In the world of retail, Amazon and Best Buy are two of the biggest names when it comes to electronics, appliances, and general merchandise. As an expert in the consumer retail space, I‘m often asked by friends and readers which store offers the best prices, selection, customer service, and overall shopping experience. While both Amazon and Best Buy have their strengths, there are some key differences that may make one retailer better suited for your needs. In this in-depth comparison, we‘ll take a close look at how Amazon and Best Buy stack up in terms of product offerings, pricing, shipping and returns, and more to help you decide where to spend your hard-earned dollars.
Exploring the Product Selection
First, let‘s talk about what you can actually buy from each of these retail behemoths. Amazon is well-known for its incredibly vast selection that spans nearly every consumer product category imaginable. You can find everything from books and movies to clothing, toys, pet supplies, tools, electronics, appliances, and even groceries on Amazon. In fact, Amazon sells over 12 million products itself, not even counting the millions more offered by third-party Marketplace sellers.
Best Buy, on the other hand, has a more focused selection zeroing in on consumer electronics, entertainment, and appliances. At Best Buy, you‘ll find a wide array of computers, tablets, TVs, cameras, video games, movies, music, cell phones, smart home devices, and both large and small appliances. Best Buy also carries some additional categories like toys, exercise equipment, luggage, and even snacks, but the selection is limited compared to Amazon.
Both retailers offer an assortment of major name brands as well as their own exclusive brands and services. Amazon has its own line of affordable AmazonBasics electronics and home products, luxury-leaning Stone & Beam furniture, and even fashion lines like Goodthreads. Best Buy‘s signature house brands include Insignia and Rocketfish for electronics and Dynex for accessories.
So in terms of sheer selection, Amazon definitely has Best Buy beat. However, if you‘re primarily shopping for electronics and appliances and prefer sticking to trusted name brands, Best Buy offers an ample assortment to choose from. Where the product selection is comparable, the buying decision often comes down to price.
Comparing Prices and Deals
As two of the largest retailers in the game, both Amazon and Best Buy aim to be price-competitive. From my research and experience, Amazon tends to offer the lowest everyday prices on items across the board. Using price comparison tools, you‘ll often find that products on Amazon are a few dollars cheaper than the same items at Best Buy and other big box stores.
However, it‘s not always so clear cut. Best Buy will sometimes have the edge on certain new releases, doorbusters, and limited-time promotions. To stay on top of deals, bargain hunters should keep an eye on the ever-changing Deal of the Day offers on each website. Amazon‘s Today‘s Deals section and Lightning Deals offer fleeting discounts of up to 80% off, while Best Buy‘s Featured Deals promise savings on popular tech.
During major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, prices tend to be extremely competitive between the two retailers, often matching each other directly. Best Buy also has a Price Match Guarantee and will match Amazon‘s prices on qualifying items. So if you spot a better deal on Amazon but need the product immediately, Best Buy may still be a viable option.
Of course, pricing isn‘t everything. There are still other important factors to consider before clicking that buy button, like shipping costs and delivery estimates.
Evaluating Shipping and Returns
When it comes to receiving your order quickly, Amazon is usually the speediest option, especially for Prime members. Amazon Prime offers unlimited free 2-day shipping on millions of eligible items with no minimum purchase required. In some cities, Prime members can even get free same-day or 2-hour delivery on certain items. Non-Prime members can still get free standard shipping on orders over $25.
Best Buy offers free standard shipping with no minimum, but it‘s slower than Amazon Prime at an estimated 3-7 business days. Expedited and express shipping options are available for an added fee. Some items are also eligible for free next-day or same-day delivery, but selection is limited.
For shoppers who need their items posthaste, Amazon is typically the better bet. Even with standard shipping, I find my Amazon orders usually arrive faster than Best Buy‘s delivery estimates.
If you receive a defective product or change your mind on a purchase, both retailers thankfully offer fairly generous return policies. Amazon allows returns on most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, though some categories have shorter windows. Return shipping is free in many cases, or you can drop off the item at select locations like Kohl‘s or Whole Foods. Best Buy‘s return policy varies a bit more by category, but most items can be returned within 15 days for a refund or exchange. Certain items have restocking fees, but elite My Best Buy members get extended return periods.
Overall, Amazon wins out in the shipping and returns department with speedier deliveries and a longer window for sending items back. That said, both retailers make the return process relatively easy if needed, though you may want to double check the policy on the specific item you‘re purchasing.
Judging Customer Service and Support
No matter how seamless the shopping experience, issues with orders are bound to arise from time to time. Perhaps a delivery goes missing, a defective product needs to be replaced, or you require assistance making a return. In these times of need, how do Amazon and Best Buy‘s customer service measure up?
Unfortunately, neither company has a glowing service reputation these days, at least according to ConsumerAffairs ratings. Amazon comes in with a dismal 1.5 star average from over 3,000 reviews, while Best Buy earns only a slightly better 2-star rating. Shoppers frequently cite frustrations with outsourced support, unhelpful or rude representatives, lack of follow-through on promises, and difficulties obtaining refunds.
