If you are spending money at Best Buy, there are plenty of ways to save your money (and time) when shopping. We’ve put together a list of thirty Best Buy-specific shopping tips to take advantage of when online at BestBuy.com or in a Best Buy store. Check it out:

1. Check during the week for aggressive, 4-Hour Flash Sales

These online sales typically occur on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at BestBuy.com. Timing is always the same, a four hour period between 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET) and 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET). Best Buy likes to theme these flash sales around events like the Super Bowl, thus the product selection will be geared toward that event. (Ben’s 4-Hour Flash Sale Listings)

2. Check Best Buy’s Deal of the Day section for 24-Hour discounts

These online sales are often hit-or-miss (according to the Deal Editors on Ben’s Bargains), but you can occasionally find a deal that’s better than other online retailers. These four to five deals are typically refreshed at 10 p.m. PT (1 a.m. ET) each night. (Best Buy’s Daily Deals Section)

3. Check Best Buy’s eBay store for sales not listed on BestBuy.com

On occasion, Best Buy will aggressively discount products on eBay, usually in order to move a significant amount of product. These sales are often good enough to pop up in eBay’s Daily Deal section, In addition, you can ship to a Best Buy store for free in-store pickup, even if you purchase the item through eBay. (Best Buy’s eBay Store)

4. Check the Best Buy Online Outlet for discounts on items that aren’t new

There are four types of classifications for products that end up in the Best Buy Outlet store:

• Clearance: Items are usually brand new, just not being sold by the manufacturer anymore.
• Open box: Items are nearly brand new, but recently returned by a customer.
• Refurbished: Items that were broken in some fashion, but have been repaired to work correctly.
• Pre-owned: Items are in working order, but will show signs of use from previous owner.

Just be sure to check the warranties that come along with each product as well as the return policy. Of course, you will see a hefty discount off the MSRP in the Outlet store. While more risky than purchasing a brand new item, money saved will be significant. Just FYI, Cowboom has recently been integrated into the Best Buy online outlet, opening up the potential for even more discounts. (Best Buy’s Online Outlet)

5. If you are in college, take advantage of the Student Discounts section

Assuming you are currently enrolled at a college and have a .edu email address, you should be able to qualify for additional student discounts. Products typically discounted for students include laptops and tablets as well as anything that would be used in a dorm room like small appliances or audio gear. (Best Buy’s Student Discount Section)

6. If you play video games, consider Best Buy’s Gamers Club

There are two levels of the Gamers Club, free membership and and a 2-year membership for $30. The free level lets you earn points on purchases and game trade-ins that can be used on future purchases. The premium level adds a 20 percent discount on new games, a 10 percent discount on pre-owned games, a 10 percent bonus on trade-in credit and a couple exclusive coupons. (Best Buy’s Gamers Club page)

However, if you already have Amazon Prime, you may want to skip the premium level of the Gamers Club. Amazon already offers a 20 percent discount on pre-ordered games for all Prime members.

7. Look for free shipping promotions during the holidays

For the past couple years, Best Buy has run a free shipping promotion around the holiday shopping period. Recently, it ran between October 25, 2015 and January 2, 2016. Of course, when free shipping isn’t available, consider free in-store pickup instead. You won’t have to pay a dime for shipping, just for the gas to get you to the store.

8. Avoid purchasing overpriced accessories at Best Buy

This basically goes for any item that Best Buy marks up considerably. Products like HDMI cables (this $1.095 cable for instance), smartphone cases, power strips and power adapters. Margins on these items are huge for Best Buy, thus they attempt to push these items when you purchase electronics. Avoid this at all costs and pick up these accessories for a fraction of the cost on eBay.

9. Don’t get talked into buying the Extended Warranty

In general, the odds of you needing the extended warranty are really low. Brand name electronics usually have a very low failure rate, thus spending more money on a Best Buy warranty is silly. Best Buy also has very low consumer ratings for their warranties, ranging from people complaining about repairs not being covered to repairs that take forever to complete.

FYI, you can extend your warranty with a good credit card. For instance, American Express extends manufacturer warranties by an additional year on all of their credit cards. Other cards from Visa and Mastercard offer a similar extension.

