my Best Buy - former BB Reward Zone Program

[Dranakin]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Global-Promotions/null/pcmcat309300050007.c?id=pcmcat309300050007

3 tiers, up from 2. Spend thresholds are $1500 and $3500 respectively, from $2500.

How do I qualify for My Best Buy Elite or Elite Plus?

Elite status is automatically awarded when you spend $1500 or more on qualifying purchases at Best Buy and BestBuy.com in a calendar year, or $1,500 or more in total anywhere on the My Best Buy MasterCard.

Elite Plus status is automatically awarded when you spend $3500 or more on qualifying purchases at Best Buy and BestBuy.com in a calendar year, $3,500 or more in total anywhere on the My Best Buy MasterCard

Reward Zone Gamers Club appears to now be my Best Buy Gamers Club, program benefits seem to be the same.

What are the benefits of the My Best Buy Gamers Club?

Benefits include:

Get 2X points on new game software, digital content and game accessories

Get 2X points when you trade in games
Special money-saving exclusive offers

Also:

Does it cost anything to be a My Best Buy Gamers Club member?

Gamers Club membership is free. You must be a U.S. or Puerto Rico resident at least 13 years of age with a valid e-mail address.

EDIT: Thanks to person123, who noted that there's still a Gamers Club Unlocked tier, in which benefits include the same 10% bonus trade-in credit, 10% discount off Pre-Owned Games, 10 issues of @Gamer magazine, and exclusive Paid Subscription offers.

According to this there is still a "paid" option, which is what GCU is.

https://static.bestbuy.com/myrz/web/Content/Offers/Images/MyBestBuy_RegistrationTandC_9.13.13.pdf

---

I imagine we'll get some answers about current statuses in the next few days if you're a Silver member and/or a paid GCU member, since all the programs have changed.

Just to share, I was a Silver member and my status is now Elite Plus through the current status year.

 

[gossamer]

Wait, you got the welcome packet coupons the same day? That must be record time lol. One more question, are the welcome coupons still good to use on Black friday?

Should have broke that up. It updated the same day but the welcome came in two days. I was just surprised I got it since last year when I renewed I didn't. Yes, the coupons should work on black friday. Mine have an expiration of 11-30 with no wording that excludes BF.

 

[Maskim]

Should have broke that up. It updated the same day but the welcome came in two days. I was just surprised I got it since last year when I renewed I didn't. Yes, the coupons should work on black friday. Mine have an expiration of 11-30 with no wording that excludes BF.

Mine too. I'm anxious to see which games will be under 39.99 for the b2g1.

 

[KtMack23]

When dd the policy on certificates change? The Racine WI store wouldn't let me use my $10 from my 2k14 pre order and pick up because the account is in my mothers name. When did this shit happen I've never had this problem before. I showed them Id that proved I had the same last name and residence as well as the password to our account and I was the one who earned the certificate it didn't matter. that shit really not wanting to shop at that store ever again

 

[alljoy214]

Do the coupons come in by mail or email? I haven't gotten them for two years now, but I have checked the email I gave them either. Last time, they sent them through the mail.

 

[Saix_XIII]

When dd the policy on certificates change? The Racine WI store wouldn't let me use my $10 from my 2k14 pre order and pick up because the account is in my mothers name. When did this shit happen I've never had this problem before. I showed them Id that proved I had the same last name and residence as well as the password to our account and I was the one who earned the certificate it didn't matter. that shit really not wanting to shop at that store ever again

It was never policy...

That's like saying because you live at the same address you can use your mother credit card at any store. It's in her name, but some stores/employees simply don't even bother to read it. So the policy hasn't changed, but the employee you got may have just been a hard ass.

 

[Maskim]

Do the coupons come in by mail or email? I haven't gotten them for two years now, but I have checked the email I gave them either. Last time, they sent them through the mail.

Email.

 

[admiralvic]

When dd the policy on certificates change? The Racine WI store wouldn't let me use my $10 from my 2k14 pre order and pick up because the account is in my mothers name. When did this shit happen I've never had this problem before. I showed them Id that proved I had the same last name and residence as well as the password to our account and I was the one who earned the certificate it didn't matter. that shit really not wanting to shop at that store ever again

It happens. A while back before I had a credit or debit card, I made a purchase on BestBuy.com. This purchase was made 100% with gift cards and put in my name, but I recall having to enter a debit card or something like that and the order ending up in my dads name because of the card. So despite having it fully paid off, no money coming from the credit card, the account and order being placed in my name, they still wouldn't let me pick it up because I couldn't present ID verifying I was my dad.

