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)
I bought a Canon T7i DSLR today. There was no security seal on the box (which I thought was odd). And none on the camera either. I unpacked the box, but decided I wanna go for a higher model. I repacked the box perfectly. Camera unused. Will I still face a restocking fee? (I would return the camera same day, but there’s a nor’easter this afternoon)
I’m guessing that if it looks completely unopened they probably won’t charge you a restocking fee.
Side-Note: I love the t7i, amazing camera. I use it to shoot the RBS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RatherBeShoppingcom
Thanks!
Ooo. Awesome about the camera! I got Best Buy to price match the 77D for a price which comes out LOWER than the T7i. Otherwise I’d totally just stick with the T7i.
As an aside, I chatted with a rep online who put a note on my account that they shouldn’t charge me a restocking fee when I return in store since I just bought it and it wasn’t sealed.
Hi I purchased a keyboard one week ago and I received one for my birthday …I can still returned without a receipt?
I bought a hood fan on line from Best Buy. When we opened it up we realized that it is not going to fit. Are we able to return it to the nearest Best Buy? Is the 30 days from the date it was delivered? As we bought on line do I still need a receipt?
I bought an iPhone 8 on my Best Buy credit card in store about 6 months and I’ve come to absolutely hate the phone. Can I return it or is it too late?
I bought a BISSELL carpet cleaner today and the vacuum cord was under the cleaner when I turned it on and it damaged the cord. Can I return it?
My teenage son bought a floor model tv for 2000$!!!(without me) and now the TV is defective. Lines appear thru picture… anyways… He didnt purchase warrantee and guy at store says sucks to be him. Said its probably due to the fact tv stays on 24-7 on the floor and he can’t return it. I want to go put up a fuss, since he’s had the tv less than 3 months and i feel they took advantage of him. Do they ever accept such a return?? Is it worth trying??
FIRST TIME CUSTOMER
I brought a USB-C Digital AV MULTIPORT AD and it’s Not for my phone my brother told the guy that we are not Apple and he still sold us a Adapter that is for Apple phones and we locked it up for hours if it works for a ANDROID PHONE and nothing comes out but Apple devices and laptops
I paid $74.69 Yesterday 05/05/18
I want to know if I can get my money back
Or if I can actually exchange it for the right one
For my phone
And if I exchange if for one for my phone and if it’s cheaper do I get the rest of my money back
hi! i want to return an unopened item(apple pen), i had used a credit card to make my purchase. It’s been passed all the return days. If i try to return it, would they offer me store credit or my money back to my credit card for it?
Hey there!
I’m in a crazy situation here, we bought a TV from Best Buy 05/15/18, got home, opened the box and as soon as we started getting the TV out of the box, we immediately saw the screen was cracked but there was no damage on any other part of the TV or box. I called the store immediately to let them know that the screen was cracked and asked to bring it in to the store the next day and we should be able to exchange it without a problem. We drive it back the next day and we are told that they can’t take the TV back because it was our fault and we obviously damaged it and it wasn’t broken during shipping because the box was fine. we take the TV back, they gave us a number to call “corporate”. I call, I’m told they don’t know why they won’t take the TV at the store but I should be able to return it, if not at that store at a different one. I call, no one wants to take it because it was sold at the other store. I call the manager again and after a looooong talk, he agrees to take the TV back the next day although he is risking losing his job and going against store policy, he says we would have to forfeit the 5-year protection plan we paid for the TV (300 dollars). I go the next day, he’s not there and a different assistant manager tell us that they actually can’t take it because the general manager told them to not do the return. So now, we have no TV and owe them over 2,000 dollars (we got the TV, speakers, and a wall mount with the Best Buy credit card) and have no idea what to do.
I am thinking all kinds of things now, we can’t pay for a TV that we never even plugged in since we will have to buy a different one, somewhere else obviously. Should I show up at the store with a sign and exercise my 1st amendment? take it to small claims stores? call my local news?
