Whoa, look at me! I just got an e-mail from Best Buy telling me that I’m now part of the company’s “most elite membership level – Premier Black.” That’s probably just fancy-talk for saying that I’ve spent most of my earned income over the past 15 or so years at their stores.
Aside from bonus points and whatnot, the kicker to this program appears to be a concierge service which, as a technology enthusiast, doesn’t appeal to me one bit. I’ll browse products all by myself, thank you very much. Other benefits include free shipping from BestBuy.com, a 45-day return policy, point-banking and a premier-only awards catalog, and special Geek Squad services (that I’ll never use).
Still, the free shipping, extended return policy, and point-banking are nice. My points tend to expire from time to time.
UPDATE: Looks like this was an error on Best Buy’s part, as the aforementioned e-mail was apparently sent to every Reward Zone member. Unlike some of you, however, I haven’t received a correction e-mail yet. Maybe I’m in the test market for this new program (Boston). I’ll post another update if I get a correction.
UPDATE 2: Aaaand, there we go. I received the correction e-mail around 2:30 AM.
“The Best Buy® Reward Zone® program is always looking at ways to make our program even better for our members. Today, you may have inadvertently and inaccurately received the below message during an initial email testing process. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or confusion. You continue to maintain your current membership status. If you are eligible for the Reward Zone program Premier Black test that will run in a limited number of select markets, we will notify you by a separate email. If you have any questions about this or the Reward Zone program, please visit www.MyRewardZone.com or contact our Customer Service Center at 1-888-237-8289. Thank you.
Sincerely,
The Best Buy Reward Zone program team”
I just got one too, I’m curious to what it is so I am contacting customer support.
Ryan: I’ll bet you they won’t know what you’re talking about ;)
i think it was some kind of mistake, i also received the email. i’ve spent maybe 300 bucks on my rewardzone account in the span of 2 years.
I got one too…but wehen you click on the link, it all looks the same….I wonder what their threshold is…I bought a laptop, ps3 and a Canon Powershot DSCH50 within the last 4 months….doesn’t seem like much to have a “concierge” service.
lol. Maan, you are right! I just called them and they had no idea what i was talking about. I still have no idea how it works or how to update my profile. I think its a scam, the member IDs are completely different, so idk. I think i will wait to see what it actually is.
I just got the email today. Interesting that rather than using my current RewardZone # they have issued me a new one. AND if that was not all when I go to log in to the site with the “new” # it doesn’t recognize that with my old password (surprise). Then when I click on the “forgot your password” link even though I have not forgotten it, there is a message to call customer service. Like I have time for that?!?!? So much for Premier Black service.
I just got one too and agree: thumbs up on free shipping and extended return times and no use at all for a concierge.
BTW, I found this page via Google so I bet you’ll get a bit of search traffic from other “Premier Black” members trying to find more info, which is not available once you log in.
I just received this email as well. I’m hoping it is legit as I moronically clicked the link and signed in. The concierge service sounds worthless. If I’ve spent enough money and time in the store, I can likely find what I need.
Now when I try to visit the Reward Zone site, I get this:
“Due to heavy server volume we are unable to process your request at this time. Please try again later.”
I got one and so did a friend who just signed up 2 days ago for Reward Zone. I’m thinking there maybe a mistake here…
I received the same thing.
Received: from bigfootinteractive.com (arm301.bigfootinteractive.com [206.132.3.101]
Ok, it sounds like a scam. I just talked to a reward zone customer service agent and she said they are just updating there systems and have no information on premier black right now. Also, seeing as how people have only signed up 2 days ago, it seems like a scam. I don’t know how they got the emails though.
I also received the email. When I tried to “locate my premier black concierge” I just got this message “Due to heavy server volume we are unable to process your request at this time. Please try again later.”
I hope this is not a scam.
I got the email about the new “Premier Black” service today as well. Correct Rewards number listed on my email though. Same with the “Heavy Server Traffic” error message.
Here’s hoping it’s legit for the points banking and the free shipping. More online shopping for me, since the stores don’t have as large a CD collection as I’d like.
Big Foot Interactive looks like a mail service for sending out marketing emails, it could still be legitimate.
Yah, I talked to a reward zone customer service rep and she said that the only person who knows what it is is her supervisor, and her supervisor was busy. I’m not sure about what exactly is going on. But she did say that I will be getting something in the mail about it, explaining it a little better.
I got this as well, though the account number MATCHED my RZ account number.
Like others, despite normally knowing better I signed in off the link… but it did show me my accurate RZ points and purchases, so I don’t think it’s a scam… more likely a mailing list error.
For safety I independently logged in to my RZ account and changed my password.
I just got the same thing, but my membership # is correct, but the links just take me to the same old RZ site talking about premier silver…..nothing on the site about black…..
it’s probably an “upgrade” to rewards zone to get people in the door thinking they’re important and the like.
