Best Buy Rewards can no longer Buy Gift Cards

Best Buy stopped allowing the use of Best Buy gift cards to buy third party gift cards back in May 2018, but Best Buy Rewards certificates still worked to buy gift cards at that time.

Beginning sometime within the past few weeks (likely February 10th), Best Buy Reward certificates can no longer be used to buy third party gift cards, as reported by multiple readers. You can find the change in the terms. They’ve added the following exclusion under Non-Qualifying Redemptions: “point of sale activation (“POSA”) cards.”

It’s possible Best Buy Rewards will still work on things like XBOX gift cards and maybe some others, similar to the way it works with gift card conversion. We’ll update our post on the Best Buy Rewards Program and Credit Card Review, 5-6% Back on Best Buy Purchases to reflect the change.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

14 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

Anonny Mous
Anonny Mous (@guest_724455)
February 19, 2019 20:07

3rd party gift cards should fall into the “point of sale activation (“POSA”) cards” category listed under non qualifying redemptions. Sucks.

Jasmine
Jasmine (@guest_724433)
February 19, 2019 18:58

I can confirm that Best Buy does not allow customers to buy gas GC using BB rewards starting 02/12/2019. RIP.

Drivesabrowntruck
Drivesabrowntruck (@guest_724288)
February 19, 2019 13:34

Wonder if they’ll work on prepaid Cricket Cards still.

Jeff
Jeff (@guest_724326)
February 19, 2019 16:24

Try it yourself. Be the DP you want others to see.

Drivesabrowntruck
Drivesabrowntruck (@guest_724623)
February 20, 2019 03:12

Jeff If you got a spare certificate, I will.

Jason
Jason (@guest_724242)
February 19, 2019 11:40

You really should not use your certificate for gc purchase, unless you live in sales-tax-free states, as the certificate will absorb the tax.

Zac
Zac (@guest_724270)
February 19, 2019 12:34

Right. Rewards certificates are pre-tax savings.

Eddy Cue
Eddy Cue (@guest_724271)
February 19, 2019 12:37

Gift cards are not usually taxed* even in non sales tax free states so it shouldnt really matter

*I dont know the rules in all states but most states dont tax GC purchases

Zac
Zac (@guest_724275)
February 19, 2019 12:47

Gift cards are not taxed but the good the gift cards used to buy is taxed. For example, if the tax is 10% and you have $10 rewards certificate. If you buy stuff from Best Buy, you can buy something worth $10. Buy if you buy it for a $10 Starbucks gift card, then use that gift card to purchase at Starbucks, it’ll worthy $9.1 ($9.1 + Tax = $10)

Jason Smith
Jason Smith (@guest_724308)
February 19, 2019 14:45

Or unless you didn’t have anything specific you needed to buy at Best Buy.

MoreSun
MoreSun (@guest_724232)
February 19, 2019 11:27

It worked for me on 2/6 online for a Starbucks Card. I got it as soon as I saw someone post on reddit the terms had changed. In another group I follow by 2/9 their BB store couldn’t do it anymore, wasn’t even available as a payment option. 2/9 it was still working for online purchases. By 2/10 it stopped working for online purchases.

Idk if Xbox gift cards work.

Eddy Cue
Eddy Cue (@guest_724224)
February 19, 2019 11:07

I used a rewards zone certificate to purchase an iTunes gift card on Feb 7 without issues. Maybe it was on or around this date

Edit – just read your link about it potentially having gone into effect around the 10th