Best Buy Motorola Xoom launch to be Feb. 17; $699.99 price leaked

Is the Motorola Xoom going to launch, right after Valentine's day? That's the impression given by a leaked Best Buy document.

The newly leaked document answers the question of "when" which was asked after the other question of how much seemed to have been answered a few days ago. It's still unclear if that $800 price for the 10-inch Motorola Xoom, which has been called the first real competition for the iPad, will be accompanied by a lower subsidized price, as well.

In fact, the same tipster who leaked the launch date has found a different price.  The unnamed source says that the price point will be $699.99.  It's possible the other $800 price is unsubsidized, with the new price subsidized; it's still unclear.

Motorola has previously said the 3G version of the Xoom will launch "sometime in Q1 2011).  The 4G version will arrive in Q2, and the 3G model will be upgradeable, though exactly how is not clear.  While this still fits the rumor category, it does follow the normal Verizon strategy of Thursday launches.

While there is much angst over the alleged $800 (or even $700) price, most are comparing that price with the $499 price for the wi-fi only iPad that has only 16GB of storage. It should be remembered that this model has 3G, as well, will be upgradeable to 4G, has NVIDIA's dual-core Tegra 2, as well as 32GB of storage (reportedly).

That said, it doesn't mean that a lower price wouldn't be better. It does mean, however, that people comparing these models are not making fair comparisons.

Leaked Vodafone, Best Buy screenshots point to white iPhone 4s, 'soon'

A leaked screenshot from an unnamed source points to a possible white iPhone launch as early as February 27. The information, reportedly from a Best Buy inventory database, shows SKUs and model numbers identical to those Best Buy previously used when it was taking pre-orders for the white iPhone 4 prior to last summer's launch. Those orders were canceled when Apple delayed the white version.

AppleInsider received the screen shot on Monday, one day after Engadget spied a white iPhone 4 in the inventory system of Vodafone Germany. In that case, the only date given for a launch was "soon".

It's possible the screenshot from Best Buy is a computer glitch, since the info may still have been in its database. Or, they two companies could be preparing for the Spring, which is the last "date" Apple publicly gave for the white version.

In October, Apple publicly announced a delay of the white iPhone 4 until the Spring. Some have theorized that, since the iPhone's next annual refresh would be only 3 months or so after a Spring launch of a model, Apple simply delay the white iPhone into extinction.

The delay has been so long that cottage industries have arisen to fill the need for white iPhone 4s. We'll see if it ever emerges, or if we just have to wait for the iPhone 5, soon enough.

Best Buy's new 'Buy Back' return program gets official

Best Buy has made its new Buy Back plan, which we wrote about earlier, official. The plan allows buyers to trade in their televisions, laptops, netbooks, tablets, or smartphones for a percentage of the device’s original value.

Interestingly, when trading in a smartphone, Best Buy will base the percentage on the phone's retail value. That means the program won't use the subsidized price a consumer may pay for a phone with a contract, but rather the unsubsidized price a consumer would pay without one. This could help soften the blow of an Early Termination Fee (ETF), and Best Buy admits it could even mean a tiny profit for a consumer in rare cases.

In order to utilize the Buy Buy program, a consumer must first "buy into it" at the time of purchase. That means he must pay a fee, ranging from 69.99 for portable laptops, netbooks, and tablets, from $39.99 to $59.99 for cell phones and smartphones, and from $59.99 to $349.99 for televisions.

The refund, payable in Best Buy gift cards, is as follows. For items aside from TVs, the maximum repayment is 50 percent of the original purchase price if the items are returned within six months of purchase. The rate decreases from there to 40 percent within 12 months of purchase, 30 percent within 18 months, and 20 percent within 24 months.

TVs are treated differently, as one might expect, due to their price and expected lifespan. TVs can be returned for up to 48 months after purchase, but only for up to 10 percent of their original price.

Naturally the items must be in good working order. Also, they must be returned with all original parts, including chargers and cables. While Best Buy will recycle and resell the returned devices, it won't stock them in its stores, but instead may use some for parts for refurbished items or sell others in online auctions through its subsidiary Dealtree.

It's true that consumers may actually be able to do better by reselling the devices through eBay or other market, but Best Buy is betting the program will do well because it's easier to return a device to a store than set up an auction and deal with it.

Best Buys' press release is below.

Buy Back Program from Best Buy Helps “Future-Proof” Today’s CE Purchases

Customers can buy new gadgets with added confidence from an upfront re-purchase schedule, instant re-payment on redeemed gear

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) is launching its first-ever Buy Back Program to help customers embrace new technology with greater confidence. Created for people who want to stay current with their gear but who are concerned about obsolescence, the Buy Back Program provides convenient access to upgrades with the help of a Best Buy gift card from ”buying back” past purchases.

