Wise shoppers can find deals on smartphones
Wireless providers are getting just as aggressive as other retailers with hot buys, including some new technology for just one penny. So if you're hoping to avoid the pandemonium of the malls, here's a sampling of what you can buy online or in specialty stores operated by wireless providers:
• AT&T Wireless, which has its Midwest headquarters in Hoffman Estates, will offer refurbished devices for 1 cent, including the BlackBerry Torch. This sale starts just after midnight on Saturday at www.att.com.
On Monday at 8 a.m., AT&T will offer new high-end smartphones for just 1 penny, and those device offerings will rotate every three hours, so be quick. They include HTC Aria, BlackBerry Curve 3G, Motorola Flipout or Bravo, and Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.
If you want to shop in-store, AT&T is offering a free Samsung Solstice II or Samsung Flight II, or $99 for Samsung Captivate from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. There are also buy-one-get-one-free offers with Windows Phone 7 devices starting Black Friday through Jan. 1. They include Samsung Focus, LG Quantum and HTC Surround.
• Verizon Wireless, which has its Midwest headquarters in Schaumburg, is offering Black Friday online deals with a free LG Vortex, which is a 3.2-inch touch screen smartphone with Android, after a $100 rebate, and a free Jawbone Icon Hero Bluetooth headset.
If added as a share-line on your family account, Verizon will waive the $9.99 monthly access for 2 years. It requires $29.99 monthly unlimited data plan. Cyber Monday deals will be available, but the company declined to provide details. See www.verizonwireless.com.
• Chicago-based U.S. Cellular has already cut prices in-store and online (www.uscellular.com) for its entire lineup of Android phones. Customers can get a $150 smartphone activation credit to make it easier to switch. The sale continues through Cyber Monday.
For example, the LG Apex and Samsung Acclaim will be free after an $80 mail-in rebate. The Samsung Mesmerize will be available for $99.99 after an $80 mail in- rebate. The HTC Desire will be $49.99 after a $80 mail-in rebate.
• Sprint is offering the LG Optimus S, Samsung Restore, LG Rumor Touch and Sanyo Vero by Kyocera for free online and with a two-year contract for upgrade-eligible customers. For details, see www.sprint.com.
• T-Mobile has an in-store, buy-one-get-one smartphone promotion from Black Friday through Jan. 18. For those who will take a family plan and a two-year contract, you need to purchase a featured smartphone, such as the MyTouch 4G or Samsung Galaxy Tab, and you can get a new featured smartphone or Android for free. The featured smartphones include the T-Mobile G2 with Google, HTC HD7, BlackBerry Bold 9780 or Androids such as Motorola Defy or Charm, LG Optimus or T-Mobile Comet.
Surfing: Speaking of shopping, the NRF Foundation, the research and education arm of the National Retail Federation, announced its Top 10 retailers for customer service selected by more than 9,000 shoppers. They are in alphabetical order: Amazon.com, JCPenney, Kohl's, Lands' End, L. L. Bean, Newegg, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, QVC and Zappos.
• Chicago-based CouponCabin.com users can now find offers marked with a gold star that are “Guaranteed to Work.” If for some reason one of these coupons doesn't work, CouponCabin.com will buy you dinner. If the site made a mistake, it will provide a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate.
• Kmart, owned by Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings, has expanded online shopping features and services. New this season and powered by the mygofer service, customers can buy online via Kmart.com and pick up their items that same day at the store. Customers also can shop the Kmart2go mobile website from a mobile device and then select in-store pickup. Promotions via SMS text messages can be sent directly to your mobile device.
• Follow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter.