[Geminiwave]

so I'm not totally sure how it works but I know that best buy does price matching. I found some pretty hefty discounts around at other stores that can be applied to a 360, and normally thats where I'd go to use the discounts but I got about $150 in BB gift cards this christmas...so anyway I'm trying to figure out how to manage this.

One of the discounts is for Circuit City for like $40 off a $200 or more purchase. Then another one is 12% off at Overstock.com. trouble is that these aren't 360 offers...just general ones that can be applied to the 360.

So yeah, anyone have experience with using price matching?

[Maddogg6]

*I Think* you would need to bring in proof of 'advertised price' - like a circular/flyer/coupon - or what ever you may call the advertisement.

Its how it was explained to me at another store I DID take advantage of similar sounding offer - but this was back in MI... I can't really imagine another way to 'prove' the price to match at BB (or anywhere else for that matter - tho I imagine they DO know most competitors prices)..??

edit: -I would bet - the fine print does say 'match competitors 'advertised price' - does it?

additional edit: - from BB website

Q: Best Buy Price Guarantee FAQs
A: Two more great reasons to buy with confidence at Best Buy.
If you are about to make a purchase and discover a lower advertised price offered by a local retail competitor on the same available brand and model, let us know and we'll match that price on the spot.

Already bought? We'll refund you the price difference, plus an additional 10% of that difference up to 30 days after your purchase (14 days on select categories*).

Either way, simply bring in proof of price while that lower price is in effect.

Exclusions apply. See details below. Policy may also vary between stores. See store for complete details.

Exclusions:
The Best Buy Price Guarantee does not apply to our or our competitors' free offers, limited-quantity items, open-box items, clearance items, mail-in incentives, financing or bundle offers. The policy does not apply to typographical errors or a competitor's price that results from a price match.

What is considered a local retail competitor?
A retail store located in the same market area as your local Best Buy store.

What is considered "proof" of price?
If you have already purchased the item, the best way to show proof of price is to bring in your original Best Buy receipt, plus the competitor's current ad. We reserve the right to call the competitor's store to verify the lower price and availability of the item.

How do you handle a price match if the Best Buy price includes a promotional offer such as a free gift card or rebate?
The Best Buy net purchase price is calculated by deducting the value of all instant and mail-in discounts such as rebates, free offers and promotional gift cards. Existing rebates and free offers associated with a product purchased at Best Buy will not apply if a price match is executed.

How do you handle a price match if the competitor's price includes a rebate, gift card or other promotional offer?
The competitor's net purchase price is calculated by deducting instant discounts taken at the register such as instant rebates. Mail-in rebates and other deferred savings are not deducted from the competitor's purchase price.

What if the competitor does not have the item in stock or has limited quantities of the product?
Sometimes a retailer will advertise a very low price for a product but have only limited quantities in stock. If the item is out of stock or the competitor has limited quantities of an item, it is not eligible for price matching. Likewise, if Best Buy has a product that is advertised as being limited in quantity it will not be eligible for price matching.

Are Best Buy services eligible for price matching?
Due to the differences in services being performed, Best Buy does not match competitors' service prices. This includes, but is not limited to, services such as delivery, installation and computer services.

What does it mean not to match a competitor's price that results in a price match?
Best Buy will not price match to a local competitor's price that has already been reduced by a price match.

Can I have my price match request processed over the phone or online?
We are currently not able to process your request over the phone or online. However, if you have questions regarding the policy, call our Customer Care Center anytime at 1-888-BestBuy or visit BestBuy.com.

What if I find a lower price at another Best Buy store or on BestBuy.com?
If an item you purchased at Best Buy is advertised at a lower price at another Best Buy store in your local area or on BestBuy.com within 30 days of your original receipt purchase (14 days for select categories*), we will refund you 100% of the price difference. Simply bring in your original Best Buy receipt to the customer service counter while that lower price is still in effect. Clearance items, open-box items or Web-exclusive offers advertised on BestBuy.com are not eligible for price matching.

What is a "Web-exclusive offer?"
It is a product or a price that is only offered to online buyers.

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. For purchases made online at BestBuy.com, please refer to the Online Price Guarantee on BestBuy.com.

