This story is part of 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, our list of ideas, by theme, by recipient and by price, to help you discover the ideal gift.

Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday are both over, but the 2021 holiday shopping season is far from over. (To verify the best vacation deals that are still available here.) In fact, we’re only weeks away from Christmas, one of the biggest gifts of the year. But as supply chains continue to feel the impact of COVID-19, buyers may encounter a few hurdles in their quest to check out every item on their list.

What if you could skip the line, guaranteeing access to a hard-to-get gift like, say, a Playstation 5? That’s one of the perks of Best Buy’s Totaltech, a new subscription service that launched in October. While it offers perks like unlimited Geek Squad tech support, special member pricing on products, free shipping, and more, it’s this premium access to those holiday shopping unicorns that is already making people consider paying the annual membership fee of $ 200.

But is it really worth it? Here’s everything you need to know about Best Buy’s Totaltech.

What is the Best Buy Totaltech subscription?

Totaltech is BestBuy’s new annual membership program. Following its nationwide launch on October 5, the program offers its members benefits such as Unlimited Geek Squad Support, a special member price on merchandise, up to two years of protection on the most purchases and free delivery and installation, among other things.

One of the most notable perks of membership is access to hard-to-find products this holiday season. This could include the Playstation 5, but Best Buy has yet to specify which high-demand products will be available to Totaltech members. More information on what is included in the membership is below.

Read more: As the holidays roll in, retailers force more PS5 restocking behind pay walls

Best Buy began testing the program in April at select stores in Iowa, Oklahoma, eastern Pennsylvania, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Tennessee. At that time, the program was called Best Buy Beta.

If you are currently a member of Best Buy Beta, or if you are part of other company membership programs, such as Total Tech Support or Geek Squad Tech Support, Best Buy states that you will be automatically upgraded to the Totaltech membership.

How much does Best Buy Totaltech cost?

Similar to the beta of the program, Best Buy’s Totaltech membership program costs $ 200 per year. The only difference is that no discounts are offered this time to Best Buy credit card holders. If you paid for the Best Buy beta at $ 180, you’ll be billed $ 200 on the next renewal date of your Totaltech membership.

You can cancel membership at any time. If you want to cancel within the first 60 days of purchasing the subscription, Best Buy says you will be refunded the full price, less any subscription discounts you received. For cancellations after the first 60 days, you will receive a pro-rated refund.

What is included in the membership?

Best Buy offers Totaltech members a collection of benefits ranging from 24-hour technical support to exclusive member product pricing. Here’s a full list of the benefits included with Best Buy’s Totaltech membership:

• Free unlimited Geek Squad technical support
• Totaltech Expert Access
• Up to 24 months of protection on most Best Buy purchases, including AppleCare Plus on Apple products (however, you must be an active Totaltech member)
• Free delivery and standard installation
• 20% reduction on labor for repairs and advanced services, and 10% reduction on labor for custom installations
• Free transportation on most replacements
• Exclusive membership price on merchandise
• 60 day extended return and exchange period for most products

As part of the Totaltech subscription, Best Buy will be offering its members access to hard-to-find products this holiday season. Subscribers will also have access to Member Monday, a series of special events that provide members with exclusive deals on tech products that will continue throughout the holiday season.

What hard-to-find products will members have access to this holiday season?

Best Buy did not say which high-demand products will be available to Totaltech members, but the retailer’s PS5 drop on October 11 confirmed earlier rumors that had arisen on Twitter in the days following the release. Totaltech launch: Totaltech members were indeed invited to the leader.

Despite being perpetually sold out since its launch last November, the PS5 has been Sony’s best-selling game console to date, surpassing 10 million units after just eight months. And between the shortage of chips and shipping constraints, and the fact that scalping bots pick up PS5s within minutes every time they appear online, parents and gamers almost a year after starting their PS5 quests are becoming increasingly popular. more desperate. Yes, at the end of the day Best Buy is suspending an extra $ 200 to offer the chance – not even a guarantee – to get the most popular giveaway of the year. But for many who already check eBay or StockX margins, that’s a price they might well be willing to pay.

If you’re looking for the PlayStation 5, CNET has been follow-up of each replenishment here.

Doesn’t GameStop offer the same type of membership program?

Yes. GameStop PowerUp Pro Rewards Also offers early access to some game console inventory drops, but it only costs $ 15 per year.