 

[alljoy214]

Email.

Son of a .

 

[mask.air.raid]

I still haven't gotten my coupons.

 

[Drahken]

I dinged over the $2,500 mark and they gave me Elite Plus till Feb 2015. I've been using the pre-paid credit card method, it's rather effective, I wonder how long before they close that loophole.

 

[handsomepete]

I dinged over the $2,500 mark and they gave me Elite Plus till Feb 2015. I've been using the pre-paid credit card method, it's rather effective, I wonder how long before they close that loophole.

thanks for the confirmation - I assume it's after everything posted? I'm something like $30 away from $2500 so I might as well just go get something to finish it off.

 

[Gamer SDP]

don't you guys mean the $3500 mark?  it use to be $2500 but is now $1500/$3500.

 

[Saix_XIII]

don't you guys mean the $3500 mark? it use to be $2500 but is now $1500/$3500.

Anyone who gets to $2,500 this year (2013) gets Elite Plus until the start of 2015

 

[Drahken]

thanks for the confirmation - I assume it's after everything posted? I'm something like $30 away from $2500 so I might as well just go get something to finish it off.

Yes, it took till it posted and gave me the RZ Points.

 

[Gamer SDP]

Anyone who gets to $2,500 this year (2013) gets Elite Plus until the start of 2015

Where was that posted? Also when "My BB" went live, my Elite plus was until Feb 2015, and I had yet to hit $2500 and still haven't yet.

 

[Saix_XIII]

Where was that posted? Also when "My BB" went live, my Elite plus was until Feb 2015, and I had yet to hit $2500 and still haven't yet.

Some people got bumped up for free for whatever reason. It was stated in a mass-email BBY sent out a few weeks or maybe a month or so ago.

 

[Maskim]

Where was that posted? Also when "My BB" went live, my Elite plus was until Feb 2015, and I had yet to hit $2500 and still haven't yet.

If you were silver for 2013, even if you hadn't qualified for 2014, yet, you got elite plus through Feb 2015.

 

[BeyondKnight]

Ever since they never renewed the $20 in reward certificates in preordering games it hasnt been worth getting gamers club unlocked, does anybody else agree?

 

[Saix_XIII]

Ever since they never renewed the $20 in reward certificates in preordering games it hasnt been worth getting gamers club unlocked, does anybody else agree?

I don't, but I know others do.

 

[mask.air.raid]

I thought it was a recent addition.

 

[Maskim]

Ever since they never renewed the $20 in reward certificates in preordering games it hasnt been worth getting gamers club unlocked, does anybody else agree?

I would disagree, as the coupons alone I think are worth the cost. Double points and 10% bonus (which gave me more than the $15 a year cost from a single transaction today) are really just nice extras.

 

[TheodorusMajorus]

Is there another way to sign up for Gamers Club Unlocked (besides the kiosk method I see mentioned)? My local (and local-ish) stores seem to have completely removed their gaming departments (except for the games themselves, of course) and any kiosks in those areas.  Apparently nobody in the one store knows how to renew/sign me up and people at the other store told me that Unlocked has been done away with and that there's only the free version now.  Frustrating day....

 

[MRW2276]

Ever since they never renewed the $20 in reward certificates in preordering games it hasnt been worth getting gamers club unlocked, does anybody else agree?

If you trade/flip games it's still worth while

 

[Deader2818]

I would disagree, as the coupons alone I think are worth the cost. Double points and 10% bonus (which gave me more than the $15 a year cost from a single transaction today) are really just nice extras.

You get double points with free gamers club as well.

 

[Maskim]

You get double points with free gamers club as well.

That's not what my point history or an hour on the phone with customer service a couple weeks ago, says. I got single points on all free membership trade ins, but since the day I got unlocked they've been doubled.

 

[Deader2818]

That's not what my point history or an hour on the phone with customer service a couple weeks ago, says. I got single points on all free membership trade ins, but since the day I got unlocked they've been doubled.

its down right now but I know for a fact that it was that way at least and from the wording it still seems that way. My girlfriends account that is just the free one got double points when buying gaming related stuff.

When I renewed in September I got the welcome e-mail and it shows that you do get 2x points with the free one.

So yeah, i guess the customer service rep didn't know what they were doing.

 

[Cleaner7]

Is there another way to sign up for Gamers Club Unlocked (besides the kiosk method I see mentioned)? My local (and local-ish) stores seem to have completely removed their gaming departments (except for the games themselves, of course) and any kiosks in those areas. Apparently nobody in the one store knows how to renew/sign me up and people at the other store told me that Unlocked has been done away with and that there's only the free version now. Frustrating day....



