Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[sky355]

So I went to Best Buy the other day because Im searching for a new gaming Laptop. I have been researching the G73 and found they had 2 at the store. 1 was the older version and the new version G73JH-BST7 Upon further investigation I found the G73JH-BST7 had a better processor but overall same stats. The only difference was the Older version was more expensive. 1299$ The new version G73JH-BST7 was priced at 1199. After doing consulting an agent He fould that the computer had priced it at 1399$ Now I am a pretty smart shopper here. But after doing some research there is a discussion forum that discusses this price hike as you had many folks interested in this laptop at the 1199$ Range. I have a reciept from a friend who purchased the G73JH-BST7 at the 1199$ Will BB Price Match that when I come in at the end of the month to purchase?

Reason I say this is because the price match gaurentee says it will.

Best Buy Retail Store Price Match Guarantee

If you find a lower advertised price on the same available brand and model prior to your purchase or during the exchange and return period, we will match that price. Simply bring in the ad of the local retail competitor or Best Buy, while the lower price is in effect and receive your price match.

The guarantee does not apply to our competitors' website pricing and the guarantee does not apply to our or our competitors':

• Offers that include financing, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors and mail-in offers.
• Items that are limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, Outlet Center, refurbished/used items and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

My Friend purchased his on 9/26 I plan to go down to purchase on 10/29. I have his reciept to prove the 1199 price that he paid on his G73JH-BST7.

I dont understand why Best Buy would do this. If I where to go with the upgrade X1 I would get more ram, more Hard drive, A Blue Ray Disk player and a 2 year manufacturer warrenty plus 1 year accidental damage warrenty plus a free Laptop Backpack and gaming mouse for about the same price as I could get this lesser model if I added Best Buys 450 dollar 3 year warrenty plan. This makes your 1400$ Price tag much less attractive with what is out there. 

Can I get some reassurance here?  I feel like Best Buy is looking at this as a good seller so decided to Gouge the price on a decent deal for a great laptop which now puts it out of the affordable range for some folks that would of considered it before hand.

[Mbrguy Emerging Expert]

If the question is about price matching, then Best Buy will price match local brick and mortar competitors who have the same model in stock as long as it isn't a clearance, outlet, etc.  More info on the Price Match Guarantee can be found here.

If the question is about the price and why the price is what it is, then that is not discussed on these forums per the Forums rules and guidelines -  "Please do not discuss pricing issues.  This Forum is not a transactional website.  While we recognize that the issue of prices of products or services may come up, we do not want it to be the focus of the Forum. The Forum is to discuss technology and life integration."

[cr_client]

Also, keep in mind that Price Match Guarantee does not mean that BBY will price-match its own former sale price on a future purchase. Sale prices are sale prices during certain time frames, and are only good during those time frames. Having a receipt from your friend's purchase on 9/26 will NOT provide you a price match on a purchase made later on 10/29.

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

Good afternoon sky355 -

Aaron, from our Community Connector team, will be reaching out to you regarding your concern.  I appreciate your patience until he is able to touch base with you.

[Aaron-BBY Community Connector]

Hello sky355,

Like cr_client mentioned, remember that we’re only able to match current sale prices.  This unfortunately means that we would not be able to honor a price match if the G73JH-BST7 is not currently available at a local brick-and-mortar competitor for the price you’re seeking.  It’s also important to keep in mind that sale prices are typically only valid Sunday through the following Saturday (ex: Sunday, September 26^th – Saturday, October 2^nd) and that we do not honor expired offers.  For more information though I’d encourage you to check out the link Mbrguy provided above.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  You can send me a private message by signing into the forums and then clicking on either my signature below or the letter icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

[Dryke]

In the interests of honesty I think it's important to note that the 'price match guarantee' will be an essentially irrelevant factor for anyone purchasing an Asus G73JH-BST7. 

Why?  Because Best Buy (like many other companies) often negotiates deals with their suppliers that results in the creation of an 'in-house' brand that is entirely unique to Best Buy.  Therefore it is not possible to find any other 'brick and mortar' stores offering a same-model product for sale; it is by definition only sold at Best Buy.

You will, of course, find many very similar models for sale elsewhere; you have only to do a google search for 'Asus G73' to find a myriad of model numbers, many of which will be quite similar...but you will only find the -BST7 at Best Buy.

Retailers (such as Best Buy) will of course tell you that this is done in order to suit the specific needs of their customers, or perhaps to offer a superior product, or something similar; of course it goes without saying that in such cases all of 'those other retailers' selling similar products must then somehow be offering inferior or over priced products, right?  It can't possibly have anything to do with being able to trumpet something along the lines of 'we'll beat anyone's price'...can it?

Well.  Having said all that, lest you think I have some problem with this product in particular:  I believe I am quite likely to purchase one myself within the next couple of days.  The entire line (including this specific model at Best Buy) is about the best 'bang for your buck' you can find for a gaming rig these days.  Specifically, Best Buy is consistently offering some of the lowest prices regularly available - albeit with their in-house model;  it is somewhat on the lower end of the range of the G73 line, but at $1199.99 you will be hard pressed to find anything cheaper and thus it offers perhaps the best 'economy' entry into the high end laptop gaming market.  Being a father of five and on a tight budget, this then is the final deciding factor for me and why I will probably show up in my local Best Buy this coming week, cash in hand.

[Nokia]

You're right, but it's an industry standard to do it. WM is about the worst at it. They have certain products that have a different model number but are the exact same product. It's no secret that all retailers are anti-pricematch.