11 Details in Walmart’s Return Policy That Even Experienced Shoppers Overlook

Walmart is an easy and convenient way to shop for home goods, electronics, groceries, and more.

But what if you have to return something to the store? Perhaps you’re not satisfied with the product, it’s defective in some way, or another issue causes you to need to take it back. Maybe you’ve realized that returning the item might even lower your financial stress.

Before you return to the store, here are a few things you need to know about the Walmart return policy.

Walmart has a 90-day return policy for most items, but there are some purchases that you’ll need to return sooner if you want to take them back.

Electronics — including laptops, tablets, e-readers, computers, and televisions — can’t be returned after 30 days. This means you’ll want to have all the correct measurements and the ability to return your item to the store before making a big-ticket, electronic purchase.

Although Walmart’s return policy is quite generous, the store manager has the final say on whether or not an item can be returned.

If you don’t have an item’s receipt, your purchases will need to go through a more robust verification process before determining whether you’re allowed a return. This includes presenting a valid, government-issued ID.

If you tried to step up the curb appeal of your home and your efforts didn’t quite pan out how you hoped, you can return some of the greenery.

You have up to a year to return trees, shrubs, or perennials if they don’t work out, but you will need a receipt to get a complete refund.

Do you have a Walmart+ membership? The service offers great perks for members, including free delivery from your local store on qualifying orders and free shipping on orders from Walmart’s website.

If you don’t like an item, you can enjoy easy returns straight from their doorstep. Simply choose an item to return, and the store will come to your home for pickup. 

Some restrictions apply — like needing to be present to show your return barcode — so you’ll want to check your Walmart+ plan for complete details.

One of the great things about Walmart is its grocery section, where you can pick up several items for your pantry or fridge.

But what happens if something ends up being less than fresh? You can still return produce, meat, bakery items, and more. Note that some items might not be entirely returnable, but you could still be refunded.

While you may want to get cash back into your pocket, there are some items that Walmart will only exchange and not refund you.

Medical items that have already been opened, like crutches or slings, can only be exchanged for a similar item. You’ll also be limited to exchange only for opened drones, airbeds, and air mattresses. 

Review Walmart’s return policy before purchasing these items; some also have a smaller exchange window than others.

Walmart can keep track of your purchases if you have an account and let you know how much time you have before your purchases are no longer eligible for refunds.

So if you want to return something but aren’t sure about the deadline, log into your account on Wamart.com and check on your purchases to see how much time you have before something is no longer eligible for a return.

Most items can be returned within 90 days, but cell phones have stricter limits. For example, you can only return a cell phone within 14 days of purchase if it's still unopened. 

However, opening the box with the phone could restrict your return options, and you will likely only be able to exchange it for a phone of equal or lesser value.

There are some great advantages to buying in-store brands compared to name brands, such as saving cash on a product that may be just as good as the name brand.

Another advantage is that you can return a Walmart in-store brand product even if the packaging is empty. So as long as something is a private label brand — like Great Value and Equate — you can return a less than satisfactory item.

You may have bought a product and tossed your receipt as soon as you got home, only to realize that you have to return what you purchased.

Don’t worry about digging through the trash to find a receipt if you purchased the items with a credit card. Instead, take the item to Walmart, and the store can use the number of the credit card you used to initially purchase the item to locate the receipt and offer a refund.

It can be frustrating to park your car and drag an item in to return it. Fortunately, Walmart offers additional convenience with a curbside return option, so you don’t even have to leave your vehicle. 

You simply drive up to your local Walmart’s designated curbside pickup area, and a team member will help you handle your return.

Walmart can be a great option if you’re trying to save money or you want to buy different items that are conveniently all under one roof, but remember to keep the store’s return policy in mind depending on what you buy and when you plan to return it.

It’s also a good idea to make sure you have the best rewards credit cards to earn cash back or get points or perks for spending your money at Walmart and putting the charge on your card.