B&H Photo Video generally accepts eligible U.S. returns within 30 days of delivery. For pre-owned gear from the B&H Used Department, the standard window is 30 days from purchase. Eligible items can be mailed back or taken to the Returns Department at the New York SuperStore. Before opening anything, check the product category. Breaking the seal on a TV or monitor measuring 37 inches or larger makes it ineligible for a standard return.
For the 2026 holiday season, B&H gives customers until February 1, 2027 to return or exchange eligible items purchased after November 1, 2026, through January 1, 2027. If your order arrives damaged or with something missing, act sooner. B&H must receive those claims within two business days of receipt.
B&H Photo Video Return Policy at a Glance
| Policy Detail | Current Rule |
|---|---|
| Standard return window | 30 days from delivery for eligible merchandise under the general policy |
| B&H Used Department purchases | 30 days from purchase, with a Return Merchandise Authorization |
| Holiday extension | Through February 1, 2027, for eligible purchases made after November 1, 2026, through January 1, 2027 |
| Condition | New merchandise must be in new condition with its original, unaltered packaging and included contents. Pre-owned gear must be in the condition in which it was sold. |
| Return methods | By mail or at the New York SuperStore Returns Department |
| Return shipping | The customer normally pays for mail returns. B&H reimburses return shipping for verified defective or damaged items. |
| Original shipping and handling | Nonrefundable under the standard policy |
| Refund method | Usually the original payment method. Eligible purchases paid for with a B&H gift card are refunded to a replacement gift card. |
| Refund timing | Under the general policy, allow 5–7 days for the credit to appear after receipt and inspection. For Used Department credit-card refunds, allow 7–10 days for the credit to appear on the statement. |
| Damage or missing-item claims | B&H must receive the claim within two business days of receipt. |
What Condition Must Returned Items Be In?
For an eligible return of new merchandise, keep the item in new condition and return it in the original, unaltered box with the UPC intact. Include the packing materials, manuals, blank warranty cards, and accessories. If the order came with a free item, send that back for a full merchandise refund. B&H deducts the retail value of any free item you keep. If the return fails the general eligibility conditions, B&H can refuse it or charge a restocking fee of at least 15%.
Before sending back electronics that contain user profile data, B&H requires you to factory-reset the device or unlock it. Back up anything you need and remove personal items such as memory cards before packing the return.
Opened Items and Nonreturnable Products
Opening the box does not automatically disqualify every product. For example, a standard laptop can still qualify if it meets B&H’s condition and packaging requirements. For the categories below, the seal or the way the product was sold determines whether a standard return is available.
| Product or Category | Standard Return Restriction |
|---|---|
| TVs and monitors 37 inches or larger | Ineligible once the original packaging is opened or unsealed |
| Packaged computer software, consumables, and educational tapes and books | Ineligible once opened or unsealed. Consumables include items such as film, paper, bulbs, and ink cartridges. |
| Computers built or modified by B&H to customer specifications | Nonreturnable |
| Underwater equipment | Ineligible once submerged |
| Electronic software downloads | Nonreturnable |
| Select special-order products and items marked nonreturnable | Excluded from standard returns |
How to Return an Item to B&H Photo Video
Return an Item by Mail
- In My Account / My Orders, filter for Eligible for Return, find the order, and select Start a Return. If you checked out as a guest, use Guest Order Lookup with the email address used for the purchase and the order number.
- Submit the Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) request. You can also start a return by calling B&H Customer Service at 800-221-5743 or using Live Chat.
- Pack the item and invoice with the original packaging. Use the label supplied with the RMA, which B&H deducts from your refund, or buy a label from your preferred carrier.
- Keep the tracking number and drop-off receipt. B&H recommends insured ground shipping with tracking. Delivery tracking shows when the package arrived, and B&H issues the credit after inspecting the return.
Return an Item in Person
Take eligible merchandise to the Returns Department at the New York SuperStore. The department is on 34th Street, around the corner from the main entrance. Bring the invoice or order details along with the complete item and its packaging.
