Best Buy is one of the largest American electronics retailers, with physical and online stores selling everything from televisions to computers. More competitors are now competing, offering new deals and discounts that make it tough for shoppers to stay loyal.
A smart shopper knows that they have to look for the best deals. They need to compare prices and stores. That way, they can find what’s cheapest.
Check out our list of the most popular Best Buy alternatives.
1. eBay
eBay is a website that is also considered a top Best Buy alternative. The site has two main sections, one for the buyers and another for the sellers. Each section has its own components that make it so user-friendly.
The following are just some of the many features that eBay offers:
- Free shipping option available to buyers
- Sellers can choose from different kinds of payment options like PayPal, cash on delivery or through a money transfer service to name just a few
- Users are given an opportunity to receive free gifts when they purchase products and have positive feedbacks/ratings as a way for eBay’s appreciation
2. Newegg
Newegg is another popular online store based in California. Its main focus is on computers and consumer electronics. It was started by some of the best minds in the computer industry who used their skills to create an effective business model for the company
Newegg offers:
- Newegg Marketplace which allows third-party sellers that are verified by the company to sell their products directly to customers with a good reputation
- This site also offers free shipping when your total order is above $35 and you live within the United States (excluding New York)
3. TigerDirect
This website specializes in selling Computers, Consumer Electronics, Computer Components, Televisions, and Home Entertainment Products online. Its fulfillment center is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where they offer next-day shipping within the United States.
The company was founded in 1986 by David Wang, an IT professional and one of its co-founders is Carl Wang who also serves as the current CEO of the company. The name TigerDirect refers to how they offer good deals with fast delivery like how a tiger would get his food when hunting for prey.
This online store is considered to be popular because it offers great prices on anything you can think of: from live plants to televisions, laptops, computers, and tablets among others. This site has an interesting twist though compared to its competitors – they specialize in selling refurbished items that are still in working condition but have gone through some touch-up work just so it looks brand new or even better than before.
4. Fry’s Electronics
Fry’s Electronics is an online store that was started in 1986 by South African philanthropist Michael Fry and offers more than 40,000 products for sale.
This site offers a wide range of electronic devices and they are categorized into different groups such as:
- Projectors & Home Theater
- Computers & Tablets
They also have product reviews that allow users to know whether the product is worth buying or not, such as cell phones. They also offer electronics with a lifetime warranty, extra savings every week through having a reward program wherein shoppers earn points whenever they buy something from the site which can be exchanged for discounts on future purchases. This site also allows customers to check the status of their orders online and get free shipping on any purchases above $25.00 excluding taxes and delivery charges.
5. Office Depot/Max
This site is one of the leading office supply chains in the United States so it is said that they know how to sell paper very well. Office Depot has a wide selection of products from basic supplies like pens, pencils, and envelopes to more advanced technological devices like tablets, PCs, printers, etc. They also have store locations that help with faster deliveries because they can be shipped directly instead of sending everything to your door first then having you send back what you won’t need anymore. This Best Buy alternative offers free shipping for all orders above $50 within the continental U.S. and they also have an office supplies search engine where you can just type in what you need then click on the product to instantly go to its page, compare prices, and even read reviews from other customers who bought that particular item.
6. Micro Center
Micro Center is a Best Buy alternative that has stores located in smaller cities which are specialized in selling computers, computer components, and consumer electronics. It was founded by Charles Hughes in Indianapolis, Indiana where it holds its first store. The company later moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana to be closer to the rest of its suppliers and customers.
This site offers free shipping on all orders regardless of how much you will buy so long as the order goes over $50.00. They also offer bundle products that come with extra discounts like when they combine a printer and ink into one package or when they include antivirus software together with your PC or Mac purchase for only around $10 more than if you would have bought them separately. Micro Center also sells refurbished items that are said to have undergone some touch-up work so that they will look brand new or even better than the original product. With Micro Center, you can also check if the item you are planning to buy is still in stock and confirm payment for your order without going through a credit card company since they allow you to use Google Wallet as an alternative payment method.
7. Overstock.com
Overstock.com is one of the biggest online retailers in the United States and has been around since 1999. They claim to be the first company that was able to make such a huge venture online become successful. This site specializes in selling furniture, jewelry, and electronics.
They also offer an exchange program wherein if you want to return your purchase for whatever reason then you can do so by buying something else from their store instead of at no extra cost on your part. Customers who are not satisfied with their purchases can have them exchanged for another item or returned within seven days after the product has been received by sending it back using UPS prepaid shipping labels included in your original order box or packing materials. Their customer service department offers free live chat support any time so you don’t have to worry about not being able to find answers to your inquiries.
