Walmart Return Policy 101 | What to Know About In-Store, Online, and All Other Returns
Get to know all the ins and out of the Walmart Return Policy!
Looking to return a recent Walmart buy?
We may be huge Walmart fanatics, but it’s inevitable to be pleased with every purchase. For the times it doesn’t work out, you’ll need to know the details of Walmart’s return policy.
Luckily, we’re breaking down the ins and outs of what you need to know regarding every item, detail, and exception! If you prefer to read the entire policy on you’re own, you’ll find it on Walmart’s official return page.
You should always be satisfied with your orders, and Walmart understands that, resulting in an extremely generous return policy. If we missed anything that you know, leave a comment to help other readers! Note that this policy breakdown applies to items bought from U.S. Walmart stores, Walmart.com, Walmart Business, or from Marketplace sellers on Walmart.com.
Welcome to Walmart Return Policy 101!
The majority of Walmart items can be returned within 90 days. Due to the holiday season, most items purchased starting October 1st, 2022 can return their items until January 31st, 2023. This excludes items like electronics but remains super helpful for holiday shopping!
You can either ship your return or bring it to the store. If you have a Walmart account, visit your purchase history and select the item you want to return and why.
In-store returns:
To get a barcode to return at the customer service desk inside Walmart, you’ll choose “in-store return”. You’ll then confirm your refund amount and officially submit it. Bring the email confirmation with your email to your nearest Walmart, and you’re all set!
Return by mail:
For online orders, you’ll follow that same process except for selecting “Return by Mail”. After submitting the questions, you’ll print your return label, pack your item(s), and drop it off at our nearest USPS or FedEx location.
If you don’t have an account, you can always simply bring your item along with an email confirmation or receipt. This way, you can efficiently complete an in-store return. Note that produce and food items must always be returned in-store.
What’s the Walmart return policy for a return without a receipt?
No problem! Walmart team members can look up your store purchases with the credit or debit card you paid with. Online orders can be looked up with your phone number or email.
How long does Walmart Electronics Return Policy run for?
There are a few items that must be returned in a 30-day window. This includes most electronics, such as phones, cameras, tablets, computers, TVs, and electric vehicles (scooters, bikes, etc.). This also includes drones, but, if opened, drones are exchange-only. If you wait until after 30 days for these items, directly contacting the manufacturer for further assistance is your best bet.
Items that must be returned within 60 days with a receipt include prescription glasses, contacts, and hearing aids. You can obtain either a return or exchange. Most prepaid phones can only be returned or exchanged within two weeks.
Are there any other Walmart refund and exchange exceptions?
Walmart does state various times that it has the right to refuse or accept returns on a unique basis. As far as explicitly written exceptions, there are plenty. If you purchased tires from Walmart and have mounted/installed them in your vehicle, they are automatically ineligible for returns. Automotive batteries have a 90-day guarantee if the battery is testing badly.
Photo or personalized items can be returned to a Walmart store within 90 days, but they cannot be mailed. Garden and home equipment can also be returned in 90 days but must be drained of any flammable materials first. This includes gas in dehumidifiers or other items like lawnmowers, air conditioners, and more. Walmart.com recommends confirming from the item page if the item is eligible for a mail return.
Funeral items are only eligible for a 90-day return if they arrived damaged, defective, or unused. Used products are nonrefundable. Toilet products and major household appliances like refrigerators and washing machines can also be returned in 90 days in “like-new” condition as long as it hasn’t been installed and has all original packaging.
Perennials, trees, and shrubs can be returned within a year with a receipt.
The following items can only be exchanged, not returned, when opened:
- Air mattresses (90 days)
- Medical equipment including crutches and walkers (90 days)
- Drones (30 days)
- Cell phones (14 days)
Note that if any of these items are completely new and unused, you can still get a refund; it’s only if they’ve been opened or slightly used.
Now you can seamlessly enjoy your Walmart shopping experience!
There’s nothing better than a Walmart risk-free shopping spree. Save money, live better, and here’s to happy shopping!
Check out Target’s return policy, too!
Great information! Please know that Walmart, like all other retailers track your returns. During Covid restrictions I returned a few inexpensive clothing items- they told me to keep them. I donated them. I got notice saying they were closing my account due to high return volume. It was only 4 of about 16 items over 6 months. I finally escalated the issue and have not had a problem since. I have since stopped buying clothes on line from them and others- sizing is so inconsistent.
Thanks for the warning! Good to know about your experience. Glad you haven’t had any issues since. 💖
I recently was offered “curbside return” from them…how cool is that?
Oh wow! SO cool, CJ! I haven’t been offered that yet! ❤️
Me too. It has been a nightmare ever since trying to get my money back. They never trained their employees on what to do with the items at curbside return-at least at my store. I’ve called customer service 4 times now and they still haven’t given me my money back. The store has no idea where the items are, and I get nothing but the run around from their National customer service. Hours have been spent on the phone with them. They keep telling me they are escalating it through their billing dept, and nothing ever happens. I have to keep calling back, and explain it all over again. They can see somehow that I did something with the return, but claim it has to been scanned in their system before it can be processed. Pretty hard to do that, when the store has no idea what happened to it. Every single person has told me something different. They won’t let me talk to a supervisor, and it’s been weeks since I returned the items. My next step is to dispute the charge with my credit card, and I will never ever shop online at Walmart again. I would rather pay more money some place else then buy from them. I highly recommend you take your things inside to return them so you don’t have this problem too. Seems like they rolled out this stupid curbside return thing way too fast.
