17, that means I have to pay the full 1st month. That's NOT what I wanted.
* I started a new Chat and asked for "Agent". A live agent connected (without a name, let's assume it was a female) and asked what I needed. I told her that I wanted to cancel because the VZ signal is so weak at my location. She wanted to try some trouble shooting first. I said OK. She told me to do a Network Reset on the phone and let her know if it got better. I did the reset and told her that I still got only 1 bar with VZ but the same phone got 4 bars with T-mo. She said she needed to get a supervisor to cancel the pending request that the bot submitted.
* After 5 minutes or so, she said she got the pending request deleted and was ready to cancel service right away. I asked her to proceed which she did. After that, my account showed service disconnected and the bill preview showed an expected bill of $7.56 (for one day of service + taxes & fees I guess). Since the account shows No Payment Method On File, I guess they'll mail me a bill, but I plan to log in after a few days and pay the bill online if I can.
The issues with the phone come with cellular usage. The modem is weak, so it doesn't latch on to 5G very well in low coverage area. The phone keeps on getting warm and loses battery rather rapidly. Also in general, the Tensor thermals are poor. So on a hot day in the car, the phone will overheat even when used normally to do VOIP calls, play music etc without even using GPS. If using GPS, it is even worse.
Unfortunately the first thing that the Pixels do on overheating is shut down the cellular signal. The phone is then totally crippled until you switch it off and let it cool down. Had some rough experiences on the road with the phone overheating and needing to shut it down and having to disconnect calls.
On a cool day or while being indoors with strong wifi signal, the phone will do well. It is otherwise pretty smooth with great software. All in all, a nice phone with excellent software is hampered badly by a mediocre processor with awful thermals and a very inferior modem.
If you plan to use the phone for yourself, I would honestly wait till Pixel 10 where the processor would be TMSC based vs the current Tensor projected to be used in Pixel 9.
I have the Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel 8 Pro both. Google's Tensor G2/G3 is significantly inferior to the Qualcomm's Snapdragon chip in terms of performance, thermals and battery life. To add insult to injury, the model in the Pixel phones is by Samsung and really does a bad job in low signal areas and with 5G. So you have the phone with weak signal, constantly overheating and losing battery.
Google always has trade in deals where they give a lot of $$ for older iphones but very little $$ for their own Pixels. So I'm sure you will find similar deals with Pixel 9 as well. Keep in mind the Pixel 9 is 6.03" screen size, so smaller than the Pixel 8.
Are folks buying this with connect to any carrier option or we will help you connect with a carrier option. I dont wan't to activate a plan. so, would prefer not to mess with a service activation at the moment but do see that option $100 cheaper. Anyone who already purchased the device and what option did you go with? or is it easier to activate a plan and cancel it post purchase?
Verizon activates and starts billing on that place order or day when I pick it up from bb?
If you chose to buy with Verizon sign-up, the phone will come with a Verizon SIM card attached to the box. The service is activated when you put that SIM into a phone and turn it on. I put the SIM into another phone because I want to sell the Pixel 8 as new-in-box, activated just fine. Billing starts when the SIM is activated.
Are folks buying this with connect to any carrier option or we will help you connect with a carrier option. I dont wan't to activate a plan. so, would prefer not to mess with a service activation at the moment but do see that option $100 cheaper. Anyone who already purchased the device and what option did you go with? or is it easier to activate a plan and cancel it post purchase?
I've done both, one with Verizon on Thursday and one with no carrier yesterday. You get $100 discount with a carrier, but you'll have to deal with the agent to cancel service. There's always a chance that the agent will refuse to cancel or cancelonly after 1 month of service, which for me would cost $128 including activation fee. I did get my Verizon service cancelled after enduring the agent's attempt to "fix the poor signal". For my 2nd order, I went with no carrier because I don't want to deal with AT&T and Verizon probably wouldn't cancel for me a 2nd time. You decide if the $100 discount is worth your headache.
