Best Buy no longer does post purchase PM + 10%, effective immediately.

shrike4242

shrike4242

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Ran into this post in another thread from the DVD section that was talking about PM's to the Big Lots DVD sale at Best Buy. I thought this warranted posting in here, from the bolded section:

[quote name='RichBecker']As a current employee who has worked at several stores, I can't believe that any store will actually price match this in the future. We have all received specific instructions from corporate to not price match anything from Big Lots without specific consent from the upper management back at Minneapolis. Every single employee who actually reads their daily news would immediately have a customer interaction script which specifically outlines why we won't price match this specific sale. I still can't believe that some store allowed this to happen, but I am going to take a wild guess that the one store that did resulted in the rest of the rest of the nation getting a nasty email from corporate headquarters.

I'm not saying that it didn't work for you, but at this point, I doubt a store will accept the price match for this. The fine print in the policy specifically outlines that Best Buy can basically reject any price match for a variety of nitpicky reasons.

I would also like to add that the 110 percent price match his going to be hitting the dust after Saturday. Starting on Sunday, the new policy is to only match the price without a refund of the difference. We also are getting new fine print for the actual policy, which more specifically outlines why places like Big Lots are exempt.[/QUOTE]

Here's a link to the policy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=cat10011&contentId=1118843518460&id=cat12098

It now says the following ont he BB.com site:
[quote name='From BB.com listing on PM policy']Best Buy Retail Store Price Match Guarantee
spacer.gif

If you find a lower advertised price on the same available brand and model prior to your purchase or during the exchange and return period, we will match that price. Simply bring in the ad of the local retail competitor or Best Buy, while the lower price is in effect and receive your price match.
The guarantee does not apply to our competitors¿ website pricing and the guarantee does not apply to our or our competitors¿:

  • Offers that include financing, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors and mail-in offers
  • Items that are limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, Outlet Center, refurbished/used items and items for sale Thanksgiving day through the Saturday after Thanksgiving
[/quote]

It makes no mention of the additional 10% off of the difference from the post-purchase PM to a competitor.

Here's a cached copy of their PM policy from Google Cache, from July 14th:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache...match+10%+difference&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us (not sure how long the link will be valid)

Screen cap of the Google Cache:


Oddly enough, if you look further down on the site, it looks like they missed one point worth trying to use:
[quote name='From BB.com listing on PM policy']Does Best Buy match prices of Internet retailers?
If you made your purchase in a Best Buy store, and you find an Internet retailer with a local retail store honoring its own online prices, we'll match their price, plus 10% of the difference. Internet-only retailers are exempt from our price matching program, as well as Web-exclusive offers. Eligible items must be the same brand and model, and currently in stock at the competitor's store. [/quote]

I guess that would only apply if someone like Target.com, Sears.com or Walmart.com had an item available for purchase online at a cheaper price and they'd PM their own web prices. As Target's newly back in the PM arena, I'm not sure if they're PMing their own web site prices. Walmart doesn't do it from what I remember, and Sears.com doesn't have a set policy on it. Probably won't matter much for the normal PM's we'd do.

Regardless, it looks like the PM + 10% days are gone, effective immediately. I'm going to be shifting business from them in the PM + 10% purchaes I make, and I know I won't be the only one. Since Amazon has been matching prices nicely on B&M sale items, hopefully this will increase with this change in their policy.
 
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Best Buy taking away the 110% price match doesn't shock me at all. Given that they only did it in response to Circuit City doing it and now that Circuit is gone there's no reason for Best Buy to continue it. Yes its a good way for a company like Best Buy to close sales and to draw people in who might of gone to (Store X) because they had (Item Y) on sale but that extra 10% off in some cases really is a good amount to be saved. Now... you might as well just go to whatever store that has it on sale unless if Best Buy is that much easier/closer to get to.

On that note don't be shocked if that "loop-hole" is suddenly fixed by the end of this week. My bet is that the legal team at corporate HQ simply forgot to alter that area to reflect the new policy.
 
