Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[Sulley]

Hello!

I know there is a limit to 20 gift cards that can be used on a single order on the BestBuy.com website (which is insane that there isn't a way around IMHO, but that's not my point here).

I have a bunch of $25 gift cards and I am wanting to get a new iPad with them.  Obviously, the cost will exceed the 20 card online limit, but I had always assumed that it wouldn't be a problem in-store if I just walked in and purchased it.  However, from reading some recent comments about BestBuy Customer Service policies online, I'm starting to have some concern about this assumption I made a mo

However, I am assuming that there is not the same limit if I would walk into a brick and motar BestBuy store as there is with online orders.  Is that a correct assumption or, if it isn't true, is there a way around it since the main item will exceed the 20 gift card limit that is in place for online orders?

I'd appreciate confirmation that there is no limit to the number of gift cards I can use for an in-store purchase.  In my case, I am planning on getting a 32GB new iPad WiFi ($599.99) and a Smart Cover ($39.99) plus tax (7%) for a total of $684.78.  I am planning on using 27 $25 gift cards (total of $675 in value), an old card with about $6 on it, and a credit card or cash for the approximate $4 remaining balance. 

One thing I've noticed since the system update today is that it no longer shows in-store availability for items that cannot be ordered on-line.  Is there an easy way to check on specific store availability since this has gone away?  If I can get an answer to that, or if anyone has experience with BestBuy's availability of the new iPads, I'd appreciate your experience.  I know shipments come in on a random and somewhat unexpected basis, but it would be nice to be able to check the stock level online before coming into the store every day if there is still a shortage when I buy within the next month or so.

Thanks for the help!

[Walrus Valued Contributor · Accepted solution]

On the new site, to the left of the product (in this case the iPad) is a column titled "Narrow Your Results." At the top of this column is a beta version of "Check Stock in Stores Near Me" with a box for your zip code (or the zip of the store if you prefer) and a Go button. Type in the zip of your choice and stores that had the product as of close of business the night before will appear at the bottom of each product listing on the page, in order of distance from that zip.

So the system is showing in-store availablilty for items that cannot be ordered online, but now separates those items that also cannot be ordered online for in-store pickup from the rest (though right above the store location listings it states "Available for Store Pickup..." which is incorrect for the iPad. It should read, "Available in these stores..."

Now you may state that "as of close of business the previous night" doesn't tell you if it is indeed in stock 'right now,' but the system never could actually tell you this; it was always as of the night before.


Now onto your question about the gift card limit. I believe (I don't know for sure), that all transactions whether in-store or online have a limit as to the number of entries that are allowed. So while you state that online there is a 20 gift card limit, I'm pretty sure this would also apply to in-store. But there is a way around this, a way to get all those gift cards into a "1-card transaction."

The Pitch-In Card! Create the account now online, fill out the information, and in a week or two you'll receive your card in the mail (you should be able to get the card at a store if you can't wait this long), then activate it and you're all set. Start adding those gift cards to your Pitch-in Card. There's probably a 20 card limit per transaction here too, but if you have let's say 100 $25 gift cards, add 10 at a time to the Pitch-in Card. Then whether online or in-store you only need your Pitch-In Card to make the entire transaction.

Hope this alleviates some of your problems and solves them!

[Sulley]

Thanks for all of your detailed help!!!

It was great and put me at ease about being able to buy my iPad with 27 gift cards.  I've orderded my Pitch In card and once I get it, I'll add all of the cards I have.  I should have them all by the time the Pitch In card shows up in the mail.  Even if I could walk into the store with all of the gift cards, it will be a ton easier to just use one single card and a credit card to pay the $4 left over.  I'll need to put them in with 20 in one order and the rest with just another.

About the stock updates, thanks again.  I didn't see the "narrow" option to the left side of the new design of the website.  I'm looking for apparently the most popular model (at least in my area), so I may be waiting a bit.  Hopefully, they'll make available online before too long and then I won't have to wait any longer to play the "which store has my iPad" game.

One question for you.  Do you know if I can be logged-in as myself and then add to my own Pitch In card in an order or do I have to set up a "dummy" account to do it?  I can just use my wife's e-mail to make one up, but I don't want to make it any more complicated than necessary. 

A rep from Best Buy couldn't give me the suggestion about using a Pitch In card, so you're doing better than some of their own employees and he claimed to have "looked into it a good bit."  

I'm going to leave this as unsolved temporarily to let an official BestBuy rep to respond, but I think they may end up telling me the same thing.  Like I said, I think the Pitch In card seems like the easiest way to do it no matter what -- in-store or online.  It just will make things simpler. 

Thanks!

Jim

[Ryan-BBY Senior Social Media Specialist]

Hello Sulley -

Aaron from our Social Media team, will be reaching out to you regarding your concern. Thank you for your continued patience!

[Sulley]

Hello!

I am looking to buy a New Apple iPad in the next two weeks.  I know that with the new website, you can check the availability of even items that cannot be ordered online or purchased for in-store pickup using the "Narrow" feature to the left of a list of products by entering your zip code.

My question is this.  I know those levels are not real-time inventory levels, but are "as of close of business last night."  But, when are they updated to reflect the close of business for the night before?  I want to know when those numbers are updated because I'm sure they are done on a nationwide basis at one time.  I had checked this morning at about 1am EDT and what I am seeing now at 12pm EDT are totally different, so I know they were updated sometime between those times.

Secondly, do you have any idea when you will be making the New iPad available for purchase on-line and also for order for in-store pickup?  I have never bought anything other than accessories and small products from BestBuy before and so this is all new to me.  However, despite wanting to buy it direct from Apple to be able to get AppleCare+ with the order, I happen to have gift cards that will cover the cost of the iPad, so I'm obviously going to use those and then go to Apple to buy my AppleCare+ Warranty. 

I'd appreciate a clarification on the inventory feature especially since the website says the feature is still in "beta".  Also, I'd like to know if I plan on getting my iPad in about two weeks if I might be able to take advantage of the in-store pickup option if it is going to be available by then.

Thanks for the help!

Jim

[Walrus Valued Contributor]

Well I've never used the Pitch-In Card, so I'm not sure how a person contributes to it. However, from RewardZone forums that no longer exist I remember reading a thread where another RewardZone member did add gift cards directly.

Good luck though, I don't foresee any snags doing it this way.

[Dval]

The issue with using that many gift cards in a transaction isn't from Bestbuy itself.  State and/or Federal laws are in place to help deter fraud.  The Pitch-in cards are really the only way around that.

[Aaron-BBY Community Connector]

Hi Sulley,

Just like BestBuy.com, our retail stores have a limit to the number of gift cards that can be accepted on a single transaction.  Like Walrus mentioned, however, multiple gift cards can be combined using a single Pitch In card.  Anyone can contribute to a Pitch In card as well, either online or at an in-store kiosk.  For more information I’d encourage you to check out the following FAQ:

http://bbyurl.us/PitchIn

I hope this helps.