Newegg offers free membership program to boost signups — includes free shipping and special deals

Newegg Plus image
(Image credit: Newegg)

Newegg has a new free membership program, Newegg+ — because that's the symbol everyone is using these days. It includes free shipping on select items, exclusive offers and deals, discounts on extended warranties, and a dedicated customer service line. The only real catch is that you need to complete a two-step process.

First you'll need to create a Newegg account (which many long-time PC enthusiasts may already have). Then you have to opt into Newegg+ — you don't get it by default. Why require the opt-in process? We're not entirely sure. It appears that to some degree, Newegg is looking for more user registrations and is trading some extra benefits to get them. You can buy from Newegg as a guest, but this gives you more of a reason to sign up, especially if you're a regular shopper.

"Joining most retail membership clubs requires a large financial commitment that really detracts from the excitement of joining the program and the potential savings," says Kidd Liu, Newegg's senior director of business systems development in a press release. "Newegg+ is designed to help customers shop Newegg easier from day one with outstanding free benefits. Since Newegg+ is free and the positives are immeasurable, every customer should be compelled to join."

Those interested in signing up can do so at newegg.com/plus. Just signing up for a Newegg account isn't enough.

It seems Newegg also doesn't want this to lead to the next big hardware shortage: the terms of service state it's only for personal use. "Newegg+ members are not permitted to purchase products for the purpose of resale, rental, or to ship to their customers or potential customers using Newegg+ benefits," it reads.

We did wonder if there might be a catch, but having combed through the terms of service, we can't find anything glaring. Sure, the terms say that Newegg can't always guarantee deals, that it can accept or deny people from the program, that some large items might not be eligible for free shipping, and there's a clause that effectively attempts to prevent you from suing the company. But for better or worse, that's all pretty standard. It does suggest you might get promotional marketing emails, but ones that you can opt out of.

In many ways, this program isn't very surprising. A lot of companies have added programs with speedy delivery and other perks to compete with Amazon in the past few years, as it's a major competitor in many product categories, including PC components. Some like Target Circle 360 and My Best Buy Total, are paid memberships, like Amazon Prime. Newegg's program is for a far more niche group of customers, and it's hard to argue with free.

Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and Mastodon @FreedmanAE.mastodon.social.

  • JTWrenn
    Compelled to join? Man that's horrible messaging.

    Will check it out but "everyone should be compelled to join" sounds just a wee bit dystopian.
    Reply
  • Anaxamenes
    JTWrenn said:
    Compelled to join? Man that's horrible messaging.

    Will check it out but "everyone should be compelled to join" sounds just a wee bit dystopian.
    They aren't saying forcibly made to join, they are saying the benefits should make everyone WANT to join. The benefits compel because they are good.
    Reply
  • helper800
    JTWrenn said:
    Compelled to join? Man that's horrible messaging.

    Will check it out but "everyone should be compelled to join" sounds just a wee bit dystopian.
    Next thing you know they will compel you to give them your money, oh wait, that's just a business model...:rolleyes:
    Reply
  • Lafong
    Newegg has been flogging "deals" and "specials" and "sales" and "shell-shockers" for the last 20 years that I know of. Much of it with free shipping.

    I've never had a major problem with them, but do notice pathetic tactics like a "sale" price for an item at say 225, screaming "normally 400, save 44%!!!", when its never been above 250 in fact.

    Maybe it's a last resort considering their stock sells today on the NASDAQ exchange for a fabulous 81 cents a share after being above 70 dollars only 3 years ago.

    https://www.newegg.com/plus?cm_sp=Head_Navigation-_-Under_Search_Bar-_-Newegg+&icid=773518
    If you dare.

    https://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/advchart/frames/frames.asp?show=&insttype=Stock&symb=negg&x=40&y=13&time=12&startdate=1%2F4%2F1999&enddate=4%2F23%2F2024&freq=1&compidx=aaaaa%3A0&comptemptext=&comp=none&ma=0&maval=9&uf=0&lf=1&lf2=0&lf3=0&type=2&style=320&size=2&timeFrameToggle=false&compareToToggle=false&indicatorsToggle=false&chartStyleToggle=false&state=8
    Reply
  • helper800
    Lafong said:
    Newegg has been flogging "deals" and "specials" and "sales" and "shell-shockers" for the last 20 years that I know of. Much of it with free shipping.

    I've never had a major problem with them, but do notice pathetic tactics like a "sale" price for an item at say 225, screaming "normally 400, save 44%!!!", when its never been above 250 in fact.

    Maybe it's a last resort considering their stock sells today on the NASDAQ exchange for a fabulous 81 cents a share after being above 70 dollars only 3 years ago.

    https://www.newegg.com/plus?cm_sp=Head_Navigation-_-Under_Search_Bar-_-Newegg+&icid=773518
    If you dare.

    https://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/advchart/frames/frames.asp?show=&insttype=Stock&symb=negg&x=40&y=13&time=12&startdate=1/4/1999&enddate=4/23/2024&freq=1&compidx=aaaaa:0&comptemptext=&comp=none&ma=0&maval=9&uf=0&lf=1&lf2=0&lf3=0&type=2&style=320&size=2&timeFrameToggle=false&compareToToggle=false&indicatorsToggle=false&chartStyleToggle=false&state=8
    Didn't they do a reverse stock split of like 1:10 late 2020? Is that partially responsible for the peak and then the subsequent plummet? Also, I think people did a lot of pumping shortly after because of the whack 2020-2022 COVID investing in anything "tech" related.
    Reply
  • Lafong
    helper800 said:
    Didn't they do a reverse stock split of like 1:10 late 2020? Is that partially responsible for the peak and then the subsequent plummet? Also, I think people did a lot of pumping shortly after because of the whack 2020-2022 COVID investing in anything "tech" related.
    Not sure if that chart takes splits into account?

    Apple split 4 for 1 in 2020; here is a 5 year chart. There doesn't appear to be any sudden 4 for 1 move in any direction during 2020....implying that the split is accounted for in the chart.

    https://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/advchart/frames/frames.asp?show=&insttype=Stock&symb=AAPL&x=55&y=17&time=12&startdate=1/4/1999&enddate=4/23/2024&freq=1&compidx=aaaaa:0&comptemptext=&comp=none&ma=0&maval=9&uf=0&lf=1&lf2=0&lf3=0&type=2&style=320&size=2&timeFrameToggle=false&compareToToggle=false&indicatorsToggle=false&chartStyleToggle=false&state=8
    I've never followed the stock and did not even know it was publicly traded until a year or so ago.
    Reply
  • Jagar123
    I've been burned by Newegg a few too many times. I haven't ordered from them regularly in 10+ years. I don't really want to get ads sent to me from them by signing up to a + account (even if I can opt out).
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    I stopped buying from them when the Chinese bought them, their customer service went downhill, and the competition overtook them in terms of pricing and benefits. Think the last thing I bought from them was a monitor, which cost an arm and a leg to return because it was defective and they didn't do free returns, and didn't do advance replacements.
    Reply
  • Math Geek
    for free i'll opt in. no reason not to if i order from them anyway at times.

    but in 6 months when it turns into "for ONLY $99 a year....", then i'll nope right back out :)
    Reply
  • coromonadalix
    same here with their fake pricing, or the good rebates

    check all year long pricing trends and you'll see, you save nothing

    same behavior from many ...
    Reply