With close to 1,000 brick-and-mortar stores in the US and Canada, Best Buy is North America’s largest consumer electronics retailer. In 2022, the retail giant’s revenue totaled over $51 billion.

Want to learn how to sell a product at Best Buy? 

Whether you’re selling in-store, online, or both, big-box retailers like Best Buy have strict requirements for their suppliers—and there’s a lot of competition for limited shelf space. Without insider knowledge and connections, it can be hard to catch a buyer’s attention and secure a vendor partnership. 

In this guide, you’ll find:

• 3 ways to get a product into Best Buy
• Best Buy vendor requirements 
• A step-by-step guide to the Vendor Application process
• A brief introduction to EcomHalo: your do-it-all retail accelerator and fulfillment provider.

Let’s get started.

What is a Best Buy Vendor? Vendors and suppliers provide products for Best Buy, including goods for resale. 2 types of Best Buy vendors Traditional Domestic Core Vendor (in-store and online): a first-party vendor/supplier relationship in which you sell inventory to Best Buy, then Best Buy sells your inventory to customers in brick-and-mortar stores and online. Supplier Direct Fulfillment (SDF) Vendor: a drop ship vendor relationship in which you sell products directly to consumers via the BestBuy.com ecommerce platform. The type of vendor you should be depends on your product type, business size and scope, sales/order volume, customer base, and so on. For established brands, a drop ship vendor relationship gives you the most freedom, flexibility, and control. You remain in control of your product’s pricing and marketing, and you have the option to source your own 3PL (third-party logistics) provider to handle storage, order fulfillment, and shipping. Note: Best Buy Canada operates Best Buy Marketplace, an ecommerce market hub where third-party businesses can apply to sell products on BestBuy.ca. A company address in Canada is required. There is no longer a US equivalent.

Research Best Buy’s Product Requirements

Best Buy has 5 main product categories:

• Computing and Mobile Phones (including but not limited to: desktops, notebooks/laptops, tablets and e-readers, wearables such as smartwatches) 
• Consumer Electronics (digital imaging, health and fitness products, home theater, portable audio such as headphones and speakers, smart home devices)
• Appliances (large appliances such as dishwashers/ovens/refrigerators, small appliances such as blenders/coffee makers/vacuums) 
• Entertainment (drones, gaming hardware/software, movies, music, toys, etc.)
• Other (baby, food and beverage, luggage, outdoor living, sporting goods)

Best Buy’s 2022 Annual Report shared the following net sales breakdown:

In general, Best Buy places emphasis on competitive pricing, high value for price, and sustainability and responsible sourcing. Similar to other big-box stores, they require products to be retail shelf-ready—and vendors must be able to manufacture, package, and ship products in quantities and timelines that adhere to Best Buy’s standards. 

Since 2020, Best Buy has been pivoting toward a drop ship model for most vendors—basically, any vendor that isn’t Apple, Samsung, and so on. If you’re unable to drop ship in accordance with Best Buy’s standards, your chances of scoring a Best Buy partnership are much lower. 
Drop shipping is a fulfillment model where you send products directly to customers using a trusted 3PL (third-party logistics) ecommerce fulfillment provider—preferably one with experience in storing, packing, and shipping consumer electronics.

Traditional Vendor requirements

General requirements
Legal company information	Found on W9 tax form (US vendor) or W8-BEN (non-US vendor).
Dun & Bradstreet Registration (D-U-N-S)	D-U-N-S Number: a unique 9-digit identifier for your business. You can register with D&B and request a D-U-N-S Number free of charge.
GS1 Global Location Number (GLN), Company Prefix Number (GTIN)	GS1 is the global authority for product identification keys such as barcodes. GLN: a unique ID number assigned to a company. GS1 Company Prefix: a 6-9 digit number assigned to a company. A GS1 Company Prefix is a paid membership that allows you to get multiple barcodes at a time. The cost of a GS1 membership depends on how many barcodes you need. GTIN (Global Trade Item Number): a globally unique number that is used to identify your specific product or service.
COI (Certificate of Insurance)	General Commercial Liability Insurance is required, with a minimum limit of $2M/$5M/$10M depending on product type.
Financial information	Bank name and contact Audit firm 2-3 trade references

Technology requirements
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) capabilities	EDI documents required: 850: Purchase Orders 860: Purchase Order Changes 810: Invoice 824: Application Advice 856: Advance Ship Notice (ASN) 997: Functional Acknowledgment
EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) capabilities	Best Buy uses Western Union to move money, deduct payables, and wire transfers.
PDM (Product Data Management)	Online system for SKU and content setup. You can access and use this system after becoming a vendor.

