Best Buy to “Future Proof” Tech Purchases with Buy Back Program at No Cost Through Feb. 12

Customers can buy new gadgets with added confidence from an upfront re-purchase schedule, instant payment on redeemed gear

Looks like Sharon Osbourne has officially caught "Bieber Fever," checking out his costume on the set of Best Buy's new commercial that aired during Sunday night's big game. Courtesy of Christopher Polk / Getty Images.

MINNEAPOLIS--()--Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) has launched a multi-media campaign to promote its new Buy Back Program and a special week-long offer to “future proof” technology purchases for free. Beginning with tonight’s Big Game commercial featuring star appearances from Justin Bieber, and Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, the campaign encourages customers to take advantage of a special offer to receive the Buy Back Program at no cost when purchasing gear at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile through Saturday, Feb. 12.

Best Buy officially launched Buy Back in January as a solution for customers who want to keep up with the greatest gadgets but are concerned that their gear will become obsolete. Best Buy customers may purchase the Buy Back Program when buying a new product at Best Buy and redeem it at a later time, for up to 50 percent of the original purchase price paid in the form of a Best Buy gift card, as long as the device is in good working condition and includes all original parts.

“We have abundant evidence that one of the biggest barriers to buying new tech devices today is fear of obsolescence,” said Brian Dunn, chief executive officer of Best Buy. “We don’t think that should get in the way of benefiting from all that today’s technology has to offer. So to celebrate the arrival of this program, we’re offering it free on everything from mobile phones and laptops, to tablets and TVs. The Buy Back Program is not only unprecedented for Best Buy, but we believe it can transform CE retailing as we know it today.”

Best Buy is waiving its upfront Buy Back Program price from now through Saturday, Feb. 12 on the complete range of consumer electronics covered by the Buy Back Program, including post-paid mobile phones, laptops, netbooks, tablets and televisions. Ordinarily, the cost of the Buy Back Program varies by product category, with protection for any laptop, netbook or tablet, for example, being $69.99.

The multi-media promotional campaign that launched on tonight’s Big Game broadcast continues February 7 with full-page ads in national daily newspapers, and throughout the month with additional TV commercials, Best Buy cover insert ads and a robust website featuring details about the Buy Back Program, complete with instructional video and longer-form TV spots at www.bestbuy.com.

The campaign reinforces how Buy Back delivers a level of assurance, transparency and convenience that distinguishes it from other options like trade-in programs or reseller markets. With Buy Back, Best Buy customers don’t have to wait for payment, and can immediately apply the value of their Buy Back product redemption to the purchase of new products at any Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile store.

Better yet, consumers know what they’ll be paid up front, with a schedule that is available at the time of Buy Back Program purchase and is based on duration of product ownership. Best Buy will buy back qualified products anytime within two years for laptops, netbooks, tablets and post-paid mobile phones, and four years for televisions.1 Customers may receive up to 50 percent of the product’s original purchase price paid in the form of a Best Buy gift card if redeemed within six months of the effective date.2 The gift card may be used to purchase new products of their choice. The percentage back is based on the purchase effective date.

Electronics redeemed through the Buy Back Program are evaluated by Best Buy’s built-in team of Geek Squad Agents, and distributed among Best Buy’s aftermarket, trade-in and recycling programs. To learn more about the Buy Back Program and find the Best Buy store near you , visit www.bestbuy.com.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; and The Phone House. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2010, we donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com

1 Televisions $5,000 or higher are excluded from this program.

2 Effective Date is 31 days from the purchase date.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6600096&lang=en

Contacts

Media Contact:
Best Buy
Paula Baldwin, 612-291-6126
Senior Manager, Best Buy Public Relations
Paula.Baldwin@bestbuy.com

Contacts

Media Contact:
Best Buy
Paula Baldwin, 612-291-6126
Senior Manager, Best Buy Public Relations
Paula.Baldwin@bestbuy.com