10. Check for Online Coupons, but be Wary of the Limitations

When Best Buy releases an online coupon, it’s usually limited to a specific product category and includes limitations to products that aren’t on sale. This can be frustrating when shopping online as most coupon sites don’t include those details with the coupon. Of course, you can also sign up for Best Buy’s mailing list, only because they occasionally mail out paper coupons.

Price Matching

Price matching at Best Buy is fairly straightforward. It has to be the identical item and is limited to one match per customer. All you need to do is speak with a store associate to show them the price difference and get the adjusted price. Here are several tips for getting your price match every time.

11. When price matching Amazon, be sure it’s sold by Amazon

One point of contention that you may run into when getting a price match is that the price listed on Amazon is from a third party seller, not Amazon itself. While it can be somewhat YMMV on the manager’s decision at your location, most Best Buy’s require the actual Amazon price, not a price from “Joe Sixpack’s Amazon Store.”

12. Besides Amazon, check the six other online sites Best Buy allows

Those sites include B&H Photo Video, Crutchfield, Dell, HP, Newegg and Tigerdirect. Be aware that the price has to be readily listed in the details section of the page. If the price is hidden by the retailer you want to price match, Best Buy may not honor that. Also, any product that’s being sold by a re-seller on one of those sites will not be honored for price matching.

13. Use a price checking app to save time

One of our favorite apps for price matching in the store is ShopSavvy, specifically because it allows you to scan the barcode to get competitor prices in the area.

Of course, there are mulitple options for price matching. Here’s a list of 9 price comparison apps to help you find the lowest price before you talk to a Best Buy associate.

14. Check local warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club

Outside of the usual suspects like Walmart and Target, don’t forget to check the prices at your nearby Costco, Sam’s Club or other warehouse clubs. Warehouse clubs often have discounts that are more aggressive than other retailers, only because savings are exclusive to people that pay for memberships. Of course, the product has to be in stock at your local warehouse club to get the price match.

15. Double check all model numbers and SKUs

This has popped up as more of a problem in the last ten years. Electronics manufacturers are building specific models for a single retailer, thus making it impossible to price match at a different retailer. This occurs often at warehouse clubs as well as the major retailers. Make sure the model numbers are identical before requesting the price match, otherwise it will be denied.

16. Make sure local competitors are within 25 miles of your Best Buy

This is a specific rule in the terms and conditions of the price match. If the store you want to price match isn’t within 25 miles, Best Buy won’t honor it. Of course, you can always drive to a different Best Buy store that’s within the 25 mile limit.

17. Don’t expect additional discounts on top of the price match

If you have a 10 percent off coupon and expect to get that discount on top of your price match, you will be sorely disappointed. When a price match is approved, that’s the only discount that you will get. The same goes for financing options and any other service that Best Buy offers.

18. Keep your receipt as Best Buy will match up to 15 days after purchase

Ideal for saving money after your purchase, be sure to check competitor prices for the next couple weeks. If a competitor’s price drops before the Best Buy price, you can go back to the store for a price adjustment. Just bring your receipt to the customer service counter and show an associate the retailer that you want to price match.

Negotiating for a Better Price

While Best Buy certainly isn’t a flea market, it is possible to negotiate discounts on products depending on certain conditions. Here are some tips for getting the best price possible during negotiation.

19. Shop at the end of the month for increased negotiation power

Usually during the last few days of the month, store managers will be more lenient with discounts. This is due to the monthly sales metrics that those managers have to report back to their district managers. The greater the sales volume, the happier the district manager is going to be. This could translate into an additional 5 to 10 percent off the price you would have negotiated at the start of the month.

20. Ask for more aggressive discounts when bundling items

Let’s say you are purchasing a new Ultra HD, 4K television. Perhaps you also need a 4K capable receiver as well as a 4K media player to go along with it? If so, this is a great time to negotiate a discount on the entire bundle of items.

We recommend starting at 15 percent for two items and 20 percent for three or more items. It’s likely that you will negotiate to a minimum of 10 percent off the price of the entire order.

21. Ask a salesperson which brands are more negotiable

While a good salesperson will subtly direct you to the products that Best Buy sales managers want moved off the shelves, you can also just flat out ask them. These products are usually getting ready to head to the clearance section or have been overstocked by the store. This means that discounts on those items will likely be approved (and usually at a higher percentage than other products).

