Best Buy IdeaX

[#1]

Since the 20% GCU discount on new games does not apply to digital purchases, how about giving GCU members 20% back in reward points for digital purchases?  It keeps people buying games (or other merchandise) from Best Buy and doesn't leave them out of the rewards system for being a GCU member.  In a way, it kind of reminds me of the Shop Your Way rewards system they have at Sears/K-Mart, which is very popular amongst gamers, only it allows people to purchase their games the way they want.

[#2]

I've only bought Digital for Xbox One and PS4 (in addition to Steam / Origin gaming). 
I would extend this to include the digital sku's online and in store so that I can purchase each of the titles with the same pre-order bonuses. 

As Elite Plus member that's been one through each program from day 1 I've drastically cut down my shopping at Best Buy primarily because of the lack of Digital. For example, this year on Xbox one (since launch) i've spent over $1200 on Xbox One and $800 on PS4 for digital content. That's 2 grand in sales that I could grabbed at Best Buy (more important when you consider the impulse buys that went along with the digital content, like controllers, chargers, a 70" TV!). 

Don't miss out on those of us going digital, keep us around!

[#3]

I have suggested more than once on here that digital sales gets more discounts for gcu or without someway somehow. We have to be honest, digital is the future so we might as well start now.

I support this idea.

[#4]

Do other retailers offer discounts on Digital Purchases yet?  

I dispair of the day I can only get programs via download, but it is a coming.

[#5]

It depends on how you define retailers and discounts.  Many digital download providers (where that is their primary/sole purpose; think Steam, etc) provide time-limited sales on new games and pre-releases, especially for PC.  Sony has weekly deals and sporadic flash sales on digital content. But, in general, I don't think you see much in the way of discounts on digital PS4/XB1 games, particularly nothing like the GCU deal which applies to every new game.  It's particularly appalling to see games sell for twice as much in digital vs physical format when they finally get discounted in stores.  I'd like to think the elegance of the method I suggested is that it's not a discount on the game you're buying, it's a potential discount on the next game/item you buy from Best Buy. I think this provides value to both the customer and Best Buy and makes the GCU service more enticing for gamers that have opted to go digital with the new systems.

[#6]

Just to put in some insight from a person who buys 100% digital games ( true these are PC games though ) 

Places such as GMG will offer better discounts for their higher tier/higher buying customers. I.e. when I first signed up with GMG I was only getting 10-15% coupons. Now that I have bought so many items from them a lot of times I may get 25-35% off of a digital game when they post it for being on sale or if the coupon is for pre-releases. 

I think one of the major issues here is going to be "how is bestbuy going to compete financially with places such as GMG and Steam" 

GMG and Steam are 100% gaming so they are able to put all of their funds into better pricing with the gaming companies compared to a place such as BestBuy who majors in Electronics and minors in gaming so to speak.

I think eeinc's idea though for future sale discounts has good merits really and truly but I also  feel that there may need to be a limited amount of games that can be bought with that discount. I.e. a new game such as gta v is going to be a huge hit. Largest sales would come from being able to sell it at the price for $59.99-69.99

[#7]

Good points, AWBrown. It probably comes down to the margins for Best Buy on digital sales. I do think it's worth noting that outside of promotional deals, GCU is a paid membership program.  For $120, there is little to no value for the digital-download gamer. Anything would be better than what's in place now.

[#8]

Would anyone else like to see 20% back in rewards points when making digital purchases? Make sure you vote for an idea if you like it.

[#9]

I would absolutely love it if GCU gave 20% back in rewards points for things like PSN/XBL/eShop/Steam cards. I'd probably buy everything from Best Buy.

[#10]

I'd love to see this.  I would way rather download my games.  Especially with the ability to pre-download them on the XBox One.

[#11]

This is a great idea! I usually end up buying it on disc as a been release for the 20% off and $10 rewards cert and then trade it back in and buy a Xbox live card once it goes on sale on Xbox live. I'd prefer to get the discount on digital up front vs the extra steps needed and hope of a sale soon.