[Xoom General] setite:
What price do you mean. Unless I missed something, the only difference in price is a 35$ Mail In Rebate that essentially cancels out the 35$ Activation fee.

To Sirchuk. Fraud denotes illegality. The only illegal exploitation of a return policy that I am aware of is the one in which you purchase an item, and swap it out with a broken one and return it and keep the working new one. I am simply utilizing the return policy lawfully, albeit deceitfully. I do not like to do it, on principal, since I LOVE everything about Costco. I once purchased a TV two days before a Black Friday sale because I was assured I could come in and get a refund for the coupon price. I did this to avoid the lines, lovely. I will only return it if the WiFi Only version comes out within 90 days. If this is released like the WiFi Only galaxy tab, then it wont be out in 90 days and I'll be stuck.

To Bwcorvus. The book guy is a jackass. I know returning electronics when something better comes along is bad, but returning books is really bad. With electronics, I don't get to use said device anymore, or if I get a newer model, Costco is still making money. I actually want to work at Costco, but they have the worst careers section on their site. After finally finding the link, I couldn't get a list of job openings, just positions that exist for which I could blindly apply for.

EDIT: I researched the terms Sirchuk presented. I am seeing that I am the evil consumer from the viewpoint of a retailer. I suppose I am not as good of a person as I thought. Hmmm. I could use an excuse about how evil Best Buy is. They really are though. When I bought an iPad, and was unsatisfied with the device they charged me a restocking fee. I argued at length with them since the return policy did not mention restocking fees on tablets, only computers. They argued that it was a "notebook computer" despite the fact that it's not. It is a new device their policy doesn't cover. They refunded me a month later when they removed their restocking fees altogether.

Either way, as much as I am a conservative, I do have uncontrollable anger at Best Buy. I do however love Costco, because they have never wronged me. If buying something knowing full well that I will likely return it, maybe I should buy from Best Buy who has screwed me and my friends before. Does it count that I plan to keep the device if something better doesn't come along? Should I have to keep a device that is inferior in some way if my purchase is recent? Do I get credit for not returning half-eaten food? I had a salad from costco recently that I hated, but didn't return. I am so conflicted now. Though no matter what I do, I will still sleep fine.

EDIT2: I have one more roundabout possible justification. Capitalism works on the principals of consumers voting with their wallets. Which sends a clearer message. Waiting lord knows how long for a cheaper wifi-only version(the one I actually want), or buying the 3G and returning it for a wifi-only version. My logic is that they need a tangible way to show that consumers like me don't want them to play this carrier codswallop with tablets. They should release wifi-only versions simultaneously, or first. If people like me don't buy the 3G version, then swap it out, how will they figure it out. They don't send surveys. I need them to know that I have the money for the 3G version, but don't want 3G, and furthermore that I won't simply settle for the 3G version.

The ony other thing to point out, if they offered data plans as affordable as they used to.. 20-30$ for unlimited data, I wouldn't be having this discussion. I would simply pay for data every month and happily keep the 3G version. But they are charging a 200$ premium for roughly 50$ in parts and the "priviledge" to pay for 3G and later 4G. Add to that the fact that they offer "month-to-month" data with no contract, but apparently if you dont pay for a month or two, you have to pay 35$ to reactivate. Someone will have to prove a tangible reason for this fee before I will consider it anything but greedy.