Walmart Return Policy Without Receipt (2023 Return Policy)

Walmart is one of the best-known multinational retail corporations in the U.S. It has a chain of hypermarkets, grocery stores, and discount department stores. As a publicly-traded company, it owns numerous stores and investments in fashion tech, e-commerce, and logistics tech. 

Does the following shopping scenario sound familiar or relatable? You buy something, only to realize that you don’t like it.

While it’s possible to return products, you realize that you threw away or lost the receipt. A receipt is your golden ticket when attempting to return a product you’re not satisfied with. So, what happens when you don’t have a receipt?

Let’s look at the Walmart Return Policy Without Receipt and the necessary steps to follow…

Standard Returning Policies

At Walmart, returns are available for nearly everything that’s sold. If you shop online, your purchase history on Walmart.com shows your eligibility to return any purchases. This is done because Walmart gives back refunds for items bought within the last 90 days. You can easily return a product in person within this period when you have a receipt.

Of course, as luck should have it, not every shopper keeps their receipt. While returning a purchase is best done with one, Walmart makes it possible to do this regardless. So, let’s take a closer look…

Walmart Return Policy Without Receipt

The rules are slightly different when you use this approach. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how this can be done. 

1 Refund Verification Process

At your local Walmart, provide a valid government-issued ID. Bring the original packaging used for the item purchased. There is a UPC or serial number which will be scanned. This is done to confirm whether the item was stolen or purchased from a different retailer. However, there’s a downside to this…

You’ll only get a cash refund for items that are less than $10. If it’s worth more than $10, you’ll receive a Walmart gift card. This outcome is subject to several factors. Everything from how long you had the product before returning it, to the product category influences the outcome.

2 Credit/ Debit Card, Email, and Phone Number

If you bought the item(s) using a credit/debit card, you might be in luck. The card used for your purchases can be verified. You can also return Walmart online orders. The store can look up the order using the email or phone number used when the order was made. 

Take note that during the verification process, you may be asked a few questions. You could be asked where the item was originally bought, when, and the reason for returning it. So, what’s next? When the package is scanned for verification, the system lets the store clerk know if it has been approved for return. The verification process only takes a few minutes to complete. 

Your return activity is tracked…

If you successfully return a product at Walmart without a receipt, you can only get away with this a few times. Your ID information is stored in the return database. This will help the store to track your non-receipted return activity.

 Three non-receipted returns over six months are considered excessive. From that point on, store managers can deny a return without a receipt. 

Restrictions When Returning A Product

I’ve cleared the air on Walmart’s return policy. You might be wondering if there are any major restrictions when returning products without a receipt. Can you return any item to Walmart without a receipt? No, you can’t. Some products can’t be returned without one. These include electronics, prescription glasses, or contacts. 

Non-Refundable and Exchange-Only Items

There are a few things that you can’t get a refund for even if you have a receipt. Walmart doesn’t accept returns for firearms and ammunition, pepper spray, gas-powered vehicles, and more. For a more extensive list of these non-refundable items, go to Walmart’s Returns page.

There are items that you can only exchange if the packages were already opened. These are cell phones, medical equipment, and air mattresses. The exact opposite applies – unopened packages for this category can be returned, and a refund can be given. 

Making A Return With A Receipt

For those that keep their receipts, returning a product is much easier than you think. You’ll be happy to know that there are three effortless ways available for you to do so. You can return items in-store, by mail (for free), or via a scheduled pickup from your home. 

When the refund is completed, it includes any applicable taxes and fees charged to the original form of payment. 

Bring It In

Using your account, log in using the Walmart App, or go to Walmart.com. Choose the item you want to return and click on “Return to Store.” You’ll get a return barcode. After reviewing the return refund summary, submit your request. Lastly, bring the email confirmation and the purchased item with you to the store. 

Mailing or Scheduled Pickup 

This process is similar to the first one. After logging in using the app or website, select “Return by mail” instead of “Return to Store.” Print the return label, package the item being returned, and then drop it off at a USPS or FedEx location. 

As if this could get easier, you could schedule a pickup for your Walmart return from your home. Follow the same steps mentioned above. This time, select “Carrier Pickup by FedEx.” Choose a date for the pickup, and package the item being returned. 

Things You Didn’t Know About Walmart!

If you’d like to know more about the economic effect Walmart has had on the U.S., then check out The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works–and How It’s Transforming the American Economy and The People’s Republic of Walmart: How the World’s Biggest Corporations are Laying the Foundation for Socialism.

In addition, you might want to read up on the Wal-Mart: A History of Sam Walton’s Retail Phenomenon to learn more about the man behind the enterprise, as well as Walmart: Behind Closed Doors, all available online in 2023.

I also found a few peculiar sounding books online, such as How to Not Have Your Car Explode in a Walmart Parking Lot: A Car Care Pocket-Guide, and Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons, or perhaps not for everyone, The Walmart Book of the Dead.

Walmart Return Policy Without Receipt – Final Thoughts

While it’s possible to return an item without a receipt, it’s best to keep all receipts during the first 90 days of purchase. This not only makes the process easier but convenient. 

Keep in mind a checklist of things needed when returning an item without a receipt. Also, make sure that the ID used matches the information in the store’s database. Want to know a trick? Keep a “Receipt Box” in your home. After shopping, whether it’s from Walmart or another retail shop, stack up the receipts. 

You can always clear the box when it’s full or when you’re sure about keeping your purchases. If you’re techno-savvy, you can use this app to help you keep track of your receipts after scanning them. Walmart’s core purpose is to help people save money and live better. 

So, do it responsibly, and happy shopping!