BB is changing their Reward Zone program

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As of October 31, 2009 the following will go into effect.

1. GC will be available online only. (ie: you will have to print them out)

2. Points will no longer roll over from year to year. So you will lose all points you earned that doesn't net you a GC. So if at Dec. 31, 2009 you have 249 points, well you lose those points. If you have 499, well you will only get a $5 GC and lose those extra 249 points.

3. You can not give the GC to someone else, you have to use them yourself.

4. You have to make a purchase every 12 months to remain in the program.
 
Thankfully, BB is making is very easy to point out that the program is changing, since there's a huge "Important Update" on the RZ home page.

Let's look at these points one by one:

1. If it lowers their cost for running the program by doing it as online-delivery only, so be it. I've been doing printed RZ certs since they made that option available a few years ago, since I hated the waiting time.

2. This is completely ridiculous. This will force people to make purchases around the end of November to make sure they cover any outstanding points they had "pending" in their account before then. As much as I would hope they would accelerate the process in posting points to your account, they won't, due to return period issues. I'd like to hope they would start this on Jan 1st 2010 rather than fucking people right before the start of the holiday season. That would make more sense doing it at the beginning of next year.

3. A minor annoyance, though I'm sure this was to push people to sign up on their own for the RZ program.

4. No surprise there. It costs them money to maintain accounts that don't generate revenue, so why keep them?

I'll be curious to see BB's response to customers ripping them a new one over these changes, especially point #2.
 
I have large issues with 2 like most others, but 3 will also be a bit of a pain for me. Currently, my family just shares one account. The account is under my mother's name, and I've never felt the need to open my own, as I visit my parents often enough that they usually just give me any GC's that they have gotten. Unfortunately, it appears that I will no longer be able to do this. I don't shop at Best Buy unless I have a GC, as they are often either overpriced or it's such a hassle to find anything in the store that I go elsewhere anyway. Ah well, no real big loss I suppose.
 
So if you go Christmas shopping in December, and earn 250 points, they just disappear because points are "pending" for about a month?

That part is BS.
 
[quote name='chakan']So if you go Christmas shopping in December, and earn 250 points, they just disappear because points are "pending" for about a month?

That part is BS.[/QUOTE]I'd like to hope that they don't do anything with pending points that haven't posted yet into the account. If they don't than anything that you buy after December 1st should be pending through to Jan 1st and later, as they don't post points until after 30 days from date of purchase.

I guess it's purchases from November 1st - 30th that are the real problematic ones to go poof from spare points.
 
Well #3 is a bit of a hassle but simple solution would be to change name on account to your name if parents dont use certificates.
 
[quote name='Brian9824']62t in all honesty we are talking about a 100% free promotion done by them. It's not like they have to give us anything.[/QUOTE]

If you are allowing BB to track your purchases it is the least they can do.
 
My only problem is #2. Dick's Sporting Goods resets the points on account to 0 once a year but they do it the first week of February. 12/31 is bullshit. They should make it that unused points expire a year of being acquired.
 
#2 blows, everything else is fine. It'd also be nice if they added the points faster. I'm actually curious about #4 though. Do purchases on the Reward Zone Credit Card count, or does it have to be in store purchases? I guess either way you'll be making at least one purchase a year if your points are going to expire, so it probably doesn't matter.
 
A few years ago I printed out at RZ GC and it wouldn't scan in the store, so the checkout guy had to enter in the 20-something digit long code. Since then I've always had my GCs mailed to me, but not for much longer.
 
1. Don't care about because I have been getting mine online for a long time. I started out getting them in the mail for the first 2 or 3 that I got but later got on and changed it.

2. This is what will stop me from going to BB. I only go there now for the points and the fact that I'm a silver member I can save them. I noticed Amazon does this same thing with their points also. Out of the two I will buy off of Amazon from now on due to no shipping if I spend 25 bucks or more and no tax. So if my points are going to go away after a year I might as well not pay tax on the stuff seeing how they is not put into the points anyway.

3. They told me this back in 04 when you had to pay 10 bucks to join. Now that it is free I don't see why people don't just join. They told me people could use my card to get me points but not the GC I would get. This doesn't bother me as I was the only one to use the points. However I have let others use my card to get me points so if that changes I won't like it but it wont be as bad as 2.

4. I don't see a problem with this as the program was made for people that buy at best buy. When I signed up they had even told me that it is for people that buy things once or twice a month from them.


I have not seen anything about them changes that OP posted however I did get an email saying

Your Reward Zone® program is changing on October 31, 2009

Get reward certificates faster online
Receive benefits more safely and securely
Be more environmentally friendly
Visit MyRZ.com for the full rules before the following changes take effect:

Reward certificates will only be available at MyRZ.com
To help reduce the amount of paper we use, certificates will no longer be delivered via mail.
Reward certificates will no longer be transferable
This safety measure helps prevent others from redeeming your reward certificates without your knowledge.
We appreciate your membership, and we want to help you take full advantage of the Reward Zone program.
Please visit MyRZ.com.

Thank you from the Best Buy® Reward Zone program.
Click to expand...

