Best Buy Open-Box Excellent vs. Good vs. Fair: Which Should You Buy?

Best Buy resells returned and display products as "open-box". Each item is checked, reset to factory settings and given a condition grade. The grade affects both the price and what you will find in the box.

The three open-box grades

Best Buy uses three grades. Here is what each one means, in Best Buy's own terms:

• Excellent: works and looks like new, is restored to factory settings, and includes all original parts, packaging and accessories (or a suitable replacement).
• Good: works like new and is restored to factory settings, but may have minor scratches or dents and may be missing non-essential parts, accessories or original packaging.
• Fair: works like new and is restored to factory settings, but may have larger dents or scratches and may be missing parts and accessories.

All three grades work like new. The differences are cosmetic and about what is in the box.

How much do you save?

Discounts change by product and by how long an item has been sitting. In general:

• Excellent is the smallest discount, often around 10% to 20% off the new price.
• Good is usually a little deeper, often 20% to 30% off.
• Fair is the deepest discount and can be worth it for items where looks do not matter.

Always compare the open-box price with the current new price. During big sales, a new item can cost less than an older open-box listing.

Which grade should you buy?

TVs

Good or Fair can be a great deal, because scratches on the back or stand are invisible once the TV is mounted. Choose store pickup so you can check the screen for scratches or dead pixels before you take it home.

Laptops and tablets

Choose Excellent. Missing chargers are expensive to replace, and scratches on a device you handle every day are annoying. Check the battery health once you set it up.

Headphones and earbuds

Choose Excellent. You want the full set of ear tips, the case and the cable, and a cosmetically new product.

Appliances

Good or Fair is often the best value. A dent on the side of a washer that sits between cabinets does not matter.

Returns and warranty

According to Best Buy, open-box items follow the same return and exchange policy as new items, and they often carry the same manufacturer warranty. Read the listing to confirm, especially for Fair items, and keep your receipt.

Tips before you buy

1. Check what is included. The listing usually says if parts are missing. For Good and Fair, assume the original box may be gone.
2. Pick it up in store when you can. You can inspect it at the counter and walk away if you are not happy.
3. Compare against new sale prices and our Best Buy coupons and deals.
4. Register the warranty with the manufacturer once you have the item.

For timing, see the best time of year to buy electronics.

Best Buy open-box FAQ

Is open-box Excellent the same as new?

It works and looks like new and includes all parts, but it has been opened and possibly used briefly. Because it is not sealed, it costs less.

Can I return an open-box item to Best Buy?

Yes. Open-box items follow the same return policy as new products, so check the return window for your membership level.

Do open-box items come with a warranty?

Most carry the manufacturer's warranty, the same as a new product. The listing will say if there is an exception.