‘Effective Immediately,’ Best Buy Halts iPhone 4 Pre-Orders

“Please note that effective immediately Best Buy will no longer be accepting pre-orders for any models of the iPhone 4,” the giant retailer of consumer electronics has announced, after informing that its mobile unit was launching an iPhone 4 pre-sale come June 15. Beginning with June 15, Best Buy Mobile started taking pre-sale orders at its standalone stores across the US. Apple, however, has pushed some iPhone 4 shipments to July, while Best Buy can only sell what it is given by Apple. Customers are being promised that existing pre-orders will be fulfilled.

Buyers wondering whether pre-ordering the iPhone 4 at Best Buy guarantees the device on launch day (June 24th, 2010) are being told “no.” However, the retailer will fulfill pre-orders in the order they were placed.

Jacob-BBY, Best Buy Community Connector, has posted an iPhone 4 Pre-order FAQ in which he states, “[…] If you pre-ordered early you have a fairly strong chance of getting the phone on launch day. You will hear from the store a few days before launch to schedule an appointment. We will have a better understanding of what inventory we can expect to receive from Apple for launch day around the 22nd or 23rd. So, I encourage everyone to wait until you hear from your store before making assumptions.”

Those who’ve already pre-ordered the iPhone 4 16GB White (SKU: 1039203), iPhone 4 32GB White (SKU: 1049294), iPhone 4 16GB Black (SKU:1038865) or the iPhone 4 32GB Black (SKU: 1039188) should know that they are the proud owners of a valid pre-order, Best Buy’s Community Connector claims. “You will receive your phone once the store receives the product from Apple. This may or may not be on launch day, June 24th, 2010,” Jacob outlines for the masses.

Best Buy also has a limit on how many pre-orders or iPhone 4 purchases each customer can have - one (1) device. Prices of the iPhone 4 at Best Buy with a new, two-year activation or fully qualified upgrade are then offered:

“$199.99 for 16GB Black (SKU: 1049078), $299.99 for 32GB Black (SKU: 1049087), $199.99 for 16GB White (SKU: 1049236), $299.99 for 32GB White (SKU: 1049245).”

Regular (contract-free) pricing is:

$599.99 for 16GB Black (SKU: 1049078), $699.99 for 32GB Black (SKU: 1049087), $599.99 for 16GB White (SKU: 1049236), $699.99 for 32GB White (SKU: 1049245).

Throughout the FAQ, customers are constantly being reminded (in red print) that, as of now, Best Buy is no longer accepting pre-orders for any models of the iPhone 4. Buyers are advised to just stay put until Apple and AT&T work out their issues.