Best Buy Offering $50 Off of All iPhone 5 Models [Update: Now With $100 Gift Card for Rewards Zone Members]

Great deal. Going through RewardsZone now. Is AT&T's $36 "Activation Fee," the normal/correct amount? Tx

Yes that is the standard fee regardless of where you buy.[COLOR="#808080"]

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My local Apple store just told me that the Best Buy phones are "refurbs".

Are they?

You were misinformed. These are brand new phones.

Anyone know if I can use this deal on an upgrade for an existing line? I've been waiting to upgrade, and I'd take the deal with a new 2 year agreement if I could do it.

Yes. They walk you thru the process just like Apple's website does.

Buy it here -- https://rewardzonemobile.com// -- and get another $100 in Reward Zone certificates (free to join Reward Zone, I think...?):D You do have to buy in through that specific site tho.

I used to work at a Best Buy and vowed to never shop there unless I actually have to. $50 off is tempting but I'd rather get everything I buy with an  on it directly from Apple.

Also, as an Apple fan, I like how Apple has an Apple station within Best Buy stores for exposure. However, it is saddening that these stations aren't manned by anyone who knows Apple products. Instead, they're manned by the same incompetent Best Buy employees who know little to nothing about the products and told simply to sell more accessories. Perhaps one or two Apple geniuses at these stations?

This is making the iPhone 5 even more enticing....

In order to buy the phone at subsudized pricing, you must at least temporarily activate the iphone on the account using an upgrade. Her current phone will be deactivated when you do that if you use an upgrade from her line. Bby can put her old device back on but she will need a new sim if she currently has a 4G phone or will need to call *228 if 3G on verizons network. Which provider are you? Do you have any other eligible lines for upgrade other than hers?

I've purchased iPhones for my wife on 2 separate Christmases, and have never been able to find a way around this. The best I could do was wait 'till Christmas Eve, but even then, her old phone stopped working and she figured it out.

Update on this...

I called my local BB this morning and inquired about the activation, and if there would be anyway to get the subsidized phone and activate it later. Spoke with a knowledgable rep who informed me that if you buy online for in-store pick up there is no way to do it. However if you walk in and purchase it in-store they can setup the phone for a future activation when they're inputing the upgrade into the computer system.

I went there this evening and walked out with a 32GB black AT&T phone still wrapped and they never messed with my wife's current phone or SIM. We'll be able to activate it when she opens it on Christmas morning and she should be none to the wiser. :)

Just checked in at reward zone, and the price is back up to $199.

I went through the check out process, and was kinda shocked when the taxes came in at $67. I know taxes are high here in Cali, but anyone have any idea what the high tax is for?

Cali residents pay the sales tax on the original price of the phone, not the subsidized or discounted price. 'Perk' of living in Cali ... jk