[FastRX8]

To the OP -
I suggest you try this. I just did it and now I have my answer.

Just got back from Best Buy.
I went in there and asked about getting a Hero added to my account and pre-ordering the EVO. They said "Yes."
Then I told her that Sprint told me I can't get it through them because of my plan.
She asked what plan I had and I told her EPRP. She didn't know what that was, I told her it's the new SERO plan. She said, "Oh, let me check on that." She went and talked to some guy and he said as long as it's not the old SERO, I can get the phones there.

I said I'd be right back. Went outside and called Sprint. Talked to telesales and asked them if I could buy the Hero at Best Buy because it was only $30 vs. $99 @ telesales. He said, "Retail stores can't access your account. They won't be able to add a line or upgrade any phones." I told him they said they could do it. He said, "Have them try, if it works, great, but they won't be able to see the account."

Went back into Best Buy, told the same girl what I was told. She asked for my account info. Entered into their system couldn't make any changes to my account. I offered to by the Hero and pre-order 2 EVO's, but she couldn't do anything except see that I had an Everything Plus Data Share Plan. She called the guy that said it could be done. He looked at the info, then told me sorry "no." Basically, they said if they try to add the phone, it will fail at the last step. They can't call anyone, because it's not an account they are supposed to mess with.

Now, even though I'm pretty convinced I won't be able to get it at a 3rd party retail store, I going to try this at least 2 more times. Tomorrow I'll try it at Radio Shack and this weekend I'll hit another Best Buy. I'd much rather have it in my hands on the 4th, but it's not looking good right now. For now, I'll be ordering through telesales in the morning of the 4th hoping for a Saturday UPS delivery.

FYI - This is my 3rd contact w/ Sprint regarding getting the phone on EPRP and getting it on the 4th. All 3 times I got the exact same info. I can get it on the 4th but only through a Corporate Sprint Store or Telesales.