I was at BBY for more than an hour yesterday and they could not figure it out. I've tried to renew GCU twice in the past month and both times was unsuccessful. I even found an old brochure for it and brought it in this time and it still wouldn't work. Without the 10% bonus I've missed out on about $35

 

[Maskim]

its down right now but I know for a fact that it was that way at least and from the wording it still seems that way. My girlfriends account that is just the free one got double points when buying gaming related stuff.

When I renewed in September I got the welcome e-mail and it shows that you do get 2x points with the free one.

So yeah, i guess the customer service rep didn't know what they were doing.

Interesting. The new email they send out for it is a different format, and no longer even mentions the 2x points for trading games.
Whatever they're doing to GCU, they should probably figure it out sooner rather than later.

"GET 2X POINTS1 on new game software, digital content and game accessories
GET POINTS when you trade in games2
GET POINTS on gaming consoles
REDEEM REWARD CERTIFICATES on nearly everything at Best Buy®
SPECIAL MONEY-SAVING EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS
10% BONUS TRADE-IN CREDIT on your game software trade-ins2
10% OFF pre-owned games
BUY 2 GET THE 3RD FREE on pre-owned games via a special welcome coupon
SAVE 50% on a new strategy guide via a special welcome coupon
ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION OF @GAMER MAGAZINE the Best Buy exclusive gaming magazine
GET AT LEAST $100/ISSUE in valuable coupons with your subscription of @Gamer magazine"

 

[shady520]

If you were silver for 2013, even if you hadn't qualified for 2014, yet, you got elite plus through Feb 2015.

Unless you are like me and did not get it extended until 2015, don't really know why as my membership was earned by reaching $2500 last year (mainly through trade ins) and was never given a free silver membership like some people.

 

[bbedwards]

Take this for what it is...I just reported this in the BB trade in thread as well.

I tried to renew my GCU before a trade today. I had a very helpful CSR try to make it happen, to no avail. Finally he called corporate. He was told by corporate that the sku for GCU is no longer active as they are canceling GCU after the new year. This is why no one can figure out how to ring it up now.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Even though I didn't use many coupons, the extra 10% has paid for my membership many times over.

Bummed.

 

[Saix_XIII]

Take this for what it is...I just reported this in the BB trade in thread as well.

I tried to renew my GCU before a trade today. I had a very helpful CSR try to make it happen, to no avail. Finally he called corporate. He was told by corporate that the sku for GCU is no longer active as they are canceling GCU after the new year. This is why no one can figure out how to ring it up now.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Even though I didn't use many coupons, the extra 10% has paid for my membership many times over.

Bummed.

I find that somewhat hard to believe as there are people who were able to renew recently. I wonder what they are going to do for those people. I guess we'll see in the coming few months what is going on.

 

[shady520]

I find that somewhat hard to believe as there are people who were able to renew recently. I wonder what they are going to do for those people. I guess we'll see in the coming few months what is going on.

Probably like the physical magazine subscription issue, just honor it to those that have it until it runs out.

 

[mask.air.raid]

I find that somewhat hard to believe as there are people who were able to renew recently. I wonder what they are going to do for those people. I guess we'll see in the coming few months what is going on.

To be "fair" they did make it difficult for us to subscribe by removing almost all the information. What they should have done is stopped selling GCU and give everyone the message that it would be ending at the end of the subscription for each member so that people would not get it and they would honor the few weeks that some people already purchased.

Knowing Best Buy, we won't get our money back.

 

[megma42]

If you were silver for 2013, even if you hadn't qualified for 2014, yet, you got elite plus through Feb 2015.

Unless you didn't like me. Only through Feb 2014 and I was silver for 2013.

 

[bob330i]

Unless you didn't like me. Only through Feb 2014 and I was silver for 2013.

Same here, only through Feb 2014. Depending on how my spending goes, I may go the Visa GC path. I'm just over $1500 at the moment.

 

[lzanagi]

Elite Plus and Elite member benefits.

• A special event will be held on 11/17 at "select stores". Triple reward points.
• Early Access to Black Friday deals will be on November 25.
• Priority access to hot products. They will be reserved and you will be notified via email.
• Priority Checkout Lanes will be offered at "select stores" this holiday season for Elite and Elite Plus members.
• Elite Plus members will be able to gift Elite status to 3 family members or friends.

All my best buy members.

• Points will not expire every February, they will only expire if your account is inactive for 12 months.
• Any member who spends $2500 this calendar year will be receiving Elite Plus through February 2015, spend $1500 receive Elite through February 2015.

