Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →On February 18, 2015, mobile-commerce startup Curbside announced a limited pilot with Best Buy at several San Francisco Bay Area stores. Shoppers could order eligible products through Curbside’s app and collect them from their cars; this was not a nationwide Best Buy rollout. Best Buy now offers its own curbside-pickup option, but its current support pages do not establish that the original Curbside app powers it.
What Curbside announced
Curbside added Best Buy to the retailers available through its mobile app. Customers could browse participating retailers, buy eligible products in the app, select a participating store, then drive there and have the order brought to their vehicle. The service was designed for same-day local pickup where available, rather than delivery to the customer’s home.
The arrangement joined Curbside’s mobile ordering and arrival experience to a retailer’s local inventory and fulfillment operation. Best Buy already offered store pickup; Curbside’s added proposition was a vehicle-side handoff without a store visit.
Which Best Buy stores were in the pilot?
TechCrunch’s February 18, 2015 report named three initial locations: Best Buy Santana Row and Best Buy San Jose South in San Jose, and Best Buy Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. The report said a fourth Bay Area location had not yet been determined. The announcement did not say that every Bay Area store—or Best Buy stores elsewhere—participated.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Brightly colored.
- Three-sided view with clearly printed message.
- Carrying handles.
- Keyhole accessory opening.
- Stackable.
TechCrunch’s original report described the partnership; Retail Dive’s February 19, 2015 coverage also characterized Curbside’s retail deployments as limited Bay Area tests.
Why add carside pickup to Best Buy’s existing pickup?
Store pickup lets customers collect online orders at a retailer, but it can still require going inside. Curbside offered a mobile-first route from browsing to a handoff at the vehicle. For a shopper who had already researched an electronics purchase and wanted it promptly, that could offer a middle ground between waiting for delivery and entering a store.
Rank #2
- DURABLE ALUMINUM: 'Curbside Pickup Space' signs are made of 63 mil thick heavy-duty rustproof reflective aluminum that easily lasts 10 years outside and meets DOT road and traffic requirements.
- EASY INSTALLATION: All signs come with rounded, burr-free corners and 3/8 inch punched and pre-cleared holes. Signs mount to U-channel posts, square or round galvanized posts, wooden posts, and chain-link fences.
- LAMINATED PROTECTION: With lamination, graphics are protected from weather and abuse to preserve a fresh look. Graffiti can be cleaned off too. Clear UV laminate resists chemicals, UV rays, water, and abrasion.
- 3M AUTHORIZED: Signs use official 3M Reflective Engineer Grade film and are printed with 3M screen printing or 3M outdoor digital inks designed specifically for outdoor traffic and property signs - providing ultimate quality and assurance.
- PACK CONTENTS: One 18 x 12 inch green and white aluminum sign.
- Compared with delivery: The customer made the trip, so the retailer did not need to send a driver to each home. Pickup could avoid the last-mile delivery leg while giving the shopper access to local stock.
- Compared with ordinary store pickup: The customer could remain in the vehicle rather than walk in to retrieve the order.
- The trade-off: Convenience depended on a participating store, an eligible item, available local inventory, and the customer’s ability to travel there. Curbside offered less opportunity for product advice or setup at handoff.
That distinction mattered in the broader retail competition over faster fulfillment. As online sellers pursued quicker delivery and retailers tested store-based pickup, Curbside positioned stores as local fulfillment points: inventory stayed nearby, while the customer rather than a delivery driver covered the trip’s final leg.
What Curbside said about demand and operations
Curbside CEO Jaron Waldman told TechCrunch that more than 55% of Curbside shoppers had made a repeat purchase. Contemporary coverage also described the company as processing hundreds of orders per day, while TechCrunch used the different formulation of thousands of orders per week. These are company-reported figures, not independently audited metrics; the two order-volume descriptions should not be treated as one precise measurement.
Rank #3
- ✔ HIGH QUALITY, LONG LASTING - We use only first-class materials to manufacture our signs. Made from 100% rust free strong aluminum, and will stay good as new even after many years of indoor or outdoor use. Plus, our signs are made in the USA!
- ✔ NO FADING - The graphics and wordings will withstand the elements and will not fade, no matter the sun, rain, or other extreme weather.
- ✔ PRE-DRILLED HOLES FOR EASY MOUNTING - All of our premium signs have 4 pre-drilled holes and can be easily mounted on every surface. No need for adhesive or special equipment!
- ✔ PERFECT SIZE - We have carefully designed this sign, considering every aspect. This unique size gives the ability for the wording to stand out and be easily understood without creating an aggressive environment!
- ✔ PROFESSIONAL GRAPHICS - Ideal for both home & yard use and for professional businesses, our signs are carefully designed to look sleek, authoritative, and easy to read.
