Best Buy Employee Discount: Hidden Perks and Insider Secrets

Best Buy is one of the biggest electronic retailers in the US, with over 1,000 stores nationwide. It also has one of the best employee benefits programs in the industry, ranging from competitive compensation to robust insurance programs.

One of the more talked-about benefits of working at Best Buy is its employee discount, which can grant up to a maximum of 50% off an item. 

On paper, this perk is enough to entice potential employees to join the company. However, this discount isn’t as straightforward as it may seem at first glance. 

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the Best Buy employee discount, including how it works, the eligible items, and more. 

Let’s get right into it!

What Is the Best Buy Employee Discount? 

Best Buy employees enjoy a discount on select store items, calculated as the cost of the item plus an additional 5%. 

For example, if an item retails at $100 and Best Buy acquires it for $80, you’ll pay only 5% more than the company’s acquisition cost, totaling $84. In this example, you get nearly 20% off the desired item. 

Best Buy caps its employee discounts at 50%. A select number of items also have a smaller discount, meaning that instead of paying an additional 5%, you might pay an additional 8 to 10%.

What Items Qualify for the Employee Discount? 

Best Buy’s employee discount only applies to select merchandise. Employees can find discounted items under the Personal tab from their Best Buy Employee Kit app, to which Best Buy adds new eligible items every month.

Among these items include cables, computer accessories, and audio equipment, as well as Best Buy’s partner brands and subsidiaries. This includes: 

• Magnolia Audio Video
• Pacific Sales
• Insignia 
• Dynex
• Rocketfish
• Modal
• Platinum

Unfortunately, high-demand and high-value products don’t qualify for the discount due to manufacturer restrictions or merchant agreements prohibiting any form of discount, employee or otherwise. Such products include Apple products, video game systems, and mobile phones. 

Since many electronics are sold at or slightly below the purchase cost, the savings may not always feel as substantial. 

Moreover, the discount only applies to specific colors or item sizes. For example, if you buy a product in a color that isn’t listed in the employee discounts section, you’ll pay the regular price even if it’s an eligible brand. 

If you’re an employee, it’s more advantageous to use your discount for higher-priced items where percentage-based savings translate into more noticeable financial benefits. 

Luckily, some of Best Buy’s partners—including Platinum and Insignia—manufacture high-value items, giving you access to top-of-the-line products at a discounted price.

Can I Use the Employee Discount In-Store? 

Best Buy’s employee discount isn’t limited to online items. 

As long as you keep your employee ID with you, you can take advantage of the discount in-store. Just present your ID at the checkout, and the discounted pricing will be applied to eligible items. 

The employee discount applies to whatever Best Buy store you visit in the US.

How Do I Use the Employee Discount Online? 

To use the employee discount online, you’ll first have to register a username and password through the Best Buy employee portal. 

You can only do this through the HR department or on an employee computer in the store. If you register from an external device, it won’t work. This security measure ensures that only authorized individuals within the organization have access to the online employee discount. 

Once registered, you’ll receive a pop-up confirming your identity and employee number. You can use the username you’ve just registered on any computer and login through Best Buy Connect. 

Can I Return Discounted Items? 

Best Buy’s standard return policy applies to employee-discounted items. Non-members have a 15-day return policy, whereas Elite members have a 30-day return policy. ElitePlus members have 45 days. Most Best Buy employees fall under the Elite category. 

Activated devices fall outside this category. Regardless of the membership, employees have only 14 days to return activated devices. 

Activated devices also come with either a 15% restocking fee or a flat $45 restocking fee. This fee covers the costs associated with processing the return and compensating for any service or handling expenses incurred by the store. 

Here are the items that come with a 15% restocking fee: 

• Premium camcorders 
• Mirrorless cameras and lenses
• Drones
• DSLR cameras and lenses 
• Leg and body recovery systems 
• Projectors and projector screens 
• Special-order products

Can I Resell Products for a Profit? 