[quote name='Guerrilla']Hope those Big Lots PMs were worth it~[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't be surprised if BBY already planned on adding in places such as Big Lots are excluded from their price match policy. Given that Big Lots is carrying more and more electronics, DVDs, and PC stuff it was a matter of time. Why should BBY be expected to price match (and take a potential huge loss) to compete with a closeout store?
 
[quote name='MSUHitman']Shouldn't this be stickied Shrike?[/QUOTE]Done.

[quote name='Demolition Man']Best Buy taking away the 110% price match doesn't shock me at all. Given that they only did it in response to Circuit City doing it and now that Circuit is gone there's no reason for Best Buy to continue it. Yes its a good way for a company like Best Buy to close sales and to draw people in who might of gone to (Store X) because they had (Item Y) on sale but that extra 10% off in some cases really is a good amount to be saved. Now... you might as well just go to whatever store that has it on sale unless if Best Buy is that much easier/closer to get to.

On that note don't be shocked if that "loop-hole" is suddenly fixed by the end of this week. My bet is that the legal team at corporate HQ simply forgot to alter that area to reflect the new policy.[/QUOTE]Circuit City used to PM at 110% for their own prices after the fact, which was a nice thing from time to time. When they fixed it to be only 100% PM to their own prices, it made it worthwhile to cross-PM CC prices at BB and vice versa. With CC gone, the only PM's I did for 110% were against Target, since they would get some nice deals once in a while. Now that BB is no longer doing PM + 10%, the only draw to PM anything at BB would be for RZ points, and now that you lose any pending points at the end of the year unless you have a RZ Silver account, that's not as good as an option.

I think Target doing PMing under very limited terms will bring them some business from Best Buy on the CD and DVD front, and I know they'll lose some business from customers like us that would use the 110% PM. All of the business I did at BB with 110% PMing to Target will go to Target, since they rain check items they don't have in stock with a minimum of fuss, unlike Best Buy.

This might make Walmart get more aggressive with pricing for some items, which they haven't been in quite some time.

[quote name='Guerrilla']Hope those Big Lots PMs were worth it~[/QUOTE]The Big Lots PM's didn't do it. :whistle2:s This has been going on for a while, the Big Lots situation just reminded them that they need to clarify what types of stores they would PM to. They would never do any PM's (officially) to Sam's Club/Costco/BJ's Wholesale because they were club stores with membership price requirements. They wouldn't PM stores like Big Lots because they're closeout stores not retail stores. Both those two points were never specified explicitly in their policy before and with this change, they're just making sure it's explicit.
 
That's stupid... but I'm not surprised.

Without any other electronics stores in my city, our BB has gone (further) downhill.. now they don't have bother to greet you when you walk in, all the employees stand around and talk, and of course they don't take part in any kind of clearance (like other BBs do in the YMMV BB clearance thread).
 
[quote name='shrike4242']With CC gone, the only PM's I did for 110% were against Target, since they would get some nice deals once in a while. Now that BB is no longer doing PM + 10%, the only draw to PM anything at BB would be for RZ points, and now that you lose any pending points at the end of the year unless you have a RZ Silver account, that's not as good as an option.[/quote]

RZ isn't really that great either. You have to spend $250 just to earn $5 back unless if you purchase during any of the double/triple point periods. When was the last time BBY did those anyways?

I think Target doing PMing under very limited terms will bring them some business from Best Buy on the CD and DVD front, and I know they'll lose some business from customers like us that would use the 110% PM.
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Is Target doing 110% PM or is it straight out PM? Even if its straight out I'd rather shop at Target over BBY. Target is much better run overall compared to BBY. The atmosphere in Target is much friendlier plus Target is far better with clearance stuff than BBY is.
 
Wow, thanks for this info, Shrike. This really blows. So much for PMing Fry's Watchmen Blu/PS3 game prices at BestBuy for that added 10% of the difference (along with getting the digital comic & Black Freighter for $5 each).

