If, like me, you received an email today from Best Buy, “Important reminder regarding changes to the Reward Zone® program,” you’re probably also scratching your head trying to remember what this is about and how it affects us members. I posted about this after the change was announced in June of last year: Best Buy RewardZone Announces Changes
Sometime earlier this month, Best Buy issued certificates to members with over 250 points in their account (which equals a $5 reward certificate). The remainder of the points, earned prior to December 31, were forfeited. I lost around 65 points, or just over $1.
According to a December 2009 Best Buy press release, the company currently has 19.9 million members. If every one of those members lost as many points as I did…well, you can see their reasoning in wiping out those points.
This is a good time to remind those of you who use your RewardZone card in-store that you can also earn RewardZone points for online purchases…and you can earn cash back IN ADDITION when you click through a rewards program’s link to Best Buy. For example, you’ll earn 2% cashback on most Best Buy purchases PLUS a $5 bonus on your first order through MrRebates (aff). And you can choose in-store pickup, too, so you don’t have to pay shipping charges.
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I lost about 85 points myself. Not enough to get in a huff about, but it is indicative of the ongoing trend of reward programs being devalued and becoming less worthwhile for your time and effort.
On another point, I was recently considering purchasing a new notebook computer from Best Buy. As I examined a number of different shopping sites to see which would have the best rebate or points back, I noticed all of them — in small type somewhere on the page — indicated computer purchases did not qualify. So one of the biggest purchases you might ever make from Best Buy will get you a big fat nothing.