Best Buy To Be First Independent iPhone 3G Reseller In US

[Edward Kirk]

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BestBuy has officially announced that they will be selling the iPhone 3G in the United States starting on September 7th. Rumors that Best Buy was interested in operating as an iPhone reseller started <a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/apple-to-expand-iphone-sales-to-best-buy" target="_blank">a year ago</a>, followed by rumors this June that Apple had <a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/news/rumor-best-buy-radio-shack-sell-iphone-3g-us" target="_blank">sealed deals</a> with Best Buy and Radio Shack. <!--break-->

This is the first time that an independent chain will be selling the iPhone alongside Apple and AT&T in the US. "We had a lot of work to do, obviously, to get in a position where Apple and AT&T would feel good about Best Buy Mobile carrying it, and that's what we've done in the last 18 months," said Shawn Score, president of Best Buy Mobile.

While it is a first, it was not all that surprising, given that Best Buy also offers iPods and Macs.

Last week, Best Buy announced that they completed a two-year conversion of their stores to include upgraded cell phone departments, upgrading computer systems for cellphone activation and devoting 250,000 hours of training their employees.

[via <a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080812/tec_best_buy_iphone.html?.v=2" target="_blank">Yahoo!</a>]</div>

[Ohiomulchboy4]

This is pretty cool I work for Best Buy Mobile, and the things that the company are doing to try and change the wireless market are definitely a great thing. This shows how they are willing to take big steps in a new direction and this is awesome for customers being able to purchase this when most don't have a near by Apple store.(big props to apple as well) So I'm glad to see the iPhone finally arriving in my store (292). As an iPhone owner and early adopter it was always frustrating telling people we didn't have it and to go to Apple or at&t while the entire time wanting to take that beautiful device in my pocket and show all of the cool awesome features.:)

[Dttah214]

so, as an AT&T rep, this sucks. it is however good for the masses. if you really sit and think about it, the AT&T stores only carried them no more than two days. everything else was through direct fulfillment (special orders).

[WoodJam]

Now, lets get the next couple of years to go by and get some competition for the service end of the iPhone. Competition is a good thing.

[madscientest]

i have had so many bad experiences with best buy store that i have not stepped foot in one for many years. I have told many people that best buy sucks and they have all agreed.

my worst experience with best buy is i purchased a few rolls of speaker wire to install a stereo in our houseboat and when i opened a roll the wire itself was bad. it had a few strands of exposed wire all the way down the roll. i purchased about 5 rolls of 100 ft and they were all bad. i only opened 2 of them.

going back to the store to get some new wire i was told that this was a discontinued item, they had none in stock and since i opened it i could not get my money back. i argued with the manager and was told that because i opened it i could not return it. I said i would not have to return it if the product was good.....a few trips later i finally found a store that would give me a refund for the defective product.

that store happened to get a stink bomb a few weeks later!!!! what a jacked up store.

DONT SHOP AT BEST BUY

[Pepper]

I think this is great for people that don't have an Apple Store nearby, or have an ATT store that just wasn't given a great stock. I don't really enjoy purchasing Apple products from Best Buy though. You normally just have some 'PC' guy there that hates everything about you and your Apple products, no matter how good they may be.