US electronics retailer Best Buy has announced it will no longer offer un-activated iPhone X handsets for outright sale.
The big box store was embroiled in controversy last week for placing a $100 premium on top of Apple’s asking $999 minimum asking price.
Best Buy ludicrously claimed “our customers have told us they want this flexibility and sometimes that has a cost.”
Now, following the backlash, the company has decided to completely stop selling the un-activated iPhone X outright.
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Instead it will only offer the 10th anniversary smartphone in monthly installments in the same way as mobile networks.
“Although there was clearly demand for the unactivated iPhone X, selling it that way cost more money, causing some confusion with our customers and noise in the media,” a spokesperson told Bloomberg.
“That’s why we decided a few days ago to only sell the phone the traditional way, through installment billing plans.”
The iPhone X doesn’t officially go on sale until this Friday, but pre-orders opened last Friday.
Given Apple is yet to offer iPhone X handsets free from network affiliation, Best Buy’s decision narrows the options for those seeking the new device.
Will you be grabbing an iPhone X on Friday? Let us know why on Twitter @TrustedReviews
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
