You know those people who just have to be the best at everything they do? They see someone else one-upping them, and it becomes a contest of who can do it better.
Well, if that person were a tech store, they’d be Best Buy.
If you want to save money on your next device, Best Buy’s price match guarantee will almost certainly get you the lowest price on whatever it is you’re purchasing.
Erika Taught Me
- Best Buy will price match most items if a competitor has it for a lower price.
- You can even use the price match after you’ve bought an item if it’s still during the exchange period.
- Gift cards, cellphone contracts, refurbished items, and items from third-party sellers aren’t eligible for price matching.
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How the Best Buy Price Match Works
When a company wants your business, they’ll go to some pretty great lengths to earn it.
In the case of mega-tech store Best Buy, they advertise a price match guarantee across, well, almost everything.
That means if you find the Lenovo laptop you’ve been eyeing for cheaper from a competitor, you can walk into your local Best Buy, show them the cheaper laptop price, and they’ll drop their price to match the lowest advertised price.
Several things have to be true for the price match to be available.
First, the device has to be new and immediately available, so older models don’t count. And it has to be the exact same as whatever model Best Buy has, down to the color.
So, if you found the laptop from a different store but it’s cheaper because it’s green rather than the purple model from Best Buy, you’re out of luck.
Second, the device has to come from the Best Buy list of “qualified competitors.” It’s a long list that includes main distributors like Amazon, Apple, Costco, Target, and Walmart, as well as others:
- B&H Photo Video
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- BrandsMart USA
- Crutchfield
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Menards
- Microcenter
- Nebraska Furniture Mart
- P.C. Richard
- RC Willey
- Sam’s Club
To get the Best Buy price match guarantee, double-check the model number on the device from the competitor to confirm it’s the same device and make sure it’s from a legit competitor.
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How To Get the Best Buy Price Match
Let’s say you found your dream laptop for cheap on Amazon, but it’ll take a month to arrive. You could get that sweet, sweet low price from Best Buy instead, either online or in-store.
To get the same price from Best Buy online, you can use their chat function or call the number on their website. Be prepared to send them the link to the cheaper device.
If you go in-store, you’ll need to show an associate the cheaper device. They’ll review and verify the competitor’s price, then you’re set.
Price matching after purchase
The price matching window doesn’t slam shut once you’ve purchased something from Best Buy.
If you’re still in the returns and exchanges time period and find the item elsewhere for cheaper, Best Buy will still match that price after the fact and give you some of your money back.
If you connect with Best Buy via chat, phone, or in-store with the lower price, they’ll still honor it on that recent purchase. So keep your eyes open for deals a little while after you’ve bought that new device.
RELATED: Fine Print Tip: Costco Return Policy
What Doesn’t Count for the Best Buy Price Match
The fine print — my specialty! There are several qualifiers to the Best Buy price match guarantee.
Special sales and refurbished items
Price matching excludes items that are on clearance, refurbished, or already open. So, you can’t go to the Apple Store, find a refurbished MacBook for cheap, then bring that price to Best Buy for the same model but new.
If you find a deal during Black Friday or have access to membership deals from other sources, those special prices won’t count either.
Third-party items
The match won’t cover devices that are sold by third-party sellers on the websites of those “Qualified Competitors.”
Make sure the deal is directly from the competitor, not from a third party.
Multiple items at once
You also can’t price-match several items at a time.
If you find an iPhone and a laptop for cheaper and want to use the Best Buy price match guarantee, you’ll have to make your purchases separately.
Non-standard purchases
Finally, the price matching guarantee won’t cover offers on services, contract cellphones, trade-in offers, or lease-to-own devices.
It won’t include credit cards or gift card offers, either.
TL;DR: Price Matching at Best Buy
Best Buy claims they “won’t be beat on price” and the price match guarantee they advertise backs that up. Yeah, you might find a killer deal elsewhere, but they want your business and will drop their own price to make sure they get it.
If you’re looking to save money, shop around before you walk into Best Buy to drop a ton on new headphones. The odds are decent you can get them for less if you look for some competitor deals!
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