Doesn’t look like a scam, as they got my number correct. However, I don’t know of the criteria, because I haven’t bought much in the last year (<$20 or so). It could also be due to geography as I’m in Silicon Valley and they have to compete hard against Fry’s, perhaps? It did say that this was a pilot program.
I just received one of these today as well and have noticed that the BestBuy site servers are sluggish. It landed on the regular home page and I logged in and saw my regular old reward zone info over https, so it could be legit.
Can anyone say that they logged into the special myrewarwdzone.com/premier ?
Yup, I got one too and can find no information on it.
I haven’t bought but about $50 in the last few years on my RZ account. They probably made a mistake on who they sent them to. I am in the Little Rock, AR market — so if they are piloting just a few locations — I doubt our market would have been one of them…
it’s a scam
log into your reward zone like you normally do and you’ll see a tab for the new Premier Silver
look at what Premier Silver offers you, all the same stuff that his premier black does
Step up to even more points, perks and services when you achieve Reward Zone® program Premier Silver status. Simply spend $2,500 at Best Buy during a calendar year, and you’ll automatically be upgraded to this higher level of rewards and recognition!
And if you’re a Reward Zone® program MasterCard cardmember, you’ll receive Premier Silver status for spending $2,500 anywhere on your Reward Zone program MasterCard in a calendar year – whether at Best Buy or anywhere else MasterCard is accepted.
More points
Premier Silver status earns you a 25% point bonus on all points you earn at Best Buy. If you make purchases with a RewardZone program MasterCard, your point bonus is 50% on nearly all Best Buy in-store and BestBuy.com purchases.
More perks
As a Premier Silver member, you can continue receiving reward certificates automatically or bank points until you’re ready to use them. You can save up for a big certificate, or redeem your points using the Awards Catalog for unique products, services and experiences available exclusively to Premier Silver members.
You’ll also be at the top of every VIP list when Best Buy hosts concerts, sporting events and private shopping events in your area.
More convenience
Benefits such as a 45-day extended return policy on in-store purchases, plus free standard shipping on BestBuy.com purchases available later this year, will make shopping more convenient than ever. You’ll also have access to a dedicated Premier Silver service line to get questions answered fast.
More services
Premier Silver status also entitles you to a complimentary annual Geek Squad® home theater consultation* – a $99.99 value! During the consultation, you’ll also get a coupon for $100 off any future Best Buy home theater purchase totaling $499 or more.
Plus, get a complimentary six-month trial of the Geek Squad® Online Data Backup Service – a fast, simple and secure solution for backing up your important PC files and photos.
Every purchase adds up
With so many holidays and events in our lives, it’s amazing how quickly you can achieve Premier Silver status. Here’s just one example of how a family could reach the $2,500 requirement between now and the end of the year:
How easy is it to earn? See for yourself
Event Gift Total
Nephew’s graduation (June) Best Buy gift card $25
Sister’s birthday (September) iPod shuffle $50
iTunes gift card $25
Computer update (October) Laptop computer $800
Printer $150
Software for laptop $100
Printer ink and paper $150
School sports events (August) Digital camera $450
“Big” Christmas gift for kids Xbox 360 console $350
5 games $300
Family movie nights (throughout year) 5 DVD classics $100
$2,500
The benefits are too good to miss. Start working toward your Premier Silver status today!
Metro Detroit area… CC and BB are the two that but heads here.
Preds got it right. It was a mistake by Best Buy. Premier Black is coming soon but it’s a program in the works. They sent the e-mail out to everyone. When i called about it they offered me a $15 dollar reward zone gift certificate for my troubles. Really no troubles but who am I to turn down free money?
So it’s not a scam just a mailing list problem.
https://connections-myrewardzone.bestbuy.com/forums/t/794.aspx
Link to the BB RZ forums about the Premier Black program.
Well the e-mail is from a bestbuy.com e-mail address (could be spoofed, I suppose) but the URL it sends you to is the reward zone website.
Plus, in my e-mail, it showed my actual Rward Zone program member ID.
The e-mails were sent out by mistake to everyone. I was advised when I called them that a follow-up e-mail is coming out sometime next week apologizing about the confusion and miscommunication…
I received it as well, with the correct number.
It amused me since I’d just gotten my Premier Silver cards in the mail yesterday.
Just spoke to a BB rep, and she confirmed it was a glitch sent to everyone on their mailing list. It was meant to go to people who spent $5,000+ in the past year.
We should all receive an email within the next week explaining our real membership levels.
Hooray for Best Buy and making me feel comfortable with your technology.
I received 2 of these emails, both within 30 minutes of each other, one at 5:35p and another at 5:57p…today. Both had different membership numbers. Sounds like a scam to me, phishing email, or something. But some of you said you’ve called BestBuy about it. Still, I’m not clicking on any of the links, into the delete folder they go.
what is different between primier silver and black?? which one is higher? ??
I’ve NEVER spent any money with my BestBuy rewards card before, and I got one of these emails too.
As much as I’d love to be Premier Black, it’s probably a mistake.
