My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total are paid memberships. The latter includes tech support and device protection, which for some might be worth the $179.99 annual fee.
Best Buy’s rewards program is called My Best Buy Memberships. There are three tiers of service, including a free option and two that offer additional perks for an annual subscription fee.
Are perks like two-day shipping, tech support, protection plans and AppleCare+ coverage enough to justify a paid membership? Here’s a breakdown of each My Best Buy membership tier.
My Best Buy Membership
The original My Best Buy remains. Membership is still free, but it’s no longer a rewards program that lets you earn points for purchases. You’ll need a My Best Buy credit card to earn points. The free My Best Buy is your basic Best Buy login.
The main benefit of regular My Best Buy is free standard shipping with no minimum purchase. Those shopping online at the store without an account must meet a minimum purchase of $35 to qualify for free standard shipping. Additionally, a My Best Buy account lets you track past purchases and save a payment method for faster online checkouts.
My Best Buy Plus Membership
The middle tier is My Best Buy Plus. It costs $49.99 per year and offers faster shipping and exclusive deals for subscribers.
The main benefit is free two-day shipping on online orders, although the Best Buy website says the service is not available in all areas. The $49.99 annual fee also opens up access to member-specific offers, sales and events.
Additionally, My Best Buy Plus membership extends the return period for most products purchased from the usual 15 days to 60 days. The extended return period does not apply to devices you must activate, such as cell phones.
My Best Buy Total Membership
My Best Buy Total is the highest-tier membership, which costs $179.99 per year. You get the benefits of the Plus membership, plus protection and support for the tech products you buy.
Two standout perks may soften the initial price shock for some. One is 24/7 access to Geek Squad tech support for all your devices, whether you bought them at Best Buy or elsewhere. According to Best Buy’s website, a number of remote and in-store tech support services are included. One example is virus removal and operating system repair for laptops or computers, which costs $149.99 as a standalone service for non-members. The plan does not include in-person Geek Squad services.
Another big benefit is up to two years of protection for most products purchased at Best Buy while the membership is active. Protection typically covers mechanical failures, but some products also include accidental damage. The membership includes up to two years of AppleCare+ protection for most Apple products purchased at Best Buy. You’ll also get 20% off labor costs for repairs. Insurance against loss and theft is an extra cost.
Are the paid My Best Buy memberships worth it?
Signing up for a free My Best Buy membership probably makes sense for anyone who plans to order online from the store.
Upgrading to the Plus membership for $49.99 is a harder sell, especially if you’re already paying for Amazon Prime, which gives you fast shipping on a number of overlapping products.
The Total membership for $179.99 is expensive for an in-store subscription, but the benefits might be tempting for some.
If technology is essential to your life but you don’t get to it easily, Geek Squad’s 24/7 access to tech support might come in handy.
If you regularly buy expensive devices, the protection benefit that includes AppleCare+ for Apple products might be attractive.
Before you subscribe, weigh the cost of one-time services and protection plans against the $179.99 recurring annual fee for My Best Buy Total.
Service/Plan
Unit Price
Best Buy Service: In-store setup of a PC or tablet by Geek Squad.
$39.99.
Best Buy Service: Remote backup and/or transfer of basic data by Geek Squad.
$99.99.
Best Buy Plan: Two-year Geek Squad Protection Plan for laptops.
$189.99.
Apple Plan: Three-year AppleCare+ Protection Plan for MacBook Air 13-inch M1.
$179.
If you sign up for a paid My Best Buy membership and then regret it, you’re not stuck. If you cancel within the first 60 days, you’re eligible for a full refund of the annual fee, minus any services, plans, or discounts you used. If you cancel after 60 days, you’re eligible for a prorated refund, minus the value of the services you used.
Pros and Cons of My Best Buy Memberships
Pros:
✔ Free standard shipping (even with free membership): The basic My Best Buy membership offers free standard shipping with no minimum purchase, making it a great option for online shoppers.
✔ Exclusive deals and extended return periods: The My Best Buy Plus membership ($49.99/year) grants access to exclusive sales and extends the return period to 60 days for most purchases.
✔ Faster shipping: My Best Buy Plus members get free two-day shipping on online orders, a useful perk for those who shop at Best Buy frequently.
✔ Tech support and protection (My Best Buy Total): My Best Buy Total ($179.99/year) includes 24/7 tech support from Geek Squad and up to two years of device protection, including AppleCare+ for Apple products. This can save money for those who need tech support on a regular basis.
✔ Value for frequent Best Buy shoppers: If you frequently purchase expensive electronics, the included protection plans and tech support can offset the membership cost, making it worth it.
✔ Refund policy: You can cancel within 60 days and get a full refund (minus services used), after which you’ll get a prorated refund.
Cons:
❌ No more rewards points for purchases: Unlike previous versions of the My Best Buy program, members no longer earn points unless they use a My Best Buy credit card.
❌ Limited availability for two-day shipping: The fast shipping benefit isn’t guaranteed in all areas, making it less valuable for some users.
❌ High cost of My Best Buy Total: At $179.99 per year, My Best Buy Total is a big investment unless you frequently use tech support and protection plans.
❌ There are better alternatives: If you already pay for Amazon Prime or Walmart+, you may not need My Best Buy Plus, as those services offer fast shipping and exclusive deals.
❌ Protection plans aren’t comprehensive: While My Best Buy Total covers mechanical breakdowns and some accidental damage, loss and theft protection costs extra.
Bottom line: Is a My Best Buy membership worth it?
For casual shoppers, the free My Best Buy membership is a no-brainer, as it includes free standard shipping and the ability to track purchases.
The My Best Buy Plus membership ($49.99/year) may be worth it if you shop at Best Buy frequently and want faster shipping and exclusive discounts. But if you already have Amazon Prime, the benefits might feel redundant.
The My Best Buy Total membership ($179.99/year) is only worth the price if you frequently need tech support from Geek Squad or want protection plans for expensive electronics. If you regularly buy Apple products, the included AppleCare+ protection can save you money.
Before subscribing, compare the benefits of membership with what you actually need. If you rarely use technical support or protection plans, paying for one-time services may be more worthwhile than paying a recurring annual fee.
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