22. Keep an eye out for those Open Box items

Similar to the Best Buy Online Outlet, open box items in the store will be discounted significantly. In addition, sales managers have been approved to offer higher discounts on open box items. This also goes for floor models that are being sold without the box. We recommend asking for a 20 percent discount on open box returns and a 30 percent discount on floor models. It’s likely you will end up with an additional 10 to 15 percent off.

24. Use Price Codes for an extra edge in negotiating

Like Walmart and Target, Best Buy uses pricing codes to identify items that are being discounted. Specifically, any price ending in a .99 is usually full price or just a slight sale. Prices that end in .96 are matching a local or online competitor price and prices that end in .92 are usually being phased out at a price that’s close to Best Buy’s cost. You can also look for the letter “C” on the tag, usually in the lower right corner. That identifies a clearance item. (See Price codes at other retailers)

Using My Best Buy Rewards

If you haven’t joined the My Best Buy rewards program, you should. It’s free and offers up a $5 gift card for every 250 points earned. (It was previously called Rewards Zone.) Here are some tips for getting the most out of the rewards program.

25. If you spend more, the bonuses will increase

At the regular level, a rewards member earns 1 point for ever dollar spent at Best Buy. This metric increases to 1.1 points for each dollar spent at the Elite level and 1.25 at the Elite plus level. Of course, you have to spend lots of money at Best Buy to reach these levels. Elite status kicks in when you spend at least $1,500 at Best Buy during a calendar year. That figure jumps to $3,500 for the Elite Plus level. (Details on Rewards Program)

26. Look for point bonuses / discounts on specific products

Best Buy frequently offers additional discounts or opportunities to earn more rewards points if you purchase specific products. Other offers include the ability to earn gift cards that can be used on future purchases. You can check out each month’s offers on this Best Buy page.

27. Take advantage of the Free Shipping perks

At the base level, all My Best Buy rewards members get free standard shipping (3 to 7 business days) on orders that meet a $35 minimum threshold. At the Elite level, the $35 minimum is removed and free shipping is applied to all orders. At the Elite Plus level, shipping continues to remain free and is upgraded to the expedited level (2 business days).

28. Return periods are extended for Elite members

While the standard return period is 15 days for any Best Buy customer, that period is doubled and tripled depending on your Elite member status. Elite members get 30 days to return items and Elite Plus members get 45 days to return an item to Best Buy. Both of these groups also get a dedicated customer service line, ideal for getting someone on the line quickly when a problem pops up.

29. Reviewing products can earn you additional bonus points

Rewarding up to eight reviews per calendar year, rewards members can earn 25 points for each review submitted to Best Buy’s site. That’s a total of 200 points per year if all eight reviews are submitted. It takes up to 20 days before those reward points will be credited towards your account.

30. Consider the My Best Buy credit card for an additional 5% off

Similar to the Amazon Prime store card or Target’s store card, Best Buy offers a 5% return in rewards when you spend money at Best Buy. This is a solid deal, assuming you pay off the credit card every month. If you do not, you will be financially punched in the gut by the ridiculous 25.24% APR that comes with the card.

Interestingly, Best Buy is currently offering 10 percent rewards on your first purchase on the card as well as a bump to 6 percent rewards indefinitely if you are a Elite Plus member. You can also choose no-interest financing if that’s preferable. Just be aware that store cards often add up all interest over the entire billing period of the no-interest period and hit you with a giant balloon payment at the end if you don’t pay it off in time. (Details about the My Best Buy Card)

30 Ways to Save Money at Best Buy, online and in-store

If you are spending money on Amazon, there are plenty of ways to save your money (and time) when shopping. We’ve put together a list of thirty Amazon-specific and Amazon Prime-specific hacks & perks to take advantage of. Check it out:

1. Convert your old prepaid gift cards into Amazon gift cards

If you have a prepaid gift card with a low balance, like a $50 Visa card that’s been used to pay for a $47.33 purchase leaving $2.67 on the card, you can convert that into an Amazon gift card for yourself fairly easily. This is particularly useful if the prepaid card expires or devalues after a set time. Here are the steps:

1. Check the exact card balance using the number / site on the back of the card.
2. Log into Amazon and head over to an email delivery gift card, like this one.
3. Enter the exact card balance, enter an email address of yours, send and use your payment card.
4. After receiving the code via email, click “Apply a Gift Card to Your Account” in the Your Account section.

