Best Buy Open-Box and Refurbished, Explained
Best Buy grades open-box items Excellent, Good or Fair, gives refurbished items at least 90 days of warranty in most cases, and takes all of them back.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Store policies change. This is a summary in our own words of Best Buy's Outlet Center buying guide and Return and Exchange Policy, read on October 26, 2026. The official pages are the ones that apply.
Four kinds of discounted product
Best Buy's outlet sorts marked-down items into four groups:
| Type | What it is | Warranty | Returnable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearance | New, factory-sealed, end of stock or discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Open-box | Opened items, graded Excellent, Good or Fair | Yes | Yes |
| Refurbished | Repaired and restored to like-new, may have light scratches | Varies; most at least 90 days | Yes |
| Pre-owned | Used, often from trade-ins, inspected and cleaned | Varies; often a limited Best Buy warranty | Yes |
Open-box grades: Excellent, Good and Fair
Best Buy says each open-box item is tested or inspected for working order and appearance before it gets a grade.
- Excellent: looks new, with no scratches or scuffs, and has all its original parts and accessories (or suitable replacements). It usually comes in its box, though Best Buy says an item can still be graded Excellent without packaging.
- Good: light to moderate cosmetic wear that does not affect how it works. Screens have no marks in the viewing area, and there are no dents, chips, cracks or deep scratches. The box is usually gone and some parts or accessories may be missing.
- Fair: works as intended but has bigger scratches, dents or chips. Packaging is usually absent and accessories are often missing.
Good and Fair items are sold in stores or online for store pickup. Best Buy also notes that an open-box warranty may not include the owner's manual or the maker's registration card.
Refurbished and pre-owned
Refurbished items are repaired by Best Buy, the maker or a third party, checked to work properly and sold with their essential parts and accessories. Best Buy says most carry at least a 90-day warranty unless the listing says otherwise, so read the specifications. Pre-owned items have been used, sometimes for a year or more, and may lack parts and the original box.
Returns
Best Buy's return policy covers new, clearance, open-box, refurbished and pre-owned products alike. Most products get 15 days, or 60 days for My Best Buy Plus and Total members, and activatable devices get 14 days. The clock starts the day you receive the item. The full rules are in our Best Buy return policy guide.
Is open-box worth it?
Best Buy does not publish how much less open-box items cost, and the gap changes by item. A few points from its own pages help you decide:
- The grade tells you what is missing. If you need the box to gift it or the accessories to use it, Excellent is the safer grade.
- Open-box items keep a warranty and the normal return window, so you can check the item at home and return it in time if something is wrong.
- Free delivery on TVs of 51 inches and up does not cover open-box TVs bought online; Best Buy offers it only on open-box TVs bought in a store.
- Compare the open-box price with the current new price on the same page, since sale prices on new stock can close the gap.
Sources
Outlet Center Buying Guide, Return and Exchange Policy and TV Shipping or Delivery, Best Buy. Policy checked October 26, 2026.