Best Buy Return Policy: Everything You Need To Know (Plus a Few Hacks Too)
I’m not gonna lie, the Best Buy measly 15-day return policy is kind of confusing and gotten WAY worse in recent years. Different lengths of time to return some stuff, different ways to return items, and some products that you flat-out can’t return. Because of all these factors, I figured it was time to officially figure out their return policy by talking directly to Best Buy employees who actually deal with it, and angry customers, on a daily basis. I did exactly that and here’s everything you need to know about their return policy, plus a few hacks to make it work better for you.
2024 Holiday Policy Update:
Best Buy has extended their return policy for items purchased between November 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.
You now have until January 14, 2025 to return or exchange these items.
You Only Have 15 Days to Return Most Items
“Regular” Best Buy customers get a paltry 15- day return window.
If you’re a My Best Buy Plus, or a My Best Buy Total member, you get a 60 day return policy.
In case you were wondering, and who wasn’t, the My Best Buy Plus membership costs $49.99/year, and the My Best Buy Total runs $179.99/year, and they both also come with free 2-day shipping. Details HERE.
Cell Phones and Devices with a Carrier Contract – 14 days for everyone.
Wedding Registry Items – 60 days from date of purchase.
Litter Boxes – For some reason beyond my knowledge, cat litter boxes sold by Best Buy come with a 90-day return window for everyone.
Also, when it comes to returning refurbished, open-box, and pre-owned products, the regular 15-day return policy applies.
PRO TIP: AFTER 15 DAYS RETURN HACK
If you have your receipt, and it’s only been a few days past 15 (up to 7 days), you stand a good chance of scoring an even exchange if your polite and you have a legitimate issue with the product.
It really comes down to the manager on shift, but often times they’re willing to work with you. If not, then you’ll have to contact the manufacturer and file a warranty claim.
For this reason, I suggest window shopping at Best Buy but make your actual purchase on Amazon where you get a 30 day return policy and they’re pretty lenient if you have issues with a consumer electronic product.
They Give You Several Return Options
Here’s the skinny so you can actually make their return policy work for you.
In-Store Return – You can return an item bought at Best Buy or BestBuy.com directly to any brick & mortar location.
To make the return go smoothly bring in your receipt or packing slip, the credit card used, and a valid photo ID.
Return by Mail:
Do-It-Yourself – You pick the carrier, use the included Return Form on your packing slip, and pay for the shipping yourself.
No packing slip? Print this blank one and fill it out. Refund will be processed with 2-3 business days of receiving your item.
Use the Prepaid Return Label – Print a prepaid return label, pay nothing upfront, and send your item back to Best Buy for a refund via UPS.
Expect the cost of the return shipping to be deducted from your refund unless the return is a result of a Best Buy error.
PRO TIP: ALWAYS OPT FOR IN-STORE RETURN IF POSSIBLE
When returning an item bought from BestBuy.com, always return it to your local store if you can.
Not only will you avoid any return shipping charges, but you can also take advantage of an instant exchange or a much quicker refund to your original form of payment.
See Also: The Best Buy Price Match Policy: Tips To Help You Save BIG
Returning a Gift Is Fairly Straight Forward
If you return a gift bought at Best Buy by walking into a physical store, you’ll get store credit for the purchase price.
For gifts returned via mail, they’ll credit the gift purchaser and notify them via e-mail.
Best Buy Doesn’t Allow You to Return Everything
There are some products you flat out can’t return to Best Buy.
They include the following:
Final Sale Items – These are clearance products marked as “Final Sale”. If you’re not sure if item is Final Sale, ask an employee before you purchase it.
Special Orders – You’ll only get 85% of the original price refunded. These are items that are typically ordered directly from the manufacturer and not stocked by Best Buy.
Digital Content – This includes games and software that can be downloaded.
Prepaid Cards – This includes prepaid cards from Nintendo, AT&T, Verizon, eBay, and Disney.
Gift Packaging – Pretty obvious. This would be really hard to return.
Membership Costs – This includes the annual Geek Squad membership. Update: Thanks to employee Kristy who says Geek Squad memberships can be returned within 14 days of purchase. After that they will pro-rate it.
Completed Services – This refers to services that Geek Squad has completed for you.
Opened consumable items – This includes batteries, ink and 3D printer filament, and items returned that are damaged, unsanitary or missing major parts.
PRO TIP: SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE…SORT OF
A buddy of mine recently splurged on a high-end gaming laptop from Best Buy during a Black Friday sale. He set it up immediately and started doing his thing but noticed within a couple weeks that the laptop started overheating and shutting down randomly. Convinced it was defective, he decided to try and return it.
Here’s where his trouble began as he had missed the deadline by just two days. To make matters worse, he had discarded the box and all the extra packaging, thinking he wouldn’t need it again.