2. Get a refund if the price drops on TVs (within 30 days)

EDIT: Amazon used to offer price adjustment refunds on all products within 7 days. That is no longer an option as of early May 2016. It’s only on TVs now.

If the price drops on a television you’ve purchased within 30 days, you have the option of requesting a refund on the price difference from Amazon. This policy is specific to items both sold and shipped by Amazon. It can’t be used on items sold by a third-party site and fulfilled by Amazon.

To receive the discount, simply visit this page and your most recent order should be pulled up. You can choose to contact Amazon by email, phone or chat. Chat is probably the fastest way to get the refund, but email is ideal if you don’t have time to chat with a rep.

3. Track price drops with CamelCamelCamel

If you don’t have time to check your purchases for price drops or simply want to be alerted when a product hits a desired price, set an alert at CamelCamelCamel (or in the Chrome extension). It’s all they do, track price changes on Amazon products, and they do it really well.

By the way, if you want a deal alert from all retailers on the product you are looking for, be sure to set one on Ben’s. We track the lowest price across all retailers on the Web, not just Amazon.

4. Learn how to utilize Subscribe & Save effectively

Typically found on items within the grocery section of Amazon, the Subscribe & Save offer is basically a subscription to a set delivery schedule of an item. For instance, if you need 12 rolls of toilet paper every month, this is an easy way to set it and forget it.

Discounts for a subscription are set at 5%, with a possible bonus rate between 10% to 30% on your first order. However, if you subscribe to five or more items, you will qualify for a permanent 15% discount each time those five products ship. When used effectively, it can save you a significant amount of money and shopping time over an entire year.

5. Check the third-party sellers list for greater discounts

If a product is completely unavailable from Amazon (as a seller), Amazon will display a featured third-party seller; typically one that’s fulfilled by Amazon. Of course, the best price may still be buried in the third-party sellers list. Search through it to find a better deal on the same product.

6. Back-ordered doesn’t mean unavailable

Also found in the third-party sellers list, Amazon will automatically bury their first party order link (when back-ordered) if any third party seller can beat Amazon on shipping time.

However, that doesn’t mean you will be getting the best price. You can still order the product from Amazon using the the third-party sellers list, as long as you don’t mind waiting the extra shipping time for the best price.

7. Don’t forget to check for clickable coupons

If you are shopping in the grocery section of Amazon, be sure to look for coupons that can be clicked on the main product page. Similar to paper coupons, the discounts usually range from $0.25 to $5 and will automatically show up in your cart when the purchase is made.

8. Find Your Recently Viewed Items

Can’t remember what products you were browsing while at work earlier? Check your list of recently viewed items, specific to your Amazon account. Amazon keeps track of this, likely to send out emails related to recently viewed items.

Of course, if you don’t want Amazon tracking you, you can click the Manage History arrow on the page, then toggle the Toggle Browsing History option off. That selection is specific to device, so it will have to be repeated on all devices you own.

9. Find your Digital Purchases easily

Different from your main account history, Amazon splits up all your digital media purchases into different libraries.

• Want to watch purchased video? Go here.
• Want to view / re-download PC video games / software? Go here.
• Want to listen to purchased music? Go here.
• Want to view / re-download the Android apps you’ve purchased? Go here.

10. Use Amazon Coin promotions to snag free credit for apps

Ideal if you are using a Kindle tablet, Kindle Fire or the Android platform on your smartphone, Amazon Coins can be spend on apps on Amazon (100 coins for $1). A few times a year, Amazon will offer Amazon Coins with the purchase of free apps; thus increasing your available store credit. To see your current Amazon Coins balance, just load any premium app product page.

11. Opt out of Amazon personalized Ads / Emails

Using your recently viewed items as well as your purchase history, Amazon likes to tailor ads specific to you on the shopping site. If you think that’s creepy or simply aren’t interested, you can flip it off on this page.

Once again, this is device and browser specific. So if you browse on your smartphone or use another Web browser on your computer, you will have to repeat this process. Regarding email subscriptions, you can turn subscriptions to specific product feeds on and off on this page.