Elite people get early access to BF? Not just Elite Plus? Just trying to clarify.

Perhaps they are changing it this year. But I have participated in the early access for the last 2 or 3 years now. Every time it was online only and did not include door busters. Granted I believe that makes a lot of sense since in general door busters aren't even online when BF starts. Door busters are to get people into a buying frenzy, So if you have 5 of a $700 TV (on sale for $300) and it sells out. The other people who wanted that TV are still in the mindset of "I WANT A TV!!!" so the store can upsell them to a $400-600 TV since it was so close to their $300 price point.

It's a lot more difficult to get upsells and add-ons with online sales due to not having an employee direct the customer or other items being right in their face at the store.

That's not an upsell. It's bait and switch. REAL bait and switch, not the fake kind that people complain about when they miss out on a deal. So keep your fangs off me, people who hate the term bait and switch being used incorrectly. Especially you, Confoosedsious.

In a sense I hope they don't change it to include in-store and doorbusters. Just un-fair to those who wait in line for 10+ hours like myself.

I think it's fair. Because I'm Elite.

 

[Maskim]

That's not an upsell. It's bait and switch. REAL bait and switch, not the fake kind that people complain about when they miss out on a deal. So keep your fangs off me, people who hate the term bait and switch being used incorrectly. Especially you, Confoosedsious.

It's not bait and switch to sell out of an item. It's bait and switch to never have the item in the first place. Otherwise the illegal activity in question would be called Sell Out and Try to Sell the Customer Something Else While They're In the Store.

 

[lzanagi]

It's not bait and switch to sell out of an item. It's bait and switch to never have the item in the first place. Otherwise the illegal activity in question would be called Sell Out and Try to Sell the Customer Something Else While They're In the Store.

From Wikipedia:

Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud used in retail sales but also employed in other contexts. First, customers are "baited" by merchants' advertising products or services at a low price, but when customers visit the store, they discover that the advertised goods are not available, or the customers are pressured by sales people to consider similar, but higher priced items ("switching").

Pay attention to that last part.

Also, your last line was pretty funny. And by funny, I mean stupid. Because you can also call bait and switch "Not Stock and Try to Sell the Customer Something More Expensive While They're In the Store." Therefore:

 

[Maskim]

From Wikipedia:

Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud used in retail sales but also employed in other contexts. First, customers are "baited" by merchants' advertising products or services at a low price, but when customers visit the store, they discover that the advertised goods are not available, or the customers are pressured by sales people to consider similar, but higher priced items ("switching").

Pay attention to that last part.

Also, your last line was pretty funny. And by funny, I mean stupid. Because you can also call bait and switch "Not Stock and Try to Sell the Customer Something More Expensive While They're In the Store." Therefore:

When the advertised goods are not available, as in they were never available, it is bait and switch. Selling out of limited stock, which you'll find in the fine print of the ad (unless it's a store that will give a rain check) that it's limited to a specific number or the stock on hand, is not bait and switch by any stretch of the imagination. If you think it is I suggest you hire an attorney and file a civil case against any and every store or business that has ever sold out of an item during a sale. Perhaps start with every car dealership in your area since the "one only at this price" car every week was probably purchased early Sunday morning and not available by Friday night at closing.

 

[lzanagi]

When the advertised goods are not available, as in they were never available, it is bait and switch. Selling out of limited stock, which you'll find in the fine print of the ad (unless it's a store that will give a rain check) that it's limited to a specific number or the stock on hand, is not bait and switch by any stretch of the imagination. If you think it is I suggest you hire an attorney and file a civil case against any and every store or business that has ever sold out of an item during a sale. Perhaps start with every car dealership in your area since the "one only at this price" car every week was probably purchased early Sunday morning and not available by Friday night at closing.

This is the situation SaixXIII descibed.

Door busters are to get people into a buying frenzy, So if you have 5 of a $700 TV (on sale for $300) and it sells out. The other people who wanted that TV are still in the mindset of "I WANT A TV!!!" so the store can upsell them to a $400-600 TV since it was so close to their $300 price point.

This is bait and switch. Having a limited supply in order to make a customer buy a more expensive product is no different than not having any in stock in order to make a customer buy a more expensive product. Are you trying to tell me that if a store has a few in stock to sell, for the sole purpose of circumventing bait and switch, then that should be allowed? That if a store has 2 or 3 of those TVs in stock solely to get rid of them and then sell out and try to sell a more expensive TV, then that isn't bait and switch and should be allowed? Absurdity!