Of course, ratings don‘t always tell the full story, and experiences can vary greatly by individual. In my personal experience, I‘ve found Amazon‘s support a bit easier to contact, with 24/7 phone, email and live chat options. Best Buy offers similar support channels, but I‘ve had better luck getting clear, helpful answers from Amazon reps, especially when it comes to rectifying issues with Marketplace sellers. On the flip side, Best Buy support tends to be more knowledgeable about technical product specs and troubleshooting.
At the end of the day, you hopefully won‘t need to contact support too often. But based on my encounters as well as general consensus, I give a slight edge to Amazon‘s customer service. The key is to be persistent if your issue isn‘t resolved to your satisfaction the first time, as supervisors often have more power to make things right.
Reaping Rewards and Perks
Loyal shoppers can benefit from exclusive perks by joining Amazon Prime or My Best Buy. An Amazon Prime membership costs $119 per year or $12.99 per month and includes benefits like:
- Free 2-day, same-day, or 2-hour shipping on eligible items
- Free release-date delivery on select pre-order items
- Early access to Lightning Deals
- Unlimited streaming of movies, TV shows, and music
- Unlimited photo storage
- Free Kindle e-books and magazines
- Exclusive discounts at Whole Foods Market
In contrast, it‘s free to sign up for a My Best Buy account, which gets you:
- Exclusive sales and member-only deals
- Birthday gift of 10% off a single item
- Earn points on every purchase towards reward certificates
- Free standard shipping with no minimums
- Extended return windows
- Free installation and Geek Squad consultations
- Elite status with extra perks if you spend $1500+/year
If you‘re a frequent Amazon shopper, springing for Prime can easily pay for itself in shipping fees alone. The extra benefits like Prime Video and Music are icing on the cake. Best Buy shoppers can still get some nice freebies and bonuses without the annual fee. Points hounds in particular may prefer banking My Best Buy rewards that can actually be redeemed for real money off future purchases.
These days, most of us are doing our shopping online, so the digital experience can be a make-or-break factor. Fortunately, both Amazon and Best Buy offer highly-rated mobile apps and well-designed, user-friendly websites.
The Amazon mobile app has an impressive 4.8-star rating from over 8 million reviews between the Apple App Store and Google Play. Users praise its ease of use for browsing, searching, comparing prices, making purchases, tracking orders, and contacting support on the go. You can even send a photo to quickly search for matching products. Some reviewers express concerns over security, so be sure to monitor your account for any suspect purchases.
Best Buy‘s app earns a 4.7-star rating from over 500,000 reviews for its intuitive design and functionality. You can easily shop deals, access your rewards, schedule service appointments, and get real-time updates on your orders. In-store shoppers will appreciate features like detailed store maps and aisle locations for easy product pickups. A few users note glitches or slowness, but overall the app receives high marks.
Speaking of in-store, Best Buy is the clear winner if you prefer to see and test out products in person before buying. With nearly 1,000 big box locations nationwide, chances are there‘s a Best Buy near you where you can check out that big-screen TV or laptop and get expert advice from blue-shirt employees. Best Buy also offers a convenient in-store pickup option so you can order an item online and fetch it the same day, often within 1 hour.
On the other hand, Amazon‘s physical footprint is much smaller, with most of its retail presence centered around Whole Foods Market, Amazon Books, Amazon 4-star, Amazon Fresh grocery stores, and Amazon Go convenience stores. Selection is largely limited to Amazon‘s own products like Kindles and Echos, so you can‘t really try before you buy. A few Best Buy locations have even begun carrying Amazon products to make them available to more shoppers.
So for online shoppers, both Amazon and Best Buy deliver a top-notch experience. But if you crave that hands-on, in-person shopping, Best Buy is the better bet. Of course, you can always try products at your local Best Buy before ultimately purchasing on Amazon if the price is right.
The Bottom Line: Which is Better?
If you‘ve made it this far, you‘re probably wondering which retail giant is the ultimate winner. The truth is, both Amazon and Best Buy have some notable strengths and weaknesses.
Amazon‘s biggest advantage is the vast product selection, low prices, and fast Prime shipping that make it a one-stop shop for nearly anything you need delivered to your door. Budget-conscious shoppers and those who value a speedy turnaround will likely prefer Amazon, as evidenced by its 100 million+ Prime members. However, those who want more personalized advice, hands-on product testing, and instant gratification are better off heading to their nearest Best Buy.
There‘s also something to be said for supporting a more specialized retailer like Best Buy over a catch-all behemoth like Amazon. Best Buy is clearly committed to electronics and delivers deep product knowledge and guidance you won‘t find on Amazon. The company also invests in online resources like buying guides and expert reviews to help shoppers make informed purchases.
At the end of the day, both Amazon and Best Buy offer generally positive shopping experiences with some potential pitfalls in the realms of customer service and product quality control. Your best bet is to compare offerings from both retailers, check reviews carefully, and go with the product and buying method that makes the most sense for your individual needs and preferences. Hopefully this in-depth comparison has given you the knowledge to shop smarter between these two retail giants. Happy shopping!
