Walmart‘s Headphone Return Policy in 2023 (Full Guide)
As a fellow headphone enthusiast and successful Amazon seller for over 10 years, I know how frustrating it can be when you purchase a new pair of headphones that end up not working for you. You want to easily return them, but aren‘t sure if the retailer will accept them back.
In this comprehensive 2800+ word guide, I‘ll provide an expert-level overview of Walmart‘s headphone return policy in 2023 so you can shop confidently. I‘ll use my insider knowledge to break down Walmart‘s rules in a straightforward way, and offer plenty of tips along the way.
Let‘s dive in!
A Quick Summary of Walmart‘s Policy
Before we get into the details, here‘s a high-level overview of Walmart‘s headphone return policy:
- 30 day returns on regular Walmart purchases with receipt
- 14 day minimum for Walmart Marketplace seller purchases
- Return in-store or by free mail
- Get a full refund if headphones are in new condition with all original parts
- Return to original payment method
Now let‘s explore how it works in more depth.
Returning Headphones In-Store
As an avid Walmart shopper myself, I often take advantage of in-store returns for convenience. Based on my experience, here are some tips for smooth in-store headphone returns:
Bring Everything Included In Original Purchase
- Original manufacturer‘s packaging
- All accessories like cables, dongles
- Manuals and warranty info
- Anything else that came in the box
Walmart wants to be able to resell the headphones as if they were brand new, so including all original materials is key.
Pro Tip: Carefully repackage the headphones just as they arrived to avoid return issues.
Have Your Receipt or Online Order Number Handy
While not 100% necessary, having your receipt or order number makes the return process faster. The associate can quickly lookup the purchase with either of these.
If you don‘t have the receipt, Walmart can still look up your purchase with your ID and payment card used. Just allow some extra time as they verify everything.
Refunds Go Back to Original Payment
When returning in-store, refunds can only be processed back to the original payment method – whether credit card, debit card, cash or gift card.
Let‘s walk through some examples:
- Paid with Visa? Refund goes back to that Visa
- Paid with Walmart gift card? Refund goes on a new gift card
- Paid cash? You‘ll get cash back
Tip: If needing funds back to a different payment method, you‘ll want to return by mail instead.
Photo ID May Be Required
To verify the return and prevent fraud, Walmart may ask to see your photo ID when doing an in-store return without a receipt.
As an authorized user on the purchase payment method, this shouldn‘t be an issue. But something to be prepared for nonetheless!
For Online Orders: Bring the Summary Form
If you‘re returning headphones purchased on Walmart.com in-store, make sure to:
- Sign into your Walmart.com account
- Find the order details
- Print or display the order summary form
This gives the store associate the online order number and all the details they need to quickly process the return.
Refund Timing
Once your in-store return is completed, here‘s how long it generally takes for the refund to process:
- 3-5 business days for credit/debit card refunds
- Immediate for Walmart gift card refunds
- Immediate for cash refunds
And you‘re all set! With the above tips, your in-store return should go smoothly.
Returning Headphones Ordered Online
One of my favorite aspects of Walmart‘s return policy is the free, convenient mail returns for online orders.
Print a Prepaid Shipping Label
For any headphones ordered on Walmart.com, simply:
- Go to Walmart.com and sign into your account
- Find the headphones order and select "Return or Replace"
- Choose the return by mail option
- Print the prepaid shipping label provided
Walmart will cover the cost to ship the headphones back to their returns center. Super convenient!
Box Up Headphones with All Original Parts
Be sure to return the headphones in their original box with any charging cables, adapters, instructions, or other parts included.
Securely package up the box and attach the shipping label. I recommend taping over the original shipping label and using sturdy packing tape all around the box.
Drop Off at UPS or FedEx Location
The final step is dropping off your return package at any UPS or FedEx location near you.
Walmart provides the prepaid label, so you won‘t pay anything to ship it back!
Once the headphones are received at Walmart‘s facility, they will process your refund or replacement within 10 days typically. And you‘re all set!
Returning Multiple Items?
If you need to return multiple items from the same Walmart.com order, there‘s an easy way to do it:
- Print all the prepaid return labels
- Package items separately with labels attached
- Drop off each box individually at UPS/FedEx
This ensures all your returns are tracked separately for faster processing.
Types of Headphones Accepted for Return
| Headphone Type | Returnable? |
|---|---|
| Over-ear | Yes |
| On-ear | Yes |
| In-ear | Yes |
| Earbuds | Yes |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Wired | Yes |
Walmart gladly accepts returns on all types and styles of headphones – over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, earbuds, wired, wireless, noise cancelling, and more!
I‘ve also successfully returned nearly every major brand:
- Apple Airpods
- Beats by Dre
- Bose
- Sony
- Sennheiser
- Samsung
- Skullcandy
- And more!
As you can see, Walmart is very flexible when it comes to headphone styles and brands eligible for return.
Condition of Returned Headphones
Since Walmart resells open box returns, it‘s understandable they want the headphones back in "like new" condition. Here are some tips:
Original Packaging
- Use the original manufacturer‘s box and inserts if possible
- If missing, use a secure box close to original size
Accessories
- Include any charging cables, dongles, cases
- Don‘t forget the manuals and warranty info!
Clean and Undamaged
- Wipe off any dirt, earwax, etc – don‘t return totally gross headphones!
- Make sure they are free of any damage or defects
As long as you follow the above, Walmart should accept the return without any issues.
Tips If Your Return Is Denied
Every now and then, I hear from readers who have had headphone returns denied at Walmart. Here are some top tips to get your return approved:
- Remain polite – the associate can‘t always make exceptions
- Ask about exchanges – they may allow exchanging for a different pair
- Try another location – each store‘s management can be different
- Contact customer service – they can help troubleshoot next steps
- Sell online – if past return period, resell to recoup some costs
I highly recommend avoiding any confrontational behavior. Kindly ask what options are available as the associate does want to help you.
And as a last resort – resell the headphones online to make back some of the cost if you‘re beyond the return window.
Key Takeaways
- 30 day return window with receipt
- Return in original packaging with all accessories
- Free return shipping for Walmart.com orders
- Return to store or by mail
- Full refund to original payment method
- All headphone types and brands accepted
To quickly recap, those are the key points that summarize Walmart‘s headphone return policy.
I hope this guide has helped explain exactly how to handle headphone returns at Walmart. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help.
