Why You Can Trust CNET Totaltech Is Best Buy's Hidden Gem Membership That Everyone Should Know About
Shop at Best Buy a lot? Totaltech could save you a lot of money this year. Here's how.
Technology is a big part of our daily lives, and a lot of the things we use can be pretty expensive. The last thing you want to do when buying a new laptop or TV is worry about the problems that could appear after the purchase. Wouldn't it be nice to have peace of mind for everything you're buying this year?
When you're shopping at Best Buy, or browsing online, you have the option to sign up for a Totaltech membership for $200 a year. And there are several reasons why you should consider it. Beyond just tech support, there are plenty of other features to this membership, and we're here to walk you through everything you need to know about these features, which have the potential to save you money and time on tech in the long run.
While you're here, if you want more shopping tips to help you save money or make shopping a bit easier, check out these tips about hidden Amazon service offers, Costco perks and buying from Best Buy Outlet.
All of the Totaltech benefits
You get all these benefits just by signing up for a membership.
Before jumping into everything you get with Totaltech, you should know that Totaltech and Geek Squad protection are different. You can have both, but the difference is that Geek Squad protection is for a single item, whereas Totaltech supports a wide variety of tech needs. If you sign up for Totaltech, free Geek Squad support is included.
From the start of your membership, you'll get service on all the tech in your home, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year -- even if you didn't buy it at Best Buy.
The support you receive is for both remote, in-store and in-home support and troubleshooting. And, if you need it, you can chat with an agent online or call 888-237-8289 for help as well. Here are just a few things your membership entitles you to:
- Device help and simple repair
- Tablet setup and troubleshooting
- Memory install and troubleshooting
- Password reset
- PC tune-up
- PC virus removal
- Level 1 data recovery (and more)
- Up to 24 months of AppleCare Plus (only while subscription is active)
Delivery and install options are worth looking at
Appliances are supported under this membership too.
While most memberships would end at troubleshooting tech, this membership has additional benefits.
When you buy any new gadget or appliance at Best Buy, two-day delivery and installation is included. Keep in mind that in order to get this benefit, you need to choose "delivery and installation" at the time you buy your products. This membership benefit offers a large variety of installation services, for products from TVs to computers to sound systems.
TV and home theater services
- TV mounting
- TV connect and setup
- Projector screen mounting
- Harmony remote control programming
Computing services
- Home Wi-Fi setup
- New PC or tablet setup
- Data backup or transfer
- Operating system install (in-home)
- Software install (in-home)
- Hardware install (in-home)
- Automated data backup setup (in-home)
- Memory install (in-home)
In-dash service
- In-dash receiver install
- Steering wheel control install
Speaker services
- Standard or component speaker install
- Mount single or dual subwoofer in a box
Amp services
- Mono or 2-channel amp install
- 4/5 channel amp install
- Signal processor install (and more)
Options to cover even the most advanced systems
The membership gives you support when appliances break down.
The last benefit you get with this membership is a discount on custom installations that you wouldn't want to do unless you're a trained professional. With this benefit you get 20% off labor for advanced services and 10% off labor for custom installations. But keep in mind, this discount is only applied to labor, not parts and accessories that don't come as standard.
So what kinds of installations can you get? And what other advanced services are offered?
Computer and tablet services
Home theater, audio and smart home services
- Advanced wire run
- Wall and ceiling speaker installation
- Speaker installation
- Outdoor audio landscape systems
- Smart home services
- Basic water monitoring install
- Camera services
- Wired camera install (and more)
Now that you know what Best Buy's Totaltech can provide you when you sign up for a membership. For more shopping tips, check out our articles on making an Amazon return on Kohl's and improving your shopping experience with four tips.