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Best Buy is offering a bonus $15 savings code with the purchase of $150 in Best Buy e-gift cards through Cashstar. You can buy up to three $150 gift cards (or a single $450 gift card according to Doctor of Credit) through this promotion between now and 11/18/17. The $15 promotional codes have a limited shelf life — but if you can use them, this could be a good deal.
The Deal
- Buy $150 in e-gift cards, get a $15 savings code
- Direct link to promotion
Key Terms
- Offer valid 11/5/17-11/18/17
- $15 savings code valid 12/1/17-12/14/17
- Savings code valid in-store and online
- Terms state that the value of the savings code will not be refunded if merchandise is returned
- Maximum of three $150 e-gift card purchases (or Doctor of Credit reports a single order for a $450 code will trigger this)
Quick Thoughts
This is a pretty good deal. I saw it on Slickdeals over the weekend, but a post by Mark Ostermann at Miles to Memories about this deal caught my eye this morning and helped me realize that this is a better deal than it seems. I’ve known that Best Buy gift cards count towards Best Buy elite status, but hadn’t thought about it (thanks for the reminder!) and I’m a bit behind on hitting elite status for next year. I like maintaining Best Buy elite status for the extended returns period and a little extra return on spend. I then bank my Best Buy points and redeem them for certificates to buy myself something nice now and then.
With this deal, $450 in purchases will help me inch towards re-qualification for status with Best Buy. Furthermore, I’ll earn Best Buy Rewards on the purchases. And in the end, with the three savings codes, I’ll save an extra $45 on things I would have bought from Best Buy to resell anyway. I’ll get $495 worth of stuff to resell for $450. I should discount my savings a bit since I could buy $495 in Best Buy gift cards at a 3.2% discount from gift card resale sites — I’ll save north of forty bucks anyway.
Bottom line
This is a pretty decent deal if you think you’ll spend money at Best Buy between 12/1-12/14. If you don’t know you’ll do that, this deal probably isn’t worthwhile. You can’t resell the $15 promotional codes and there are reports of mixed success using them in-store to buy gift cards in the past. Still, this can be a good way to earn some easy rewards, get some spend towards Best Buy elite status (don’t forget to add your My Best Buy number during checkout), meet a minimum spend requirement, or grab a Big Spend Bonus. We still don’t know how Amex will view promotions like this now that the war on gaming has heated up. I suspect that their aim is not to discourage you from using your Amex card to buy a few hundred dollars in gift cards through a holiday promotion, but rather to discourage people from buying thousands of dollars in gift cards at locations that qualify for category bonuses. However, that’s purely a guess – we just don’t know. This spend might be better put towards a sign up bonus with another issuer, but that’s ultimately up to your risk tolerance.
H/T: Slickdeals, Doctor of Credit, and Miles to Memories (each added something different)
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for extended returns period, use amex instead of their elite status.
I use both. Amex has limits, so I like to have the option within 45 days to do either. I’d rather not file the claim with Amex and wait if I’m going to the store anyway and can get the refund right away. Having the extra store return window is handy to have, but you’re right that Amex return protection covers you for 90 days.
Should stack with AmEx offers – right?
No. This purchase is processed through Cashstar, not Best Buy. I don’t think it’ll trigger the AmEx offer.
Ah, I see. Thanks!