8. Nextag
Nextag is one of the most visited online shopping marketplaces in the United States where customers can compare prices on products that they want to buy from online and brick and mortar stores nationwide. This site also provides a list of local stores where items can be picked up or if there are none then it will tell you how much shipping will cost for you to get the product sent straight to your door as long as an item has free UPS ground shipping option available, which majority of items do by the way. They also offer gift cards for different occasions like birthdays and anniversaries which are guaranteed to arrive on time for your loved ones as long as you place an order at least 3 days before the actual date.
9. Staples
Staples is an office supplies chain that has been in business since 1986. They also sell consumer electronics, furniture, and other home appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and dishwashers.
What makes Staples a good alternative to Best Buy is their price match guarantee where customers can get their orders lowered if they find the same product at a better rate somewhere else without any questions asked. Their free UPS shipping program also offers guaranteed fast delivery straight to your doorstep for most items which only requires you to spend over $25 on your order so yes even if you are buying just one item then it will still be shipped for free provided these items ship for under 8 pounds in weight and have more than 2 cubic feet of volume. Another thing that helps Staples stand out from the crowd of online electronics retailers is their price drop guarantee wherein if you find a lower price on another shopping site within 30 days after you have made your purchase then Staples will match that price and even give you 10% off for no extra charge.
10. Target
Target is the second-largest general retailer in the United States and has made quite a name for itself with its collection of higher-end and trendier products that are usually sold at lower prices compared to other retail stores. They also have an extensive shipping program where you can get free 2-day delivery or even same-day delivery if you can make it to a store near you which will require security verification beforehand but as long as you do not mind standing out from the crowd then this option might just be worth your time.
They also offer an online price matching feature wherein if you find a product elsewhere that’s cheaper by $15 or more then they will honor that price difference without any questions asked so yes even when shopping online, Target still offers one of the best price-matching guarantees in the business.
11. Walmart
Walmart is the largest retail store chain in the United States that sells a variety of different products including auto parts, office supplies, furniture, and tools to electronics and computers. It’s also my go-to place whenever I’m looking for computer components such as RAM sticks, solid-state drives, or video cards since they always provide some of the cheapest prices on these items compared to other online retailers who sell similar product lines like NewEgg or Amazon. They also offer free 2-day shipping on orders over $50 which will guarantee fast delivery straight at your doorstep without tracking so if you are not interested in paying extra for their faster shipping services then this might just be an ideal alternative to Best Buy’s free shipping option.
12. Amazon
Amazon is the biggest and most popular online retailer in the United States providing a wide variety of different products you can choose from including apparel, home appliances, computers, furniture, and even groceries!
Besides offering free shipping on anything that has a weight and volume limit of 8 pounds or less which is usually enough for 1 to 2 laptops or an LCD monitor then they also provide faster shipment options depending on how much shipping time you want to spend. For instance, if you are willing to wait longer then it’s possible to get your package within 3 days as long as your package weighs 59 pounds or less so if this applies to what you are trying to buy then don’t hesitate in choosing their slower shipping option as it won’t cost too much more.
13. GameStop
GameStop is one of the biggest and most popular retailers that sell gaming products including video games, consoles, accessories, and even collectible merchandise. They also have a pretty generous return policy which will allow you to return opened items as long as they remain unopened then it’s possible for you to get a full refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase.
14. Costco
Costco is a membership-only retail chain that sells household and business products for up to 50% lower than similar items found in regular supermarkets, drug stores, or office supply stores. They also have one of the most generous return policies in the business wherein they honor almost everything including opened and damaged merchandise so if you are not sure how much a product will come out to then by all means buy it from Costco since you can always return it back without any questions asked.
15. Aliexpress .com
Aliexpress is a great option for those of you who are looking to buy electronics, home appliances, and even toys from Chinese suppliers because most of their products ship directly from China which can take anywhere between 3 to 30 days depending on where the warehouse is that’s processing your order. You also have the option to use DHL Express shipping which will cost around $35 but will guarantee next-day delivery all over the world so just keep in mind that this service does not have any free trials or refund policies since it costs extra money.
Conclusion
While shopping at Best Buy is definitely a solid option, there are many alternatives that offer competitive pricing and free shipping.
Your best bet is to do your research before making a purchase so you can compare prices across the different vendors who sell similar products—this will help you find the absolute best deal for what you’re looking for!
