As the biggest store in the US, Walmart is the ideal place to source all manner of consumer electronics including your next pair of headphones.
They stock a wide variety of wired and wireless headphones, earbuds, and gaming headsets from brands such as:
- Beats Studio
- Turtle Beach
- Samsung
- Skull Candy
- Apple
- Bose
- Logitech
- Steel Series and
- Corsair
If you’ve purchased headphones from Walmart but want to return them, it’s essential to get up to speed with their returns policies. Most companies have limited returns windows for consumer electronics and therefore it’s important to act quickly if you’re looking to secure a refund or exchange.
To help you there, we’ve looked at what the returns window is, how to make a return, and whether you’ll need a receipt and we’ve even looked at the competition to see how their returns policies compare.
Keep reading to find out…
What is Walmart’s Headphone Returns Policy? The Short Answer
In short, you must return headphones to Walmart within 30 days of purchase for a full refund or exchange. You should return them with your receipt, the packaging, accessories, and manuals within this time period.
You can return your headphones for any number of reasons such as:
- If you’re not happy with their performance
- If they’re an unwanted gift
- If they were ordered by mistake
- Not happy with the way they look
- Duplicate orders
- If you’ve simply changed your mind
There doesn’t really need to be a specific reason provided you are within the 30-day returns window.
How to Return Headphones to Walmart
The easiest and fastest way to return headphones (if purchased in-store or online) is to return them back to the store your local Walmart store. This will ensure you receive a refund or exchange the fastest.
If you purchased them online you can also return them using the online returns process (please note this doesn’t apply to items purchased in-store).
To initiate the online returns process, do the following:
- Log in to your Walmart Account
- Go to your purchase history
- Find your headphones
- Choose order details
- Pick start a return
- Provide your reason for return
- Select whether you’d like to exchange them or receive a refund
- Select save
- Click continue
- Choose the method for return (i.e. mail or in-store)
- Print off the prepaid USPS/FedEx labels
- Click submit
- If making a return by mail drop off your headphones at your local FedEx or USPS location
Can I Return Headphones to Walmart With No Receipt?
If you don’t have your receipt, you will need to take to Walmart a Government-issued identification card so they can check their systems.
This is to ensure you aren’t making a habit of returning things without a receipt.
If all checks out then you will be offered either of the following:
- A cash refund if the headphones are worth less than $10;
- An exchange for another pair;
- For headphones worth more than $10, you will receive a Walmart gift card to use in-store.
If you ordered online (either as a guest or account holder) you will have been emailed your invoice/receipt upon purchase and therefore you shouldn’t have any issue finding proof of purchase.
We’d also recommend printing off or taking along your bank statement on your mobile showing the purchase if you’re unable to find your original receipt.
Do I Need Packaging and Accessories to Return Headphones to Walmart?
Walmart asks that you return your headphones with all the packaging, boxes, and accessories in like-new condition.
However, in our experience, if you are missing minor packaging that is unlikely to cause an issue.
You’re only likely to encounter an issue if you’re missing key items such as chargers, cables, cases, or batteries.
If you are missing key accessories, we would advise reaching out to someone at Walmart via the contact us page and explaining your situation.
What to Do Outside the 30-Day Returns Window?
If the 30 days have already expired then you will still have options.
Firstly, we’d recommend reaching out to someone at Walmart using the contact us page as they may be willing to extend the 30-day window slightly if it’s only just lapsed. Explain your situation and any extenuating circumstances if there are any.
If your headphones have developed a fault outside the 30-day window then a second option is to rely on the guarantee that comes with most headphones.
Here is a breakdown of the guarantees provided by some of the top brands:
A third option is to simply sell your headphones. Most tech these days has excellent resale value for working products in good condition. You will only likely lose around 10-20% of the purchase price by putting them on the second-hand market provided they are in good condition.
How Does Walmart’s Headphones Policy Hold Up?
If you’re still shopping around for the best deal or if you’ve purchased headphones from Walmart but are looking to return them to purchase elsewhere then it will be useful to have a look at some of Walmart’s competitors’ returns policies.
We’ve pulled up the information:
| Store | Returns Window |
| Costco | 90 days |
| Best Buy | 15 – 60 days (60 days for members) |
| Amazon | 30 days |
| Target | 30 days |
| Headphones.com | 365 days |
Final Thoughts
Walmart’s headphones return policy is very middle of the road.
It’s not the worst but it’s certainly not the best on the market.
It’s clear that headphones.com or Costco are excellent choices if you’re looking for the most generous headphone returns policies and these stores would be our preferred choice if the returns policy was a deal maker/breaker.
However, Walmart has an excellent selection, provides free returns delivery, and given there are over 3000 Walmart stores in the US alone, it couldn’t be easier to make a return.