12. Want Add-On items, but don’t want to spend $25?

The add-on item program launched a few years ago, basically classifying groups of items that Amazon will lose money on by shipping separately. Amazon wants you to spend at least $25 to qualify for shipping these items.

However, there is a workaround. If you are planning on pre-ordering entertainment media, a game like Fallout 4 or a Blu-ray like Avengers: Age of Ultron, you can add that onto your order to raise the minimum without actually being charged for it. Amazon doesn’t charge for preorders until shipping time. Of course, if you change your mind about the pre-order after receiving your package of add-ons, you can always cancel the pre-order without any repercussions.

13. Textbooks on Amazon may be cheaper in other countries

It’s no secret that sites like Amazon and Chegg are taking a bite out of the predatory college bookstore market. However, there’s another trick if you want even greater discounts on a specific textbook.

Use a site called Cheap River to search Amazon’s international sites for prices on the same book. While minor differences in the chapter questions may happen, the textbooks will be in English and largely identical to the American version of the book.

14. Shipping delayed? Get a replacement item shipped out ASAP

If your package has been held up beyond the delivery date, you can contact Amazon to receive a shipping upgrade. If the shipping company can’t find the package at all, a replacement package will be shipped to you from Amazon with next-day shipping.

15. Want to know where your orders are? Use Text Alerts

Limited to texting between 7 am and 8 pm Pacific Time, Amazon customers can sign up for text alert messages on the status of their packages on this page. Updates include when a product is shipped as well as an alert to expect a delivery that day.

16. Need to let the relatives know what to get the kids? Use Amazon Kids’ Birthdays

Basically a wishlist for someone that doesn’t have an Amazon account, Amazon Kids’ Birthdays lets you create wishlists for your child’s next birthday. These lists can be easily distributed to family and friends to simplify the gift buying process.

In addition, Amazon provides product recommendations based on interest categories. This could be ideal when trying to search for gift ideas for a child.

17. Look for deeper discounts on Amazon Warehouse / Outlet

While Amazon Warehouse is limited to open box / refurbished items, you can often find amazing discounts on popular products. We’ve ordered from Amazon Warehouse before and received refurbished items in impeccable condition.

Amazon Outlet contains new items, but these items are usually out of season or possibly discontinued by the manufacturer. Many times, this is also where Amazon Gold Box items are pulled from.

18. Didn’t receive your shipment in 2 days? How about a free month of Prime?

If you received your shipment beyond the promised 2-day shipping speed, contact Amazon customer service. They will typically add a free month of Prime (a $8.25 value) on your current subscription. They may also offer a monetary credit for the trouble instead of the free month.

19. Expecting a baby? Amazon Mom is free for Prime members

Amazon Mom is a cool perk for expecting and new mothers that offers a 20 percent discount on diapers in the Subscribe & Save program. In addition, expecting moms can receive a 15% discount on all baby registry items within 60 days of the expected due date.

On top of that, Amazon Mom members will receive member-exclusive coupons on baby-related items, have access to exclusive reviews written by Amazon Mom members and earn a $10 Amazon credit for each mom they help enroll in the program.

20. Do you take pictures? Use your unlimited storage perk

Using cloud storage, Amazon Prime members can archive their entire photo collection for free with Amazon Cloud Drive. There’s no limitations on file size or volume of photos, making it ideal for amateur photographers that need a place to backup their media. Be aware that professional photographers should look for another service as Amazon states that the service cannot be used to “operate a photography business” in the terms of service.

In addition, Prime customers will receive 5GB of additional space to store videos or any other type of file in the cloud. Video and photo content can be accessed anywhere using the iOS or Android apps, ideal when showing media to friends and family.

21. Like watching TV? Check out Prime Originals on Amazon Instant Video

Similar to Netflix, Amazon provides a library of streaming content to watch for no additional cost. This includes a large selection of older content, including HBO shows, as well as Prime Originals. While the original content isn’t the same caliber as Netflix yet, there are a handful of high quality shows in the mix, exclusive to Amazon.

To take advantage of Amazon Instant Video, you can watch on the Web or download the app on compatible devices like tablets, video game consoles, smart televisions and set-top boxes. You can find the full list of compatible hardware here.

