Best Buy began piloting a membership program Wednesday that gives subscribers access to unlimited tech support, free shipping, and free installation on products.
Best Buy’s venture into the membership space reflects a growing trend in retail, as traditional stores compete for revenue against online vendors such as Amazon Prime, which has a $119 annual membership. Walmart launched its own membership program, Walmart+, in September 2020 at $98 annually.
Best Buy Beta allows customers to pay $199.99 annually, or $179.99 if they have a Best Buy credit card, for exclusive pricing, unlimited technical support with the company’s Geek Squad service, up to two years of protection on most product purchases, free shipping and delivery, and free installation on most products and appliances.
“As we look to evolve our membership programs, the goal of Best Buy Beta is to create a membership experience that customers will love and to leave them feeling confident throughout their relationship with Best Buy,” Allison Peterson, Best Buy’s chief customer officer, said in a company blog post. “This pilot offers premium service, complete with support aimed at anticipating our customers’ needs.”
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The Best Buy Beta pilot is available at select stores in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Eastern Pennsylvania. In April, the company will expand it to some stores in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Tennessee. After the April expansion, the company said Best Buy Beta will be available at nearly 60 stores.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Best Buy for comment about the program but did not receive a response.
