Best Buy Website Pricing Schemes?.....Some Insights?

[1492]

I have to admit, I've had both good and not so good experiences shopping on BestBuy.com. The issue being that on several occasions, the price on their website is not what I'm quoted when I go to pickup the item from their stores. Even The Consumerist posted an article back in 2007 questioning whether a separate intranet website existed in Best Buy stores, posting different pricing than on their public website.

However, this has resulted in some pleasant surprises. Last year, I purchased an Acer Netbook on BestBuy.com, for pickup at a local store. Prepaid for it online, but when I went to pick it up at their store, the price had dropped by $30. Best Buy automatically refunded my online purchase, and charge me the lower price in store.

But today was a completely different story at their Potomac Mills, VA store, and may offer some insight into pricing schemes on their website. Basically, I searched BestBuy.com's website for a pocket digital camera w/WiFi capability. Didn't buy it online, as a search of local stores indicated that it was available at most all locations in my area. But printed out the BestBuy.com webpage with the pricing just in case.

When I went to purchase the camera, I was surprised to find the lowest sale price was $70. more than what was indicated on my printout. The cashier checked the price on their website, and it displayed the higher sale price which matched the in-store tag.

Even the store manager would not initially honor the price, though I had brought a copy of the website price on BestBuy.com, printed just hours earlier? So what gives?

The store manager indicated that the BestBuy.com website searches competitors sites, such as Amazon.com, and matches pricing, displaying the price on their website. He further mentioned that Best Buy will match such competitors pricing and that I should bring a copy of an Amazon.com printout. Good to know, except I wasn't price matching? :B I just wanted to pay the price indicated on BestBuy.com, which mysteriously disappeared when I went to their store.

Long story short, the store manager checked Amazon.com and found the same price for the digital camera indicated on my "BestBuy.com" webpage print out. So ended up giving me the lower price saving me the $70. Though would not do so with their own website printout alone? :h

In hindsight, it would have been better to purchase the sale item online first at BestBuy.com, for pickup at a local store. However, I was making the purchase using both a gift card and credit card, and have never done so previously on their website. But would have saved the frustration with dealing with the mysterious BestBuy.com disappearing sale prices?

Has anyone else experienced a similar disparity between Bestbuy.com sale pricing, and what's indicated in the stores?

[westend]

BestBuy regionalizes their pricing. Prices may differ from website to store price since you may have logged into the national site.

[shakyjay]

Can't say I have ever had a problem with pricing at Best Buy. Generally though I make purchases online and then pickup in the store. A few years back I did take a print out of the web price for a major appliance purchase. Salesman looked it up on web site and matched the price, no problem. As far as service goes I really have not had the need to use any after sale service from them so can't complain.

[old_guy]

I don't buy from best buy any more. I bought a lap top back in Georgia and was told about the extended warranty and bought that. came out west and went to the Tricities store and almost got into a fist fight with the idiot behind the counter. my lap top hinge broke when we closed the lid and he told me the only way that hinge could break was to drop it. that really made me mad and I finally wrote a letter to the main office . long store short, I don't go back to this store, I go elsewhere now.

[DiskDoctr]

I've had a similar experience at Staples. The store mgr was aware of the common problem and 'matched' their own online price (also brought a printout)

I was told their online site is essentially a different entity. Yes, they match Amazon and such, too.

Seems to be a trend with similarly named online stores and their brick and mortar playing the shell game, being more price aggressive when shoppers are searching online and more predatory when they have a captive audience in the store?

Like the car salesman who has 'just what you want' at the price you are asking for- until you get there and realize he pulled a fast one just to nget you there 😉

BUT- posting about these things online is the great equalizer. Shines a light on the deception and makes others aware, who can then be prepared or avoid those sellers...

[monkey44]

Haven't had pricing differences specifically. But if you buy from Best Buy, beware of the 'warranty service' or 'tech service' ...

The sale price differences need to be made up somewhere, and once you pass the point-of-sale in Best Buy, you're on your own, basically because then it has your money.

Too complex to explain here on this forum - but I'll never, ever buy another product from any Best Buy store, anywhere.