PSA: Best Buy's Rewards Program No Longer Offers Points on Apple Products

[MacRumors]

As noted on Reddit, Best Buy recently updated the terms of its My Best Buy rewards program to indicate that Apple and Beats products are no longer eligible to receive points unless they are purchased with a Best Buy credit card.

The new terms went into effect on October 21, 2019:

We have made changes to confirm that members are eligible to receive points for Apple and Beats products and Apple services only when purchases are made on standard credit with the My Best Buy Credit Card. Otherwise My Best Buy members will not be eligible to receive points for purchase of Apple and Beats products and Apple services.

My Best Buy program members may still receive special pricing on Apple and Beats products from time to time, according to the terms.

Article Link: PSA: Best Buy's Rewards Program No Longer Offers Points on Apple Products

 

[SteveJUAE]

Sort of catch that sounds familiar LOL

 

[chino-rican]

I noticed this right after I bought my HomePod.

 

[themuseboy]

Would it have anything to do with people now using their Apple credit card to purchase Apple items at Best Buy and they don't like the competition?

 

[kuito]

This is not the time for primarily brick & mortar businesses to cut loyalty perks programs.
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Would it have anything to do with people now using their Apple credit card to purchase Apple items at Best Buy and they don't like the competition?

No
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I noticed this right after I bought my HomePod.

I would probably return and let Best Buy store’s OM or GM know why—telling them changes to their loyalty perks program Does not make you feel like Best Buy cares whether you shop there so you won’t be.

 

[Appleman3546]

Best Buy has been neutralizing this program, as they also recently removed their big video game discounts for those members

 

[iamMacPerson]

One factor I considered when buying products was Best Buy’s point system if the prices were similar or the same. With this, even for non-Apple products, I will shop elsewhere. They have been slowly but surely cheapening the system anyway.

 

[Xaositek]

I pretty much floated my Best Buy Elite membership through iPhone upgrades which kept me coming back, looks like less and less reasons to visit this big box store.

 

[jbachandouris]

Then I guess there's no reason to buy a 16" MBP from there is there?

If the dollar amount would count toward your spending threshold for the different tiers of 'elite' membership, that would be a different story. I'm at least $2000 away from Elite Plus.

 

[JayMysterio]

Not surprising. If you ever read what you could use your reward zone points for, it would have been easier for BB to just tell you they can only be used for. The points could NOT be used for Apple products or high end audio. As BB has been on their forced slide into obscurity, their management has made as much effort possible to add grease to that downward slope. From their changes in the previously mentioned gaming program, to actually getting rid of the weekly sales ( I didn't catch this but read it on their forums, BB claims it's more convenient for customers to go thru everything on the site or look thru daily deals for sales ), to now this. No surprise.

It's gotten to the point that the list of things excluded from being purchased with reward points, exceeds what they can be used on. My last two purchases with points involved buying K - Cups, because they haven't made the excluded list... yet.

Sadly, my elite BB status as they call it, is based on my buying Apple products. Oh, well...

 

[jdusoccer12]

You do still get points if you use your BestBuy card for the purchase though. So that’s up to 6% back still.

 

[JayMysterio]

You do still get points if you use your BestBuy card for the purchase though. So that’s up to 6% back still.

The problem for someone like myself is that my BB card limit isn't as high as my regular CC limits. I don't feel the need to ask for an increase, when their interest rate is crap compared to a bank CC.

 

[MarkB786]

You do still get points if you use your BestBuy card for the purchase though. So that’s up to 6% back still.

Yes. And I am indeed able to use my points to but Apple products. Did this for my 16" MBP. For Elite members, the MBP has 45 day return policy with no restocking fee. All still worth it for me vs. Apple's 3% cash back and 14-day return.

 

[Detonation]

Not surprising. If you ever read what you could use your reward zone points for, it would have been easier for BB to just tell you they can only be used for. The points could NOT be used for Apple products or high end audio. As BB has been on their forced slide into obscurity, their management has made as much effort possible to add grease to that downward slope. From their changes in the previously mentioned gaming program, to actually getting rid of the weekly sales ( I didn't catch this but read it on their forums, BB claims it's more convenient for customers to go thru everything on the site or look thru daily deals for sales ), to now this. No surprise.

It's gotten to the point that the list of things excluded from being purchased with reward points, exceeds what they can be used on. My last two purchases with points involved buying K - Cups, because they haven't made the excluded list... yet.

Sadly, my elite BB status as they call it, is based on my buying Apple products. Oh, well...

