The Home Depot has a pretty generous return policy that's perfect for people looking to pick up items at the Home Depot store or online for home improvement projects. Your local Home Depot likely accepts returns on most items in store. If you made an online purchase and had it delivered to your home, good news! The Home Depot even refunds original shipping charges in some cases. Let's take a closer look at Home Depot's return policy.
Home Depot Return Policy
If it looks like new, unopened merchandise sold by this retailer can be returned within 90 business days of purchase, according to the store's website at homedepot.com. There's no restocking fee associated with items returned in this manner. Better yet, those with The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, The Home Depot Commercial Revolving Charge, or The Home Depot Commercial Account have 365 days from the date of purchase to receive a full refund. Home Depot store credit cards always seem like something to dodge, but that seems like a pretty good deal!
How you'll get your refund depends on how you bought your DIY items. Returns for purchases that have valid proof of purchase can be exchanged, refunded in cash, credited to your account, or refunded via store credit, but that has to be determined by The Home Depot.
Refunds, for the most part, are issued to the original form of payment such as a credit card, PayPal, cash, etc. Anything bought with a gift card or a store credit will be refunded as store credit. Store returns like this are perfect for when you buy the wrong size of washers or screws and need to make a return trip to your local store to grab the right ones.
No Receipt? No Problem
But what if you don't have your sales receipt or shipping confirmation email? Thankfully, receipts for purchases made with a credit or debit card or even by check can likely be located in this retailer's system within 30 days of purchase. Even better, if you used a credit card from Home Depot like Commercial Revolving Charge or Commercial Account, your purchases can be located in that same system within 365 days of purchase. That's pretty lucky! This is the same deal for online customers with special orders.
Non-receipted returns and returns from purchases made with store credit require a driver's license or government-issued photo ID, which seems pretty fair. People who bought things online can also return items via an online return, though the company suggests calling their corporate office customer service number for assistance with that process.
Return Policy Exceptions
Of course, there are always exceptions. Furniture, area rugs, gas-powered equipment and tractors, generators (other than Whole House and Stationary Generators), and consumer electronics (televisions and computers) all have a 30-day return policy. Purchases made at the Home Depot Design Center must be returned within 90 days of purchase.
Defective or damaged major appliances can only be returned if the damages are reported within 48 hours of delivery or at the time of pick-up at the Service Desk. The company recommends checking for such things before you leave the store with your purchase or accept a delivery.
Anything with flammable liquids or gases must be returned to a store and cannot be shipped back through the mail, which seems pretty reasonable. Meanwhile, perennials, trees, and shrubs have a one-year guarantee. If anything like that arrives dead, Home Depot will ship a replacement at no charge if you call within 3 days of delivery. So no worries if that rose bush you ordered didn't make it through the mail — they'll send a new one!
Non-Returnable/Non-Refundable
Finally, there are some things the Home Depot just can't take back. Major appliances, Home Depot gift cards and store credits, whole house and stationary generators, utility trailers, cut flowers and floral arrangements, labor, delivery, installation services, and product samples (such as paint, flooring, fabric, and wallpaper) all can't be returned or refunded. Also, custom blinds can't go back unless they are identified as "Guaranteed to Fit."
Home Depot seems very willing to offer customer support if the items you got for your DIY project aren't quite right and need to be returned. For people who are looking to make changes to their homesteading project, it really can be a lifesaver. With UPS return at Amazon, and Home Depot's excellent return policy, we're in great hands for DIY projects.
