Everyone realizes that upgrades to technology are a never ending process. Just as you invest a few thousand in a new television and sound system a “better” and “more advanced” system is released. You may feel like you are always trying to play catch-up to own the latest and greatest technology on the market, but your wallet will eventually start to scream if you keep buying new products.

Now there is a better solution–Future-Proof Your Technology With the Buy Back Program from Best Buy. According to Best Buy CEO Brian J. Dunn, the company is instituting a new buyback program for technology purchased from Best Buy. “You purchase the technology you want today, and [Best Buy will] buy it back at a set price when you’re ready to upgrade to something new. You’ll know upfront what your gear will be worth, and you can conveniently redeem your Buy Back at our stores and immediately receive a Best Buy Gift Card,” said Dunn (RewardZone Premier Silver E-mail, February 3, 2011).

According to the Best Buy’s web site, “We’ll help you keep your technology fresh by buying back your TV, mobile phone, laptop, netbook and/or tablet anytime within 2 years of the effective date (4 years for TVs), giving you a Best Buy gift card with a set value to use toward another purchase” (Future-Proof Your Technology with the Buy Back Program, Best Buy, February 5, 2010).

Is there a catch? Not really.

Step 1: You simply have to purchase the Buy Back program along with your new product (similar to purchasing an extended warranty plan).

Step 2: Keep your product in good, working condition with accessories and parts. You can’t buy a new TV and abuse it and then expect Best Buy to buy it back (Buy Back program rules will be provided with purchase). When you are ready for something new you can take your well cared for item back to Best Buy.

Step 3: Once you return your product you will receive a Best Buy gift card for the value of your product. Best Buy provides a calculator to help determine the pre-set value of your product.

Redemption Schedule and Value

Each product will have a different value, but if you return the product in a specified time period you can receive as much as 50% back (up to 6 months), 40% back (6-12 months), 30% back (12-18 months), 20% back (18-24 months), 10% back (24-48 months –TVs only), for your product in good working condition.

This program can provide you with many options as you purchase new equipment and adds to the advantages for shopping at Best Buy. It may help you save some money as you enjoy new products more quickly than before and get more Best Buy Reward Zone points. Just keep in mind that you have to take care of what you own in order for the program to work.

Do you have any questions or ideas about how to use this new program? Our readers would love to hear your opinions about the Best Buy, Buy Back Program.

Are you looking for ways to speed up the accumulation of your Best Buy Rewards Points? Well, there are many ways you can accomplish this, but they all involve spending money. The first way is the easiest, but all will allow you to cash in on the savings in the end.

How to earn more Bonus points as a Best Buy Reward Zone Member

Apply for the Reward Zone program Master Card and you can earn 2 points for every $1 (compared to 1 point for every $1 when using other methods of payment) on qualifying purchases at all U.S. Best Buy stores and at BestBuy.com.  Also, you will earn 1 point for every $2 spent on purchases outside of Best Buy and have the opportunity to earn bonus points on specific purchases. Visit the Best Buy home page or the Reward Zone Program MasterCard page to apply. Terms and conditions are listed by the company. Please ensure you read and understand the terms of the contract before proceeding. The benefits of the program listed here were current as of the date of publication, but the company reserves the right to change promotional offers. The Best Buy Reward Zone Master Card will also increase your bonus points when you become a Premier Silver member.

How to become a Premier Silver Reward Zone Member

Initially you will need to join the Best Buy Reward Zone and ensure you spend $2,500 on eligible items in one calendar year. The system automatically updates your status and you will receive a new card in the mail inviting you to become a Premier Silver member. This card provides you with an increased points earning potential, extended return policy, dedicated Premier Silver Helpline, and complimentary special offers from the Geek Squad. Another great benefit is free standard shipping at Best Buy.
Accumulation of points increase with a 25% bonus points benefit for being a Premier Silver member. This can add up quickly as you purchase items for your home and vehicle.  And your status will continue as a Premier Silver member each year you spend the required amount.  And, if you use your Best Buy Reward Zone Master Card you can earn 50% bonus points!