He visited the store, laptop in hand, hoping for leniency. The employee at the return counter explained the return policy, and my friend politely argued that a malfunctioning product should qualify for an exception. The employee suggested using the manufacturer’s warranty but the thought of dealing with the manufacturer and waiting weeks for a fix seemed like a nightmare.
Thinking he had nothing to lose, my friend decided to escalate the issue to the store manager and he managed to negotiate a solution: rather than a return, Best Buy offered an exchange for the same model. However, they insisted on charging a 15% restocking fee due to the missing packaging.
While he was relieved to walk away with a working laptop, the experience serves as a great reminder to know the return policy, especially on electronics. I know for a fact that he’ll never buy a computer from Best Buy again.
See Also: Newegg Return Policy: A Very Complicated Policy That We Make Sense Of
Best Buy is Notorious for Re-Stocking Fee
Unfortunately you’ll have to pay a re-stocking fee on these items.
DSLR Cameras and Lenses – 15% re-stocking fee.
Smartphones – $45 flat re-stocking fee.
Drones – 15% re-stocking fee.
Projectors – 15% re-stocking fee.
Rideables – 15% re-stocking fee.
Special Order Products – 15% re-stocking fee.
Sans Receipt? Be Prepared to Show Your ID
If you don’t have a receipt, be prepared to show a valid ID when returning something to Best Buy.
They do this to try and cut down on return fraud in their stores.
They reserve the right to refuse any return without a receipt if they feel it’s fraudulent.
See Also: 7 Insider Tips to Save Money at Best Buy
It’s Okay If You Opened the Item
No worries, just pack everything back up as well as you can and get a full refund as long as your still within the 15 day return window.
Make sure you don’t forget any manuals or instructions that can with the item.
PRO TIP: DID BEST BUY MAKE AN ERROR?
If you’re returning something to Best Buy via mail, and the reason for the return is an error on Best Buy’s part, they’re on the hook for the return shipping charges.
Do not let them charge you for return shipping as they sometimes will try and slip those charges in if you’re not paying attention.
Still Make the Return If You’re Missing Parts
Don’t let missing parts or accessories stop you from returning something to Best Buy.
From their site, “If you do not have all the original packaging or accessories, that’s okay too. We can process a return with a nonrefundable deduction on your refund for what is missing.”
Consider NOT Using Cash On Big Purchases
Keep in mind that if you pay with cash, and your order is over $800, you’ll have to settle for a corporate check as a refund.
You’ll get the check in the mail within 7-10 days which is a pain in the butt.
Stores don’t keep a lot of cash on hand and so they won’t be able to refund you with cash.
The same applies when you spend $250 by check or by a debit card without a major credit card logo.
Be Careful Returning an Item That You Got a Price Match On
Interestingly, I got a comment on this issue from J.Cole stating that he had to settle for store credit on an item that he got a price match on because a competitor had a lower price.
I personally asked a Best Buy manager about this the last time I was shopping and she said that’s only the case when doing an online return and selecting “Found a better price” as the reason for your return.
She said when returning in-store, you’ll get a full refund for what you paid, to your original form of payment, and it doesn’t matter if you got a price match on the item or not.
You CAN Return Unopened Video Games
I had someone in the comments ask if they could return an unopened video game they bought 2 months ago.
I wasn’t sure of the answer so I hit up Best Buy Live Chat and was told YES, it’s returnable for store credit since it is unopened.
I then asked if the original purchase of 2 months ago would be a problem and was surprisingly told…NOT a problem.
Gift Card Purchases Get Refunded Back to the Same Card
If you bought the item with a Best Buy gift card, you’ll get a full refund back to that same gift card.
If you don’t have the gift card anymore, no worries, just call Best Buy at 1-888-237-8289 with your order number and they’ll re-issue you a new gift card.
Ask the Reader: Have you had success taking advantage of Best Buy’s return policy? Any issues I need to add to this post that I may have overlooked?
By Kyle James
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)
What about if I myself completely broke a drone I bought from BestBuy? Will they offer a return or exchange?
No. Damaged items are excluded from returns.
Hi, I purchased a laptop about 24 days ago. Now today I see that the laptop has dropped $50. I am going to go in today and try to get a credit adjustment, but I think they will just say no.
It’s worth a shot although it looks like you only have 15 days to get price protection.
Are you a Best Buy Elite member? If so, you’ll get 30 days for return and 30 day price protection.
Hi I just bought a vacuum today and used it but not happy with it. can I still return it even if it’s been used?
Yes, you can return it for a full refund. Just make sure you pack it back up with manual and any accessories.
I just left the store and was told in the beginning of June they will start charging a restocking fee on headphones, this was surprising since I’m having a hard time finding good wireless earbuds that don’t hurt my ears. Just giving you a heads up so you can update if that’s the case.
Good to know, thanks Kristina!
Wondering if you found a brand that does not hurt your ears, I am having the same problem.
That’s bs I work there we will never do it on headphones
Can I exchange a cell phone that I got 2 days ago with no restocking fee…
Unfortunately, it looks like a restocking fee would likely apply even if the phone is unopened.
