Best buy changes their reward program

[LilPima]

As of 10/31/09:

- Rewards certificates only available online, at a separate website than BB. I'm all about going green but now I'm never going to use it.

- Certificates no longer transferable. They try to make ti out to be theft protection, but what if I just wanted to give my fam a credit i wouldn't otherwise be using?

- If you have less than 250 points left on your account, they will be forfeited.

- You have to use your points in the year that they are earned.

- You have to make one purchase every 12 months to remain in the program.



Another reason to not buy at best buy.

 

[allisolm]

"Rewards certificates only available online, at a separate website than BB."

You will have to go to your reward zone account online to get them rather than have them delivered via email. They are still redeemable at Bestbuy.com or Best Buy stores.

But apparently you can earn points for online purchases made through the Rewardzone mall at
HomeDepot.com
Walmart.com
Target.com (1 pt per dollar)
Allstate (Insurance?)
OfficeDepot.com
Staples.com 1pt
JCPenny.com 2pts
Borders
Cabela's
Orbitz
Travelocity 1pt
Overstock 1pt
ProFlowers 6pts
1-800-flowers 6pts
Lands'end 2pts
Holiday Inn 2pts
Kmart 2pts
and more

See this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=40&threadid=2314734

 

[FelixDeCat]

The program was sweet for years. I signed up when it started, my raggedy old card I had to tape up because they wouldnt replace it, and have enjoyed it ever since. In the beginning, the reward program cost $10 a year. Then they waived the fee under certain conditions. Then to increase participation, they eliminated the fee. It was down hill from there.

But anytime you have a company that is publicly traded (and people will argue this), you are responsible for keeping your stock price up. To do that, you trim fat. A generous, multiyear program costs money. Money that a few execs at BB think would be better delivered directly to stockholders and the bottom line than reinvested directly back into customer loyalty.

It was only a matter of time before they started to model this after AAs frequent flyer program (where I have 32,000 miles subject to expiration in two months) to "cut the fat". Points are carried as a liablity on the balance sheet, now after a year they "disappear".

This is why we cant have nice things!

 

[StageLeft]

Their reward system was a confusing POS years ago. I got some points on a new $1000 tv and $900 laptop and threw the cards in the trash bin.

Points and bonus cards and all that, whether we're talking BB or a credit card or whatever are a joke. The only ones worth anything are the buy 8 get one for free kind of cards at your coffee shop.

Remember when at subway every three feet of sub got you 6 sickers and 6 were good for 6 inches? Or 12 stickers and a full sub? Those were awesome, them subway got to the point now where you need about $75 in purchases to get enough points for a footlong.

 

[Gunbuster]

Ahhh yes, the FREE rewards program is evil. BB is clearly out to get you.

That trek over to a separate web page on the internet must be crazy hard.