While it isn’t technically illegal to resell or flip products for a profit, some employees have reportedly lost their jobs at Best Buy when they were found engaging in such activities. 

If you want to use certain items as part of your small business, be transparent about your intentions and operate within the bounds of Best Buy’s policies. 

If you’re unsure about the policies, approach your employer or seek clarification from the HR department.

Is There a Maximum Number of Purchases You Can Make?

There’s no limit to the number of purchases you can make at Best Buy, but the frequency and volume of your purchases is subject to scrutiny. 

Like other companies, Best Buy expects its employees to use their employee discounts responsibly and within reasonable limits. 

If you buy 100 cables a month, for example, HR will almost certainly approach you and question your buying behavior. 

Therefore, it’s always a good idea to inform your manager of large or frequent purchases so no one will be suspicious of your activities. 

Can I Combine My Best Buy Employee Discount With Other Promotions or Offers Available in the Store?

Unfortunately, you can’t combine your employee discount with other promotions in the store. 

There’s a silver lining, however: unless Best Buy is selling at a loss (which is unlikely), your employee discount will almost always result in a more favorable price compared to discounts available to customers.

How Does the Best Buy Employee Discount Compare to Those Offered by Other Retailers? 

Best Buy is widely regarded for having one of the most competitive employee discount programs in the industry. 

It may not be as valuable to employees who don’t regularly invest in electronics, but for those who do, it presents an excellent opportunity to access cutting-edge tech at a more affordable price. 

Here are some other competitive employee discounts: 

Apple

Apple employees receive 10% off all products and up to 25% off Mac mini, iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro during their first few days of employment. 

For every two years of employment, employees are given a $500 gift card to spend on Apple products. 

Barnes & Noble

Employees get up to 20 to 30% off on non-sale items, including books, magazines, and Barnes & Noble merchandise. This discount extends to purchases made at in-store cafes. 

Sephora 

Sephora employees receive 40% off Sephora brands and 30% off any non-Sephora brand. 

Walmart 

Walmart associates receive a 10% discount on regularly-priced general merchandise and fresh produce. 

Clearance items, rollback items, gift cards, marketplace items, and bundles aren’t included in this discount. 

How Long Do I Need to Be Employed at Best Buy to Get the Employee Discount?

You need to be employed for at least 30 days to use the Best Buy employee discount. 

After 30 days, you can approach HR or create an account in-store to activate your employee discount. 

Can My Family and Friends Use the Discount?

Your immediate family (i.e., parent, spouse, or child) can use the employee discount, but you have to be present to show your ID to the cashier during check-out. 

In other words, you can’t hand them your ID and send them on a shopping spree at Best Buy. They’ll need you by their side at the checkout to make it happen. 

Note that it’s against Best Buy’s terms of service to pay for someone else’s purchases using your employee discount or to accept money from someone to pay for items on their behalf. 

Violations of these terms could result in disciplinary actions, including the loss of employee benefits or worse, termination. 

What Other Employee Benefits Does Best Buy Have? 

Alongside employee discounts, here are some of Best Buy’s other benefits for employees: 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Life insurance
• Disaster Relief Program for employees affected by natural disasters
• Incentive pay for employees who consistently generate high sales numbers
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), which allows employees to buy stock at a 5% reduced rate twice a year
• BlueCrewBucks Profit-Sharing Plan, which rewards employees monetarily every quarter when the store exceeds sales expectations 
• 401(k) savings program 
• Tuition reimbursement if you decide to go back to school 

Final Thoughts 

Employees at Best Buy are qualified for an employee discount, which equates to the cost of the product the store bought at purchase plus 5%. 

The employee discount mostly applies to low-cost items, such as cables, chargers, accessories, and the like. 

Apple products, mobile phones, home appliances, and other expensive items aren’t included in the discount program. 

Employees can view all the eligible products through the dedicated employee discount portal after registering their username and ID.