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Best Buy vs Amazon Return Policy
Side-by-side comparison of return policies, conditions, and refund methods.·Last updated: 2026-03-19
Return Conditions
Best Buy
- Standard members: most products can be returned within 15 days of receipt
- My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members: 60-day return window on most products
- Activatable devices (cell phones, cellular tablets, mobile hotspots, cellular wearables): 14 days for ALL membership tiers
- Verizon activatable devices: 30-day return window for all customers
- Major appliances: 15 days from delivery for all membership tiers
- Items must be in like-new condition with all original packaging, manuals, cables, and accessories included
- Apparel must be unworn, unwashed, with tags attached
- Missing packaging or components may reduce refund amount or result in denial
- Serial numbers must match invoices
- Health items that contact bodily fluids cannot be returned once opened
Amazon
- Most items sold and shipped by Amazon can be returned within 30 days of delivery
- Items should be in new, unused condition and in original packaging for a full refund
- Used or damaged returns may result in a partial refund or restocking fee (20-50% depending on condition and product type)
- No paper receipt required — Amazon tracks all orders in your account under 'Your Orders'
- Apparel and shoes must be unworn, unwashed, and have original tags attached
- Electronics must include all original packaging, manuals, cables, chargers, and accessories — missing components may result in partial refund
- You have an additional 15 days to ship items back after a return is approved, even if the 30-day window has closed
Exceptions & Restrictions
Best Buy
- Restocking fee — $45: activatable devices (cell phones, cellular tablets, mobile hotspots, cellular wearables), excluding prepaid phones
- Restocking fee — 15%: drones, digital cameras, camera lenses, camcorders (including action cameras), electric bikes, electric mopeds, premium scooters, super scooters, mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, leg and body recovery systems, projectors, premium cold tubs, saunas, special-order items
- Restocking fee waived: if item is unopened, or if purchased and returned in AL, CO, HI, IA, MS, OH, OK, SC (and where otherwise prohibited by law)
- Non-returnable (final sale): custom/personalized products, non-subscription digital content, prepaid cards and third-party gift cards, vehicle key fobs, memberships and completed services, trading cards, items with 300+ watt-hour capacity, golf carts, UTVs, plumbing items, opened health-related products, opened SIM kits, LEGO products, consumables (ink, fuel, filters, batteries, supplements), delivered standby generators
- AppleCare+ plans: can be cancelled within 30 days for a full refund minus any service already provided; after 30 days, prorated refund based on unexpired coverage minus service value; AppleCare+ is excluded from holiday return extensions
- Holiday decorations (artificial trees, lights, etc.): must be returned within 15 days of purchase, not eligible for holiday extension
- Items with missing or altered serial numbers: not returnable
Amazon
- Baby items (non-registry): 90-day return window
- Baby Registry gifts: 365-day return window with free returns
- Wedding Registry gifts: 180-day return window
- Birthday Gift List items: 90-day return window
- Mattresses (excluding crib mattresses): 100-day return window; unboxed and expanded mattresses typically cannot be physically returned but a refund is usually issued within the window
- Amazon Renewed products: 90-day return window
- Apple products (Apple-branded items): 15-day return window (shorter than standard 30 days)
- Digital content (ebooks, music, apps, software downloads): not returnable
- Gift cards and prepaid cards: not returnable
- Grocery items and perishables (food, flowers, live plants): not returnable
- Hazardous materials: not returnable
- Customized/personalized products: not returnable
- Prepaid game cards: not returnable
- Theme park tickets: not returnable
- Live insects: not returnable
- Prescription items (Amazon Pharmacy): not returnable
- Intimates and swimwear without original tags: not returnable
- Opened personal care items: not returnable unless defective
- Items with missing UPC or serial numbers: not returnable
- Final sale items: not returnable
- Third-party seller items: follow the seller's own return policy — check 'Sold by' section on product page. Sellers must offer a US return address or prepaid label; additional fees may apply
- Subscribe & Save: first delivery returnable under standard policy; subsequent deliveries typically non-returnable unless defective. Subscriptions can be cancelled or skipped at any time before shipment
