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.
They didn't do a hard pull with my order with Verizon sign-up. I never got an alert from my various credit monitors. I did have to agree to let them check my credit. They probably did a soft pull.
ok, good to know it's a soft pull. I did a similar deal with Verizon few years ago, ported out and cancelled (by calling) the account on day 1 or 2, they still charged me activation fee and full month charge. I had to call and explain to multiple people to fix this, after so much effort they promised to remove all charges but ended up only removing month charge but not activation charge.
I did three lines, so the balance on my account is $115. Verizon is sending me this bill for past 6+ years.
I did three lines, so the balance on my account is $115. Verizon is sending me this bill for past 6+ years.
Verizon billing is baffling. I didn't have Verizon service until I actvated on July 17 and cancelled the same day. But the account shows for billing period of Jun 18 to July 17 I had a credit of $45.47 and a charge of $45.47, resulting in a net balance of $0. What the heck is that all about?
They didn't do a hard pull with my order with Verizon sign-up. I never got an alert from my various credit monitors. I did have to agree to let them check my credit. They probably did a soft pull.
I confirm that they do a soft pull.
I my case though since they tried multiple times consecutively, they mentioned that it might be flagged in the system.
ok, good to know it's a soft pull. I did a similar deal with Verizon few years ago, ported out and cancelled (by calling) the account on day 1 or 2, they still charged me activation fee and full month charge. I had to call and explain to multiple people to fix this, after so much effort they promised to remove all charges but ended up only removing month charge but not activation charge.
I did three lines, so the balance on my account is $115. Verizon is sending me this bill for past 6+ years.
You need to fight that activation fee because in their contract it says that you will not be charged activation fee if it is canceled within 3 days or whatever
Another point people should consider is - Verizon, AT&T and T-mobile will likely black list peoples SSN's who they see frequently doing this way (sign up for service and cancel within 2 or 3 days).
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Another point people should consider is - Verizon, AT&T and T-mobile will likely black list peoples SSN's who they see frequently doing this way (sign up for service and cancel within 2 or 3 days).
They could do that, but I don't really care. We use Tracfone as our cell phone provider since 2001. In 2020, I signed up with AT&T, T-mo, and Sprint MANY TIMES to get their sign-up bonuses, but never really used their service. Their plans are way too expensive for light users like us.
They could do that, but I don't really care. We use Tracfone as our cell phone provider since 2001. In 2020, I signed up with AT&T, T-mo, and Sprint MANY TIMES to get their sign-up bonuses, but never really used their service. Their plans are way too expensive for light users like us.
Hey, FYI, I was following your instructions here and it asks for my verizon ph# or account #, which I don't have, so I tell it I'll do it later, but it doesn't ask me about my address or SSN. I used a different email address from what I use for my bestbuy account. Should I continue to activate the phone, or there something wrong with the account creation?
edit: also, in my bestbuy account it says the verizon account is activated and I haven't opened the phone box or inserted the sim. Is that normal? (see attached pic)
Screenshot 2024-07-20 at 5.13.44 PM.jpeg - 487522
Last edited by sillar68 July 20, 2024 at 04:16 PM.
it doesn't ask me about my address or SSN. I used a different email address from what I use for my bestbuy account. Should I continue to activate the phone, or there something wrong with the account creation?
Your address and SSN were already provided to Verizon during ordering (so they could check your credit). I don't think the different email address (being used as the sign-in ID) matters because you'll close the account soon anyway. You can go ahead and activate the SIM, then link the phone number it assigned to you with your VZ account.
edit: also, in my bestbuy account it says the verizon account is activated and I haven't opened the phone box or inserted the sim. Is that normal? (see attached pic)
I don't know the answer for that. I didn't check my Best Buy account until I already activated the SIM.
I don't know the answer for that. I didn't check my Best Buy account until I already activated the SIM.
Thanks again.
I have "Your First Bill Estimate", but I don't have the real or actual bill yet. Did you cancel via chat based on your estimated bill, or did you wait until the actual bill appeared in your account?
Another point people should consider is - Verizon, AT&T and T-mobile will likely black list peoples SSN's who they see frequently doing this way (sign up for service and cancel within 2 or 3 days).
Lmfao... That means The whole country
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Does anyone have experience with Metro's shipping speeds? My local Bestbuy pick up order is only available until Friday. And I couldn't find anything on Metro's website that said I am required to subscribe longer than a month. Nothing I missed right? And can the company that buys these trade in phones unlock them? I'm guessing they have a way?
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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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I did three lines, so the balance on my account is $115. Verizon is sending me this bill for past 6+ years.
I my case though since they tried multiple times consecutively, they mentioned that it might be flagged in the system.
I did three lines, so the balance on my account is $115. Verizon is sending me this bill for past 6+ years.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
edit: also, in my bestbuy account it says the verizon account is activated and I haven't opened the phone box or inserted the sim. Is that normal? (see attached pic)
I have "Your First Bill Estimate", but I don't have the real or actual bill yet. Did you cancel via chat based on your estimated bill, or did you wait until the actual bill appeared in your account?
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