I got one too. I figured it was correct because I spend way too much money at BB. However, having the status of Premier Black seems WAY cooler do to the name, not the benefits. Seems worthless and pointless.
haha yeah i just got one. I’ve spent a lot of money at BestBuy and i was upgraded to the Premier Silver a few days ago. The email had the right account number on it and the premier black does look kind of cool (black instead of blue) but i don’t see much of a difference besides the concierge, which i can’t imagine a lot of people using. I wonder when the premier black will be up and running.
From what I can tell it is NOT a scam or a phishing scheme. Looks like Best Buy sent this out to all of their Rewards Zone members regardless of how much they’ve spent recently. Oops! The ensuing traffic to the Reward Zone web site has pretty much brought the site down.
Wow you people are frighteningly stupid.
How about looking at the LINKS in the email. View the html source and you’ll see that the link directs you to:
http://RewardZoneCerts.BestBuy.com/…...
bestbuy.com is their domain… and no, there is no embedded hex later in the URL for people who haven’t updated their browsers since the dawn of time.
So unless it’s someone inside the company is perpetrating this “Scam” then it’s obviously safe. Of course, there’s always the off chance that someone who already has access to all the internal systems is going the long way to get at that information by putting together a complex phishing scheme…
Give me a break.
I chuckled a bit when I received the “Premiere Black” e-mail. I don’t think that I spend more than $100 annually at BB.
So sad… I felt special there for a moment, too.
I got the email too. So did everybody with a Rewards Zone card. I called the Reward Zone department and was told Best Buy will be sending an email explaining what happened, etc. Next week???? Boy, Best Buy likes keeping their customers in the dark. I mean black.
Damn it does this mean im not as special as they just made me seem???? Damn you best buy!!!! i guess i have a better chance at gettin a AMEX Black card!!! now thats real concierge service right there hahahaha
I just got one too. I wonder what this is all about. I wrote an e-mail to Best Buy Customer Service asking what’s happening. Hope I hear back from them.
I got the e-mail, which made perfect sense considering how much I spend at best buy. Within the past year I have bought a new Samsung 1080p 120 hz hi def tv (2200), a ps3 (500), a ton of blue rays, a new dvd about once a week, a new 24 inch monitor lcd, a surround sound system, several PS3/Xbox 360 games, random dvds, usb drives, calculators, RAM, external hard drives, etc, etc, etc.. I thought it was perfectly justified to upgrade me, but I became somewhat suspicious when they sent me the black e-mail 4 times within the past 5 hours.
Also received an email, wondered huh? I havent even spent that much at bestbuy…..so i googled it to see if anyone has run into this and here i am!~ Glad to know i wasnt the only one who’s spam blocker didnt work…on gmail that is :)
I got this email too, but when I clicked the link in the email it came up saying, and I quote
“The Best Buy® Reward Zone® program is always looking at ways to make our program even better for our members. You have inadvertently and inaccurately received this e-mail during an initial testing process. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or confusion. You continue to maintain your current membership status. If you are eligible for the Reward Zone program Premier Black pilot that will be run in a limited number of select areas, we will notify you by a separate email. If you have any questions about this or the Reward Zone program, please view our Program Overview page or contact our Customer Service Center at 1-888-237-8289. Thank you.”
So much for becoming an elite part of best buy’s reward program =X
Yeah, I would of thought that I would qualify for the trial, but alas, it was pulled. I get the following message when I clicky on the link. Too bad, I’ve spent close to 6k at BB in 2008 so far.
“The Best Buy® Reward Zone® program is always looking at ways to make our program even better for our members. You have inadvertently and inaccurately received this e-mail during an initial testing process. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or confusion. You continue to maintain your current membership status. If you are eligible for the Reward Zone program Premier Black pilot that will be run in a limited number of select areas, we will notify you by a separate email. If you have any questions about this or the Reward Zone program, please view our Program Overview page or contact our Customer Service Center at 1-888-237-8289. Thank you.”
Got this today too, but like Dave I got the following message when I clicked the link:
We’re Sorry!
The Best Buy® Reward Zone® program is always looking at ways to make our program even better for our members. You have inadvertently and inaccurately received this e-mail during an initial testing process. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or confusion. You continue to maintain your current membership status. If you are eligible for the Reward Zone program Premier Black pilot that will be run in a limited number of select areas, we will notify you by a separate email. If you have any questions about this or the Reward Zone program, please view our Program Overview page or contact our Customer Service Center at 1-888-237-8289. Thank you.
Looks like they were trying to keep up with the Google Browser in the hapless-launching-of-new-service department.
I just called and they added 500 points to my account just for being inconvenienced.
Also, this is apparently only good for certain members in the Chicago area …
Also,
If you happen to get a reward Zone number that is not yours, its someone else … The number on my email belonged to someone else …
I got 3 emails all with different numbers on them,and my husband got one on his email address as well. Don’t click on any of the links! go to the best buy website and log on there. Although, I probably have spent 6K in the local store over the last 2 years…I should get something good, right?