topic Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now? in Credit Cards

My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Bandit5160 — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 01:00:04 GMT

When I first got this card, I was ecstatic! I bought all kinds of CDs, computer software, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and gaming stuff and earned mucho rewards. But now Best Buy doesn't sell these things anymore and I never go to Best Buy anymore or use their card. Is it time to retire this card to the sock drawer and just wait for its eventual closing? Best Buy has become obsolete nd so has their card. It's now about as useful as a tube TV or phone booth.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

mgood — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 01:23:12 GMT

Since there's no annual fee, I'd charge a hamburger on it every couple months to keep it alive and otherwise forget about it if the rewards structure isn't doing anything for you.

Don't close cards that aren't costing anything to keep unless you just have a burning desire to simplify your setup and eliminate the unused cards to make everything easier to keep track of.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

TSlop — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 01:52:28 GMT

@Bandit5160 wrote:
When I first got this card, I was ecstatic! I bought all kinds of CDs, computer software, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and gaming stuff and earned mucho rewards. But now Best Buy doesn't sell these things anymore and I never go to Best Buy anymore or use their card. Is it time to retire this card to the sock drawer and just wait for its eventual closing? Best Buy has become obsolete nd so has their card. It's now about as useful as a tube TV or phone booth.

Maybe it's obsolete for you, but it isn't for me. I definitely don't shop at Best Buy as much as I used to, but I used it this past Black Friday to buy a new laptop. The credit card allowed me 0% financing for 24 months, so I can pay it off as I please. I previously have used the 0% financing for a refrigerator, dish washer, grapics card, printer, and my Xbox. That's pretty much all I use it for; I don't really care about their rewards points, so I don't use outside Best Buy or any of their bonus categories/special offers.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

shelbytruck — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 03:08:30 GMT

I too keep it because of the 24 months interest free financing. Have purchased two laptops using the card and can pay them off as I want anytime over those 24 months. So for me provides some decent flexibility.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 04:05:52 GMT

Speak for yourself. Tube TVs are very useful and valuable to me because I collect retro video games. Huh, guess I just proved that while something might not be useful for some, they still might be for others.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

markbeiser — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 05:40:59 GMT

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Speak for yourself. Tube TVs are very useful and valuable to me because I collect retro video games. Huh, guess I just proved that while something might not be useful for some, they still might be for others.

15ish years ago I set a 32" flat front CRT out on the curb after I got a plasma TV.
Nobody grabbed it, so the trash people tossed it in the garbage truck.
Now I see that same model TV actually selling on Ebay for >$500!🤣

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

mgood — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 05:42:56 GMT

@markbeiser wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Speak for yourself. Tube TVs are very useful and valuable to me because I collect retro video games. Huh, guess I just proved that while something might not be useful for some, they still might be for others.
15ish years ago I set a 32" flat front CRT out on the curb after I got a plasma TV.
Nobody grabbed it, so the trash people tossed it in the garbage truck.
Now I see that same model TV actually selling on Ebay for >$500!🤣

Interesting. I have a 32" JVC. I think it works? I've been considering taking it to the dump if I can find someone to help me carry it out of the house. It's a beast to move.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 08:07:42 GMT

@markbeiser wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Speak for yourself. Tube TVs are very useful and valuable to me because I collect retro video games. Huh, guess I just proved that while something might not be useful for some, they still might be for others.
15ish years ago I set a 32" flat front CRT out on the curb after I got a plasma TV.
Nobody grabbed it, so the trash people tossed it in the garbage truck.
Now I see that same model TV actually selling on Ebay for >$500!🤣

Depends on the make and models. I sold a Sony for 500 and included the stand. Loved that tv but I was moving and I had absolutely no interest in trying to move that thing. Lol. The kings are the Sony pvm and Panasonic studio monitors. I bought an 8" for like $130 a while back.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 08:08:59 GMT

@mgood wrote:
@markbeiser wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Speak for yourself. Tube TVs are very useful and valuable to me because I collect retro video games. Huh, guess I just proved that while something might not be useful for some, they still might be for others.
15ish years ago I set a 32" flat front CRT out on the curb after I got a plasma TV.
Nobody grabbed it, so the trash people tossed it in the garbage truck.
Now I see that same model TV actually selling on Ebay for >$500!🤣
Interesting. I have a 32" JVC. I think it works? I've been considering taking it to the dump if I can find someone to help me carry it out of the house. It's a beast to move.

Put an ad in the classifieds. Someone will probably pick it up.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

ptatohed — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 08:39:09 GMT

@Bandit5160 wrote:
When I first got this card, I was ecstatic! I bought all kinds of CDs, computer software, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and gaming stuff and earned mucho rewards. But now Best Buy doesn't sell these things anymore and I never go to Best Buy anymore or use their card. Is it time to retire this card to the sock drawer and just wait for its eventual closing? Best Buy has become obsolete nd so has their card. It's now about as useful as a tube TV or phone booth.

Title would lead someone to believe the the citi Best Buy card is obsolete. Sounds like you mean it's obsolete to you.

Doesn't the Best Buy card also offer random 5% categories too?

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

mxp114 — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 09:06:23 GMT

The card is useless for me, too! The only thing I ever got from Best Buy in the last few years has been some of the exclusive 4k SteelBooks, and now Walmart is getting them, so I don't shop at BBY anymore. I've had the card for too long to close it, so I'll keep it open and active. Maybe if BBY goes belly up, the card will be globally converted to another Citi product. I wish Citi allowed product changes like they do with Costco. I would convert away from Best Buy.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

ChargedUp — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 11:31:04 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
@Bandit5160 wrote:
When I first got this card, I was ecstatic! I bought all kinds of CDs, computer software, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and gaming stuff and earned mucho rewards. But now Best Buy doesn't sell these things anymore and I never go to Best Buy anymore or use their card. Is it time to retire this card to the sock drawer and just wait for its eventual closing? Best Buy has become obsolete nd so has their card. It's now about as useful as a tube TV or phone booth.
Title would lead someone to believe the the citi Best Buy card is obsolete. Sounds like you mean it's obsolete to you.

