Best Buy Co., Inc. purchases Checkmate signature capture peripherals for chain wide rollout.

ROSWELL, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 1995--Checkmate Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq-NMS Symbol: CMEL) today announced that Best Buy (NYSE Symbol: BBY) will implement Checkmate's electronic signature capture technology.

Use of this technology will improve customer service at all points of payment, reduce dependency on paper and cut administration costs.

Best Buy has selected Checkmate's signature capture peripheral for a pre-holiday season rollout in 251 stores. The initial transaction is worth in excess of $500,000. Additionally, all new store openings during 1996 will include the Checkmate solution.

"Best Buy continually seeks ways to improve service to its customers. Payment automation increases point of sales efficiency while reducing fraud. Payment automation also offers administrative efficiencies, which reduces transaction, collection and information retrieval costs significantly. We estimate a pay back of less than one year on this investment. We chose Checkmate because of the outstanding price performance of their signature capture terminal and because they also offer check reader and debit terminal solutions," said Best Buy's director of accounting operations, Chris Steele.

Checkmate's president and chief executive officer, Jerry Malec, said: "Checkmate is proud to have Best Buy as a customer. By selecting Checkmate, our customers now show a preference for a one-stop solution provider where technology, price performance, service, support, migration options and financial strength are viewed as a whole. Checkmate has the technology and strength to meet Best Buy's current needs and future requirements."

Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Best Buy Co., Inc. is one of the nation's fastest growing specialty retailers. The company offers a wide selection of name brand consumer electronics, personal computers and home office products, entertainment software and major appliances at 240 stores in 28 states.

Checkmate Electronics, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets point-of-sale payment automation systems and terminals, including check readers, payment authorization systems, signature capture devices and MICR analyzers to distributors, retailers, and financial service institutions. Headquartered in Roswell, Georgia, Checkmate Electronics, Inc. has 168 employees. In May, 1994, Checkmate was ranked the 17th fastest growing small company in the United States by BUSINESS WEEK.

CONTACT: Checkmate Electronics, Inc., Roswell

John J. Neubert, 770/594-6000

or

Best Buy Co., Inc., Eden Prairie

Laurie Bauer, 612/947-2450