# Have to buy a phone in NYC remotely and have friend pick it up - How? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2015, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581 "2015-05-22T12:09:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clarence01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@Clarence01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence01)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/1 "2015-05-22T12:09:24Z")
I am nowhere near NYC and need a particular model phone that is sold out at all the Best Buys around Manhattan (according to the Best Buy rep last night). This would have worked well because my friend (who is 70 years old) who doesn’t need to endure a lot of hassle, could have picked up her gift after I ordered it over the phone. So what options do I have now? Too late to call Amazon because they take at least 2 days, and I need this today (Friday). ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/2 "2015-05-22T12:25:13Z")
Your friend is in NYC and you’re not, is that the situation? What carrier? All the big boys have their own stores. And I have to imagine that finding an electronics store in Manhattan is about as simple as tossing a rock. It’s also my understanding that you can get pretty much anything delivered in NYC, assuming you trust some random courier with an expensive item. And Amazon has [same day delivery for certain zip codes](http://www.amazon.com/b?node=8729023011). ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/3 "2015-05-22T13:31:32Z")
Amazon also is experimenting with 1 hour delivery including in Manhattan. ---
**Author:** ![Clarence01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@Clarence01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence01)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/4 "2015-05-22T18:22:29Z")
Assume Amazon is out of the picture… too much I’d rather not spend time providing an explanation if you don’t mind. Best Buy has already been checked as well. What other major electronic stores are there? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/5 "2015-05-22T19:40:41Z")
I don’t know if _any_ store will allow your friend to pick up an order placed in your name using your payment info. I’ve always needed to show ID and the credit card I used to place the order when I got to the store for pickup. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/6 "2015-05-22T20:42:22Z")
Well, Best Buy _would_ allow one to order something for in-store pickup and have someone else pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/7 "2015-05-22T21:50:14Z")
_What other major electronic stores are there?_ I would think you’d be better off with a smaller store, where you can speak directly with a manager and tell him what you need. The little stores are often more willing to accommodate unusual requests. “Here’s my credit card and my friend, Sally Rodgers, will pick it up for me and she will have ID.” ---
**Author:** ![Clarence01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@Clarence01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence01)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/8 "2015-05-23T10:26:43Z")
So can I conclude that Best Buy is the only major electronics retailer in NYC? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/9 "2015-05-23T12:37:34Z")
> [@Clarence01](#): > > So can I conclude that Best Buy is the only major electronics retailer in NYC? Pretty much. The closest Wal-marts are in Jersey or Nassau County. The phone needs to be locked to some provider? That will make things difficult. In Europe we buy the phones without a “contract” and pick the provider SIM card. But that won’t help you. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-to-buy-a-phone-in-nyc-remotely-and-have-friend-pick-it-up-how/720581/10 "2015-05-23T14:41:17Z")
There are, or were, a bunch of independent camera and electronics retailers in Manhattan, like Willoughby’s, J&R Music World and B&H Photo. Willoughby’s and J&R are closed, I believe, but B&H is still around and they list cellphones on their website.