Doesn't the Best Buy card also offer random 5% categories too?

Yes they do! Recently, I got a choice of 5% categories including the typical favorites.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Blender — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 14:15:43 GMT

@mgood wrote:
Since there's no annual fee, I'd charge a hamburger on it every couple months to keep it alive and otherwise forget about it if the rewards structure isn't doing anything for you.
Don't close cards that aren't costing anything to keep unless you just have a burning desire to simplify your setup and eliminate the unused cards to make everything easier to keep track of.

I had this self debate the other night. Ended up closing it for this reason. Not that I have that many cards, I've just used it only twice in the past three years and don't expect to use it much in the near time. Made more sense to me to just close it while its still young, but generally i agree with all of your thoughts.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Drifter73 — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 18:20:30 GMT

I pass on apping for the BB card every 2 to 3 years it's offered instore to me when I upgrade to newer laptops for business use.

I generally leverage their red box return specials that were refurbished by geeksquad for the nearly 50% savings.

I use 0%apy for 12mo promo offer on a Platnum card for the purchase.

Other than that, I don't shop at BB enough to justify apping when I can get the same type promos from a platnum 0% for 12mo or electronic category card with the same 5%cb.

I barely use my homedepot card from Citi enough to justify it, but know that eventually, it will come in handy for a remodeling project. So growing it for the future.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 18:29:52 GMT

Trash cause of physical media? They likely got rid of that stuff due to looting in certain parts of the country. Still a good card as I spend many thousands a year on stuff from Best buy and can either be rewards or promotional financing. I guess it depends on your spend and what you want or don't want from best buy. Many people were upset about the physical media stuff going away but between theft and digital downloads was likely a money loss to them and shelf space at stores is expensive. Amazon and other places aren't always the cheapest as have Amazon card at 5% as well among many other high earning cards, but still see a place for Best Buy card.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Jeffster1 — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 19:17:32 GMT

@Bandit5160 wrote:
When I first got this card, I was ecstatic! I bought all kinds of CDs, computer software, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and gaming stuff and earned mucho rewards. But now Best Buy doesn't sell these things anymore and I never go to Best Buy anymore or use their card. Is it time to retire this card to the sock drawer and just wait for its eventual closing? Best Buy has become obsolete nd so has their card. It's now about as useful as a tube TV or phone booth.

Best Buy store card would be a no-go from me. I don't do retail store cards.

However, my Best Buy Visa sees a lot of use. In fact, I'm headed there now to have a screen protector instelled on my new IPad Pro at GeekSquad.

Even though their business model has changed with the changes in technology, Best Buy is my go-to on many items, including large appliances.

I also like the bonuses and rewards on purchases outside Best Buy.

I PIF so APR does not affect me,

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 20:30:16 GMT

@Blender wrote:
@mgood wrote:
Since there's no annual fee, I'd charge a hamburger on it every couple months to keep it alive and otherwise forget about it if the rewards structure isn't doing anything for you.
Don't close cards that aren't costing anything to keep unless you just have a burning desire to simplify your setup and eliminate the unused cards to make everything easier to keep track of.
I had this self debate the other night. Ended up closing it for this reason. Not that I have that many cards, I've just used it only twice in the past three years and don't expect to use it much in the near time. Made more sense to me to just close it while its still young, but generally i agree with all of your thoughts.

Yes, I am an advocate of close what you don't need. (An advocate, I don't actually do that!) Doing small payments to keep the card alive is extra work (unless you put a subscription on) and may divert albeit small amounts of spend away from cards with better rewards. Plus an extra thing to look at to check for fraud etc. And that has to be balanced against any positives, such as increasing AAoA, allowing for the one-day possibility of a PC to a better card etc. But once you have say 5 unused cards, it might be time to cut down!

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

ChargedUp — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:41:35 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Trash cause of physical media? They likely got rid of that stuff due to looting in certain parts of the country. Still a good card as I spend many thousands a year on stuff from Best buy and can either be rewards or promotional financing. I guess it depends on your spend and what you want or don't want from best buy. Many people were upset about the physical media stuff going away but between theft and digital downloads was likely a money loss to them and shelf space at stores is expensive. Amazon and other places aren't always the cheapest as have Amazon card at 5% as well among many other high earning cards, but still see a place for Best Buy card.

I first got the BB Visa to save 10% on my 75" TV. Making it my daily driver for a month landed me a $200 SUB on top of this. Used my BB rewards to buy DD a new iPad. Next use will be buying younger DD a fridge and Macbook when she heads off to college.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

mgood — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 03:35:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
. . . But once you have say 5 unused cards, it might be time to cut down!

But my 5 least-used cards are my 5 oldest cards. I did the math earlier today. I could close one, and even if it vanished off the reports right now, I'd only lose 3 months of AAoA. (And I know they can stay on your reports for up to 10 years after closing.) But if I closed all 5, it would be a major hit on AAoA and AoOA. There's a three-year gap between the newest of these five and the next oldest card. I could close all five and not miss much in the way of rewards.

Re: My Best Buy credit card- is it obsolete now?

stonedog23 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 08:16:31 GMT

There is nothing obsolete about Best Buy, period. The merchandise that the OP buys from there is obsolete. And they absolutely still sells Blu Rays, they may not have CDs, but they have vinyl, and still sell players to play Blu Rays, CDs, and vinyl.