Seriously, Best Buy is cutting reasons to shop there one by one. And as for Rewards Points, LOL since their sale prices are so much higher than Fry's, Walmart, and amazon, you're still losing out because a $5 gift card for every $250 spent is a joke. 2% in credit back, maybe up it to double or triple that on a rare occasion - hell most credit cards offer that in cashback. Meanwhile you're saving at least a buck or two per new release by buying elsewhere, so it's around 10% more in savings off of Best Buy at the very least.

And they won't PM amazon, thus they are often not PMing the best deal out there. Plus the 10% Cali sales tax I don't have to pay on amazon while I have to pay at Best Buy, free shipping...

I wouldn't be surprised if soon enough they refuse to PM walmart prices and even Fry's.
 
[quote name='Demolition Man']RZ isn't really that great either. You have to spend $250 just to earn $5 back unless if you purchase during any of the double/triple point periods. When was the last time BBY did those anyways?

Is Target doing 110% PM or is it straight out PM? Even if its straight out I'd rather shop at Target over BBY. Target is much better run overall compared to BBY. The atmosphere in Target is much friendlier plus Target is far better with clearance stuff than BBY is.[/QUOTE]It's not great, but it's better than nothing, for some of the sale stuff they run. The 2x and 3x points haven't been around for a while.

The Target PM is a straight 100% PM, and it has to be done at the CS desk, and it's only within a week. There's a thread or two out there about it, though I can't think of them off-hand.

The issue is that all of the electronics items, movies, CD's and games that Target carries, BB does. The reverse isn't true, so it limits some of the PM options you could pull off.

Amazon seems to PM a bunch of the BB sale items, so with no tax + free shipping, it makes it easier to avoid BB at this point.

[quote name='karkyco']Wow, thanks for this info, Shrike. This really blows. So much for PMing Fry's Watchmen Blu/PS3 game prices at BestBuy for that added 10% of the difference (along with getting the digital comic & Black Freighter for $5 each).

Seriously, Best Buy is cutting reasons to shop there one by one. And as for Rewards Points, LOL since their sale prices are so much higher than Fry's, Walmart, and amazon, you're still losing out because a $5 gift card for every $250 spent is a joke. 2% in credit back, maybe up it to double or triple that on a rare occasion - hell most credit cards offer that in cashback. Meanwhile you're saving at least a buck or two per new release by buying elsewhere, so it's around 10% more in savings off of Best Buy at the very least.

And they won't PM amazon, thus they are often not PMing the best deal out there. Plus the 10% Cali sales tax I don't have to pay on amazon while I have to pay at Best Buy, free shipping...

I wouldn't be surprised if soon enough they refuse to PM walmart prices and even Fry's.[/QUOTE]Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but as I said, there's less reasons to go to BB now that CC's out of the picture. I'd be curious to see what stores go on the "do not PM list" besides the warehouse stores and the closeout stores, since there's some stores that aren't national like Fry's.

With the RZ changes that have excess points drop off, I'm thinking BB is less likely to get a lot of money from the savvy shopper than can work the systems.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']The Target PM is a straight 100% PM, and it has to be done at the CS desk, and it's only within a week. There's a thread or two out there about it, though I can't think of them off-hand.[/quote]

So I'm presuming I can just take my purchase up to the CS desk or do I have to make the purchase at the checkout then do the PM at CS?

Amazon seems to PM a bunch of the BB sale items, so with no tax + free shipping, it makes it easier to avoid BB at this point.
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Unless if you really want that DVD today... or in my case the WOW Lich King expansion since the 10 day trial ran out on my end and BBY had it on sale for $29.

I'd be curious to see what stores go on the "do not PM list" besides the warehouse stores and the closeout stores, since there's some stores that aren't national like Fry's.
Click to expand...

I'd imagine BBY will continue to PM stores such as Fry's in markets they have stores in. They are local competitors in those areas and are not outlet or warehouse type stores either.

With the RZ changes that have excess points drop off, I'm thinking BB is less likely to get a lot of money from the savvy shopper than can work the systems.
Click to expand...