 

[maximumzero]

My boss bought a new computer the other day, so I gave him my phone number to give to the cashier so I could have the points.

Somehow the number was tied to my parents account, so the points went into their account instead. Gah!

It's not really a huge issue as I can just print the certificate off their account once it pops up and use it, but it sucks that those points won't stack with my existing ones.

 

[Deader2818]

This is the situation SaixXIII descibed.

Door busters are to get people into a buying frenzy, So if you have 5 of a $700 TV (on sale for $300) and it sells out. The other people who wanted that TV are still in the mindset of "I WANT A TV!!!" so the store can upsell them to a $400-600 TV since it was so close to their $300 price point.

This is bait and switch. Having a limited supply in order to make a customer buy a more expensive product is no different than not having any in stock in order to make a customer buy a more expensive product. Are you trying to tell me that if a store has a few in stock to sell, for the sole purpose of circumventing bait and switch, then that should be allowed? That if a store has 2 or 3 of those TVs in stock solely to get rid of them and then sell out and try to sell a more expensive TV, then that isn't bait and switch and should be allowed? Absurdity!

You try suing every store on black Friday and see how it goes.

 

[Maskim]

This is the situation SaixXIII descibed.

Door busters are to get people into a buying frenzy, So if you have 5 of a $700 TV (on sale for $300) and it sells out. The other people who wanted that TV are still in the mindset of "I WANT A TV!!!" so the store can upsell them to a $400-600 TV since it was so close to their $300 price point.

This is bait and switch. Having a limited supply in order to make a customer buy a more expensive product is no different than not having any in stock in order to make a customer buy a more expensive product. Are you trying to tell me that if a store has a few in stock to sell, for the sole purpose of circumventing bait and switch, then that should be allowed? That if a store has 2 or 3 of those TVs in stock solely to get rid of them and then sell out and try to sell a more expensive TV, then that isn't bait and switch and should be allowed? Absurdity!

. Yes, that's the way it is. They have product available at the stated price, while supplies last. They also honor the advertised price, while supplies last. It's not bait and switch, period. From experience, when I used to sell cars and work financing, all one needs to defend from a bait and switch claim is to show a record of having had the item in stock and proof that it was sold at the stated price. Some ads, such as the GameStop BF ad, which mentions PS4 and XB1 won't even require them to have any in stock because of the wording of the ad, that availability is not guaranteed and varies by location.

 

[htz]

Elite people get early access to BF? Not just Elite Plus? Just trying to clarify.

Elite Plus members still get earlier access from what I understand.

 

[ZhengMaster]

Elite Plus members still get earlier access from what I understand.

Are elite members guaranteed early access?

 

[MetalSlugger]

I find that somewhat hard to believe as there are people who were able to renew recently. I wonder what they are going to do for those people. I guess we'll see in the coming few months what is going on.

To be "fair" they did make it difficult for us to subscribe by removing almost all the information. What they should have done is stopped selling GCU and give everyone the message that it would be ending at the end of the subscription for each member so that people would not get it and they would honor the few weeks that some people already purchased.

Knowing Best Buy, we won't get our money back.

Of course I'd like them to compensate me for the 8 months that they're supposedly cancelling but any worthy CAG would have used the welcome packet coupons to recoup their subscription fee several times over. I've only used the B2G1 new coupon so far, but that saved me $39 and put me $24 over what I paid for the sub. The rest of the welcome coupons are just a bonus, plus I'll use whatever worthwhile @gamer coupons come out for the rest of the year.

 

[maximumzero]

Can I use Reward Certificates from other accounts? My mother has a Reward Zone account that she was automatically signed up for back when she bought a refrigerator a few years back.

She doesn't use the account, but the $5 promo reward zone certificate is sitting in there. If I printed it off would I have any trouble using it if my card is scanned first?

 

[kdiddy1989]

Can I use Reward Certificates from other accounts? My mother has a Reward Zone account that she was automatically signed up for back when she bought a refrigerator a few years back.

She doesn't use the account, but the $5 promo reward zone certificate is sitting in there. If I printed it off would I have any trouble using it if my card is scanned first?

It's sitting there after a few years? I'd check the expiration date on that if I were you...

 

[confoosious]

If you were silver for 2013, even if you hadn't qualified for 2014, yet, you got elite plus through Feb 2015.

I was legit silver for 2013 and didn't get bumped to 2015.

 

[maximumzero]

It's sitting there after a few years? I'd check the expiration date on that if I were you...

No no, the account has been sitting there for a few years, but the certificate is the recent "Gift for You" certificate for October.