“We recognize that technology is changing faster than ever, and our customers tell us they want to enjoy these devices without worrying about when the next or newest version will launch”
Beginning this month, Best Buy customers can purchase the Buy Back Program in-store or online when buying products in one of five popular categories: laptops, netbooks, tablets, post-paid mobile phones and televisions. Customers may purchase the Buy Back Program when they buy their new devices, with pricing based on the product category. For example, Buy Back protection for any laptop, netbook or tablet is $69.99. Best Buy will purchase the product anytime within two years for laptops, netbooks, tablets and post-paid mobile phones, and four years for televisions. Customers may receive up to 50 percent of the product’s original purchase price paid in the form of a Best Buy gift card if redeemed within six months of the effective date to purchase new products of their choice.

Buy Back Program appeal has been validated by a year of extensive consumer research, and most recently in a study conducted by Impulse Research Corporation. In the study, 40 percent of consumers surveyed agreed that concerns about technology becoming outdated have likely prevented them, or would prevent them in the future, from purchasing products such as laptops, mobile phones, TVs, tablets and netbooks. The study also affirmed the appeal of a Buy Back-like program when deciding on where to shop for popular electronics gear in the coming year. It revealed that 30 percent of consumers plan to purchase a TV or laptop in the next 12 months, and that 73 percent of consumers would consider purchasing these electronics from a retailer that offers a re-purchase type of program.

“We recognize that technology is changing faster than ever, and our customers tell us they want to enjoy these devices without worrying about when the next or newest version will launch,” said Brian Dunn, chief executive officer of Best Buy. “We call this ‘future-proofing’ because our customers can now have more confidence that they’re protecting the value of the products they’re purchasing today. With the Buy Back Program, consumers benefit from assurance, convenience and transparency so they can stay current and stay connected.”

Best Buy customers may purchase the Buy Back Program when buying a new product and redeem it at a later time, as long as the device is in good working condition and includes all original parts. Unlike typical retail trade-in programs customers don’t have to wait for re-payment, and can immediately apply money from their Buy Back product redemption to the purchase of new products at any Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile store. Better yet, consumers know what they’ll be paid up front, with a schedule that is available at the time of Buy Back Program purchase and is based on duration of product ownership:

• Redeem your Buy Back within 6 months from purchase effective date, and get up to 50 percent of your purchase price
• Redeem your Buy Back after 6 months to 12 months from purchase effective date, and get up to 40 percent
• Redeem your Buy Back after 12 months to 18 months from purchase effective date and get up to 30 percent
• Redeem your Buy Back after 18 months to 24 from purchase effective date and get up to 20 percent
• For TVs only, redeem your Buy Back within 48 months from purchase effective date and get up to 10 percent

“A program like Best Buy’s Buy Back should encourage higher consumption by early adopters and fast followers that are considering new technologies, because it gives them confidence that the electronic devices they have just purchased will have real value going forward,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for NPD Group.Impulse also found that when purchasing personal electronics, 84 percent of consumers say it’s important to deal with a reputable company who will responsibly re-use and re-cycle their old products. Electronics redeemed through the Buy Back Program will be assessed by its built-in team of Geek Squad Agents, and distributed among Best Buy’s aftermarket, trade-in and recycling programs. To learn more about the Buy Back Program and find the nearest Best Buy store, visit www.bestbuy.com.

Early adopters may see financial rescue with Best Buy's new Buy Back program

Best Buy is ready to launch a Buy Back program that should help reduce the wallet strain for constant early adopters. The plan will, for a fee paid at the time of purchase, allow consumers to sell back their computers, tablets, smartphones, and TVs (under $5,000) for a percentage of its original price. The percentage will vary based on time of ownership (and naturally, condition).

According to the BGR report, the program will launch on January 5. Additional products will be added to the program over time.

There is already a trade-in program on Best Buy's website. It's assumed this new program will replace that one over time.

The fee will vary depending on the product. BGR's example for a cell phone was:

cell phone purchasers can opt into the cleverly named Buy Back program for $59.99 at the time of handset purchase. Between months 1 and 6 of handset ownership, users can then trade-in their device to Best Buy Mobile for 50% of the phones full retail value. Between months 6 and 12 the device can be turned in for 40% of its original value; months 12 to 18, 40%; and months 19 to 25, 20%. In the example above, a phone with a full-retail value of $599.99 can be exchanged, between days 32 and 180 of ownership, for $299.99 — netting the customer $240 when factoring in the plan’s cost.

For a TV, the following is the price structure:

TVs under 6 months old can be turned in for 50% of the original full-retail price; 6 to 12 months, 40%; 12 to 18 months, 30%; 18 to 24 months, 20%; and 10% during the third and fourth years of ownership.

All of the "buy backs" will be issued in the form of Best Buy gift cards, which is the same procedure with their current trade-in program.

It's hard to imagine someone needing to trade in a TV after a few months; we can see this as being most useful for those who are constantly upgrading their cell phones. For us, our old technology often ends up on eBay, where we can often garner more than what Best Buy is offering.

Based on all that, does this deal sound interesting to you? Sound off in the comments.