The service had developed beyond the household and baby products that Curbside said initially appealed to young parents, including shoppers buying diapers while keeping children in the car. The company said its product mix had broadened to apparel and cosmetics; Best Buy brought electronics, including higher-priced goods, into the potential use case.
Curbside also described an employee-based operating model rather than one built primarily around contractors. According to the company’s account in TechCrunch, most employees worked more than 30 hours a week, were paid hourly and received benefits. Curbside reported about 65 retail employees and 25 headquarters employees at the time, and said retailers might eventually staff Curbside locations themselves. These were company descriptions, not independently verified workforce figures. Contemporary coverage reported $8 million in Series A funding.
Rank #4
- DURABLE ALUMINUM: 'Curbside Pickup Space' signs are made of 63 mil thick heavy-duty rustproof reflective aluminum that easily lasts 10 years outside and meets DOT road and traffic requirements.
- EASY INSTALLATION: All signs come with rounded, burr-free corners and 3/8 inch punched and pre-cleared holes. Signs mount to U-channel posts, square or round galvanized posts, wooden posts, and chain-link fences.
- LAMINATED PROTECTION: With lamination, graphics are protected from weather and abuse to preserve a fresh look. Graffiti can be cleaned off too. Clear UV laminate resists chemicals, UV rays, water, and abrasion.
- 3M AUTHORIZED: Signs use official 3M Reflective Engineer Grade film and are printed with 3M screen printing or 3M outdoor digital inks designed specifically for outdoor traffic and property signs - providing ultimate quality and assurance.
- PACK CONTENTS: One 18 x 12 inch green and white aluminum sign.
What happened to Curbside?
Rakuten announced on June 8, 2018, that it had acquired Curbside. Rakuten described Curbside as a location-centric mobile-commerce platform and said its technology would become part of Rakuten’s mobile-commerce platform, supporting mobile order-ahead experiences for store pickup and home delivery. The announcement establishes the later acquisition, but does not say that the Best Buy pilot caused it or that Rakuten acquired a specific Best Buy contract.
Rakuten’s acquisition announcement provides the company’s account of the deal.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBest Value
- Premium Aluminum Quality – Crafted from high-grade, rust-free aluminum to deliver a strong, professional-looking sign that resists wear, maintains its shape, and provides long-lasting performance you can rely on.
- Designed for Indoor & Outdoor Display – Engineered to perform in any environment, this sign holds up against sun, rain, wind, and daily exposure, making it ideal for homes, businesses, and outdoor spaces.
- Vibrant, Fade-Resistant Printing – Printed using UV-resistant inks that help preserve bold colors and sharp text, ensuring your message stays clear, readable, and visually appealing year after year.
- Quick & Easy Mounting – Comes ready to install with pre-drilled holes for fast, secure mounting on walls, fences, posts, doors, or other surfaces without the need for special tools or adhesives.
- Made in the USA with Care – Proudly manufactured in the USA using premium materials and attention to detail, delivering dependable quality, professional craftsmanship, and a product you can trust.
Best Buy curbside pickup today is a separate current workflow
Best Buy’s current support pages describe curbside pickup through Best Buy’s own ordering and app process; they do not establish that the historical Curbside consumer app remains part of it. As of August 18, 2026, Best Buy says curbside is available for eligible products at participating stores, generally without an additional pickup charge. Its Fast Store Pickup page advertises one-hour pickup for many eligible orders, subject to exclusions and possible payment-validation delays. That is not a guarantee for every product or order.
- Shop on BestBuy.com or in the Best Buy app, add eligible items to the cart, and select “Use Curbside Pickup” at checkout if it is offered.
- Place the order and wait for the ready-for-pickup email, text, or app notification before traveling. For multi-item orders, read the notice carefully: items can be ready at different times.
- Follow the arrival instructions, park in the designated area, and check in through the app or notification. Best Buy may ask for photo ID, order information, and, in some cases, the payment card; the verification method can vary.
- If you have checked in but have not been acknowledged within 10 minutes, Best Buy’s FAQ says to use the “I’m at the store” control again to resend the alert.
Not all stores or products qualify. Large televisions, appliances, mobile phones with plans, Marketplace products, and orders requiring additional payment validation may follow a different process or take longer. If curbside is not offered, check another nearby store or choose an available fulfillment method. If the order is still processing, check its status in the app or on BestBuy.com rather than heading to the store. Best Buy says curbside orders are held for five days before cancellation and refund; its FAQ also says pedestrians and cyclists can check in near the entrance and describe their location. See the Best Buy Curbside Pickup FAQs for current arrival and order guidance.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