So will that be a problem ? I am not sure imei will tell them blacklisted or not
They don't check the IMEI for blacklist status. They honestly don't even check the iCloud unlock status sometimes, but that depends on the specific Best Buy rep.
On trade in, it asks - "Does your device have any screen damage, cracks, or LCD bruising?" and I put yes. And then I put that it was in fair condition which says "moderate wear and tear and/or damaged back glass."
My back glass is broken... Do you think they will take it or will I need to spend hours replacing the back screen before... 💀💀💀
Has anyone traded in similar so far?
Thank you for any feedback.
It completely depends on the Best Buy rep you get. Your best bet will be to place the order with trade in online and try to get a Best Buy associate at the pick up area and not the cell phones area.
Did Best Buy activate the Verizon service for you? For me, they just handed me the Pixel with the Verizon SIM attached. I can activate it whenever I want to.
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* I created a Verizon account on Verizon web site. They asked for my name, address, email, etc but the SS# and DL info were already provided when ordering through Best Buy in order for Verizon to check my credit. Then it asked me to provide my new Verizon phone number or accout number. I checked "I'lll do it later", then logged out.
* I put the SIM in an unlocked old phone (because I want to sell the Pixel 8 as new-in-box). The SIM was automatically activated and assigned a new Verizon phone number.
* I logged back into my VZ account and linked the new phone number to the account. I looked at a preview of the 1st bill and it was $126.86 including taxes & fees and $35 activation fee. Each month after that is $81.37. Damn, they're expensive for just one line.
* I selected Chat while logged in, told the bot that I wanted to cancel service, it gave me the option to cancel service myself or via a rep, I chose to do it myself WHICH WAS A BAD DECISION. The bot submitted the cancel request but said service would be disconnected on Aug 17, that means I have to pay the full 1st month. That's NOT what I wanted.
* I started a new Chat and asked for "Agent". A live agent connected (without a name, let's assume it was a female) and asked what I needed. I told her that I wanted to cancel because the VZ signal is so weak at my location. She wanted to try some trouble shooting first. I said OK. She told me to do a Network Reset on the phone and let her know if it got better. I did the reset and told her that I still got only 1 bar with VZ but the same phone got 4 bars with T-mo. She said she needed to get a supervisor to cancel the pending request that the bot submitted.
* After 5 minutes or so, she said she got the pending request deleted and was ready to cancel service right away. I asked her to proceed which she did. After that, my account showed service disconnected and the bill preview showed an expected bill of $7.56 (for one day of service + taxes & fees I guess). Since the account shows No Payment Method On File, I guess they'll mail me a bill, but I plan to log in after a few days and pay the bill online if I can.
I hope all that was helpful to someone.
Unfortunately the first thing that the Pixels do on overheating is shut down the cellular signal. The phone is then totally crippled until you switch it off and let it cool down. Had some rough experiences on the road with the phone overheating and needing to shut it down and having to disconnect calls.
On a cool day or while being indoors with strong wifi signal, the phone will do well. It is otherwise pretty smooth with great software. All in all, a nice phone with excellent software is hampered badly by a mediocre processor with awful thermals and a very inferior modem.
I have the Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel 8 Pro both. Google's Tensor G2/G3 is significantly inferior to the Qualcomm's Snapdragon chip in terms of performance, thermals and battery life. To add insult to injury, the model in the Pixel phones is by Samsung and really does a bad job in low signal areas and with 5G. So you have the phone with weak signal, constantly overheating and losing battery.
Google always has trade in deals where they give a lot of $$ for older iphones but very little $$ for their own Pixels. So I'm sure you will find similar deals with Pixel 9 as well. Keep in mind the Pixel 9 is 6.03" screen size, so smaller than the Pixel 8.
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Can they? I have no idea. All I know is that in my state, they don't check for blacklist status.
Just because it is possible or common sense doesn't mean they do it.
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My back glass is broken... Do you think they will take it or will I need to spend hours replacing the back screen before... 💀💀💀
Has anyone traded in similar so far?
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Thank you.
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So, stop lying
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