Best Buy Return Policy: Everything You Need To Know (Plus a Few Hacks Too)
I’m not gonna lie, the Best Buy return policy is kind of confusing and gotten WAY worse in recent years. Different lengths of time to return 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.
How Many Days Do I Have to Return Something?
15 days.
“Regular” Best Buy customers only get a measly 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.
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.
How Does the Best Buy Return Policy Work?
Here’s the skinny so you can actually make the Best Buy 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
How Do I Return a Gift to Best Buy?
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.
What Can’t I Return to Best Buy?
There are some products you 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: 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.
See Also: Newegg Return Policy: A Very Complicated Policy That We Make Sense Of
Do I Have to Pay Re-Stocking Fee on Certain Items?
Yes.
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.
What If I Don’t Have a Receipt?
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
What If My Return Has Been Opened?
No worries, just pack everything back up as well as you can and get a full refund as long as your still within the return period.
Make sure you don’t forget any manuals or instructions that can with the item.
What If My Return is Missing Parts?
Don’t let that 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.”
What About a Cash Refund?
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.
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.
Can I Return an Item That I Got a Price Match On?
Yes…BUT.
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 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.
Can I Return Refurbished Items?
Yes.
The regular return policy applies to refurbished, open-box, and pre-owned products.
Can I Return an Unopened Video Game?
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.
What if I Used a Gift Card to Make the Purchase?
Not a problem.
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)
So i bought some headphones and i threw away my receipt i went to try and exchange them and the store employee was so rude she told me without my receipt i couldn’t return it and the crazy thing is i bought them the same day i bought a laptop and random items i was sending back to Peru with my aunt. I feel like they judged me before they even the San Francisco store sucks all of their managers are judgemental and rude assholes
You know if you put your number and your name in the system, employees will be able to find your receipt. Also, if you paid in card, you been able to track your purchase. Other than that no can’t do, people tend to steal and go to another store to return so they can get money back. I’m not saying you’re one of them but typically that’s what happens.
I purchased a printer and was away on vacation for two weeks, upon my return o attempted to hook up my new printer. However the sealed carton did not include the power cord. When I tried to call Best Buy buy they told me to contact HP , when I called HP they told me to return the printer to Best Buy!! Now I was part their 16 day window so now what do I do??
If I paid 0ver 800 cash for an item and they’re gonna refund me a check can I just keep the 800 and lose the rest?
I bought an LG 50″ Tv Sept 01, 2022
Service for LG has now told me I need to replace the screen (less than 3 months old) 2-3 weeks for delivery parts.
I would like to just exchange the TV for same model etc rather than wait for repairs to be done
Any suggestions LG said no exchange but will cover repair costs
I was given a Digiland 10.1 Quad Core Tablet for Christmas and the item was purchased on 11/29/22 and it was put in a safe storage location until Christmas Day. When I opened the package to my my new Tablet out the Tablet’s screen is cracked to where you can’t even unlock and I also have the receipt for the items and the store employee never asked my boyfriend if he wanted to insure it. What do I do to get another Tablet that isn’t damaged
Maybe you are the hero I need… Back in November, I suffered an apartment fire, in which I almost didn’t make it out alive . (This frames the series of events) I lost everything. Cellphones tablet, laptop etc. The fire was the morning of the 8 th I went to Best Buy on the evening of the 9th to get a phone so I could start rebuilding my life. I had been putting off up grading anyway… I wanted a Galaxy s22 ultra or an iPhone 14 pro max. I digress.. I needed a phone urgently, so I could communicate with friends and family, to assure them that I was alive and ok and to begin to put a life back together. I told the Best Buy cell phone sales guy what had led up to me coming in to purchase a phone. That is when things got sketchy. Although he seemed like a nice enough guy, … Even though I have good credit and had been approved to purchase the two mentioned top shelf phones previously, the sales guy 1st tried his hardest to make me switch back to Apple after my 8 year stint with Samsung. It went like this. Oh ok you want the S22 ultra. Well, looks like that would cost you about 1400.00 today, out the door. I was floored… I’ve never ever had to pay for a phone outright. He said that att wouldn’t