Shipping requirements
Freight	Best Buy offers 2 freight options: Prepaid: Vendor transports freight to Best Buy facilities. Vendor retains control and responsibility of freight until it is received at the BB facility. Vendor is responsible for the carrier relationship. Collect: Best Buy picks up freight from the vendor’s facility. Best Buy takes responsibility for the freight once it is loaded onto the trailer.
Packaging and labeling	Best Buy has strict requirements for Domestic Core Vendor “Receive Ready” packaging (box, carton, case, pallet) dimensions, materials, sustainability, strength, configuration, etc., as well as for packing slips and other labels. See the Best Buy Inbound Shipping Guide at partners.bestbuy.com.
Timelines	Best Buy has strict timeline/scheduling requirements for vendor shipments. If you are unable to consistently meet their timelines, you cannot partner with Best Buy. See the Best Buy Inbound Shipping Guide at partners.bestbuy.com.

You can read about the Best Buy vendor requirements in more detail at partners.BestBuy.com.

Drop Ship Vendor requirements

Best Buy SDF (drop ship) vendors have the same General and Technology requirements as traditional vendors (see above), plus the following:

CommerceHub EDI capabilities

CommerceHub is a third-party order stream EDI platform. Best Buy drop ship vendors do not use EDI through BB directly—they contract with CommerceHub.

Shipping requirements
Basic capabilities	Drop ship vendors must be able to: Fulfill (pick-pack-ship) products directly to BestBuy.com customers in individual unit quantities Ship and send shipping confirmation within 2 business days Comply with BB branding standards, including a BestBuy.com branded shipping label in each parcel Maintain on-hand inventory to support online demand Receive returned goods back in bulk Support Best Buy’s predetermined drop ship carriers Process ship speed upgrades where the customer has paid for this service Set freight billing up directly to BB, with BB as the shipper of record Package orders to withstand individual shipment to the customer (may require over-boxing)
SLAs (Service Level Agreements) Best Buy has strict SLAs for drop ship vendors. Failure to comply with these SLAs may result in penalty fees or termination.	Adjusted Fill Rate (maintaining on-hand inventory level to ensure product availability): 99% Shipped On Time: 95% Timely Ship Notice: 99% Timely Inventory Advice (daily inventory updates): 95%

Note: The majority of “smaller” vendors (i.e., companies smaller than Samsung) are required to drop ship. Best Buy is in the process of scaling back their own shipping and distribution services in favor of vendors covering their own order fulfillment, shipping, and delivery.

How to get your product into Best Buy

Know your product would be a good fit on Best Buy’s shelves? Then you’re ready to take your chances at becoming a Best Buy supplier.

3 ways to become a Best Buy supplier

1. Submit your application online

Whether you want to sell in-store, online, or both, applying online is the main way to submit your product(s) for consideration. 

You can submit your application via the official Best Buy RangeMe page. (RangeMe is a third-party product discovery platform.) Retail buyers (people who source products for a retailer) review applications on RangeMe.

3 simple steps to submit a Vendor Application:

1. Create a RangeMe account and fill out the Vendor Application and Product Submission forms. 
2. Verify your business by submitting any required documentation, such as your Federal Taxpayer ID Number, D-U-N-S Number, bank information, product information and images, etc.
3. Wait for approval. Due to the high volume of submissions, you can expect to wait at least 4 weeks to get a response from a buyer—and responses are not guaranteed. If your application is accepted, Best Buy sends you a Vendor Master Agreement (VMA) to review and sign. That kicks off the onboarding process.

2. Hire a sales rep or retail brokerage service

Retail brokers act as middlemen between SMBs (Small and Midsize Businesses) and retailers. They introduce you to buyers, help you pitch and negotiate a contract, and generally facilitate your relationship with that retailer. 

Brokerage services tend to specialize in one or two major retailers only, or local store locations. They focus more on brick-and-mortar stores than ecommerce. They’re an option if you’re focusing on a specific location—and if you make sure to verify all connections and claims.

3. Partner with a retail accelerator

Hey, that’s us! Here’s what we do:

• Directly introduce you to a Best Buy retail buyer
• Fast-track the pitching and onboarding process, cutting weeks down to days
• Manage your inventory, order fulfillment, and drop shipping in compliance with Best Buy’s strict drop ship requirements and standards 

We’ll go into how we help later on. First, let’s dive into the application process.

How to fill out the Best Buy Vendor Application

The first step is to create a RangeMe account, fill out basic information about your company, and set up your product(s). 

Then you can fill out the Vendor Application. 

Here’s all the information you need:

Best Buy Product Submission

General product information

USP (Unique Selling Proposition): a keyword or label that categorizes your product to make it easier for buyers to find. Examples: organic, sustainable, award-winning, etc. SKU (Stock Keeping Unit): a unique, scannable product ID number assigned by your manufacturer Cost to retailer: the wholesale price per unit that a retailer pays you (i.e., the dollar amount HSN pays per unit if they buy your inventory at wholesale price) MSRP (Manufacturer-Suggested Retail Price): the retail selling price (i.e., the dollar amount HSN could sell your product for, via their retail channels) Product images: clear, high-quality photos of the product appearing how it would in stores (in the packaging, against a white background)

Manufacturing and distribution information

Development status: Working Prototype, Factory-Produced Sample, Fully Developed and In Production Where is the product manufactured? Is the product currently being sold anywhere? Lead time: the time it takes to manufacture, ship, and deliver a finished product Products per case: the number of products in each case you’re able to ship to a retailer Case price: how much the retailer pays you for one case of product

Once you’ve completed the Product Submission form, click Submit for Approval. 