How to Cash in on your Points

As a Premier Silver member, you will have the opportunity to bank your points. As you make purchases, your points will accumulate over time. When you are ready, say for Christmas, a special occasion, or a birthday, you can request your rewards and you will have a little extra to spend towards a gift for yourself or someone else!

How to Accumulate Points quickly with the Gamers Club

Join the Reward Zone program Gamers Club and you will earn Gamers Bonus Points for qualifying gaming purchases. This is a great program for gamers. The extra points you receive for purchasing games and gaming accessories are in addition to your regular Reward Zone program points! Currently your will get a $10 reward certificate for every $150 you spend on video games, PC games and video game accessories at Best Buy or BestBuy.com. This is a free membership and can help you to accumulate points more quickly in combination with the above recommendations. This program not only allows you to earn points more quickly, but also provides member exclusive discounts and promotions.  Join today to start saving!

I hope this article helped you to understand and take advantage of the great offers being offered by Best Buy. Please visit the company web site for more information and to join the Reward Zone club. We would like to hear from you concerning this article. Please let us know what you think.

Addiction to Rock Band 2

I know this title may sound confusing, but I want to explain a mistake I made a while back about games like these.  I am a video game junkie.  I enjoy games such as Halo, Elder Scrolls series, BioShock, Mass Effect, and now that I have kids the Lego series (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman, Rock Band),  just to name a few.  So when Guitar Hero and Rock Band came about I was one of those gamers that said,  “There is no way I am getting mixed up in playing those games” … until now.

How it All Began

Recently, I decided to see a friend half way across the country because he wasn’t feeling well.  And that is all it took.  We stayed in for most of the trip and he convinced me to play a couple of songs from Guitar Hero.  Next, thing I know it was more than four hours later and my hands were starting to cramp because of all the songs we played through.  We played songs I had heard recently as well as songs I hadn’t heard for awhile.  My favorite songs, now classics, at least that is what they tell me on the radio, rediscovered once again.

Purchasing Rock Band 2

So, when I got back from my trip I immediately went out to Best Buy and bought the Rock Band 2 box set.  It includes the wireless drum set, wireless guitar, microphone (which I still haven’t used and probably never will), and the Rock Band 2 game.

Then I went out and bought the cymbals which include one or two, but the drum set can hold up to three.

Getting the Word Out about Rock Band 2

Why write a post about Rock Band 2?  The main reason is to tell other gamers who are like me that have written off Guitar Hero and Rock Band as a class of games that was beneath us “hard core gamers” that have dedicated our lives to first person shooters and Role Playing Games (RPG)s.  I’ve found after playing countless hours of first person shooters and RPGs that mixing in a little Guitar Hero and Rock Band allows me enough time away to refocus and enjoy gamming.  Oh, and did I mention, it is a great party game.

Apology to Guitar Hero and Rock Band Gamers

So, many apologizes for all the times I’ve bad mouthed those who have enjoyed this type of gaming.  It’s never too late to at least try and play Guitar Hero and Rock Band.  You may find out it’s a lot of fun, not to mention humbling after failing out trying to play past the harder setting.  It is also a great deal of fun watching your children try to keep rhythm to such great artist as KISS, Metallica, and AC/DC or dance to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Do you have additional ideas or comments to add about Guitar Hero or Rock Band? Please feel free to submit your comments and gamming ideas.

How to Earn Money Using the Best Buy Reward Zone

Are you tired of all the gimmicks with grocery store “clubs” that have very few benefits other than the perception of lower prices? Or what about the rewards programs that take “years” to amount to anything beneficial and give you very little time to redeem? Well, the Best Buy Reward Zone is different.

The benefits are real. And the best part–its free to join!