22. Like listening to music? There are one million free tracks on Prime Music

Similar to Amazon Instant Video, Prime Music offers access to more than one million songs to listen to for no additional cost. While competition like Spotify offers a significantly larger library, Prime Music is a solid perk that’s not costing you anything beyond the Prime membership fee.

Be aware that you can only stream from Prime music to one device at a time. You can download music to listen to on up to four devices though. You can find a full list of Prime music compatible devices here.

23. Like reading books? Snag 1 book each month from the Kindle Lending Library

While Amazon does offer a $10-a-month subscription service for books (Kindle Unlimited), the Kindle Lending Library is a program for Prime subscribers that are also Kindle owners (the e-reader or the tablet). Prime users can download 1 book each month for free, including all the Harry Potter books.

In addition, there’s an advanced reading program called Kindle First. Prime members can download one of six featured books each month for free that haven’t even been released yet. It’s a great way to read a pre-release book before it hits stores.

24. Share your Amazon Prime account with your significant other

If you weren’t aware, Amazon recently changed the sharing rules on Prime. However, you can still share your Prime account with one other adult in your household. That person will be able to access 2-day shipping as well as all the extra perks of Prime.

Be aware that all credit and debit cards associated with the two accounts can be viewed by the other party and copied from one account to the other. So if you don’t want your roommate having access to your cards, don’t share the account.

25. Want to upgrade your shipping speed on the cheap? Order items separately

While this tactic is YMMV depending on product volume / weight, it’s proven to be effective as Amazon often combines orders to save money on shipping costs. When you are ready to make a purchase, order items separately, but consecutively.

For example, if you want one-day shipping on all the items, pay the $3.99 fee for one-day shipping on one item and leave the rest at free two-day shipping. It’s likely that you will receive one package the next day with everything inside. This also can work by downgrading to the no-rush shipping to earn credits for Amazon video, music, ebooks and Prime Pantry.

26. Want an even better price? Get the Amazon Store Card for an additional 5% off

Exclusive to Amazon Prime subscribers, anyone with the Amazon Store Card will receive five percent back in the form of a credit at the end of each billing period. While other credit cards offer a similar bonus, there’s no promotional periods to sign up for. It’s just 5% on all purchases all year.

Of course, the interest rate on that card is INSANE, much like any retailer store card. Be sure to pay off the card immediately in order to avoid being charged with excessive interest. If you prefer a different card, check out the Barclaycard Sallie Mae Rewards card or the Chase Freedom card for similar discounts.

27. Hate visiting the grocery store? Take Prime Pantry for a test drive

Different from the Amazon Fresh food delivery service, Prime Pantry is a service that ships a large box of perishable and non-perishable grocery store items. Basing the shipment off the available space in the box. Prime members pay a flat $6 fee to ship pretty much anything you would find at your local grocery store.

28. Prime Members often receive exclusive discounts / prices on Amazon hardware

This is something of an unadvertised perk. Amazon will often provide significant discounts on both unreleased hardware and current hardware. For instance, the Amazon Echo was initially offered to Prime members for 50% off the $200 MSRP. The same happened for the Fire TV stick prior to release.

In addition, Amazon will display exclusive coupons on the home page that are tied specifically to your Prime account. Last week, Amazon ran a $10 of $75 coupon on Prime Pantry. During early August, Amazon offered a $50 off coupon on the price of the Kindle Voyage.

29. Are you a broke college student? Get six months of Prime for free

Calling the service Amazon Student, kids in college can take advantage of free two-day shipping on all purchases for six months without paying for Prime. The other benefits of Prime, like photo storage or Amazon Instant Video, will be locked out until they upgrade to full Prime.

However, students can upgrade at 50% off the normal rate as well as earn a $10 referral credit for each friend that signs up for the service. That 50% discount will remain active until a student graduates from college.

30. Be on alert for exclusive access to hot deals

While Amazon tried to take advantage of this concept with Amazon Prime Day during July, it was something of a bust. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t get better during Black November! Be on the lookout for Lightning deals that launch 30 minutes earlier for Prime members leading up to Black Friday.

30 Amazon Hacks & Prime Perks That Will Save You Time & Money