BBY has made it clear they want to get rid of us "devils" but they still retain weak things such as RZ to make themselves still look great to all the Joe Six Packs who think that $100 for a 4 foot Monster HDMI cable is a good deal.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']Amazon seems to PM a bunch of the BB sale items, so with no tax + free shipping, it makes it easier to avoid BB at this point.[/QUOTE]


This. I hardly buy anything at retail anymore. With the 110% matching gone, there's hardly any reason to buy an item at BestBuy if I can get it cheaper elsewhere.

For me personally, I think retailers are going to hurt. I can find stuff online, cheaper, no tax and usually with free shipping. I just have to usually wait a few days instead of the "own it now" mentality. I can't say what this means for normal consumers, but once they catch on and figure things out, retailers better watch out.
 
[quote name='Demolition Man']I wouldn't be surprised if BBY already planned on adding in places such as Big Lots are excluded from their price match policy. Given that Big Lots is carrying more and more electronics, DVDs, and PC stuff it was a matter of time. Why should BBY be expected to price match (and take a potential huge loss) to compete with a closeout store?[/QUOTE]

Actually, some of the stock from Big Lots keeps getting RE-stocked, so some of it is NOT closeouts as far as I can tell. As far as them changing the PM policy, that's about the ONLY reason I was going into BB anymore(since their recent crackdown and pulling locally on penny guides), so now I kinda hope BB joins CC. fuck them.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Actually, some of the stock from Big Lots keeps getting RE-stocked, so some of it is NOT closeouts as far as I can tell.[/quote]

Okay actually let me quote from BL's own website on the matter:

[quote name='BigLots.com']As the nation's largest broadline closeout retailer, Big Lots has the power to negotiate the best deals in the business.[/quote]

I rest my case.
 
Considering that I price matched a penny guide from Best Buy to Circuit City, I don't take NO for an answer very often. I'll still try and try and try. The most they can say.....is NO. Then I'll just try again later in the day or whatever. You will almost always be able to find a cashier who will do the deal for you and a manager not wanting to deny a customer for only following their store's policy.

In the event that I can't though, no sweat off my back, since BB is my LAST choice for DVD's and other shit in the first place unless they're on some insane sale where they're $5 each or something.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Considering that I price matched a penny guide from Best Buy to Circuit City, I don't take NO for an answer very often.[/quote]

Except neither Best Buy or Circuit City is a closeout store. Big Lots is however.

I'll still try and try and try. The most they can say.....is NO. Then I'll just try again later in the day or whatever. You will almost always be able to find a cashier who will do the deal for you and a manager not wanting to deny a customer for only following their store's policy.
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Why not just go to Big Lots or whatever store that has the advertised deal instead? I certainly even before Best Buy put it specifically in their policy that they won't price match closeout stores (such as Big Lots). Especially now that Best Buy sent out that memo last week which includes a script on what employees are to say to the WORD on price matching Big Lots.
 
Oh well no big loss for me. I haven't shopped at Best Buy since they had the blowout on games for $9.99. Before that I didn't shop there since CC had closed down. The RZ card stinks now even though I got upgraded to their 'Silver' status late last year. I just don't see me spending the $250 to get a $5 gift reward.

I've stuck with Amazon, and PM's with Fry's and WM since I can just take the ad from BB and walk into their stores.

The only reason I'm going to BB this year is to hangout with the crowds on Black Friday because now I can't do it at CC.
 
[quote name='Demolition Man']Why not just go to Big Lots or whatever store that has the advertised deal instead? I certainly even before Best Buy put it specifically in their policy that they won't price match closeout stores (such as Big Lots). Especially now that Best Buy sent out that memo last week which includes a script on what employees are to say to the WORD on price matching Big Lots.[/QUOTE]
Because in times past I've been able to get BB employees to PM stuff that was clearly OUT OF STOCK at the store that I was intending to buy it at in the first place, even though they're really supposed to DENY a PM then. Plus they refunded money if someone else had it cheaper within 30 days or so. I took advantage of that with Call Of Duty 4 recently.
 
