American Eagle Outfitters offers free phones to anyone trying on denim in back-to-school promo

American Eagle: free phones when you try on jeans

PITTSBURGH — Teen retailer American Eagle Outfitters Inc., looking to jump-start back-to-school denim sales, is offering anyone who tries on a pair of jeans starting later this month a free smart phone.

The offer comes with a catch: the new phones, such as the Droid Eris by HTC, the BlackBerry Curve and the LG Ally, are only available with new two-year service plans. More than 40 phones are available across multiple carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. The iPhone is not included.

The deal runs from July 21 to Aug. 3. Customers who also sign up for a new smart phone and plan also get a $25 gift card for use at American Eagle.

Customers can find out more at www.ae.com/jeans.

The back-to-school season is a major time for retailers, especially ones catering to teens like the Pittsburgh-based company. In May American Eagle Outfitters said that revenue at stores open at least a year fell 3 percent, slightly more than analysts had expected. That’s a key figure for retailers because it measures growth at existing stores rather than new ones. The company’s jeans sell for about $30 or $40, or more, according to its website.

The company declined to say how much the promotion will cost.

Shares of the company rose 14 cents to $11.95 in morning trading.