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)
Im interested in knowing the return policy on refurbished electronics.
It’s the same as non-refurbished items, 15 days.
I recently bought an external hard drive but I ended up returning it (within the 15 days) and it’s been more than a week and I still haven’t been refunded my money on my card. what’s going on?
Can I exchange a headphones for same brand but different color that I recieved as a gift which i still unopened but may have not been purchased from Best Buy but may have same UPC or Serial numbers?.
My husband bought a Sony A6000 on 10/06/17. Yesterday, after 10 days, the lens that came with the camera started making a weird “grinding” noise when the camera is turned on and when zooming. Will Best Buy exchange the item in store? And would there be a restocking fee for an even exchange of a defective item?
Return it for a full refund or exchange before 15 days from purchase. Should not be a restocking fee.
Have an interesting one… purchased an open box display 5.1 sound bar system with subwoofer and satellite speakers for over half off. Was missing remote and no manual but it was reported fully functional. They packaged up for me and after buying the sales guy said oh by the way some if the cords have exposed wire! I’m fairly certain it happened while they dismantled it as I watched them pull the cords out of the metal display. Anyways got home and it’s glitchy and sattelite speakers have all sorts of static. I’m within 15 days but my question is will i have option for replacement and if so will they replace with a new one or is only option refund? Thx!
Wow, that is an interesting one. My guess is refund only but there is only one way to find out, call your local store and ask. If you don’t mind, come back here and let us all know. Thanks!
Hey, I bought an expensive computer monitor from BestBuy a few days ago, but upon further inspection the part where the stand should hook up has been dented. I hooked it up and turned it on, absolute black screen. Went through the debugging and it came down to the screen just not even working. Customer service shrugged. Tried to return it describing that it was damaged, and they couldn’t do anything due to their policy. What do I do? Is there a warranty on the product or a website I could go to?
Are you still within the 15 days? If you are I’d take it back to the store with my receipt and demand a refund on a product that clearly was damaged when you bought it.
Kyle it seems like there’s a loophole here. It would be ideal to setup a wedding registry for myself, and then purchase any items I’m wanting to buy under that wedding registry. That would give me 60 days to return it? Right?
Hmmm, yes, I think that would work. Although you might have to settle for store credit.
This used or refurbished MacBook Pro won’t turn on after receiving it will Best Buy return it
Hi I bought a pair of epic air buds 6 weeks ago, I still have my receipt. The ear buds have stopped charging, I don’t even use them daily, I have no idea why they suddenly quit working properly. I have reall liked this pair of earphones. I don’t want a refund I just would like an exchange, will there be a fee for an exchange? Or will Best Buy even exchange them?
Hi Cathy. Unfortunately you’ll have to contact the manufacturer and see if the ear buds are still under warranty.
Hi. I just purchased this arlo pro indoor/outdoor 4pcs camera. I tried to set it up and im not satisfied. I already opened the baterries. Is there anyway i can return it without restocking fee?
I brought a chrome book 3 they suck. I am within the fourteen day return period , I have all parts and manuals but I do not have the box. What are my chances of getting a credit to purchase something else?
I bought a otterbox phone case at best buy with cash. Lost my receipt. When I went back to the store, I wanted to exchange it for a different otterbox of the same price and they told me they can not do exchanges or a store credit since its been past 15 days. I told them it hasn’t been past 15 days, I just didn’t have my receipt to prove that. They said we can look it up with a debit card or your rewards number but I didn’t use either since I paid cash and don’t have a rewards card.. I feel like this was awful customer service.
I called customer service and they told me the same thing!
Regarding best buys holiday return policy, where do fitbits and smartwatches fit in? Do they have the full holiday return window or a shortened one? Are they subject to a restocking fee?
I recently bought a note 8 the phone was shutting off restarting and not coming on for minutes at a time. I called customer service they said return. I said ok later tonight. During work I dropped the phone and it has a small crack on the back glass. Since I already called hours ago do you think they’d give me issues? Btw I bought the phone under 24hrs ago
Just bought samsung tablet today, but my son doesnt like the color if i return do i have to pay retocking free
Hey Mia, there is no re-stocking fee on tablets.