The second one that OP listed will stop me from going to best buy unless I really want it. I have been going as of right now only to keep from puting more onto the credit card. However if I'm going to buy it and lose points anyway I might as well buy it pay no tax and just make sure I pay the amazon card off when I get the bill in.
 
I agree that the second revision is garbage, but I've been shopping more on Amazon lately so I guess it isn't really going to effect me that much.
 
I'm starting to even wonder about the second one. I looked online and unless I over looked it I didn't see it. It was just the same thing in the email they sent me. Could someone post a link to where it says that points will expire at the end of the year? I know with the Silver membership you have to spend 2500 bucks a year to keep it and if you don't you go back to the normal. I would hope then all points would be sent to you for the amounts they are worth. So in Fet of 2010 when my silver membership runs out I should get 30 bucks from them because I'm just saving my points till then.
 
[quote name='sendme']I'm starting to even wonder about the second one. I looked online and unless I over looked it I didn't see it. It was just the same thing in the email they sent me. Could someone post a link to where it says that points will expire at the end of the year? I know with the Silver membership you have to spend 2500 bucks a year to keep it and if you don't you go back to the normal. I would hope then all points would be sent to you for the amounts they are worth. So in Fet of 2010 when my silver membership runs out I should get 30 bucks from them because I'm just saving my points till then.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I agree with you, I just scanned the program rules in the new changes section and saw nothing about points expiring at the end of the year. Maybe OP can link us to where he found this info?
 
[quote name='lawdood']Yeah, I agree with you, I just scanned the program rules in the new changes section and saw nothing about points expiring at the end of the year. Maybe OP can link us to where he found this info?[/QUOTE]

Email.
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']the worse they can do is to up the points to 500 for a $5... that will piss off a lot of people..[/QUOTE]

250 for $5 is pretty pathetic as is.
 
Just to be sure...you guys are referring "GC" as the gift certificates you get and not Gift cards? I also agree with #2....that's lame.
 
Unless they are just not showing me that about number 2 because I'm a silver member for right now I'm not seeing it. I was sent an email and put in a post all that was in it. I looked online and also found just what was in the email.

Important member update.
Your Reward Zone® program is changing
on October 31, 2009


Get reward certificates faster online
Receive benefits more safely and securely
Be more environmentally friendly

Reward certificates will only be available at MyRZ.com
To help reduce the amount of paper we use, certificates will no longer be delivered via mail.

Reward certificates will no longer be transferable
This safety measure prevents others from redeeming your reward certificates without your knowledge.

Your profile must include an e-mail address
Make sure your e-mail address is unique to you and shared with no one else. This will improve your security by ensuring that only you receive your reward certificates.

Read the Program Rules

We appreciate your membership, and we want to help you take full advantage of the Reward Zone program. Please verify your e-mail is correct.
 
I suspect that Premier Silver can continue to bank their points and are exempt from the yearly rollover. Though I may spend all my points this Christmas out of paranoia unless its for sure.
 
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[quote name='Demolition Man']250 for $5 is pretty pathetic as is.[/QUOTE]


I think it was initially 100 points or 150 points that gave you 5 dollars back, then they jacked it a year or two later.
 
I'm not that concerned about the changes. I hardly buy anything at BB anymore, except penny guides. I've earned maybe just one GC over the last two years. I don't like the points zeroing out, but it's not like I get many points.
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']I think it was initially 100 points or 150 points that gave you 5 dollars back, then they jacked it a year or two later.[/QUOTE]It started out at 100 pts / $5 RZ cert, then went to 125 pts per cert, and then 250 pts per cert, from what I remember. When it went to free membership versus the $10 yearly membership is when it went to 250 pts per cert.
 
[quote name='lawdood']^ ditto to above...and I'm Premier Silver too so maybe that has something to do with it?[/QUOTE]

Sure does. From the Rules page (https://myrewardzone.bestbuy.com/programRules.jspx):
[quote name='Best Buy']At the beginning of every calendar year, the points in your account (except Premier Silver members) will be changed into Reward Certificates down to the $5 level and any remaining points balance will be forfeited.[/QUOTE]
 
Well I'm done after this year. I don't have the cash to be spending 2500 bucks a year at best buy. I only got it to the silver because I let my mom use the card and she had to buy a new dryer or washer don't remember what it was. I think I had also bought a computer and that added to it last year. I have only spent around 400 from them and have another 7 months till my silver is up. If I'm going to lose points like I said I'm going to amazon.
 
Well, this is a great way to cut the costs of their reward program. They sure as hell won't need to track any more of my purchases. I won't be making any. GameStop at least can take the edge off of a new game with GS funny money trade in credit. Amazon doesn't have as reliable deals, but I'll take free shipping and no tax and being able to order in my pajamas.
 
I was just on the phone with customer service for Reward Zone to fix and issue and asked about the points expiring issue. The guy told me that due to significant feedback they are changing the expiration policy. Points will remain in your account for 1 year from posting. So it will be more of a 1 year rolling expiration.
 
