Vent: Online vs In Store

I might have to do like my friend, Garret, and make a little animated thing when I've got these vents and complaints!! I am very, very excited to announce that I have a new cell phone! I decided to take the plunge and leap into current technology by getting a smart phone. As you know, I've done some testing of Verizon phones so I've got some experience with phones like Motorola DROID, Palm Pre Plus, and HTC Incredible. I'd been trying to decide between the Palm Pre Plus and the Motorola DROID. The Pre Plus is less expensive. The DROID has a better camera, Google functionality, etc. The DROID is a better phone but is more expensive. I was willing to pay $50 for the Palm Pre Plus but not so much willing to pay $100-$150 for the DROID. So I decided this weekend was the time to take the plunge and make my choice and get my phone replaced. I do the "new every 2" program with Verizon so I knew I would get discounted pricing on these phones. I jump online and look... the DROID is listed at $150 and the Pre Plus at $50. Then I realize I'm not logged in so it isn't taking into account my "new every 2" thing. I log in. The Palm Pre Plus is now FREE after discounts and the DROID is now $50!! I can order online and have my phone in 2 days with free shipping. But I also know there are 2 official Verizon stores close by and I needed to go to Trader Joe's and one of those Verizon stores is near Trader Joe's... so... I'm so glad I called first. Online pricing and store pricing are COMPETELY different. I didn't ask what the prices would be if I came to the store. The man answered the store phone and I explained that I'm looking at phones for my "new every 2" thing and I asked if the pricing I see when logged into the website is the same as the pricing if I come to his store. He hesitates. And then says... disappointedly... "No. It isn't." If you order your product online, you get an additional discount for buying through the internet. If I worked in one of the stores... I wouldn't be too thrilled with that. I wonder if they work on commission? How does a company justify having one set of pricing here and another set there? What if I had gone and bought my phone at the store and then got online and realized I'd spent money I didn't need to spend? What if my friend goes and buys the phone at the store and I buy online and I enjoy the discounts and they don't? It just doesn't make sense to me. And I know Verizon isn't the only cell company that does this. I've heard the same about AT&T. I don't know about Sprint or other carriers. I just can't figure it out. What benefit is there to having higher priced products in your store versus online? Maybe there is a master plan to shut down all the stores? Maybe the stores are supposed to become more like help centers? Are there other business models like this and I've just missed it? I can certainly appreciate, for example, clothing stores that have a wide variety of styles and sizes that offer sale and clearance items online. And I'm inclined to go to the website before I go to the store because the store will only have on sale what it has in stock. The website has an entire warehouse of product available so the selection is better. Anyone have any insight for me on this one? By the way... totally thrilled with my decision... Motorola DROID Now... to find a great running app...