Buying early for Black Friday? Best Buy and Newegg will refund some later price drops

Buying a gaming laptop or PC component before Black Friday does not always mean missing out if its price falls later. Best Buy and Newegg both offer protection for qualifying early holiday purchases, but the deadlines, exclusions and refund process are different.

At Newegg, eligible items must carry a Black Friday Price Protection badge and be purchased by November 18. If the same item falls in price on Newegg between November 19 and November 28, the retailer says it will automatically refund the difference by December 8.

Best Buy takes a different approach: shoppers must request a match to its current price for an immediately available, new product. Most eligible purchases made from October 30 through December 31 can be matched through January 15, 2027.

Newegg refunds eligible price drops without a claim

Newegg’s programme covers purchases made from November 1 through November 18 that carry the designated badge. It compares the price with the same item on Newegg; a cheaper listing at another retailer does not trigger a refund.

Newegg describes November 19 to 28 as its comparison period, while its FAQ also refers to a lower price after purchase and on or before November 28. If a price falls before November 19, check the terms with Newegg. The retailer says refunds go back to the original payment method by December 8. Cryptocurrency purchases are an exception, with the refund issued as a Newegg Customer Care gift card. Refunds of $1 or less are not processed.

Doorbuster promotions, combo offers, free gifts, shipping and mail-in rebates are among the exclusions. Newegg’s terms also say only select marketplace items qualify, so check the badge and eligibility on the specific listing rather than assuming an entire sale is covered.

Best Buy requires a request and excludes marketplace sellers

Best Buy’s holiday guarantee applies when the retailer lowers its price on a qualifying product, and the product must be new and immediately available at that current price. Marketplace products, clearance, refurbished and open-box items are excluded, as are purchases excluded from its extended holiday return policy. Customers can request a match through Best Buy chat, by phone or in store.

Its extended holiday guarantee does not match competitors’ prices, and Puerto Rico stores have separate rules. Best Buy’s standard price-matching policy has separate restrictions, including exclusions for certain competitor Black Friday offers and membership-only pricing.

For a PC buyer comparing an early deal, the practical step is to check who sells the exact configuration and keep the order details. At Newegg, look for the protection badge; at Best Buy, watch for a lower eligible price and request the match. Neither policy guarantees a product is the cheapest available at another shop.

Best Buy starts its next early Black Friday event on November 6

Best Buy says its Early Black Friday Deals and Doorbusters begin November 6, with new deals arriving each Friday. Its longer Black Friday deals event starts November 19. These are US policies. Newegg’s price-protection purchase window is already open, and the terms can change.