Lowe’s stocks a variety of tools, supplies, and materials for your DIY and renovation projects. However, you may not get exactly what you want on your first trip to the store.
If you’re looking to return an item purchased at Lowe’s, a question you might be asking is, does Lowe’s charge a restocking fee? I’ve done some research, and here is what I’ve found out about this!
Lowe’s Restocking Fee
Lowe’s charges a 20% restocking fee for custom-ordered appliances, hardware, tools, lighting, home décor, kitchen and bath products, and more. Typically, Lowe’s will only issue the restocking fee for custom-ordered items. Additionally, the restocking fee does not apply to faulty items or tools.
If you want to learn more about why Lowe’s charges a restocking fee, how you pay for it, whether you have to pay a restocking fee for defective items, and much more, keep on reading!
Why Does Lowe’s Charge Restocking Fees?
Lowe’s charges a 20% restocking fee for special-order items to compensate for procurement and delivery expenses associated with these products.
Since special order items are custom items that come from external suppliers, they cannot simply be returned to the Lowe’s store and reshelved for other customers to buy.
In most cases, Lowe’s has to return these products to the original supplier and impose a restocking fee as part of this process.
Because of this, Lowe’s charges a restocking fee for these items from customers who return or cancel their special orders.
How Do You Pay the Lowe’s Restocking Fee?
Once Lowe’s has received your returned special-order item and approved the refund, the restocking fee is simply deducted from the refund value.
The refund amount, after this deduction, is then returned via the method of purchase you initially used for payment.
Also, keep in mind that you must return the special-order item to the Lowe’s you originally bought it from.
Does Lowe’s Charge Restocking Fees For Defective Items?
In most cases, customers won’t have to pay a restocking fee when returning a defective special-order item and will receive a free-of-charge repair or a full refund instead.
However, the return policy may differ across items because Lowe’s orders special order items from various external suppliers.
With that, some suppliers want the product to be assessed and repaired first and only issue a refund if the product can’t be fixed.
So, customers should consult with a Lowe’s customer assistant at the customer service desk of the store they originally ordered from when seeking to return a defective special-order item.
Which Items at Lowe’s Incur a Restocking Fee?
Lowe’s special-order items, including custom-size and custom-quantity lumber, building materials, flooring, and built-in appliances, can sometimes incur a 20% restocking fee.
Also, note that whether the special-order item is subject to the restocking fee will depend on the type of item and the return policy of the original supplier.
Which Items at Lowe’s Do Not Incur a Restocking Fee?
All Lowe’s products, excluding special-order items, are exempt from the restocking fee when returned or canceled.
However, keep in mind that some special-order items may also be exempt from the restocking fee.
If your special-order product is exempt from a restocking fee, it will ultimately depend on the product and your local Lowe’s store.
To learn more about Lowe’s, you can also read our posts on when Lowe’s restocks, whether Lowe’s gives a first responder discount, and the Lowe’s AAA discount.