allow me to finance. I knew there that something was up, but I needed a phone and it was close to 8:45 PM, and just minuets from closing. Ok ok fine I’ll take the pro max then. Oh I’m sorry, we don’t have any in stock. ( I knew that this was a lie because I checked before I went to the store. He fed me some line about the system acting up. Ok whatever. I need an phone and I have to get going. “Follow me sir. This is the iPhone 14 plus.” ( looks around like he’s about to tell me how to cure cancer or some s$&t. “Ima let you in on a little secret. This here phone is the exact same thing as the pro. I said “ it absolutely is not. The cameras are different for starters“ Ahh yea sir indeed they are, and this brings me to the secret. This plus is only 800.00 and is the same as the pro. Here’s how. You said that the cameras are different, you are correct. BUT!!! If you put the plus s camera on 4k the two models become identical. The cameras the same. ( At that point I knew this piece of crap kid with zero compassion nor empathy for what I’ve just been through, was scum bagging me. ) I had to go and knew that I had 14 days to return the phone so I told him to bag or and let me get on to the other 2000 things I had to do. Besides, maybe I’d grow to like the 14 plus and it’s price tag. The night of the 9th of November, I had a phone again. Fast forward to the 23rd I hate this GD phone. I ask att to make shure I’m within the 14 day grace period, they say yes. (I just happen to be on the phone with them about something else so I figured I’d ask) I head on over to Best Buy to return my phone and exchange it for what I actually wanted in the first place . They had both the Galaxy and the pro max in stock and if the kid told me I had to pay outright, I’d just return the phone and go to att for my phone. Att had even credited me the 45.00 that Best Buy was going to charge to restock. ( I was just going to replace all of my electronics at best buy to make it easy for myself. ) I get sent to the geek squad line to return the phone. Wait for 30 minutes . Let an elderly gentleman ahead of me… I get to the counter and the guy from geek squad tells me I have to go to a regular register. Ok fine. I got to the register. When i get to the checkout, I notice the sales guy chatting with the manager and very slick like pointing at me… he then comes over and asks me why I’m not on the geek squad line.., tools him the guy told me to go to the register… I get to the part where we’re found to scan things back in and return them and the manager comes over and said ( this is an actual quote ) “I’m sorry sir, but you’re not going to be able to return that phone. Your past The grace period.” {shakes head in smug amusement} No I am not. Today is the 14 th day ergo, I’m within 14 days. No sir, we add an extra day to the purchase date, so technically today is the 15th day. So you’re going to tell me that you arbitrarily throw a day in there without telling anybody and I can’t return the phone within the allotted time period, because you say a day exists that didn’t exist previously do I have that right? That’s correct, sir that’s more or less the case. I said so so what you’re telling me is I’m stuck with an $800 paperweight because I hate this fucking phone. I didn’t wanna buy in the first place, but that kid followed me to it with no f$&@ing choice. site, I’m going to have to ask you to calm down and leave the store . You want me to leave the store without exchanging what I came here to exchange within the allotted time. I said here is a calendar, it shows 14 days. Here is a calculator. you take these two dates. Subtract this one from this one has 14 days it’s not fu^*#ng 15th there’s no extra day. This is how many days it is this is your policy says… “no sir our in store policy is different.” This point obviously I’m irate so I start asking the kid because he’s 25 feet behind the manager… “do they pay more to sell that piece of shit phone to people and now you don’t wanna give up the sale because it’s a bigger commission? What do they pay you to lie to customers in order to funnel them to the pos 14 plus? “ Astounding! I come in here the day after I almost die in a fire to buy a phone because I need one. Mine burned. You lie to me about inventory you lied to me about financing and you sell me this piece of crap? That’s remarkably sociopathic. Your mom should be proud and your manager with that whole gaslighting bit. This is a really classy store. you’re knocking out the dark triad of psychology right here. At that point I left the store. Att says they can’t do anything, apple says they can’t do anything. So now I’m here with… Read more »
Call corporate!
I know this is 6 months too late, but what about leaving and just going to another Best Buy location?
Stop smoking in bed whiner.
I recently made a return with Best Buy Mac book air through the mail but forgot to provide the return form I did return within the 15 day time Span and used their prepaid label what do you think will happen ?
The idea that 14 days is a reasonable warranty on expensive electronics it’s insane. You didn’t really mention the unreasonableness of their policies I appreciate what you’re trying to do however it’s just unreasonable to expect people to return something that is faulty that cost them potentially thousands of dollars in 14 days.
