Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[jeepnoy]

Does BB honor both the student educational discount AND the free ipod touch?

The apple rep at my local BB store told me (on 3 separate occasions) both come with my purchase.  I purchased a macbook pro yesterday, with an educational discount, but no free ipod touch.  I didn't realize i hadn't received my ipod touch till late last night, so I went back this morning to get it (I called best buy and the apple rep and both told me to come back to get it).

At the store, the manager informed me that i cannot have both, and must choose between the two (education discount or ipod touch).  I told him that the apple rep told me I get both - his response was, the apple rep does not work for best buy and we stand by our policy.  I even called the apple rep and told him about the situation and he admitted that he thought that receiving both was the policy.

I'm pretty upset about this.  Does BB honors both?  Or do I only get one?  If only one, then is there any way I can argue that the apple rep contracted by BB gave me wrong information?

Thanks!

[Adamtech Emerging Expert]

My store does give both offers with valid student IDs.

[jeepnoy]

so does it vary from store to store; state to state?  i don't think the manager at this store will give me both.  I might as well return it and buy at an apple store (they give both the discount and free ipod touch) -- could this be an argument on my part if BB says they honor competitor's specials?

Thanks everyone for your input!

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

Good afternoon jeepnoy -

Congratulations on your new computer!  I want a new Macbook! 

I did a bit of research and here is what I found out about your questions.  While we do offer price matches to other retailers, we do not offer percentage off or free offers as part of our price match policy.  Since the educational discount is not a set price, and in fact a percentage discount, then technically it does not fall within the price match policy.  The same applies to the free offer on the iPod.  Again, this does not qualify for our price matching policy within our guidelines.  However, most stores are going above and beyond and matching the educational discount.  There have also been reports that a very small amount of stores have been matching both as special exceptions.  There actually was a offer for the week of 7/19 - 7/26 which specifically called out the free iPod, which was valid at all stores, however it was only for one week. 

In closing, the correct answer is that the decision to match either or both of these offers is solely up to the store that the purchase is made at. 

[jeepnoy · Accepted solution]

thanks again for all the help!

i actually went back to the store to return my $100 discount and get the free touch (greater value, which i was going to sell anyways).  the sales associate ended up giving me the touch for free and didn't require me to return my educational discount.

so everything worked out for me. thanks!

[Adamtech Emerging Expert]

Excellent! Im glad you were taken care of!

[schooney]

just so you know the apple education rebate is not based on percentage and is just a set amount on each item 

and here is the wording for the ipod rebate 

REBATE AMOUNTS: The rebate amount, up to $229, is determined by the following table but will not exceed the list price of the iPod, excluding tax, on the U.S. Apple Online Store

(www.store.apple.com).

iPod Rebate Amount

iPod touch $229

iPod classic 120GB $229

iPod nano 16GB $199

iPod nano 8GB $149

iPod shuffle 4GB $79

[Nokia]

I'm pretty sure it's 15% off.

[meetra777]

I too checked on multiple occasions about this deal. Ordering from Apple would have been full-proof, but who could wait? I was told by a man in the department that both options would be honored, I am a student, affording myself the luxury of a mac was encouraged by the offer. I finally went in to purchase, so excited. Another gentleman, who had helped me before began helping me, then another. The second guy, who ended up finishing the transaction and who had told me both options would be offered changed his mind and acted like he didn't remember me from a week prior when he told me the previous information. I was badgered when I initially requested Microsoft office for my mac, was talked to like I was stupid if I asked a question, and when I said that I would have to come back to purchase accidental coverage when I had more money.... he rolled his eyes! The manager complained in front of me that she even had to give me the ipod. I didn't get my student discount and felt so disrespected walking out of there. I usually get all my electronics at another retailer, but they were up front in telling me that they do not offer the promotion. I may have had to struggle a little more for less at the other retailer, but at least I am treated much better. I will not shop at best buy ever again. 

[cr_client]

Please do not bump threads that are over a year old.

A much more recent discussion on the Apple Student Discount, and the Free iPod offer, are in this thread:

http://forums.bestbuy.com/t5/Best-Buy-and-Geek-Squad-Policies/Apple-Education-Discounts/m-p/140283

From the terms and conditions of the Free iPod offer, the qualifying computer must be purchased through an Apple retail location or from their online store, at the same time as the iPod.  If this particular BBY store matched the offer, they did so out of their own pocket, and won't get reimbursed by Apple for doing so.  Kudos to them, I suppose, but it was certainly a pretty major exception.