- Restocking fees: up to 15% if item condition is misrepresented or original packaging is missing; 20-50% range possible for used electronics returns
- Amazon introduced a returns processing fee in 2024 for products with high return rates (all categories except apparel and shoes)
Refund Methods
Best Buy
- Original payment method (standard for all returns)
- Credit card refunds: 7-10 business days
- Debit card refunds: up to 10 business days (bank-dependent)
- PayPal refunds: 3-5 business days
- Gift card balance refunds: 2-3 hours to 1 business day
- Store credit/check: same day to 2 business days
- Cash refunds over $800: issued by check
- Check payment refunds over $250: issued by check
- Debit cards without major network logos: refund issued by check
- Gift card purchases: refund credited back to gift card
- Shipping fees only refunded if Best Buy made an error or the product was defective upon arrival
Amazon
- Original payment method (default)
- Amazon gift card balance / store credit
- Replacement product (when available)
- Returnless refund: in some cases, Amazon issues a refund without requiring the item back — usually for inexpensive or low-resale-value items (not guaranteed; case-by-case)
- Refund processing — Amazon gift card: 2-3 hours
- Refund processing — Credit card: 3-5 business days
- Refund processing — Debit/checking/SNAP EBT: up to 10 business days
- Refund processing — Prepaid cards: up to 30 days
- Physical returns at drop-off locations: may take up to 30 days for processing before refund is issued
- Shipping fees are non-refundable unless Amazon sent the wrong item, it arrived damaged, or the product was defective
Online / Mail Returns
Best Buy
- Online purchases can be returned in-store with packing slip or order confirmation email plus photo ID
- Mail-in returns: log into Best Buy account, select item to return, print prepaid UPS label, pack securely with all original contents and packing slip
- Drop off at any UPS location with the prepaid label
- Tracking provided via email for mail-in returns
- Return shipping is free via the prepaid label for standard returns
Amazon
- Go to 'Your Orders' on Amazon.com or the Amazon app
- Select 'Return or Replace Items' next to the order
- Choose return reason and select drop-off or shipping method
- Receive a QR code or printable return label
- Free drop-off locations (most returns are box-free and label-free): Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh stores, Kohl's (also provides Kohl's Cash/coupons for returning Amazon items), The UPS Store, Staples (provides a $10 Staples coupon for dropping off Amazon returns), Amazon Hub Counters, Amazon Hub Lockers
- A $1 fee applies at UPS Store locations when a closer free drop-off option (e.g., Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh) is available nearby
- Home UPS pickup: $7.99 fee for orders under approximately $60; free for orders $60+
- Most returns at over 8,000 locations are within a 5-mile radius of your address
In-Store Returns
Best Buy
- Bring item with all accessories, manuals, and original packaging to the customer service desk
- Provide receipt, order confirmation, or other proof of purchase
- Present valid photo ID (Best Buy tracks returns and may deny excessive returns)
- Purchases can be found using My Best Buy account, the credit card used, or photo ID
Amazon
- Amazon does not have its own traditional retail stores for general returns
- Whole Foods Market locations accept Amazon returns — box-free, label-free with QR code
- Amazon Fresh stores accept returns — box-free, label-free with QR code
- Kohl's locations accept Amazon returns and provide Kohl's Cash as a thank-you incentive
- Staples locations accept Amazon returns and provide a $10 Staples coupon
Gift Returns
Best Buy
- With a gift receipt: Best Buy issues store credit for the item's purchase price
- Without proof of purchase: returns may be declined
- Store credit issued at lowest 30-day sale price if purchase cannot be verified
Amazon
- Gift returns are processed through 'Your Orders' or by contacting Amazon customer service
- Gift recipients can return items for Amazon gift card credit
- Baby Registry gifts: 365-day return window with free return shipping
- Wedding Registry gifts: 180-day return window
- Birthday Gift List items: 90-day return window
- Gift receipts can be included with shipments for easy gift returns
Membership Benefits
Best Buy
- My Best Buy (free tier): 15-day return window on most items
- My Best Buy Plus ($49.99/year): 60-day return window on most items; extended 60-day price match window
- My Best Buy Total ($179.99/year): 60-day return window on most items; free return shipping on mail-in returns; extended 60-day price match window; Geek Squad protection included
