Many purchasing options, but which one to go for?

[kongo]

Like a lot of you, I live California, and am going to buy the GNex tomorrow. Like a lot of you, I have an upgrade credit from VZW ($50). Like a lot of you, I also bought the Living Social coupon ($25 for $50 in accessories/phones). Some of you are also in the same situation. I've called around many places, and here's the summary:

1. I have a $50 upgrade credit from VZW.
2. I got the Living Social deal, so that's another $50 that I have to use in store.
3. BUT.... buying in store means the stupid full tax situation (paying tax on the unsubsidized cost of the phone), which would come out to $57.
4. Costco is selling for $289.99 + tax (just on the purchase price), which comes out to about $315 and also receive the alleged bundle that is supposed to come with it.

So, I guess my options are (tax is 8.75% here in Alameda County):

1. Buy at Verizon and pay (using both my upgrade credit and living social voucher) $199.99 + $57 tax = $257.
2. Buy at Costco and pay $315 ($289.99 + tax), lose my $50 credit at VZW, then use my Living Social coupon to buy $50 in accessories (maybe extended battery, maybe car dock?)
3. Buy at another retailer that doesn't charge full tax on the phone AND honors my $50 NE2 discount. That way, I pay $249 + $22 (taxes) = $272, and I can still use my Living Social coupon for accessories at corporate store.

Question is, which retail stores will honor my $50 upgrade AND only charge tax on the paid price? Best Buy, Radio Shack? Does anyone know for sure?

I guess the other option is to do this and pay $174.99 + $57 (full sales tax) = $232, and then wait a day for it to come by FedEx, then use my Living Social coupon for accessories: [Deal] Galaxy Nexus Available from LetsTalk for as Low as $155 for New Customers, $175 for Upgrades – Droid Life.

Thanks for you help. Hopefully the answers here will help others who might be in a similar situation as me, trying to save a few bucks tomorrow.

 

[561427]

I have always bought my pohones from VZ stores but this is the first phone Im going to get from Best Buy because of their $170 2 year protection plan that has no deductible. I would otherwise pay 6 or 7 bucks/mo. and have to pay the $100 deductible for the claim. That was a pain when my OG broke. I got a D2G replacement but it had a problem with the screen and on the third try they got it right. asurion will be fine if I had to again but I just find the $170 2-year plan at Best Buy hard to beat. Plus ill be getting mine in Oregon; no sales taxt there !!!

 

[Chizzele]

I go with Costco... the price is right, you get the bundle and 90 days return policy.. plus Costco will always go the extra mile to make you happy..

 

[Larry Mahnken]

Like a lot of you, I live California, and am going to buy the GNex tomorrow. Like a lot of you, I have an upgrade credit from VZW ($50). Like a lot of you, I also bought the Living Social coupon ($25 for $50 in accessories/phones). Some of you are also in the same situation. I've called around many places, and here's the summary:

1. I have a $50 upgrade credit from VZW.
2. I got the Living Social deal, so that's another $50 that I have to use in store.
3. BUT.... buying in store means the stupid full tax situation (paying tax on the unsubsidized cost of the phone), which would come out to $57.
4. Costco is selling for $289.99 + tax (just on the purchase price), which comes out to about $315 and also receive the alleged bundle that is supposed to come with it.

So, I guess my options are (tax is 8.75% here in Alameda County):

1. Buy at Verizon and pay (using both my upgrade credit and living social voucher) $199.99 + $57 tax = $257.
2. Buy at Costco and pay $315 ($289.99 + tax), lose my $50 credit at VZW, then use my Living Social coupon to buy $50 in accessories (maybe extended battery, maybe car dock?)
3. Buy at another retailer that doesn't charge full tax on the phone AND honors my $50 NE2 discount. That way, I pay $249 + $22 (taxes) = $272, and I can still use my Living Social coupon for accessories at corporate store.

Question is, which retail stores will honor my $50 upgrade AND only charge tax on the paid price? Best Buy, Radio Shack? Does anyone know for sure?

I guess the other option is to do this and pay $174.99 + $57 (full sales tax) = $232, and then wait a day for it to come by FedEx, then use my Living Social coupon for accessories: [Deal] Galaxy Nexus Available from LetsTalk for as Low as $155 for New Customers, $175 for Upgrades – Droid Life.

Thanks for you help. Hopefully the answers here will help others who might be in a similar situation as me, trying to save a few bucks tomorrow.

I asked in another thread and was told that the Living Social coupon cannot be combined with your NE2 discount. I'm still going to ask at the VZW store, though.

 

[tjk629]

Does your state do sales tax for online orders? Cause when I did Lets Talk I didn't have to pay any sales tax.