iPhone 5C and Samsung Galaxy S4 are $50 off at Best Buy

Best Buy is offering a deal on certain Apple and Samsung smartphones this weekend. Basically, all shoppers willing to buy the devices in-store will get a free $50 gift card from the big box retailer.

The gift card can go toward buying any model of Apple's new iPhone 5C or certain Samsung Galaxy smartphones, including the Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2, and the Galaxy S3. That means the iPhone 5C 16GB will cost $50 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 16GB will cost $150 with a two-year contract. No contract Galaxy S4 and S3 devices are also available.

In efforts to lure shoppers to its retail stores, Best Buy is known for offering deals on smartphones and other gadgets. In June, it offered two separate iPhone-specific trade-in sales; and in July, it gave customers $200 off of MacBooks and also offered an iPad trade-in promotion. Then, in August it gave customers deals on most all mobile devices and select tablets, and in September offered trade-in deals for the iPhone 5.

Best Buy isn't the only retailer to offer promotions for the iPhone 5C. Target and Walmart have also been hawking the smartphone for discounted prices.

Best Buy's $50 gift card deal begins Thursday, October 3, and goes through Monday, October 7, and is available at Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile specialty stores. Customers can get the offer online, but the gift card can be used only for future in-store purchases.