Best Buy Changes RWD zone/OpenBox

[BTBuck1]

In Case any of you don't know:

Best Buy has changed it's rewardzone program and openbox policy

Reward zone is now free, but you don't get as many dollars back per purchase as before either:

http://www.myrewardzone.com/progdetails.jspx

Open Box has now changed.
if the item is under $50 you get the regular discount price.
If the item is over $50 you get a gift card for the difference now.

Example, Regular Price $2999.99 open box before would have been $2699.99 now you would pay $2999.99 but you would receive a $300 Gift Card.

[bferr1]

I don't get it. Do they think this will somehow attract more business?

[Chris Beveridge]

What's OpenBox?

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Chris Beveridge

What's OpenBox?

A returned item that was found to be in good working order. Typically retailers sell these as "open box" rather than "slightly used."

[Chris Beveridge]

The way it was phrased made it sound like something of a separate program so I wanted to clarify.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

Reward zone is now free, but you don't get as many dollars back per purchase as before either

Yeah when I picked up Aeon Flux yesterday the cashier asked if I wanted to sign up for Reward Zone. I said no thanks. He replied, "it's free" so I figured what the heck. Looking at the foldout the card comes in I noticed you get $5 back for every $250 you spend. Yippie! Seriously, when this program first started it was much nicer. You'd get $5 for every $105 spent. I bought my $2200 Mits HDTV with it and got a nice return. These days it's a joke unless you're the type who spends thousands per year at Best Buy. I'll be damn lucky if I even get my first $5 reward.

[bferr1]

But being signed up for RZ also gets you coupons in the mail, I think, so that sort of makes it all worth it.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by bferr1

But being signed up for RZ also gets you coupons in the mail, I think, so that sort of makes it all worth it.

I haven't used any of those coupons yet as I still receive them from my old account.

[BTBuck1]

there is a reward zone mastercard in addition to the regular reward zone.
the rewardzone mastercard has a better point structure than the old rewardzone and you also accrue points with purchases made anywhere.

look into it, it's available now at your local BB.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

there is a reward zone mastercard in addition to the regular reward zone.
the rewardzone mastercard has a better point structure than the old rewardzone and you also accrue points with purchases made anywhere.

look into it, it's available now at your local BB.

Alright now, enough with the free advertising for your store Brian.

[Psiweaver]

THat open box thing is a joke. I highly doubt it will be successful at all. Unloading open box TVs is a pain in the ass especially since most of the time the remote manual and everything else is nowhere to be found and the tv is beat to hell. THere is no way if i was a customer I would settle for something like that.

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

look into it, it's available now at your local BB.

"And tell them Brian@BBY sent ya!"

[Chris Beveridge]

Open box can be good depending on how the item looks; it's a crapshoot of course. The lack of manuals isn't an issue since you can download them and the same for codes.

[zombie]

My previous sub was an open box Infinity bought from a different store. Came with full five year warranty and lasted six years. I can't complain.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by Psiweaver

THat open box thing is a joke. I highly doubt it will be successful at all. Unloading open box TVs is a pain in the ass especially since most of the time the remote manual and everything else is nowhere to be found and the tv is beat to hell. THere is no way if i was a customer I would settle for something like that.

Well here is the thing, The items you describe are usually close out, and naturally go to a clearance price regardless, usually being at cost or sometimes below (just to move it out)

Now, in addition to that, you receive a gift card.

So far it has been successful, we haven't had a single complaint.
It was tested in several stores before rolling out company wide, and proved a huge success.