Despite all of their lenient policies, Best Buy only offers customers fifteen days to bring their laptops back to the store in order to get a full refund. That goes up to sixty for Total Tech members.
I have been going to Best Buy all of my life. Those trips to the store, backed up by my technological experience and years of buying/returning laptops, allowed me to properly cover the following topics.
In this guide I will take an in-depth look at Best Buy’s return policy, how it compares to other competitors, as well as
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Best Buy offers a pretty strict 15-day return policy on laptops (60-day for Total Tech members) as long as the machine is like-new.
- It doesn’t matter if you open the laptop and use it, it can still be returned within the window as long as it’s wiped clean and has no noticeable damage.
- When returning a laptop to Best Buy, always have proof of purchase and try to bring it back in the original packaging with all of the accessories.
Returning a Best Buy Laptop
Best Buy is one of the biggest electronic sellers on planet Earth. They have plenty of items in their inventory, and that includes laptops. Buying a computer from the retail giant is a simple process, but returning one is something that many users might not know about or understand.
When you are unsatisfied with a Best Buy laptop, you can freely return it to the store for any reason. They won’t pry as to why you brought it back, nor will they ask any follow-up questions. Saying you don’t want it anymore is more than enough.
However, while the company will take the machine back, they will only do so in a limited amount of time. Best Buy offers one of the shortest return windows out of any large tech retailer.
Users have fifteen days to return their laptop after the initial purchase if they want to take it back in for a refund, exchange, or repair. When doing so, Best Buy recommends customers also bring in all accessories, packaging, and receipts as well.
If that doesn’t seem like a lot of time, note that the return window goes up to sixty days for Total Tech Members. That’s a huge jump and makes signing up for the additional service often worth it if you’re someone who spends a lot of time shopping with Best Buy.
Either way, the company has no restocking fee. That’s a wonderful bonus because you don’t have to worry about losing any money on your return.
The State of a Returned Computer
Bringing a laptop back to Best Buy is simple, but there are a few extra rules you need to follow when doing so. Though the store will take laptops back within the fifteen-day window, those machines need to meet a set of strict requirements.
First, the laptop can’t have any damage. It has to be returned in like-new condition, which means no noticeable dents, scratches, or nicks. On top of that, make sure it’s fully cleaned of any personal data. They don’t want to have to clear it if they don’t have to.
You also don’t need to worry if you opened or used the machine. The company accepts opened products, as long as they aren’t harmed and all of the accessories are with them.
If you don’t have the accessories or are missing any items, Best Buy will charge you and deduct the cost from how much they refund you. In some cases, they may not take the laptop back at all.
How to Return a Laptop to Best Buy
When returning a laptop to Best Buy, you can bring it to any of their stores. It doesn’t have to be the one you bought it from. On top of that, you don’t necessarily need a receipt. The company has a lot of leniency on that front.
If you don’t have proof of purchase, Best Buy can use your email address to find out when you bought the laptop. However, that does open you up to your return being rejected by the individual store of employees.
It’s always better to have the packing slip/receipt, the credit card used to make the purchase, and a valid photo ID. That won’t just smooth the return process, it will also make everything go much more quickly.
It’s also important to note that Best Buy is extremely strict on its return window. You might be able to get away with a return on day sixteen, but even that is extremely rare.
FAQs
Here, I answer some of the most popular questions customers have about Best Buy’s laptop return policy.
Does Best Buy Wipe Returned Computers?
Yes. The company will wipe any machine dropped off at their store before deciding if they want to repair, recycle, or repurpose it. You may also wipe the computer on your own before trading it in.
Will a Factory Reset Remove All Data From My Laptop?
A factory reset reverts all applications back to their original state and removes anything that wasn’t there when the computer first left the factory. As such, all user data and applications will be taken off of the machine.
Can I Return My Laptop to Best Buy After Using It?
Yes. As long as you get within the fifteen/sixty day window you can return the laptop without any issues. It doesn’t matter if you opened it or not.
Final Words
Best Buy does not give you a lot of time to return your laptop to the store, but their policy within the window is pretty flexible. As long as the machine isn’t noticeably damaged, you should be fine. If you are worried about it, however, you can always join Total Tech for more time.
Have you ever had to return a laptop to Best Buy? Why did you do it, and how long after the purchase did you make the return? Let us know in the comments below!