And then if you do return it they’re not wanting to refund your money you know what company viable company in the US Has a policy that is so unreasonable and unfair? Not target not Walmart not anybody who successful one Best Buy I don’t think has the confidence to back up their material I think they’re going to have a problem surviving will never do business with them again after our problem they were not reasonable they were not considerate they were not polite. Plus what we bought from that was faulty so consider yourself warned.
So…..My daughter wanted a laptop. She decided for a Lenovo/Yoga. This happened in March 2023. I made a bad decision for that progressive/lease. Never more. My daughter never used that laptop so much. Her original idea was to create drawing with an epic pen that we also purchased on that same day.
Everything was fine until April…..the laptop started overheating so much. It gets really hot in few minutes. It’s insane how hot it becomes and than my daughter wanted me to return……
Today…June 15….we went to the same Best Buy we bought all this and for my surprise I do not have right for a refund because it passed 15 days…BUT THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER THOSE 15 days….so…..I do not agree with this limited time.
I forgot to say the laptop is slow when my daughter tries to create drawing with that epic pen. This discouraged her from using that laptop. I have a device I still pay for that is “decomposing” here because it is useless. I want a refund.
Did you purchase the protection plan on it? That’s exactly the purpose of those plans. I know sometimes you get such a great deal on the item you’re buying and the cost of the plan seems like too much, but you always end up needing the insurance when you don’t buy it. I am so sorry this happened to you. 🙁
Here’s a hypothetical question:
Best buy has an “open box” price (often 50% less than MSRP) for selling items that have been previously returned.
What would stop someone from buying the item new, returning it and having a friend buy it for them the next day at the “open box” price?
They don’t do this for more expensive items, so if you’re doing this for something less than $20, seems like a waste of time. Plus they don’t always put them back out the next day.
I purchased a tv from Best Buy on line. I was in transition of moving from one city to another and left the tv in the box past their 15 day return policy.
When I opened the box the screen was damaged. I called their warranty department and the first time a young lady said her supervisor said replace the tv.
She said they would pick my tv up on August 9 and give me another tv to no avail. I spoke to 3 different people and each had a lie to tell. I took out a 2 year extended warranty on the tv. Also the label on the box says it was shipped from Shepherdsville, KY.
The email says the tv originated from Plano, Tx. Fedex sent me an email with the tracking info and a picture of the tv delivered to my residence on the outside of the screen porch on concrete steps. This tv was broken before it got to my residence and no one wants to take responsibility for the broken tv.
I am out of 181.45 dollars and no tv. I know I did not damage this tv nor did I drop or Crack the screen. Any remedies for this situation?
You forgot about the dreaded price match return, you see if you try to return it to the store with that and the item was discounted at a competitor, it can’t be clearance or in my case just too much cheaper. The store will only give you a credit not a refund. In this case the work around is to ship it back using only the choice I changed my mind, not found it cheaper. Choosing I found it cheaper will not work in either case.
So I bought a Xbox controller and the system reset as I payed so the system said it didn’t go through then I argued for almost a week as the money was taken from me they then gave me the controller but I still am owed the 52 dollars for a warranty but they now refunded the giftcard for 252 plus tomorrow they want me to come and they will refund the 52 and I can get a new warranty so my questionis say I spent the giftcard is that gonna put me in hot water or is it there mistake and move on
Why does it matter which Bestbuy store or town I buy my movies from?
I recently bought a film that was defective without any idea once I opened the wrapper.
It skip few scenes towards the last 20mins left of it.
So, from there. I was frustrated. Decided to buy another same film from a different town in Costa Mesa (I was in town for a Dr appt).
I asked the clerk of the possibility of an defective movie item. He said I can open this new one & test it at home. If it works, then return the one I got from Lakewood, CA. I asked can I return that defective item to any Bestbuy? He said , yes. As long I have proof of purchase, for an exchange sort-of-way. Which I did.
This one town I live locally closer to Cerritos, CA. They refused to accept an unwrap defective movie after showing them both receipts from 2 different locations (Costa Mesa & Lakewood). The manager was unaware of the other store policy at Costa Mesa.
He wanted me to drive back to Costa Mesa & get my refund there. I don’t get their logic which Bestbuy I buy my items from?
I bought an ASUS at Best Buy, because their Dell computers lasted a very short time, in my opinion. What i need to do to save money, would be to build my own computer, right? Has anyone here ever done this? I would need welding supplies, right? I mean, I can learn to build a crappy computer and give crappy free advice to myself, can’t I? Do I really need ASUS, Best Buy, and Dell to give me those things?