Best Buy is often the go-to place for electronics and other related purchases.
Besides selling PCs and large televisions, they also have a large collection of movies, CDs, and video games.
If you buy a video game from Best Buy and later realize that it’s defective, then you may wonder if you can return it.
Best Buy has return policies for all of its products, so you’ll need to ensure you follow the correct policy to get the most out of your refund.
Here’s what you need to know about Best Buy’s return policy for video games.
Best Buy Video Game Return Policy (How It Works)
Best Buy does accept video game returns.
However, you must return the video game to Best Buy within a certain period to qualify for a refund or exchange.
If you fail to return the video game within that time frame, then you give up the opportunity to return your item.
You may still be able to return it, but you won’t be able to receive a refund or an exchange.
For standard Best Buy members, you need to return a video game to Best Buy within 15 days of purchasing the game.
For Elite Best Buy members, you need to return a video game to Best Buy within 30 days of purchasing the game.
For Elite Plus Best Buy members, you will have 45 days after purchase to return a video game to Best Buy.
Clearly, Best Buy rewards those who subscribe to their membership programs by giving them longer return periods.
However, even if you’re not an official member of Best Buy and are just a standard customer, 15 days is more than enough time to inspect the video game and ensure that it works.
Even if you’re buying it for the holidays, you should still open the game and check it for damage.
Then you can wrap it up and give it to someone as a gift.
As long as you return the video game to Best Buy within the period that’s allotted for you, you can receive a refund or exchange.
What’s Best Buy’s Return Policy On Unopened Video Games?
If you have an unopened video game, then you will be able to get a full refund on your purchase.
Keep in mind that Best Buy will likely ask you for some proof of purchase.
A receipt is the best option, but they will also accept credit card charges, too.
If you had your order delivered, then the packing slip will also act as proof of purchase.
Finally, you may need to provide an ID to prove that you were the one who bought the game.
That said, if you have an unopened game, Best Buy will give you a full refund.
You still need to return it within the appropriate time frame set for your specific membership plan with Best Buy.
Can You Return A Video Game To Best Buy If It’s Opened?
Nothing is more frustrating than opening a game and putting it in your system only to find that it doesn’t work.
It’s even worse when the game works up to a certain point and then fails, making it impossible to finish the game.
If you run into this situation, then you may wonder if you can return the game to Best Buy even if it’s opened and used.
Best Buy will accept your opened and used video game as long as you can return it within the allotted time.
If you’re a standard member, then you have 15 days to return it.
If you’re an Elite member, then you have a month to return it.
Elite Plus members have 45 days to return the game.
It doesn’t matter if you opened it and played it.
Best Buy will accept the return as long as it’s within the specified return period.
Can You Exchange A Defective Video Game At Best Buy?
If you bought a video game at Best Buy and it proves not to work, then you may wonder if you can exchange it.
You may not want a refund.
Instead, you just want a new copy of the game so you can play it.
The good news is that Best Buy will exchange the video game for you.
Whether you opened the video game or not, they’ll exchange it for a new one.
Keep in mind that they won’t give you a different video game.
For example, you can’t exchange Mass Effect 3 for Medieval Dynasty.
You can only get a new copy of Mass Effect 3.
Keep in mind that the same rules apply when exchanging defective video games.
That’s because you’re still technically returning the video game.
You’re just requesting a different one rather than getting your money back.
As such, you still have 15, 30, or 45 days to return the video game for an exchange depending on your Best Buy membership.
As long as you adhere to that policy, it’s easy to exchange your defective video game with a new one that works.
Can You Return A Video Game That Came With A Console At Best Buy?
A lot of console manufacturers will try to make their products more enticing by including a video game with them.
However, if you find yourself with a video game that doesn’t work, but the console does, you may wonder if you can still return the video game since it came with the console.
The good news is that you can.
Best Buy will let you return the video game but only in exchange for a new copy of the same game.
You can’t get a refund for the video game because its price was a part of the total bundle price.
You also can’t exchange it for a different game.
As with the rest of their video games, you have to return the video game within the allotted time frame.
If your console doesn’t work either, then you will qualify for a refund.
Otherwise, if you find that only the video game doesn’t work, you can exchange it at Best Buy.
Can You Return Video Games To Best Buy That Weren’t Bought At Best Buy?
If you bought your video game online or at a different store, then you may wonder if you can still return it to Best Buy.
Best Buy won’t accept the video game if you bought it elsewhere.
That’s because they’d be losing out on money since you didn’t buy it from them initially.
They also can’t exchange the game for another since they’d still be losing money.
If you want to return a video game to Best Buy, then you need to buy it from them in the first place.
Can You Return Video Games To Best Buy From The Best Buy Online Store?
You may find yourself in a situation where you bought a video game from Best Buy’s online store.
When it arrived, the video game was either broken or didn’t work once you used it.
You may wonder if you can still return the video game even though you bought it online.
The good news is that you can return a video game to Best Buy even if you bought it from their online store.
To do so, you need to bring the video game into a store with the packing slip as proof of purchase.
