Is Best Buy Open Box Worth It? What You Need to Know

By OpenBoxit Team ยท 2026-04-09

Best Buy is one of the largest sources of open box products in the country. Walk into any store or browse online and you will find open box TVs, monitors, laptops, GPUs, headphones, and more sitting alongside their brand-new counterparts at a discount.

But is it actually worth buying open box from Best Buy? Here is everything you need to know.

How Best Buy Open Box Works

When a customer buys a product from Best Buy and returns it, the item gets inspected by a team member. If it is in working condition, it goes back on the shelf as "open box" at a reduced price. The item is graded based on its cosmetic and functional condition.

Products can end up as open box for many reasons. Someone bought the wrong size monitor. A laptop was a gift the recipient already had. A GPU was opened to check compatibility and then returned. In most cases, there is nothing wrong with the product.

The Grading System

Excellent

The product looks brand new. No visible scratches, dents, or wear. All original accessories and packaging are included. This is the closest you can get to new without paying new prices. Typical discount: 10-15% off.

Satisfactory

The product works perfectly but may have minor cosmetic imperfections. Think small scratches on a laptop lid or light scuff marks on a monitor stand. Some accessories may be missing. Typical discount: 15-25% off.

Fair

The product is fully functional but shows noticeable cosmetic wear. It may be missing accessories or original packaging. This grade has the biggest discounts but the most compromise on appearance. Typical discount: 20-30%+ off.

Return Policy

This is one of the best parts about Best Buy open box: the return policy is the same as new products. Standard members get 15 days. TotalTech members get 60 days. If you are not happy with the condition of your open box purchase, you can return it just like anything else.

That return policy eliminates most of the risk. You are not making a blind purchase and hoping for the best. If the product does not meet your expectations, bring it back.

Where the Best Deals Are

Monitors

Monitors are one of the best open box categories at Best Buy. People return them constantly for size or resolution preferences, not defects. An open box 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor at $250 instead of $330 is a common find.

GPUs (Graphics Cards)

Open box GPUs can save you $50 to $150. Since GPUs are internal components, cosmetic condition barely matters. An RTX 4070 with a tiny scuff on the backplate performs identically to a new one.

Laptops

Laptops have some of the highest open box discounts. A $1,200 laptop at $900 open box is significant. Check the battery cycle count if you can. Most open box laptops have minimal battery wear.

Headphones

Open box headphones are hit or miss. Some people are particular about ear cups that have been worn by someone else. But for over-ear headphones with replaceable pads, it is a non-issue.

Tips for Buying Best Buy Open Box

  • Check the listing details. Best Buy lists what is and is not included with each open box item. Read this before buying.
  • Compare the open box price to sale prices. Sometimes a new product on sale is cheaper than the open box price. Always check.
  • "Excellent" is almost always worth it. The discount is smaller but the product is essentially new. Best value per dollar.
  • In-store is better than online. You can physically inspect the product before buying. Ask the associate to open it so you can check the condition yourself.
  • Check the original price. Make sure the "original price" shown is the actual current retail price, not an inflated MSRP.

The Bottom Line

Best Buy open box is one of the safest ways to save money on electronics. The grading system is transparent, the return policy matches new products, and the products are inspected before resale. For components that go inside a PC case (GPUs, SSDs, RAM), the cosmetic grade barely matters. For visible products (monitors, laptops), aim for Excellent or Satisfactory.

We feature Best Buy open box deals on OpenBoxit and verify the savings before publishing. Browse current Best Buy open box deals.