Huh? You can still use reward certs on pretty much anything, other than gift cards and high end appliances/home theater.

That being said, this new policy, coupled with their mandatory restocking fee on cellular enabled devices, is why I'll gladly just buy at the Apple store now.

 

[4sallypat]

However, BB credit card does offer a deferred 0% interest rate for financing the Apple products - 18 months free interest as long as it's paid off at the end...
Or 5% back in rewards.

Something Apple Card does NOT offer....

 

[Surfer13134]

You do still get points if you use your BestBuy card for the purchase though. So that’s up to 6% back still.

You can choose to get points or deferred Financing and most people end up going the financing route so still no points.

 

[redneckitengineer]

Well, this and since Best Buy closed its only store within 50 miles of me last month I guess its time to burn up the points and close the account.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

However, BB credit card does offer a deferred 0% interest rate for financing the Apple products - 18 months free interest as long as it's paid off at the end...
Or 5% back in rewards.

Something Apple Card does NOT offer....

Although the 18-month deal is a limited time deal. Normally, their interest free period is 12 months, or as little as 6 months, depending on the amount.

I was thinking of getting a MBP on the 18-month plan, though still on the fence...

 

[bernuli]

Not a problem but good to know. I always try to use use store card when purchasing at said store. I think it’s better for the store and confirms that my loyalty is genuine! : )

 

[ryanmcv]

Not surprising. If you ever read what you could use your reward zone points for, it would have been easier for BB to just tell you they can only be used for. The points could NOT be used for Apple products or high end audio. As BB has been on their forced slide into obscurity, their management has made as much effort possible to add grease to that downward slope. From their changes in the previously mentioned gaming program, to actually getting rid of the weekly sales ( I didn't catch this but read it on their forums, BB claims it's more convenient for customers to go thru everything on the site or look thru daily deals for sales ), to now this. No surprise.

It's gotten to the point that the list of things excluded from being purchased with reward points, exceeds what they can be used on. My last two purchases with points involved buying K - Cups, because they haven't made the excluded list... yet.

Sadly, my elite BB status as they call it, is based on my buying Apple products. Oh, well...

You must be shopping at a Best Buy in some alternate universe. Best Buy absolutely allows you to use your rewards points/certificates towards Apple products. I just used $150 worth of points/certificates towards an iPad Pro. In fact, the rewards certificates can be used towards almost anything that Best Buy sells with very few exclusions. Here is the list of exclusions, directly from the terms. Notice how it says nothing about Apple products:

The following purchases or transactions are excluded from redemption of reward certificates (“Non-Qualifying Redemptions”): Prior purchases, leased products, purchases/rentals at rent-to-own locations inside Best Buy Stores, purchases from a Best Buy Store on a third-party website or marketplace (such as Amazon, Google or eBay), some purchases at stand-alone Pacific Sales® Kitchen and Bath Centers, LLC stores, or at Pacific Sales locations within Best Buy Stores, purchase of Best Buy or Magnolia gift cards, point of sale activation (“POSA”) cards, purchases made for resale, payment on any My Best Buy Credit Card, certain premium major home appliances and home theater products, any online transaction that contains the purchase of a Best Buy gift card, sales tax, service charges, and discounted Best Buy Business or commercial purchases.

Anyways, I have a Best Buy credit card with Elite Plus status, so I'll continue to enjoy 6% back on all of my purchases at Best Buy, including Apple products.

 

[richpjr]

This really takes away any incentive to buy through Best Buy - I noticed this when I picked up AirPod Pros for my wife for a Christmas gift. Annoying.

 

[bkaus]

It’s the best buy birthday bonus that’s pretty much only good in candy or CDs from what I recall.

The policy of not price matching anyone the weekend after thanksgiving, even manufacturer’s, made me give up on them.

 

[chino-rican]

I would probably return and let Best Buy store’s OM or GM know why—telling them changes to their loyalty perks program Does not make you feel like Best Buy cares whether you shop there so you won’t be.

HomePod was $100 off. Otherwise I would've definitely done that.

 

[bookcase]

The BB rewards system has become so neutered that I'm not surprised they hammered another nail in the coffin. It takes forever to earn one, and when you do, they cut back how long you have to use them.

 

[Detonation]

The BB rewards system has become so neutered that I'm not surprised they hammered another nail in the coffin. It takes forever to earn one, and when you do, they cut back how long you have to use them.

Points don't expire until you issue them as a reward cert. Turn on point banking so you never get a cert auto issued and you don't have to worry about it.