6 Products You Should Avoid Buying at Best Buy
Written by
Jordan Rosenfeld
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Best Buy may be your go-to place for a number of electronics, back-to-school supplies and other office-related goods, but you might not want to pick up everything on your shopping list there.
Additionally, while Best Buy does have a price match guarantee for certain “qualified competitors,” meaning you’re likely to be able to get competitive prices on a lot of items, there are exceptions to specific products and a limit on how many you can buy.
When shopping at Best Buy, steer clear of these six products.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple’s latest iPhone is a marvel of Apple technology — a larger and brighter display, a sharper and more powerful camera and all the efficiency that its Apple Intelligence AI tools bring … and yet its functions are not vastly different from what you’ve already got if you’re a couple models back. Additionally, buying it from Best Buy may not give you the same warranty coverage you get with Apple. Not to mention, it’s $1,199 upfront, or around $33/month if you commit to a 36-month period.
Rocketfish 50-Inch Fiber Optic HDMI Cable
With a few exceptions, an HDMI cable is an HDMI cable, whether you paid $10 for it or the stunning price of this Rocketfish 50-inch fiber optic HDMI cable — $124.99. That’s a lot to shell out for a cable. Don’t buy the hype. Most high-priced cables offer no noticeable advantage over more affordable options.
Corsair Leatherette Gaming Chair
A lot of clever psychological marketing goes into products marketed to gamers, often encouraging you to spend much more money than you need to. So while you might, indeed, feel better in a fancy gaming chair, like this one by Corsair for $249.99, you also might find a regular office or desk chair works fine with a pillow tossed in for back support. Not to mention, Best Buy is hardly the leader in office furniture — there are plenty of stores where you can probably find a similar item for cheaper.
Refurbished MacBook Air 15-Inch Laptop
Refurbished products can be much cheaper on the one hand, and certainly who can blame any consumer for wanting to bring the steep price of a Macbook laptop down. While this refurbished MacBook Air 15-inch laptop does seem like a steal at $729.99, buyer beware: When you buy refurbished Apple products from Best Buy, you may not get the same scope of warranty or access to Apple’s genius support. You might be better off saving up for the real deal from Apple directly.
HP Two-Pack Standard Capacity Ink Cartridges
Printer ink is one of those office supplies that seems to be constantly in need of replenishing, especially if you have a color printer. HP is a trusted name in printer ink, and $45 may not seem terribly high for a standard capacity black and tri-color ink cartridge, but Best Buy is not the leader in cheap ink and toner prices. Many other stores offer ink subscription services that bring the price of ink down when you buy in bulk or subscribe for replenishment. You can likely find a better deal elsewhere.
Major Appliances Not on Sale
Lastly, if you’re shopping for a major appliance, such as a refrigerator, washer/dryer or a dishwasher, Best Buy frequently has sales on these items. If you find an appliance in an off-sale period, try to be patient — the sales usually carve several hundreds of dollars off the prices, and it’s worth the wait.
While you can get a ton of great deals at Best Buy, it’s financially savvy to know what to avoid as well.
Editor’s note: Pricing is accurate as of May 2, 2025. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
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