So if an item is a gift, and you don’t have a gift receipt from the giver (or don’t want them to know you’re returning), there is no way to do a return?
Hey Jen! It looks like you might be eligible to exchange the item or receive a gift card on a gift purchase according to this info on their site – “Items on a gift receipt can be exchanged, refunded to a gift card or credited to the sender’s original method of payment. Items without a gift receipt can be exchanged or refunded to a gift card. Items under $10 are refunded in cash.” Hoping this helps! ❤️
Careful buying Pokémon cards at Walmart. These items are non-returnable. Some of the reviews have experiences that say the cards had been stolen from the package before delivery and they couldn’t return. Just check that the item you are buying is in fact returnable.
Thanks for the heads up! Good to know! 💕
I made a grocery order online and people need to be aware that if they if they make a substitution you have to pay for that substitution you no longer pay for the item that you originally bought.…. For example the chocolate chips I ordered were $2.19 the substitution was $3.69 and I was charged the $3.69 compared to previous orders when they would just give me the higher price item for the lower price.
Thanks so much for mentioning that change, TiffMeow! We have a post with all the details on that change that we shared here, if you’d like to check it out! ❤️
I had a baby several months ago, a big one who outgrew his diapers more quickly than the average baby. I had a bunch of unopened cases of diapers to return to Target and Walmart without gift receipts. Target has a $100 limit for non-receipt returns a year, then they stop accepting till they next year. Walmart doesn’t have a limit like that, but employees have told me that I may only return non-receipt items $25 at a time. It’s not consistent at Walmart tho. One time an employee told me I can only exchange the diapers. When I found the right size n went back, another employee took over n gave me a weird look. She gave me a gift card for my return, but since I picked out an exchange, I used that gift card to buy the new diapers. In other words, I didn’t need to do an exchange. I could had just kept the gift card.
Thanks so much for sharing about you experience with returns at these retailers, Kay! ❤️
I have issues with Wal-Mart’s in store return policy because I, not only do not hay a vehicle nor someone to return something back to the store for me, I am also handicapped. I have a problem in my hips and lower back when I walk. That is why I order online for delivery from Wal-Mart. I do not always get perfect food items, I have groceries mainly delivered. I have been given issues for receiving a refund back to my EBT card for items not received, or have gone bad or damaged before I even receive them. I’ve had store associates lie and make it out like my EBT card cannot be refunded/credited back. Why is it that it has happened before, but all of a sudden it can’t be done?
Hey Vivian! Thanks for taking the time to share about your honest experiences with returns. I did find this in their return policy for you –
“Eligible items can be returned for a cash refund/credit or gift card within 90 days only if the customer has a receipt showing the item was not purchased with WIC or SNAP:
– If the customer has a receipt showing a purchase was made with WIC, the returned item may be exchanged for the same item.* No cash refunds or credit/gift cards are allowed.
– If the customer has a receipt showing a purchase was made with SNAP, returned item may be refunded to the SNAP EBT account or exchanged for the same item. No cash refunds or credit/gift cards are allowed.
– If the customer has a receipt showing a purchase was made without WIC or SNAP, the item may be returned for cash refund/credit or gift card.
– If the customer does not have a receipt showing a purchase was made with WIC or SNAP, eligible items may be exchanged for the same item. No cash refunds or credit/gift cards are allowed.
A WIC-eligible item is any item listed on the applicable state WIC-approved food list.
A WIC-purchased item is any item on the applicable state WIC-approved food list purchased with a valid WIC food instrument (e.g., WIC voucher, EBT card, WIC CVV, etc).
A SNAP-eligible item is defined by the USDA as any food or food product for home consumption. It excludes specific items from being purchased with SNAP benefits.
A SNAP-purchased item is any item purchased with a SNAP benefit.
*Note: The customer must have formal documentation from the WIC agency to allow any exceptions.”
Hoping this might be helpful! 🤞❤️
Just a FYI, Medicare and Medicaid offer transportation services. It’s as easy as calling and asking. Also, both will provide you with an electronic scooter if your physician can justify your medical needs. Then you will be able to shop and enjoy freedom again.
I received a juicer as a gift. Tried to return it or exchange it and Walmart would not do anything without the receipt. Item was under $70. Walmart is the only store that sells it. At the return checkout I was told I could try returning it at another Walmart store!? I ‘m like why would I do that if I can’t return it at the store I went to, like I am just suppose to drive around to Walmart stores and hope one can return/exchange my item- I thought I got the bad employee probably but at Walmart I generally do. I put the juicer out in the garage. Seeing how that went and I don’t remember Walmart offering gift receipts, I will be sure to buy gifts at another store. I also hope my gifts come from another store.
So sorry to hear about your return experience, Jen! Thanks for sharing! Hoping you might be able to re-gift or sell the juicer elsewhere. 🤞💕
Just bought CO2 cartridges, wrong size, tried to return them (10 minutes to drive back) TRENTON at store #03182 says they’re BULLETS. Which they are not. Your return policy doesn’t list anything on CO2 cartridges. Now James who is in Sporting Goods agrees with me THEY ARE NOT BULLETS!!!!!!!!
I bought a Prettycare Lightweight Stick Cordless vacuum Cleaner for my Fraternity House but someone had donated a similar vacuum cleaner.
How do I return it. Cost was $108.24, including tax.
Hey there, Roger! You can click this link to get more information and start a return. Hoping this is helpful! 🤗❤️
I purchased this vacuum on-line and the in-store return desk said I had to return it by mail but to confirm before mailing.