I'm kinda stunned this didn't even make an single headline on Consumerist. I guess stories about Sprint Nextel buying Virgin Mobile minutes are more important than BBY taking away a long established policy. Oh well.
 
Wow, I like Price match all the time at Best Buy and do it but they never give me a extra 10% off.....that's messed up!

But not only that, the only time they never matched for me was during Black Friday '08, I remember trying to price match for a copy of Armored Core: For Answer (PS3) from Gamestop for $20, and they told me they can't do it today because of the sale....which I though sucked. But Wal-Mart that day did do the matches....I though it was weird.
 
[quote name='HCHecxz']But not only that, the only time they never matched for me was during Black Friday '08, I remember trying to price match for a copy of Armored Core: For Answer (PS3) from Gamestop for $20, and they told me they can't do it today because of the sale....which I though sucked. But Wal-Mart that day did do the matches....I though it was weird.[/QUOTE]

Many stores don't price match on Black Friday due to the limited stock stores will have on advertised items. Walmart is about the only one that does price match on that day. So no its not weird.
 
I found this out today when I tried to buy Kirby DS using the 10% coupon and Target's pricematch.

Not biggie though, as I got the Tron DVD and Rayman RR for $13.49 each, which is cheaper than what amazon offers.
 
Wow, I don't stroll in here that often, but damn, you guys really seem to not like BBY. I agree that the RZ isn't that great, but I have been buying quite a few videogames from them and with the Gamers Zone RZ thing for every $150 you spend on videogames and acc. you get an additional $10 cert (500 RZ pts.) I don't think that a $25 gc for $300 spent is too bad a deal, especially when the do PM easy, but to each his own.
 
[quote name='Vinny']That's stupid... but I'm not surprised.

Without any other electronics stores in my city, our BB has gone (further) downhill.. now they don't have bother to greet you when you walk in, all the employees stand around and talk, and of course they don't take part in any kind of clearance (like other BBs do in the YMMV BB clearance thread).[/QUOTE]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO True.
 
I could use some clarification on Best Buy's own best price guarantee for a short while after purchasing a game (during the holidays). If I buy a game today that Best Buy has listed as a Black Friday special, will they refund the difference if I stop by on Black Friday? My understanding is that Best Buy does offer rain checks on games to honor discounted games if they are not in stock. Does this change during the holidays?
 
So best buy sucks because they're getting rid of a policy which lost them some money, and was probably only used by "devil' customers anyway and not the Regular Joe customers?
Yes, it sucks, I like saving money, but I won't berate them for this. I'd rather them cut costs this way than potentially lay off people or close stores. They still price match, and even if they didn't you could always do the rebuy/return thing if it's in stock (I've always felt a little wary of the "return this one/let me rebuy the same thing" method.)
RZ definitely isn't a reason to buy at BB by itself, but it could be a bump in that direction, all things being equal.
 
just one more reason why I don't shop there. I wish I could tell everyone that walks through their doors that anything they are about to buy can be had cheaper.

To clarify my stance on BB, they have been in decline for quite a while.
I can't remember the last time I met with a helpful sales person who knew what they were talking about.
I can't remember the last time I saw something in their store at a price that made me buy it there over the Frys that opened up 2 minutes away (with the one possible exception of black friday, 1 day a a year)
They use practices like hooking up cheap composite cables next to hdmi and pretending that those connections are differences in the display you are watching.


thanks original poster
 
Their pricematch policy was pretty much a farce to begin with. It was pretty much, if the employee didn't feel like it, they wouldn't do it. And when I called BB corporate on one, the girl said they should have and to go back to the store and try again and call her back if it did not work. Stupidly, I did and surprise they wouldn't do it and then I call and I can't get her and leave her 2 messages and not a peep from her. LIARS.
 
I hate to play devil's advocate here, but I have nothing but outstandingly good things to say about my Best Buy. And I am a silver member now, so I can prove that I support them.
 
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