Best Buy Launches 1-Day Samsung Sale With Up to $600 Off, 5x Rewards

Q: Is Best Buy's 5% reward a true value, or a strategy to offset prices that are higher than its online rivals?

Best Buy’s 5% reward is real value for some shoppers, but it is also clearly a competitive pricing tool rather than a pure discount. In this Samsung sale, the reward can materially improve the deal if the item is already near market price. Best Buy’s Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,039.99 is below Samsung’s direct price, and the extra 5% back for My Best Buy Plus and Total members adds meaningful store credit on top. On TVs, the advertised markdowns are also substantial, and Best Buy’s price-match policy gives it another way to stay close to Amazon, Walmart and other rivals on eligible items. But the reward is not the same as cash off at checkout. It is store credit tied to Best Buy, and only paid members qualify for the boosted rate. That matters because Amazon and other online sellers can still be slightly cheaper upfront on some products. In those cases, the 5% reward helps Best Buy narrow or erase the gap without cutting the shelf price further. The broader evidence suggests this is part of Best Buy’s strategy: use memberships, rewards, services, fast pickup and support to compete without always being the lowest-price seller. That does not make the reward meaningless. For shoppers who already use Best Buy, especially Plus or Total members who value returns, shipping, Geek Squad support or protection benefits, the 5% can be a genuine advantage. For one-time buyers focused only on the lowest immediate price, it is more of a loyalty incentive than a pure bargain.

2 articles · Updated · 9to5Toys · Jul 16

$600 off select Samsung TVs and $260 off the unlocked Galaxy S26 Ultra headline Best Buy’s one-day takeover of its Deals of the Day page.
5x rewards for My Best Buy Plus and Total members lift the return to 5% from the usual 1% on eligible Samsung TVs, phones and other products.
TV offers include the 55-inch Frame at $700 from $1,100, the 65-inch Frame at $1,000 from $1,600, and the 77-inch S85F OLED at $1,300 from $1,800.
The 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra is priced at $1,039.99, undercutting Samsung’s own $200-off promotion, though Amazon is currently $10 cheaper before rewards.
The promotion runs only today, making member rewards the main differentiator as some headline prices are already matched or slightly beaten elsewhere.