Best Buy’s ‘Laptop Discounts For Students’

A TINA.org reader and community college student was searching online for student deals when he found a page on Best Buy’s website offering “Laptop Discounts For Students.”

But it turns out you don’t need to be a student to get these discounted prices – no matter who you are, the purported savings on brands such as Apple, Microsoft and Acer, are automatically applied when you add the laptop to your cart, as shown below.

So why is Best Buy referring to these deals as student discounts?

Upon closer inspection, the list is actually just a collection of laptops that students may “prefer.” That’s different than a list of products that are eligible for an additional student discount, which often requires proof of status like entering a valid .edu email address.

Best Buy did not respond to TINA.org’s request for comment.

The bottom line

Be vigilant when shopping online. Read the fine print and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the deal you bargained for.

Find more of our coverage on purported discounts.