This is definitely not our fault, and paying for something that was broken seems crazy and unfair. everywhere I’ve looked i see that there’s a 15 day period where they take returns or exchanges. I need help or ideas on how to deal with this. Please help!
Thank you!
Wow, crazy situation. Sorry you have to deal with it.
I’d call corporate back and ask them to send you (via email) written confirmation that the store needs to take back the TV.
This will force the situation and the manager can cover his butt that way.
Let me know, good luck.
This request is over 2 years old now, but for those of you reading, you can call your municipal consumer affairs office (not BBB) and file a grievance (retailers really hate this), and notify your credit card company and contest the charge. The retailer will also have to fill out paper work in both instances debating the return. Also, make sure you always video your deboxing. If the box wasn’t damaged, and you record the box opening, then you didn’t damage it either.
Is it possible to still return earphones that i had over 2 months and get a refund
Nope, sorry.
I bought a Samsung washer it doesn’t work right. It leaks also. its been a little over 30 days I think. Can I still return it and how?
Do you know why Best Buy doesn’t give you a cash refund when you purchased something with a debit card???
I purchased a Samsung curved 1080p HD monitor from best buy 20 days ago and I went in last night to return it. I was looking for higher resolution for my mac on my monitor and was told I only had 15 days to return it. I had no idea, I guess since I don’t shop Best Buy too often and sent my receipt to my email I didn’t pay attention and was not told about this 15 day policy. Every other place I buy electronics TV’s, Computers, Speakers I have at least 30 days to return. They basically said sorry we can’t help you. I now have a $350 monitor that I don’t like and I’m pretty much stuck with. I purchased a 4k monitor somewhere else and it works great and is just what I was looking for. Any way around this return policy? If not it’s going on ebay for much less than what I paid for it.
The scanner I bought 75 days ago ago shows vertical lines on the pdf document. Can I at least get an exchange?
Hello, I purchased my new macbook September 1st. Now, my laptop has some problems. It doest not work sometimes. No damage on it. Can I exchange it? I am not a special member.
You can try, but probably not. It’s still under warranty so just call Apple and they’ll make it right.
What about returning a washer and dryer within a week of purchase? did not like the way they work.
Shit I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I had brain injury and mental illness and emotional trauma and overspent on things I didn’t need and didn’t use and couldn’t store or had no space for. Shit I don’t think they will care that this is a legitimate problem in my brain or health that I’ve beeen having :(…?
Ok, I purchased a vacuum, dehumidifier, air purifier because I am OCD and I thought I needed it until I got chewed out by the property manager going WFT what’s all that bulk and am at risk of losing the place.
What makes it worse, I just needed a dam AC, cuz I’m sweating bullets cuz the dehumidifier made the room hotter, not cooler, shit! I was misinformed on the product by an employee I don’t remember the store or name 🙁 cuz my memory problem.
Do they care if it’s been past 15days? One is opened obviously, the other is opened but intact or untouched, the third is sealed. Do they allow flexibility for people going through trauma or confused in decision making or misinformed (no proof of who it was)?
Should I just say I lost my receipt?
If I show the receipt (past 15days, like 2mos), what will they tell me?
I bought a vacuum that I never used. Too many parts to the vacuum and I didn’t care for it. But life, summer, work took over abd it’s been 6 months since I bought this vacuum. Not used at all…not even turned on. I have the packaging and everything. Can I return it to the store or should I make the attempt to return it by mail? I have a record at Best Buy of all my purchases so I am sure they can look up my info without my receipt…. Actually I know they can. What is my recourse since I really dislike this vacuum? Thanks!
Do we know what the holiday return policy is for 2018 yet? I assume Nov1 thru Dec 31st, but I’d like to know. I’m planning on purchasing two new cellphones but want to watch for the deals …
I walked in to a Best Buy store and ordered a camera to have it ship to my house. The camera I bought is only on display at the stores so you have to order it online. I went to another store closer to my house with my receipt and an employee told me that I cannot returned the camera at their store. I had to go back to the store where I ordered it.