Best Buy vs. Amazon — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on December 5, 2023
Best Buy is a specialty retailer of electronics in physical stores, while Amazon is an online marketplace selling various products globally.
Difference Between Best Buy and Amazon
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Best Buy is an American multinational corporation that specializes in the retail of consumer electronics. Their operations primarily consist of brick-and-mortar stores where customers can physically view and purchase products. Amazon, on the other hand, started as an online bookstore but rapidly expanded to become the world's largest online marketplace, offering a vast range of products across numerous categories.
Best Buy tends to focus on providing consumers with expert advice on electronics, offering services like tech support and installations through its Geek Squad. Amazon distinguishes itself with its extensive product selection, convenience, and Prime services, including quick shipping and streaming content.
Best Buy allows customers the advantage of immediate purchase and the tactile experience of interacting with products before buying. They often feature in-store promotions and price matching policies. Amazon emphasizes the convenience of shopping from home, user reviews, and often lower prices due to the scale of their operations.
Best Buy has ventured into the online retail space, offering products on its website and providing options like in-store pickup for online purchases. Amazon has experimented with physical retail, especially with its acquisition of Whole Foods and the introduction of Amazon Go stores.
While Best Buy is primarily known for its electronic goods and services, it has a limited scope compared to the expansive range of product categories on Amazon, which include books, fashion, groceries, electronics, and more.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Operation
Brick-and-mortar electronics retailer
Online marketplace
Service Specialization
Geek Squad tech support and installations
Prime services including quick shipping & streaming
Purchasing Experience
Tactile interaction with products before purchase
Online shopping with user reviews
Expansion into Other Retail Modes
Online store with in-store pickup
Physical stores like Whole Foods & Amazon Go
Product Range
Mostly electronics and related services
Broad range across numerous categories
Compare with Definitions
Best Buy
An electronics retailer with an online shopping platform.
I ordered headphones online and picked them up at my local Best Buy.
Amazon
Initially started as an online bookstore.
Amazon was my go-to place for college textbooks.
Best Buy
A retailer with a significant brick-and-mortar presence.
There's a Best Buy store just a few miles from my home.
Amazon
A global online marketplace.
I regularly shop on Amazon for its vast product range.
Best Buy
Known for its Geek Squad tech services.
I got my computer fixed by Best Buy's Geek Squad.
Amazon
Known for its Prime membership benefits.
I have an Amazon Prime membership for faster shipping.
Best Buy
A place offering expert advice on electronic products.
Best Buy's associates helped me choose the right television.
Amazon
Owner of the grocery chain, Whole Foods.
I get my organic produce from Whole Foods, owned by Amazon.
Best Buy
An American electronics retail chain.
I purchased my laptop from Best Buy last month.
Amazon
Operator of cashier-less Amazon Go stores.
I experienced the future of shopping at an Amazon Go store.
Amazon
A member of a legendary nation of women warriors reputed to have lived in ancient Scythia.
Amazon
Often amazon A tall, aggressive, strong-willed woman.
Amazon
Often amazon Any of various predominantly green parrots of the genus Amazona, native to Central and South America and sometimes kept as pets.
Amazon
A tall, strong, athletic woman.
Although the evidence for real Amazons is thin, women athletes are often dubbed amazons.
Amazon
A fairy chess piece which combines the moves of the queen and the knight.
Amazon
An amazon parrot
Amazon
A vaginal sexual position in which one partner lies on their back with their knees pulled back, and the other, facing them, squats onto their penis
Amazon
One of a fabulous race of female warriors in Scythia; hence, a female warrior.
Amazon
A tall, strong, masculine woman; a virago.
Amazon
A name numerous species of South American parrots of the genus Chrysotis
Amazon
A large strong and aggressive woman
Amazon
(Greek mythology) one of a nation of women warriors of Scythia (who burned off the right breast in order to use a bow and arrow more effectively)
Amazon
A major South American river; flows into the South Atlantic; the world's 2nd longest river (4000 miles)
Amazon
Mainly green tropical American parrots
Common Curiosities
What does Amazon primarily sell?
Amazon is an online marketplace that sells a vast array of products across numerous categories.
Can I get tech support at Best Buy?
Yes, Best Buy offers tech support services through its Geek Squad.
Does Best Buy only operate physically?
No, Best Buy also has an online store and offers in-store pickups for online orders.
How did Amazon start?
Amazon started as an online bookstore in 1994.
Is Amazon exclusively online?
While Amazon began as an online retailer, it has branched out into physical stores, such as Whole Foods and Amazon Go.
Can I price match products at Best Buy?
Yes, Best Buy often offers a price matching policy for qualifying products and retailers.
What is Best Buy known for?
Best Buy is best known for its consumer electronics retail stores.
Does Amazon offer any membership services?
Yes, Amazon offers a Prime membership that provides various benefits, including faster shipping and access to streaming content.
Are there any Best Buy stores outside the US?
Yes, Best Buy has had operations in other countries, though its primary presence is in the US.
What is Amazon's return policy?
Amazon's return policy varies by product type, but they generally offer returns on eligible items within 30 days of receipt.
Does Best Buy sell products online?
Yes, Best Buy has an online platform where customers can purchase products and even opt for in-store pickups.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