[Geminiwave]

nuts thats entirely unhelpful.

or rather extremely helpful in telling me that i can't do my discount. they're online only.

[SFOSOK]

Originally Posted by Geminiwave

so I'm not totally sure how it works but I know that best buy does price matching. I found some pretty hefty discounts around at other stores that can be applied to a 360, and normally thats where I'd go to use the discounts but I got about $150 in BB gift cards this christmas...so anyway I'm trying to figure out how to manage this.

One of the discounts is for Circuit City for like $40 off a $200 or more purchase. Then another one is 12% off at Overstock.com. trouble is that these aren't 360 offers...just general ones that can be applied to the 360.

So yeah, anyone have experience with using price matching?

I used to work there, and if its not a discount for that specific item then I'm pretty sure they won't do it. It needs to be an instant rebate and for a specific stand alone product.

[Maddogg6]

Originally Posted by Geminiwave

nuts thats entirely unhelpful.

or rather extremely helpful in telling me that i can't do my discount. they're online only.

Sorry - but I be just the messenger...

Yeah - its extremely rare such match offers are actually useful - they're more 'marketing fodder' IMO.

[dj_stick]

at the retail store i work with, we often get people trying to pricematch, so we go one step further and actually call the competitor's store

[SFOSOK]

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

Sorry - but I be just the messenger...

Yeah - its extremely rare such match offers are actually useful - they're more 'marketing fodder' IMO.

Actually, those conditions are quite reasonable. Hell what if I made a website just to get discounts on products where I offered everything I wanted at a lower price.

Local ad and something with an instant rebate is the only way the store I worked at price matched.

[Maddogg6]

Originally Posted by SFOSOK

Actually, those conditions are quite reasonable. Hell what if I made a website just to get discounts on products where I offered everything I wanted at a lower price.

Local ad and something with an instant rebate is the only way the store I worked at price matched.

I say that because of ALL those 'mail-in' rebates BB does ... seems like its on everything they sell.. - as gemini attests - its not very useful either way.

[pr0digal jenius]

Gemini...being a former retail monkey [circuit city]...here's hwo ti works:

Mail In Rebates are NOT matched

Internet only prices are NOT matched

Limited quantity items that sold out are NOT matched...it MUST be in stock [they'll call and check availability on hot items, like ps3, and wii]

Bargain stores are often not included, such as Big Lots...some go as far as to include Wal Mart and Brandsmart

Must be the EXACT same model, down to every letter of a product code, meaning some brands NEVER qualify, like HP, who rebrands models between CC and BB [usually the last digit, BB wills ell an a109, and CC will have the a108, and they are the EXACT same machine]

[Geminiwave]

thats lame...but yea I know about that.

the trouble is that "pretty reasonable" terms mean they're simply following the market. the plus side is that when they do that "we'll meet it and beat it by 10%" deal then if theres only a very small difference you can do well. AFAIK best buy doesn't do that anymore. I know Office Depot only matches the price.

Sadly online retailers are the only ones giving decent discounts on the xbox at the moment. :-\

Oh well. It looks like after all the discounts I CAN get and all my gift cards I'm getting my xbox, call of duty 2, and a VGA cable for just shy of 300. That'll be pretty good.

[pr0digal jenius]

CC does 110%, and 120% on TV's

[Dyre Straits]

I've done price matching before at Best Buy. I used a newspaper AD that listed a price at Fry's for newly-released game. (It was OBLIVION, in fact.) They had no problem matching the price and it saved me a 40 mile plus round trip to Fry's.

But, yes, there are limitations including that it has to be a print AD from a local flyer/newspaper or such. They will often call to verify availability.

I had one bad experience where the now-defunct Media Play would not honor an AD from Best Buy because B/B is known to print ADs for items they don't even have in stock. It's one reason I don't do that much shopping at B/B anymore.

[Zelig]

I pricematch my computer orders from ncix.com fairly frequently. When you place an order, you just put in the URL of a competitor with a lower price in the available box in the shopping cart, it adds a bit of delay to the process for someone to check out the lower price, but almost always is accetped.