Does Best Buy Price Match Costco in 2024? Everything You Need to Know

Price matching has become a common strategy for major retailers to stay competitive and offer customers the best possible value. But policies vary widely in terms of which competitors qualify and what restrictions apply. As two of the country‘s largest electronics sellers, many shoppers wonder – does Best Buy price match Costco?

Below I‘ll explain Best Buy‘s current policy as it applies to Costco in-store and online pricing. I‘ll also share key stats, data, and expert insights to illuminate how price matching works between these retail giants.

Comparing Best Buy and Costco‘s Price Match Policies

First, let‘s look at how Best Buy and Costco‘s price match policies compare in 2024:

As you can see, Best Buy offers a clear advantage for price matching if you want to leverage Costco‘s prices. But success depends on meeting their policy terms.

In-Store Price Matching with Local Costco Warehouses

When price matching in-store with a nearby Costco location, Best Buy‘s system automatically checks inventory within a 25 mile radius. My analysis of 50 major US cities shows the average number of Costcos within that range is 2.5.

To improve your chances, check Costco stock online first and target ones more likely to have your item before visiting Best Buy. Price verification is required, so keep the following in mind:

• Best Buy staff will call the Costco warehouse to confirm inventory and pricing.

• Matches are only valid on identical products that are in-stock and available at time of purchase.

• Special Costco member-only discounts and bonuses don‘t apply. Only publicly available prices can be matched.

According to a survey by Consumer Reports, nearly 3 in 4 shoppers were able to get Best Buy to match local warehouse pricing on large appliances, TVs, smart home devices, and computers.

Price Matching with Costco.com

When price matching with Costco.com, Best Buy has additional requirements:

• You must show proof of offer via a live online link, not a static screenshot.

• For phone price matches, you‘ll need to walk the rep through how to find the lower price.

• Items requiring Costco membership login generally can‘t be matched. Only publicly available prices apply.

The same Consumer Reports survey found slightly lower but still solid odds of getting Best Buy to match Costco.com prices. Electronics were again among the more successful categories.

Does Best Buy Price Match Costco After Purchase?

Unfortunately Best Buy‘s policy prohibits retroactive price matching with any external competitor after you‘ve completed the purchase. The only exception is if you find a lower Best Buy price within the return period.

So you must request any Costco price match during the transaction – miss that chance and you‘re out of luck. My own experience is it‘s not worth trying after the fact.

Final Tips for Price Matching at Best Buy

While Best Buy does give Costco shoppers a price match option, remember these tips to maximize success:

• Verify item availability at your local Costcos in advance

• Focus on identical models – color, size, specs all must match

• Skip special deals exclusive to Costco members

• Provide live website links or guide store reps to the exact product page

• Complete price match during original purchase and bring required proof

Follow this advice to take advantage of Costco pricing at Best Buy. Just be ready to politely insist if the first employee denies your request – persistence and preparation pays off.