If you have the receipt from when you purchased the game, that’s helpful as well.
The return period is a little different with online orders.
Instead of being set on the day that you ordered the game, it’s set on the day that you received it at your home.
If you’re a standard member, then that means you have 15 days from the time it arrived at your house to return the video game.
Even if you bought it through their online store, you can still get a refund or exchange it for a new version of the game.
Can You Mail In A Video Game Return To Best Buy?
If you don’t like the idea of standing in line at customer service to return a video game, you could mail it in.
There are a few steps that you need to follow to ensure that Best Buy receives your return.
First, you need to put the video game in the box that it arrived in.
If this is impossible, then you can use another box.
However, you’ll need to include the packing slip inside of it.
Next, you’ll need to print a return label.
You easily can do so on the Best Buy website.
By navigating to their returns section, you’ll see an option to print a return label.
Attach that label to the front of the box.
If you’re using the same box, then put the return label over the delivery label.
Make sure that it’s attached firmly.
If it has any raised edges, there’s a chance it could rip off and tear.
It will be impossible for the return to reach its destination then.
Then close up the package and send it out in the mail.
You should receive an email or some other form of confirmation when Best Buy receives and processes your return.
Depending on what you selected for your compensation, either a refund or a new item, you should receive it a few days after that.
If you bought the video game in a store and not online, then you can still return it to Best Buy through the mail.
You’ll need to get a new box and put the video game in it.
Instead of the packing slip, you must put your receipt or other proof of purchase in the box with it.
Then you can print the return label as usual and send it out in the mail.
Because the return policy time constraints are still in effect, you need to ensure that you get it out into the mail with enough time for it to reach Best Buy.
Any delays might push it past the return period and make you ineligible for compensation.
It’s a good idea to test the video game as soon as you get it and return it immediately if it’s defective.
Can You Return A Video Game To Best Buy Without A Receipt?
When you buy a product, you naturally expect it to work.
As such, you probably don’t make it a habit to hold onto your receipts.
However, if you already tossed your receipt away and discovered that your video game doesn’t work, then you may feel some panic.
You might wonder whether you’re still able to return the video game to Best Buy even though you got rid of the receipt.
The good news is that you can still return the video game to Best Buy even if you don’t have the receipt.
However, Best Buy will require an additional form of proof of purchase.
This might mean that you bring in an ID to prove that you were the one who bought the video game.
Your ID is usually used in conjunction with something like a packing slip or a credit card statement showing that you bought something at Best Buy.
Having a packing slip is one of the best ways to prove that you bought the video game at Best Buy.
However, you only have one of these if you bought the video game online.
For most people who bought a video game in a store and lost their receipt, you can print out a screenshot of your credit card statement for the purchase.
It should contain enough information like the charge that you incurred at the Best Buy store, the date on which it occurred, and the amount.
This is usually enough to prove that you bought a video game at Best Buy.
Together with your ID, this should satisfy Best Buy and grant compensation.
Keep in mind that you’ll still need to return it within the specified period.
Even if you lost your receipt, they’ll base the return date on what your packing slip or credit card charge states.
Otherwise, you can still return your video game to Best Buy even if you don’t have your receipt anymore.
Can You Return A Game You Got As A Gift At Best Buy?
You may find yourself in an unfortunate situation where you received a video game as a gift but it doesn’t work.
You may not have the heart to tell someone that the gift they bought you isn’t functional.
However, you may want to know if you can get a return on their behalf.
The good news is that Best Buy does accept gift returns for video games.
However, they only allow exchanges.
You can’t get money back if you return a defective video game that was a gift.
You can only get it exchanged for a new item of the same game.
That said, you can return it through the mail, too.
If you choose this method, then Best Buy will inform the one who bought the video game.
They’ll give them credit for the purchase.
If you want to play the game, however, then you can just go to Best Buy and get a new physical copy by returning the defective one.
Does Best Buy Have A Trade-In Program For Video Games?
If you have some older video games, then you may want to clear up some space.
You can potentially earn a little money by clearing up your collection through Best Buy’s Trade-In Program.
Best Buy accepts several different products through its program, including video games.
Before you trade it in, you first need to determine its condition.
In particular, Best Buy wants to know if it’s playable or not.
If it is, then you’re going to receive a higher price than if it isn’t.
Since Best Buy inspects every item they receive, it isn’t worth lying about its condition.
Then you can go to their trade-in program website and look up the specific video game that you want to trade in.
It will give you an estimated value.
If that’s acceptable, then you can continue with the process of trading it in.
You’ll need to put the video game in a box, attach the correct shipping label that you’ll receive from Best Buy, then send it out to ship to them.
Keep in mind that your box has to arrive at the processing center within 14 days or else you won’t get the same value that you saw originally.
It will be set at the new value since Best Buy updates its trade-in offers every two weeks.
If your package arrives on time and they approve it, then you’ll receive a Best Buy gift card loaded with the trade-in amount in your mail.
Trading your old games with Best Buy can be a great way to earn a little spending money.
