13 Items Walmart Won't Let You Return

Walmart has 4,735 stores in the U.S. alone. So, there’s a good chance you’ve probably shopped at a Walmart before.

Walmart also has a generous 90-day return policy and you don’t even need a copy of your receipt. This can help you keep more money in your bank account.

But like other retailers, Walmart does have some exceptions to its policy. So, before you head to your local Walmart with a return in hand, take a look at some of the items Walmart won’t take back.

Walmart’s return policy does not include any firearms or ammunition for firearms sold by the store. It also doesn’t cover airsoft and air guns, BB guns, or crossbows that may have been purchased at the retailer.

A great Walmart hack is to save money by using Walmart’s pharmacy to fill prescriptions. You can get some generic prescriptions for only $4 for a 30-day supply or $10 for a 90-day supply. But be aware that prescription medications cannot be taken back as a return.

If you picked up a gas-powered vehicle from Walmart, don’t expect to drive it back to the retailer and get a refund. Walmart’s list of gas-powered items you can’t return includes dirt bikes, go-karts, scooters, and ATVs.

The retailer will take back other gas-powered equipment such as lawn mowers and chainsaws, for example, but the gas needs to be drained from the machinery before it’s returned.

Pro tip: Use one of the best credit cards for saving on gas the next time you fill to beat the pain at the pump. 

You may have received a Walmart gift card for a birthday present or as a stocking stuffer at Christmas. But any gift cards for Walmart are ineligible to return for a refund.

Instead, you may want to look into ways to turn gift cards into cash. You may not get the face value of your card, but you might be able to turn it into cash that you can spend somewhere else to get what you want.

Pro tip: Use one of these Walmart credit cards to rack up rewards with each purchase and redeem them for gift cards for family and friends.

If you have diabetes, you may be quite familiar with the supplies you need to keep your illness in check. But items like meters and strips to test your blood glucose levels are not eligible to be returned to Walmart.

Walmart’s policy prohibits any refunds for health-related test kits, such as pregnancy tests or home-diagnostics tests. And remember that the no-return policy includes COVID-19 test kits, which you may have stocked up on during the pandemic.

If you bought tires from Walmart’s auto department, you may be eligible for a return. But any tires that have been mounted or used in any way won’t be taken back by the retailer.

There are all kinds of trading cards you can buy at Walmart, from traditional baseball cards to those used for card-based games like Yu-Gi-Oh! or Magic: The Gathering. None of these card packs can be returned, either opened or unopened. And yes, this also includes Pokémon cards.

Depending on the equipment you purchase from Walmart for medical reasons, it may or may not be eligible to be returned.

Items like crutches, walkers, or slings can be exchanged for exact or similar items within 90 days or refunded if they are new and unopened. But hygienic items like bedpans, bath seats, and other personal medical items can't be returned.

Walmart carries a variety of breast pumps, with some costing hundreds of dollars for a high-end model. That could be a significant investment for new moms.

But like other personal medical equipment, breast pumps that have been opened already are not included under Walmart’s return policy.

Walmart will allow for some products to be returned, but the retailer has placed a limit on what can be returned and when. Consumer electronics, for example, are allowed to be returned, but you have to get them back to the retailer within 30 days of purchase instead of the typical 90-day window.

Pro tip: Protect your new electronics when you buy them with one of these four price protection credit cards that offer extended warranties. 

Walmart vision centers allow customers to get eye exams as well as order prescription glasses or contacts to help them see better. But eyewear, including glasses and contacts, only has a 60-day return window if you’re not satisfied.

Drones may be a great hobby or a good gift to give to friends or family. Walmart has plenty of options at a variety of price points depending on what you want. But like other electronics, they can only be returned within 30 days of purchase.

While there may be some exceptions, Walmart does have a good 90-day return policy for most qualifying items bought by Walmart shoppers. 

This could help you save money and reduce your financial stress by letting you get your money back from purchases that didn't pan out.