If you go into a Sprint retail location to purchase the Palm Pre, you’ll end up paying $299 for the device that day. They’ll give you a special form with irritating instructions on how to properly fill out a rebate form and manually mail it in for your $100 rebate, which won’t likely arrive anytime in the next few months. Its a neat little trick for Sprint, since Mail In Rebates have historically low fulfilment percentages on the consumer side. People simply don’t do it and the carrier gets FREE money – advertising one price, charging another and earning a net somewhere between the two, depending on how many people are lazy and/or forgetful.

In terms of the Palm Pre, BestBuy is your friend, folks. No dilly dallying here – only at BestBuy will you receive that $100 Rebate instantaneously, meaning you walk home with your Pre in hand and $100 plumper than you would have been elsewhere. Kind of ridiculous, right? The whole Mail-In-Rebate is pretty much just a marketing play/scam… I suppose if you’re too lazy to mail in the stuff then its your own fault but really, honestly, does a Mail-In-Rebate serve any purpose other than to squeeze more money out providing any additional value?

Now you have an additional problem… you want to make sure to get a Palm Pre on June 6th – will you go for Sprint, BestBuy, Wal-Mart or Radio Shack? Here is the full Press Release from BestBuy:

Best Buy Mobile Will Sell Palm Pre for Sprint in Stores Beginning June 6

MINNEAPOLIS, May 19, 2009 – Best Buy Mobile, now in 1067 locations around the U.S. including standalone stores and stores-within-a-store at Best Buy will begin selling the Palm® Pre™ phone June 6. Without the hassle of mail-in rebates, Best Buy Mobile allows consumers to buy with instant rebate savings at the point of purchase.
“The addition of the Palm Pre to our assortment gives consumers the opportunity to see all of the latest and greatest mobile phone technology under one roof,” said Best Buy Mobile President Shawn Score. “Our vast selection of smartphones allows customers to see which device is right for their individual needs. They can also check to see if they are eligible for an upgrade, no matter what carrier they’re currently using.”

Best Buy Mobile has become a leading destination for smartphone purchases, in part because of what the store offers its customers:

Better choice of phones and networks
Consumers can compare a wide selection of the top brands, the latest phones and all major networks. Best Buy Mobile features more than 90 different handsets across a variety of carriers.

Impartial, informed advice
Mobile phone specialists, who are non-commissioned, help customers find the best mobile phones for individual or family needs.

Straightforward pricing
Customers experience savings upfront with no mail-in rebates on the backend. The price customers see is the price they get.

There for the full life cycle of a phone
Customers can choose from an array of service plans, phone repair options and helpful suggestions to get the most out of their mobile phones. Best Buy Mobile offers an array of services aimed at improving the mobile phone buying experience. Some of these services include:

• Upgrade Checker: A quick and easy in-store service that gives consumers the ability to see when they are eligible for their next phone upgrade. When the upgrade time is nearing, consumers receive a complimentary reminder call or email.
• Walk Out Working™: Free in-store smartphone setup by a Best Buy Mobile associate who will sync email accounts, set up BlueTooth® peripherals, transfer contacts and activate other services to allow the customer to leave the store with a fully functional new smartphone.

The new Palm Pre developed by Palm, Inc. is the first phone based on the new Palm webOS™ mobile platform, which brings together all your important information from where it resides – on your phone, at your work or on the web – in to one logical view. It features a smooth, rounded ergonomic design and a physical keyboard that slides out only when needed. Pre is engineered to feel natural in a user’s hand and comfortably small in one’s pocket. When closed, Pre is ideal for phone calls, Web browsing, music, photos and videos; when open, Pre is optimized for email and text messaging. It promises exceptional experience for phone calls, whether held to your ear, over speakerphone or via Bluetooth. With its curved slider and gesture-controlled touch interface, Pre fuses exquisite design with the revolutionary webOS software for fast access to anything on the device or web.

About Best Buy Mobile
Best Buy Mobile features one of the largest selections of carriers, handsets and accessories available anywhere, as well as a highly-trained staff to help customers make the most of their mobile phones. Best Buy Mobile locations feature more than 90 different handsets from nine carriers, and one of the widest assortments of accessories in retail. Employees undergo at least 80 hours of intensive training, as well as continuing education on mobile phone technology and trends.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $45 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu FiveStar; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 155,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2009, we donated a combined $33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.

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Palm, Pre and webOS are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc.

How many people will go to BestBuy for the Pre JUST because of this?