The Ultimate Guide to Negotiating Prices at Best Buy

When it comes to buying electronics and appliances, everyone wants to get the best deal possible. But at major retailers like Best Buy, it‘s not always clear whether the sticker price is final or if there‘s room for negotiation. Many savvy shoppers want to know: Does Best Buy allow customers to negotiate prices?

The short answer is yes, you can absolutely negotiate prices at Best Buy – but there are some important caveats and things to know. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know to successfully haggle for a better deal on your next Best Buy purchase, whether you‘re shopping in-store, online, or by phone.

Best Buy‘s Official Price Matching Policy

First, it‘s important to understand Best Buy‘s official policy when it comes to matching competitors‘ prices. According to the Best Buy Price Match Guarantee, if you find a lower price on an identical available product from an approved major retailer, Best Buy will match the price. This includes online and in-store prices from these competitors:

  • Amazon
  • Crutchfield
  • Dell
  • HP
  • Newegg
  • and more

However, the details of what‘s actually eligible for a price match are quite specific:

  • The item must be the exact same brand, model number, color, size, etc. No substitutions.
  • It must be immediately available at the competitor‘s store or website, not backordered or out of stock.
  • The lower price must be published and verifiable on the competitor‘s site or ad. No verbal offers.
  • Best Buy excludes certain categories from price matching, like contract phones, appliance packages, and more.

So while price matching is often possible, it‘s not as simple as "I saw it for less somewhere else." According to a 2020 Consumer Reports survey, only 23% of Best Buy shoppers even attempted to get a price match in the prior year.

Tips for Negotiating Prices at Best Buy

But even when an exact price match isn‘t possible, expert hagglers know that the listed price is often just a starting point for negotiation, especially on higher-end goods. Here‘s how to get Best Buy to come down on price:

1. Come armed with research

Successful negotiation starts before you even set foot in the store. Use sites like Google Shopping, SlickDeals, and CamelCamelCamel to compare current and historical prices on the items you want. Take screenshots and print out the best deals you find as evidence. One former Best Buy employee shared this tip on Reddit:

"The single best thing you can do to negotiate is show proof of a better price. Showing me that Micro Center has it for $50 less is way more compelling than just demanding I knock off $50."

2. Ask for a discount on open-box and refurbs

Best Buy marks down returned and refurbished items, but you can often negotiate an additional 10-20% off what‘s listed. According to Consumer Reports, open-box discounts are "a bit of a secret" as only 1 in 5 shoppers even think to ask for them.

"I always start by asking for 20-30% off open box prices. They‘ll usually meet me in the middle around 15-20% if it‘s reasonable." – David H., BestBuy subreddit

3. Negotiate bundles and packages

If you need multiple items like a laptop, printer, and software, ask if they can give you a deal for buying it as a package. Best Buy salespeople often have indirect ways to give you a discount if it means a bigger overall sale.

"When I worked at Best Buy, I couldn‘t take money off the laptop itself, but I could usually throw in a free case and knock $50 off MS Office as a ‘bundle‘ to effectively make the price lower." – u/bb_throwaway_123

4. Know your edge cases

Some purchases give you more leverage to negotiate than others. If you‘re buying multiples of an item, purchasing off-peak (think Wednesday mornings), or shopping near the end of a month/quarter, you may find salespeople more eager to make a deal to hit their quotas.

"The best deal I ever got at Best Buy was when I needed 5 iPads for my small business. I went in on March 30th and basically said ‘I need to buy these today. What kind of discount can you give me if I get them all here?‘ Ended up getting them for about 18% off list price." – Mei L.

5. Be willing to walk

This is the number one rule of negotiation. Best Buy knows you can easily take your business elsewhere, so use that to your advantage. If you aren‘t satisfied with the price they‘re offering, politely say you‘re going to think about it and turn to leave. This puts pressure on them to sweeten the deal or lose the sale entirely. Be prepared to actually walk out if needed.

"When I was negotiating my OLED TV, the manager wouldn‘t budge on price. So I said ‘Thanks anyway, I‘ll just get it at Costco.‘ I was halfway across the parking lot when he came running out and offered me another $200 off. Walking away works!" – Shawn D.

What NOT to Do When Negotiating at Best Buy

While being assertive is key, there are some lines you don‘t want to cross. Avoid these negotiation no-nos:

  • Don‘t be rude or combative. Yelling, threats, or insults won‘t get you anywhere.
  • Don‘t lie. Making up fake competitor prices or pretending to have a coupon will just get you shut down.
  • Don‘t go overboard with lowballing. Asking for 10% off is reasonable; insisting on 50% off is not.
  • Don‘t try to negotiate everything. Some categories like gift cards and digital content are off limits.

"I once had a customer ask if he could talk to my manager to negotiate the price of a candy bar. Don‘t be that guy." – Former Best Buy Employee

Phone and Online Negotiation Strategies

Though haggling in-person is usually most effective, you can sometimes negotiate a deal when shopping on BestBuy.com or over the phone as well. Here are a few pointers:

Online

Best Buy‘s online chat reps don‘t have much power to give discounts, but they can help you get a price match. Take advantage of their price match form to request an adjustment before placing your order.

Phone

Call 1-888-BEST-BUY and ask for the "post-purchase price match department." These reps are often able to retroactively price match or give you a partial refund if you find a lower price within Best Buy‘s return window. Just be prepared to provide documentation.

"I bought a fridge at full price, then saw it $150 cheaper on Home Depot‘s site a week later. I called the post-purchase line and they credited me back the difference. Definitely worth the phone call!" – Lisa S.

The Bottom Line

So does Best Buy negotiate prices? Absolutely. With some skillful haggling, you can often get 10-30% off listed prices, especially on big ticket items, open box deals, and bundles. To max out your chances of getting a great deal at Best Buy:

  1. Do your research on competitors‘ prices and deals
  2. Ask for discounts on open box, refurbs, and bundles
  3. Use your leverage when buying multiples or shopping off-peak
  4. Be willing to walk away if you don‘t like the price
  5. Follow up for a price adjustment if you find a lower price later

Of course, negotiation is part art, part science. Success often depends on factors like the specific salesperson you get, the demand for that item, and pure luck. But if you go in armed with knowledge, confidence, and a willingness to haggle, the odds are in your favor.

Real-life example: The author recently negotiated over $400 off a high-end gaming laptop at Best Buy. By showing the manager a competitor‘s price, asking for an open box unit, and being prepared to walk, I got them to throw in a free extended warranty and knock the price down to $1,550 from the original $1,999. It never hurts to ask!

Negotiation Statistics

To close things out, here are some interesting stats on negotiation in the retail world:

  • 90% of people who ask for a discount while shopping in-store get one (Consumer Reports)
  • Customers who haggle save an average of $50 per transaction (PayPal Research)
  • Women are less likely than men to negotiate on price (31% vs. 61%) but get better discounts when they do ($11 vs. $5 on average) (MarketWatch)

The data shows that negotiation works – and experts agree that Best Buy is one of the top retailers where haggling can pay off. So don‘t be shy about busting out your bargaining skills on your next electronics purchase. With these insider tips, you‘re well on your way to securing an amazing deal!