[quote name='Best Buy']
at the beginning of every calendar year, the points in your account (except premier silver members) will be changed into reward certificates down to the $5 level and any remaining points balance will be forfeited.[/quote]That doesn't seem bad at all. If that's the case, you'd just leave your points there for the whole year, then at the end of the year you'd automatically be sent a bunch of $5 certificates. What's so bad about that (I could be reading it wrong, shrug)?
 
[quote name='pob14']Sure does. From the Rules page (https://myrewardzone.bestbuy.com/programRules.jspx):[/QUOTE]

I Just went through the rules and I don't see that line mentioned at all where they say
Originally Posted by Best Buy
at the beginning of every calendar year, the points in your account (except premier silver members) will be changed into reward certificates down to the $5 level and any remaining points balance will be forfeited.:
Click to expand...
Am i missing something???

Are you guys referring to

If your membership is cancelled or inactivated, you will receive reward certificates down to the $5 level. Any remaining points will be forfeited. For example, if you have 300 points, you would receive a $5 Reward Certificate and you would forfeit 50 points.
Click to expand...
 
[quote name='dagarcia2678']I was just on the phone with customer service for Reward Zone to fix and issue and asked about the points expiring issue. The guy told me that due to significant feedback they are changing the expiration policy. Points will remain in your account for 1 year from posting. So it will be more of a 1 year rolling expiration.[/QUOTE]

Hopefully the guy was right. I would be fine with that.

I'm going to send an email right now. I know its not much but every complaint adds up.
 
Does anyone know if Gamer Club points will also be forfeited?
-----
On October 31st

Reward certificates will only be available at MyRZ.com
To help reduce the amount of paper we use, certificates will no longer be delivered via mail.

Reward certificates will no longer be transferable
This safety measure prevents others from redeeming your reward certificates without your knowledge.

Lastly, for the following three conditions, points will be cashed out, available certificates will be sent, and any remaining points under 250 will be forfeited:

  • Your profile must include an e-mail address
    Make sure your e-mail address is unique to you and shared with no one else. This will improve your security by ensuring that only you receive your reward certificates. Members who haven't provided an e-mail address will no longer be eligible to participate in the program. You will need to use your points in the year they are earned
    Reward Zone is becoming an annual program, which means that points no longer roll over from year-to-year.
  • You will need to make one purchase every 12 months to remain in the program
 
[quote name='J7.']Does anyone know if Gamer Club points will also be forfeited?
[/QUOTE]

Good question, but I can't find anything that says that Gamer Club points will be forfeited too. I would imagine they shouldn't since technically you aren't given points and instead they give you a $$$ amount of how much you need to spend to get your next certificate, so its technically not a point system. And the points are automatically issued when you hit the goal, so once the points clear, just have it issued to your account. I am a premier member, so I can bank my points, so to be honest I am not sure how it works for normal members. I would assume you just need to redeem those points as soon as possible once it clears. So with all that information, I would say Gamer Club "points" shouldn't be affected since they aren't really points until you hit the goal and at which time you're given 500 points and you can have them issue you the certificates after it clears. That's just what I think.
 
What if your points are in the process of being cleared when that day comes? Are you gonna lose your present amount of points in the process?
 
Points no longer rolling over means I'll stop using the card because there's no value for me to spend all that money at BB just to receive an insignificant amount of money back. If I want $10 back, I'll just buy a $100 item at an online store that won't charge me tax and there's my $10.
 
Killing rollover points makes the card completely meaningless to me. Why spend $250 at Best Buy to get $5 back when, for me, I can spend $250 online at a store that doesn't charge tax and save almost $25?
 
The second option pretty much kills any reason to be in the rewards zone. Bestbuy doesnt have $250 worth of exclusive good deals in a year, and if you think they do (in terms of gaming) then I have to think you are doing something wrong.
 
[quote name='Squarehard']Good question, but I can't find anything that says that Gamer Club points will be forfeited too. I would imagine they shouldn't since technically you aren't given points and instead they give you a $$$ amount of how much you need to spend to get your next certificate, so its technically not a point system. And the points are automatically issued when you hit the goal, so once the points clear, just have it issued to your account. I am a premier member, so I can bank my points, so to be honest I am not sure how it works for normal members. I would assume you just need to redeem those points as soon as possible once it clears. So with all that information, I would say Gamer Club "points" shouldn't be affected since they aren't really points until you hit the goal and at which time you're given 500 points and you can have them issue you the certificates after it clears. That's just what I think.[/QUOTE]
In a way they could claim it is a point system, since they often give 150 bonus points for games in the gamer club, which don't count as $150 but are based off of the 500 point total for the $10. Pisses me off because I almost made it to the goal but probably won't buy enough to reach it before Oct 31st.

[quote name='Vinny']This was already posted a while back...
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229641[/QUOTE]
Couldn't find that when I did a search for best buy due to the title. I will post there if I think of something.

[quote name='Indiana Jones']Killing rollover points makes the card completely meaningless to me. Why spend $250 at Best Buy to get $5 back when, for me, I can spend $250 online at a store that doesn't charge tax and save almost $25?[/QUOTE]
:applause:

[quote name='help1']How much money does a person have to spend at bestbuy to get 250 points?[/QUOTE]
You get 1 point for every $1, not including tax or shipping.
 
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