Can You Return Paint To Lowe's? (Find Out Now!)
Imagine the following scenario: you have been designing a brand new bedroom and are ready for the paint. You chose the color, and it’s a bold orange. You head to Lowe’s to get some of the gorgeous orange paint. The swatch looks great, you buy it up, bring it home, and open up the can. When you bring it home, you realize something: the color is terrible with the lighting. Can you return that paint?
Lowe’s is one of the most popular places to buy paint, specifically because they have a special paint guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with your paint for any reason, you can return the unused portion to Lowe’s within 30 days of purchase. From there, you can get a replacement or a refund, depending on the return policy.
If you are worried about having to waste money on a paint bucket that you won’t use, understanding what Lowe’s will and will not do when it comes to returns is important. So, let’s take a look at the most recent policies the store has regarding returns.
What Is Lowe’s Paint Guarantee?
Part of the reason why Lowe’s is so unbelievably popular with professional painters is the way they stand behind their backing. As a part of the company’s policy, they have a Paint Guarantee. The Lowe’s Paint Guarantee states:
- You can return paint that has been partly used for any reason whatsoever. This includes having defective paints, getting the wrong paint color, or finding that the paint isn’t the right type for the job at hand. Both interior and exterior paints are covered by this policy.
- To have a return be successful, you have to bring the unused portion of the paint back in its original container. No, you can’t just bring it in a random pail or container.
- The return has to be done within 30 days of the purchase. Clearly, this can be a difficult problem to deal with if you bought the paint two months ago for a project you just were able to start. Unfortunately, rules are rules.
- You also have to bring a receipt or proof of purchase for the paint refund to occur. If you lost the receipt, you can usually have the staff member search up the credit card number that you used to pay for the paint.
- After the return has been processed, you will be able to get a refund or a replacement. This depends on the individual paint’s return policy as well as the store’s return policy. Most people will be able to choose between a refund and a replacement.
Help! My Return Was Rejected! What Happened?
Like most other stores, Lowe’s gives a little discretion when it comes to their store employees. If employees have reason to believe that you are returning paint fraudulently or if you are trying to scam the store, they have a right to refuse your return. They also have a right to decide that you can only get an exchange in certain situations.
While you can contest this or bring the issue up on their corporate number, the truth is that you still might not be able to get a return over this. It’s up to you to try, though most of the time, the decision is final.
Does Lowe’s Have Similar Return Policies Storewide?
For most items, Lowe’s makes a point of being flexible and accommodating with their returns. This is true for everything from hammers to Benjamin Moore paint. However, each particular category of tool will be somewhat different. The general return policy for Lowe’s is as follows:
- Most items (like hammers, screwdrivers, power tools) will need to be returned within 90 days. Any later, and you won’t be able to get a refund or store credit.
- You will have to furnish proof of purchase in order to get an exchange or refund. This can be done via a receipt, a cyber-receipt, or by looking up the credit card that has been used to make the purchase.
- The items in question should be new and unused. There are exceptions, such as with paint, but it’s generally a requirement that has to be fulfilled in order for you to be able to receive a refund.
- Many stores do not allow multiple returns over the same purchase. For example, if you buy paint once and return it for an exchange, that’s fine. If you return the return, chances are you might be met with some resistance. However, this can vary from store to store.
How Long Does It Take For A Refund Show From Lowe’s?
This can be a little different, and much of it depends on the payment processor and the payment method. If you paid in cash, you can usually get store credit or an exchange the same day. If you paid with a debit or credit card, then it may take a standard five to seven business days to process.
Though it can take five to seven business days to process, it usually takes longer for people to see the change in their bank accounts. Most people will be able to see a full refund in 15 days. If you don’t see anything by then, you should call or message Lowe’s to find out what’s going on.
Are Returned Items Resold?
It depends on what the item is. Obviously, if it’s a brand new hammer or a power tool from Kobalt, then there is a good chance that the item in question could be resold. However, this would have to be done only if the box is in good condition. Most items that are returned to Lowe’s do not get resold, but rather, are written off as a loss.
If you are wondering if you bought resold paint, don’t worry. This is one product that is virtually impossible to resell. Once paint has been sold, it’s off the market and can never be placed back in a bucket again.
What Happens If Lowe’s Doesn’t Honor A Warranty?
Some paints actually come with a warranty as part of their purchase. (It’s been known to happen with Kobalt tools a bit.) There are several ways that you can approach this issue. The below can be the best options to pursue:
- First, ask to see a manager. While you might not want to be the one to “pull a Karen” on the staff member who denied a return or a warranty, this is usually the fastest way to get things resolved. Managers are usually fairly reasonable and have the right to override the decision.
- If this doesn’t work, contact corporate. Corporate members at Lowe’s need to know if their managers and subordinates are not doing their job properly. This includes honoring warranties that come with your paint or abiding by the Lowe’s satisfaction guarantee. In most cases, they also will be able to help override the decision when the store manager does not.
- Still no sign of an override? If this doesn’t work and you’re still having a hard time with Lowe’s, the best thing you can do is reach out to the customer service of the company that made the paint or tool you bought. Since Lowe’s isn’t helping, they are your best bet and will be the most likely to work things out.
Related Questions
How many times can you return an item to Lowe’s without a receipt?
While some stores might have some policies regarding returns and receipts, Lowe’s isn’t one of them. In fact, this hardware store is pretty famous for being lenient about the receipt policy they have. As long as you can prove that you bought the item there (through card lookup or e-receipt), you should be able to get a return.As such, there is no written policy barring you from returning items without a receipt after a set number of times. If you want to make a habit of it, staff members might hate you, but they won’t ban you from it.
What is return abuse?
Return abuse is a type of fraud where a person exploits a company’s return policy for their own personal gain or benefit, rather than use it in good faith. A good example of this would be a woman who buys a dress, wears it to a wedding, then returns it the next day claiming it didn’t suit her.While this is most common in the world of fashion retail, it can also happen in virtually every other industry that involves returns and chargebacks. This includes things like hardware, paint, and appliances.
What is Lowe’s return policy for major appliances?
Most major appliances can be returned within 30 days of purchase at Lowe’s. If you installed it in your home, you only have four days to report any noticeable damage or missing parts. If you have missing parts or damage, you may be able to get a repair free of charge or get a replacement part—whichever makes more sense in your specific situation.
Related Guides
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
More by Ossiana Tepfenhart
