Getting Your Wayfair Purchase from Walmart Returned in 2024

Thanks to a relatively new retail partnership between Walmart and Wayfair, Walmart customers can now easily shop popular Wayfair furniture and home décor items online. However, I often get asked: "If I buy something from Wayfair on the Walmart website, can I return it to Walmart if I end up not liking it or if it arrives damaged?"

The short answer is no. Despite this expanded e-commerce arrangement, Wayfair and Walmart still operate as completely separate merchants with distinct return and refund protocols. This means that any Wayfair items bought via Walmart.com must be returned directly back to Wayfair using their specific procedures.

I‘ll outline everything you need to know about getting Wayfair returns approved when ordering through Walmart.com:

Wayfair Return Rates: Why Follow Policy Precisely

Industry data shows that nearly 20% of Wayfair orders get returned – higher than average for online furniture and home retailers. This high return volume means Wayfair investigators thoroughly verify return claims before issuing refunds.

As a consumer advocate with 15+ years advising on retail return best practices, my top tip is always follow the merchant‘s official return policy meticulously. This is especially critical for high-ticket Wayfair items purchased via Walmart in order to guarantee your return is accepted.

Step-By-Step: How To Return Wayfair Items Bought on Walmart

Here is a step-by-step guide to successfully return Wayfair merchandise bought through Walmart.com:

1. Review Wayfair‘s return policy – You can generally return most new, unused Wayfair items within 30 days of delivery. Some exceptions apply though, so read all fine print carefully upfront before purchasing.

2. Initiate the return process on Wayfair.com – The Walmart site will not have functionality to start a return on Wayfair items. You‘ll need to go to Wayfair.com, find the order details under Your Orders, and formally submit your return request.

3. Carefully repackage the item – Use all original manufacturer packaging, parts, and accessories, then seal everything securely to avoid damage during transit back. Wayfair may reject the return if the product condition has noticeably deteriorated.

4. Attach the Wayfair-provided return shipping label – For eligible returns, Wayfair will supply a prepaid return label via email for you to affix to the box. If no label provided, you‘ll need to cover shipping costs yourself.

5. Drop off at any UPS/FedEx store – The major shipping carriers have arrangements with Wayfair to send returns back at no extra charge to consumers using Wayfair postage.

6. Await Wayfair inspection & refund decision – Once Wayfair receives and inspects the return (up to 2 weeks), they will decide on the refund amount based on original purchase condition. Refunds can take an additional 1-2 billing cycles to process.

How Wayfair Return Policy Differs from Walmart

While Walmart permits returns completed in-store or via mail, Wayfair exclusively requires mailing items back directly to their designated returns center. And while Walmart lets shoppers return some goods up to 90 days post-purchase, Wayfair sets a firm 30 day limit.

See a full policy comparison:

So in summary, Wayfair sets more rigid return restrictions compared to Walmart‘s generally more flexible, customer-friendly policies. This highlights why consumers must adhere closely to Wayfair‘s protocols when seeking refunds on Walmart purchases.

Final Advice

I hope this guide gives you greater clarity on how to return Wayfair products bought through the new Walmart-Wayfair e-commerce partnership. As an industry expert, my top tips are:

• Carefully vet return policies before buying higher-cost Wayfair items on Walmart
• Follow all Wayfair return instructions meticulously to guarantee acceptance
• Note shipping and refunds take 1-2 weeks longer than Walmart standard

Let me know if any other return-related questions come up! I‘m always happy to share insider knowledge and advice for getting positive outcomes.