Yes if it’s unopened
It was explained to me that even though the box is unopened there is the SERIAL number that has been entered into the spy system (no, I’m not kidding, there is no such thing as an untracked phone… I’m just calling it that, but that’s what it really is) and the phone literally is sent back to the mfgr. so the phone can be rebooted and your name, address, city, street, zip, account information, etc. that was scanned in at the store is taken out of the memory. That’s why they charge $35. (A store manager told me this just last week).
If the phone remained unopened then there was nothing on the phone that needed to be sent back to a manufacturer to be reprogrammed. You are being fed a line of crap from JFK to LAX! Also, the phone leaves the manufacturer with a firmware, typically specific to the carrier in most cases, and the user specific information is programmed into back office servers and databases by the billing systems of the carriers or virtual carriers and then the information is sent OTA to the phone upon power up and registration. This is why when you reset a phone to factory default it starts working again unless it has been deactivated. It is called factory default for a reason. It wipes out all data in the main phone partition and reloads that same softaware from the factory off of a protected firmware partition that does not contain any user information. So any restocking fees on a factory sealed package within an allotted time unless it involves services being canceled which invoked an ETF, which would be charged by a carrier not a retailer, is unfair and undeserved profiteering plain and simple. I would fight it and make a scene big enough to make them void that fee.
Can I return an opened Ipad with no restocking fee?
Yes, you should be able to return without a restocking fee.
I bought a laptop on May 17th via Bestbuy.com. If I count the 17th and the 31st, then today would be my 15th day. Is that how the 15 days are counted? Also, someone told me the count started from the delivery date which was the 19th. Is it delivery or order date that counts?
Thanks!
Same Q as above: when does the 15-day period go into effect? Date of online purchase, or date of delivery?
Mary, I found I was able to return the laptop based on the delivery date. BB reps did not seem to be up on the policy though and I’d call to make sure if it’s a critical issue to you. YMMV!
Just an FYI, bestbuy has added restocking fees to a couple of categories.
Is tv one of the categories
I bought something in the store, can I return by mail??
Do I have to pay a restocking fee if my unlocked smartphone came with Software issues and mess up hardware. Can I get in-store credit for another phones to avoid restocking fee if they want to applied.
May want to throw this in the mix, I just bought a 35mm prime lens for my Nikon D5200. During checkout, they displayed a message on the card reader screen stating there is a 15% restocking fee for returns on lenses.
I have a turtle beach headset with a 2 year warranty. The battery seems to have a problem it only lasts 5hrs but its supposed to last for 10hrs. Am i able to exchange for another one or can i exchange for a different brand with the same price range or if its more money just pay the difference?
If it’s still within the return window I’d take it back for a refund or exchange.
If it’s outside the return window I’d contact the manufacturer and get a replacement.
What if my husband bought a stereo for his truck and then got home , put it in the closet- never even installing it, then a few days later he had a stroke. So its been sitting in the closet for 2 yrs and its a nice Kenwood. Do you think they would take it back?
No, sorry. Not really any option for taking it back to best buy. Craigslist or ebay is your friend here
What about headphones with muffs that came off? Can I return in the first week?
Yes!
My husband bought me a car starter and paid for the installation back in December for me. But I decided I didn’t want to keep the car, so we never opened the car starter nor never had it installed. It’s been 6 months, will Best Buy give us store credit, so I can at least buy something else from there?
I bought an item online last week. I received it on Monday. I decided I wanted it in a different color. So today I took it into the store, unopened box and receipt to do an even exchange. I was told to exchange it for a different color I would have to pay the difference because I got it on sale and it’s no longer on sale. I don’t feel that is right.
I ordered a lens online for my DSLR and it was not for me, I went in the store for an exchange to a better lens and they wanted me to pay restocking fee. One employee said I shouldn’t be charged restocking fee but the other said yes. So I told them I’ll hold on to my current lens and think about it.
Hello !
I purchased an at & t maven 2 paygo phone July 3rd from best buy (,in store purchases). I’m not happy with it. Nothing has been downloaded nor transferred into phone. Have receipt & all the contents.
Will Bestbuy accept my request for refund ? Thank you so much !
Hi, I just wanted to point out an error in your post. You said that you cannot return Geek Squad memberships, but actually you can. You have 14 days to return it for the full amount, and after that, it is pro-rated, if you have not used Geek Squad services at all or did not receive satisfactory work 30 days after a work order was completed and picked up. I used to work as a Consultation Agent at Geek Squad and had to process many returns for our memberships, though they usually had to be approved by a manager first.
Their new restocking fee is counter productive, and I don’t see it lasting long. Especially since AMAZON does not charge restocking fee.
Hello I bought a kidizoom action cam with a two year warranty. I bought it on 6/01/17. My daughter doesn’t want it anymore it’s 7/20/17. Could I get my money back or store credit?