- All tiers: activatable devices are limited to 14 days (no extension for paid members)
- All tiers: major appliances are limited to 15 days from delivery
- All tiers: Verizon devices get 30 days
Amazon
- Amazon Prime members get free return shipping on most Amazon-sold items
- Prime members get access to Amazon Hub Lockers and Counter locations for convenient returns
- Prime members may see more lenient return approval for borderline cases
- Non-Prime members may incur return shipping fees on some items
- Prime membership itself can be cancelled for a full refund if you have not used any Prime benefits during the billing period
Damaged or Defective Items
Best Buy
- Contact Best Buy immediately if items arrive damaged
- For major appliances: inspect during delivery and note any damage before signing
- Defective final-sale items may qualify for repair, replacement, or other support through manufacturer warranty
- Defective items within the return window receive standard return processing (no restocking fee)
- Geek Squad protection (for Total members) covers accidental damage beyond the return window
Amazon
- Select 'Item arrived damaged/defective' when initiating the return in 'Your Orders'
- Amazon typically covers return shipping for damaged/defective items
- Replacement product may be offered instead of refund
- For Amazon-sold items, defective/damaged claims are handled directly by Amazon customer service
- For third-party seller items, contact the seller first; if unresolved, Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee can be invoked
- Photos of damage may be requested for documentation
- Returnless refund may be offered for low-value damaged items
Price Adjustments
Best Buy
- Best Buy will match a lower price found at Best Buy (in-store, online, or app) during the return and exchange period upon request
- Standard members: 15-day price match window
- My Best Buy Plus and Total members: 60-day price match window
- Best Buy also matches prices from qualified competitors at the time of purchase (Amazon, Apple.com, Walmart, and others)
- Price match items must be new, identical (brand, model number, color), and immediately available
- Excluded from price matching: open-box items, clearance items, refurbished products, Marketplace products, deal-of-the-day or limited-quantity offers
- Updated effective January 16, 2026
Amazon
- Amazon does not offer a formal post-purchase price adjustment or price protection policy
- If an item drops in price within the 30-day return window, you can return the item and repurchase at the lower price
- Some credit cards offer price protection benefits that cover Amazon purchases
- Third-party price tracking tools (CamelCamelCamel, Honey) can alert you to price drops
Exchange Policy
Best Buy
- Exchanges follow the same timeframes and conditions as returns
- Same-item defective exchanges are fastest when done in-store with available stock
- Upgrades to higher-priced models require paying the price difference
- Activatable device exchanges still subject to 14-day window and potential $45 restocking fee
Amazon
- Exchanges available for identical items (size/color swap) on eligible products
- Exchange option appears during the return initiation process if available for the item
- If exchange is not available, return for refund and repurchase is the standard process
- Exchange items ship once Amazon receives the returned item (or sometimes immediately with a temporary hold)
Additional Notes
Best Buy
- Best Buy tracks return behavior and may deny returns for suspected abuse or excessive return patterns
- Returns without receipt may be denied or limited; taxes and fees may not be fully refunded
- Open-box, clearance, refurbished, and pre-owned items are generally returnable within standard timeframes if complete and in original condition
- Open-box items are excluded from price match policy
- Factory-reset and account removal required before returning activatable devices
- Verizon activatable devices have a unique 30-day window regardless of membership tier
Amazon
- Over 8,000 free return drop-off locations across the US, typically within a 5-mile radius
- Most drop-off returns are box-free and label-free — just bring the item and QR code
- Third-party seller return policies vary — always check the 'Sold by' section and return policy link on the product page before purchasing
- Amazon tracks return patterns and may restrict or ban accounts with excessive return activity
- Subscribe & Save subscriptions can be cancelled or deliveries skipped at any time before shipment via Manage Your Subscriptions
- Amazon Renewed (refurbished) products have a 90-day return window
- Kohl's gives Kohl's Cash for accepting Amazon returns; Staples gives a $10 coupon — these are incentives for the convenience locations