Walmart Refund Verification Process for Returns Without a Receipt

Short Answer

Walmart uses a refund verification process for returns made without a receipt. To make a return without a receipt, you’ll need to bring the item and its original packaging and show a valid government-issued photo ID. A Walmart store associate will scan the item’s barcode and check your ID against Walmart’s returns database. As long as the item is approved and the database doesn’t show a history of frequent non-receipted returns, you should be able to proceed with your return. For more on the Walmart refund verification process, see below.

Walmart Refund Verification Process Explained

You can likely make a return without a receipt at Walmart (as previously reported), but, in order to do so, the store will use a refund verification process to help prevent fraud. When making a return without a receipt, you will only receive a refund if your return is verified.

We contacted Walmart’s corporate customer service department, as well as Walmart stores in several states, to find out more about this process. Store associates explained the following:

A store associate will scan the item’s barcode on the original packaging.
The computer will tell the associate whether or not the item is approved for return.
You will also be asked to show a valid government-issued photo ID.
A store associate will check your ID against Walmart’s returns database.

Walmart requires the item’s original packaging so store associates can scan the UPC or serial number to confirm that the item wasn’t stolen or purchased from a different retailer. During the refund verification process, you may be asked where the item was originally purchased, when the purchase was made, and/or the reason for return.

Walmart representatives said information from your ID will be stored in its returns database to track your non-receipted return activity. This is done for loss-prevention purposes. Customers who attempt an excessive amount of non-receipted returns may become ineligible to make a return without a receipt. A store associate explained that three or more non-receipted returns in a six month period are considered excessive. Keep in mind, store managers can deny a return without a receipt at any time. And, some stores have stricter limits on non-receipted returns of high-value items like electronics.

Typically, the refund verification process takes only a few minutes. If your return is verified, you can receive a cash refund if the item is valued less than $25 or you’ll receive a Walmart gift card for items worth more than $25.^[1]

See our related article for details about Walmart’s return hours.