RangeMe’s Product Approval team will review your product(s) within 24-48 hours to make sure it meets their basic requirements. Retail buyers won’t see your product until it gets approved.

If your product doesn’t get approved, you’ll get an email explaining why and what to do next. 

Common reasons a product won’t get approved:

• Unacceptable product image (dark, low-quality, etc.) 
• Unrealistic pricing 
• Descriptions not in English
• Listed in the wrong category

(If you already have a RangeMe account with products set up, you can go straight to the Vendor Application.)

Best Buy Vendor Application

First, you’ll be asked a series of questions: Are you a supplier, broker, or distributor? Is the company privately or publicly owned? Do you have a DUNS number? Is your company EDI capable? Does your company have DSD (Direct Store Delivery) capabilities? Do you have General Liability Insurance?
Supplier Diversity information	Which of the following diverse classifications comprise a majority of the company’s ownership? Minority Women Veteran Disability Other Not Diverse Owned If you say yes, you’ll be asked to provide an active certification from a diverse certifying agency—or confirm that you’re open to filing for certification in the future.
Product information	Is this product currently on Amazon? Yes/No If yes, do you control your pricing and stock? Has this product been evaluated by an independent third-party testing agency to confirm compliance with US State & Federal regulations? Yes/No

Finally, you’ll be given space to provide any additional details about your product. This is a good place for a mini pitch—any relevant information you think a buyer would find compelling.

So… I submitted my application. Now what?

Now you wait.

Ideally, you’ll hear from an interested buyer (via RangeMe, phone, or email) within 30 days. But due to the high volume of submissions, you’re not guaranteed to receive a response. 

If a buyer does contact you, the next step is to discuss your product further. That might mean setting up a phone call or virtual meeting. The buyer may also request a sample of your product. 
Overall, the online application process can take weeks or months.

Choose a Retail Accelerator with Consumer Electronics Experience

A retail accelerator is a partner that provides guidance, support, resources, and access to retailer networks. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, you’re in luck.

We’re EcomHalo: a retail accelerator and fulfillment provider redefining what it means to be a partner. 

We don’t just handle your end-to-end inventory management, omnichannel logistics, and pick-pack-ship order fulfillment needs. 

We also leverage our partnership network of 25+ top retailers to help you expand your brand, enter multibillion-dollar channels, and reach millions of customers in stores and online. 

We’re your personal guide to the retail landscape—from first step to final mile.

Case study: How EcomHalo helped ZVOX Audio get back on Best Buy’s shelves THE PROBLEM When COVID-19 disrupted supply chains, Best Buy vendor ZVOX Audio quickly converted their business to a drop ship model—but lost 18 months of ecommerce sales while trying to get back in the door with the tech giant. THE SOLUTION Using EcomHalo’s established vendor account, prebuilt EDI, and omnichannel integration software, ZVOX got their products relisted on BestBuy.com in a matter of days—and cut freight transport costs by utilizing our network of strategically located warehouses.

What We Provide

Direct buyer introduction	Fast-tracked onboarding	Full-service fulfillment
No need to submit your Vendor Application online and hope for a response. We directly introduce you to a Best Buy retail buyer, then handle digital content creation, EDI integration, and all other requirements so you can start selling fast.	Become a supplier in days, not weeks, by leveraging our decades of connections in the big-box retail space. Import your products and channels into our easy-to-use cloud-based platform, then watch orders flow into your digital dashboard in real-time.	We store and manage your inventory, fulfill all orders across all channels, and help you optimize your logistics so you can cut costs, save time, and launch into the future of your brand. Go ahead and hit new heights—we’ll make sure you stick the landing.

Conclusion

In this guide, we covered:

• How to get a product into Best Buy
• What kind of product Best Buy is looking for
• Everything you need for the Vendor Application forms
• A faster, easier way to get your product into Best Buy—by partnering with a retail accelerator like EcomHalo.

Whether or not our Retail Acceleration services are the right fit for your brand, we hope you’ve found this guide helpful and informative. Wherever your journey takes you, we wish you safe travels, big windfalls, and the absolute best of luck.
Ready to power up? Request a free 15-minute consultation to receive:

• A rundown of our Retail Acceleration and Fulfillment services
• Pricing options and a free quote
• Referrals to other services if we’re not the right fit

Still have questions? Connect with an EcomHalo Guardian—we’re here to help.