Before you buy, be sure you're familiar with Best Buy's return policy. Most products are subject to a 15-day return window, with cell phones, cellular tablets, and cellular wearables having a 14-day window.
Finally, keep in mind that Best Buy's return policy is under constant evaluation. As the Best Buy site states, "Best Buy may run tests of the Return and Exchange Promise in select locations and may amend these terms at any time."
Items purchased online at bestbuy.com can be returned at any Best Buy location. Bring your receipt/packing slip, the card used to make the purchase, and photo ID. You can use the store locator at www.bestbuy.com to find the nearest store.
Items bought at a brick-and-mortar Best Buy store can only be returned to that store. Items shipped to you through bestbuy.com can be shipped back using a pre-paid shipping label that you can print out from your bestbuy.com account. Best Buy uses UPS, so you will have to drop it off at a UPS location unless you want to pay for a pickup. There are some items you cannot ship back, such as:
As noted above, Best Buy sells some of the hottest merchandise in their stores, then liquidates overstock and returns. This means quite a few top-tier products wind up in Best Buy auctions like washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, built-ins, microwaves, accessories, and more.
Register for the Best Buy Liquidation Auctions site in order to start bidding and buying bulk lots of new condition and customer-returned appliances including washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, built-ins, microwaves, accessories and more.
Do note that return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. If you use the prepaid shipping label, the shipping fee will be deducted from your refund. All refunds will be processed to the original payment method used for purchase. See the full return policy here.
For appliances being sold by Amazon.com, you can also typically add a protection plan from a third party insurer, like Allstate or Assurant. However, this is not the same as a manufacturer warranty, and it isn't the same as the return policy.
While the U.S. does not have federal laws affecting returns and refunds, it's still a good idea to have a Return & Refund Policy, and it will be required in some states if you wish to have control over the terms of your policy.
This policy also indicates whether a refund is provided as store credit or return of the purchase price. If there are conditions to securing a return, refund or exchange, the Return & Refund Policy lists those as well.
Maryland law requires retailers to post their Return & Refund Policy on the storefront wall, merchandise or the receipt. Stores can refuse returns if it is specifically stated in the policy.
The policy must contain certain specific information such as whether refunds will be given for items without a proof of purchase, products returned after a particular period of time, and products sold "as is" or on sale. It must make it clear how refunds will be issued (cash, store credit, etc.).
As noted above, Lowe's tends to do quite well in major appliance stock, so clearly, there's no systemic policy that drives out good appliances. Spot checking categories against Consumer Reports ratings, you'll find recommended products in many categories, such as cooktops, microwaves, and wall ovens, and CR-recommended brands in other categories, such as dishwashers. Gas dryers fared less well, with recommended products in only one of the 30 stores we checked ... which is likely a temporary situation (via Lowe's).
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