I loved the Best Buy Rewards program until...

...I got the email that was titled: Your Reward Zone® program is changing on October 31, 2009

The Reward Zone program was great.  All of our Best Buy purchases contributed toward the program and we received certificates to go toward future purchases.  It's a great deal. We've actually been able to buy a digital camera with most of it paid for from the certificates we earned from buying a large screen TV. 

I understand everyone needs to make changes to survive, but the changes to go into effect for this program seem only somewhat necessary for the store's benefit and even more so inconvenient to the customer.  I see a greater inconvenience to the consumer than I see a money savings for the retailer. 

Here are the changes in a nutshell:

Reward certificates will only be available online instead of being mailed out.  I like the environmentally friendly approach to this, but don't we still have to print the certificates ourselves and use our own paper and ink? I would not mind this option, and it would make a lot more sense if the certificates were on record for the cashiers to access and there was no paper involved whatsoever.   

Reward certificates will no longer be transferable.  They claim this safety measure helps prevent others from redeeming my reward certificates without my knowledge. But, what if I didn't have anything to buy and I wanted a friend to be able to use the certificates rather than them going to waste?  A coupon is a coupon.  People always help each other out and share coupons.

Lastly, for the following two conditions, points will be cashed out, available certificates will be sent, and any remaining points under 250 will be forfeited:
- You will need to use your points in the year they are earned. Reward Zone is becoming an annual program, which means that points no longer roll over from year-to-year.

- You will need to make one purchase every 12 months to remain in the program.
I feel like I am dealing with my medical insurance company and trying to reach the annual deductible well before year end so that I can reap the benefits before I have to start all over again.  This is the worst part about the changes as far as I'm concerned.  How many dryers, washers, fridges and TV's does the average consumer need within a year?  The program is best suited for the big purchases, and during these tough times, I don't think there is an abundance of large ticket items being sold. 
And, to enforce that I need to make a purhcase every 12 months to remain in the program is like charging a membership fee.  Also, is this supposed to scare us into an unnecessary purchase?  Ooh, better watch out...if you don't buy something at Best Buy this year, you will be kicked out of the club! Once in, you should be in for good.  My Kroger plus card is always good, no matter how infrequently I use it.

Maybe it would have been better off had they started the program with these guidelines, rather than coming up with the changes well into it. It never sits well with the consumer.