• You can sign up in store buy picking up the Program Enrollment Kit

Best Buy Reward Zone Exclusive Benefits include:

• No fee membership
• Get 1 point for nearly every $1 you spend
• Earn 250 points and receive a $5 reward certificate
• Choose when and how you wish to receive your reward certificates and the amount
• Earn points and redeem reward certificates in store and at BestBuy.com
• Everyday member benefits plus exclusive offers and access to special events

There are added benefits if you sign up for the Best Buy Reward Zone program Master Card or if you spend over $2,500 in one year.

So, if you are looking for your new LED flat screen TV, computer, or appliances, make sure to check out the Best Buy Reward Zone program .

Example of Reward:

For every $1,000 spent using your Reward Zone membership you receive a $20 Rewards certificate to use at Best Buy on anything you want. So if you spend $2,000 on a TV, Blu-ray player, and speakers, you will receive $40 in the mail to spend on more cool items at Best Buy.

Why Make the Switch to Blu-ray

If you still haven’t made the switch to Blu-ray, you are not alone. It seems like every time movie collections seem complete the technology changes and consumers are making the decision to change formats once again. First consumers collected the VHS movies available and went through VCR after VCR. Then came the DVD players and collecting the $30 DVDs was no small challenge until the prices dropped significantly and consumers could go through the “cheap” bins at local retailers. Players with both the VCR and DVD combined were available and this encouraged consumers to make the switch. Now the technology has improved to an even higher level and consumers were just getting started on DVD collections! One advantage of this format conversion is how the Blu-ray players will still read and play normal DVDs while improving the picture quality.

Benefits to Buying Blu-ray Combo Packs

For many consumers the Blu-Ray players are still pretty pricey, but as time goes the price will continue to decrease. Even though you may not own a Blu-ray player, now is the time to start collecting the Blu-ray disc (BD). The incentives are direct from the producers. The producers are doing everything they can to encourage consumers to make the switch. The biggest draw to purchase BDs is the combo packs containing the Blu-ray, the DVD, and often a Digital Copy of the movie. When these are on sale it is not uncommon to purchase the new movie releases for under $20–and that is for three different formats! So even if you haven’t purchased your Blu-ray player, it is smarter to purchase the combo packs so upgrading later is easier.

Disney Blu-Ray Movie Deal

One company making it cheaper to switch is the Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company has created incentives for the fans to make the switch. Disney has launched the Disney Blu-Ray Upgrade Program. This is a convenient web site providing access for coupons to upgrade to Disney Blu-ray.

1. First you select eligible title that you own on DVD.
2. Print out, affix proof tabs and mail in your upgrade form.
3. Then you receive your Blu-ray savings coupon via email.
4. Look for sales on selected Blu-ray and purchase product before coupon expires.

Best of all, you get to keep your current DVD to use in your car, kids room, computer, or portable DVD player!

Disney’s top 3 reasons to upgrade to Disney Blu-ray include:

1. Disney Enhanced High Definition–Up to 6X the resolution of DVD with perfect sound
2. Next Generation Interactivity–Engaging games, menus, and features that bring families together
3. Kid Friendly and scratch resistant

Savings Using Best Buy Rewards Zone

Other companies such as Best Buy offer great money saving promotions. Often the store advertises new releases for under $20 and older moves for under $10. When you shop on line the company also offers buy 2 get 1 free or buy a new Blu-ray play and receive two Blu-ray movies for free (offers may change weekly/monthly so please check on company web site for current offers). Better yet, if you join the Best Buy Reward Zone you can earn cash back for every purchase you make. It is a simple and free program and rewards add up fast. The current promotion earns you $5 rewards cash to spend at Best Buy for every 250 points you accumulate.

So, if you haven’t made the switch, now is the time. Purchasing the movies in Blu-ray combo packs or through incentive programs such as the one The Walt Disney Company created will be more cost effective when you do upgrade to the Blu-ray player.