Find Your Order Without a Paper Receipt
Start with your account’s order history. B&H’s lookup tool also supports individual orders placed by phone, chat, in store, or online as a guest. It asks for the email address you provided and the order number. If you cannot locate the order or received the item as a gift, contact Customer Service with whatever purchase details you have before shipping it or visiting the store. B&H’s public policy does not specify a refund option for a purchase it cannot verify.
Return Shipping, Refunds, and Exchanges
For a standard mail return, you pay the carrier yourself or have the cost of B&H’s return label deducted from the refund. Any shipping and handling you paid on the original order is a separate charge and is nonrefundable under the standard policy. For verified defective or damaged items, B&H reimburses return shipping.
B&H usually refunds the original payment method after receiving and inspecting the item. Its general policy asks customers to allow 5–7 days for the credit to appear. For purchases originally paid by check, B&H issues the refund check no earlier than 10 business days after purchase. If you paid with a B&H gift card, an eligible refund is issued on a replacement gift card.
If you paid with Payboo, B&H says the credit can take 3–5 business days after it issues the refund to appear in your card account. If you earned B&H Rewards or a promotional code on the purchase, B&H may deduct its value from your rewards account or your return, as applicable.
B&H offers direct exchanges for eligible items. Allow 3–5 business days for processing a mail-in exchange. Shipping time for the replacement is separate.
Damaged, Defective, or Incorrect Orders
If a package arrives damaged or an item is missing, contact B&H immediately. The retailer must receive the claim within two business days of receipt. Keep the carton and packing materials, and take photos of any visible damage. If B&H sent the wrong item, contact Customer Service with your order number and the item details before starting a standard return.
For a defective item, B&H may choose to repair it, exchange it for the same or a manufacturer-equivalent model, or refund it. If the standard return window has passed, check the warranty listed for your item to see whether it covers the problem.
B&H Used Department Returns
For gear sold as pre-owned by the B&H Used Department, count 30 days from the purchase date and obtain an RMA. Return the gear in the same condition you received it, with all included accessories. If its condition differs, B&H may deny the return or charge a 15% restocking fee under the used-item policy. For a credit-card refund, B&H asks customers to allow 7–10 days for the credit to appear on the statement after it credits the account. B&H also lists a 90-day parts-and-labor warranty for its used gear, with longer coverage for some items.
What to Do If B&H Denies Your Return
Ask which condition led to the denial. If the issue is the deadline, check the delivery date for a standard shipped order, the purchase date for Used Department gear, or the holiday deadline if the order qualifies. For a dispute about missing contents or condition, have the invoice, RMA, and any packing photos available when you call 800-221-5743 or contact Live Chat. If the item is faulty and the return deadline has passed, check its warranty for service options.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Return a B&H Online Order in Store?
Yes. Take an eligible order to the Returns Department on 34th Street at B&H’s New York SuperStore. Bring the order details and all items required for the return.
Can I Return an Opened Camera or Laptop to B&H?
An opened camera or standard laptop can qualify if the item is in new condition, the original packaging and contents are complete, and the listing carries no return exclusion. Computers that B&H builds or modifies to your specifications are excluded.
Can I Return an Opened 55-Inch TV to B&H?
An opened 55-inch TV is ineligible for a standard return. The opened-package restriction starts at 37 inches and applies to both TVs and monitors. If it arrived damaged, contact B&H within two business days of receipt.
Does B&H Charge a Restocking Fee on Every Return?
B&H reserves the fee for returns that fail its eligibility conditions. Under the general policy, it can refuse the return or charge at least 15%. For Used Department gear returned in a different condition than it was sold, the separate policy specifies a possible 15% fee.
Can I Keep the Free Accessory That Came With My Order?
If you keep it, B&H deducts its retail value from the refund. Include the accessory with the return to avoid that deduction.
Does the Holiday Extension Cover Pre-Owned Gear?
Yes. B&H posts the same holiday extension on its Used Department policy page. Eligible purchases made after November 1, 2026, through January 1, 2027, can be returned or exchanged through February 1, 2027. The usual condition requirements still apply.
Conclusion
For a standard B&H return, check the delivery date and count 30 days. For pre-owned gear bought from the Used Department, count from the purchase date. If the order qualifies for the holiday extension, use the February 1, 2027 deadline. Check the product’s return restrictions before breaking a seal, particularly on a TV or monitor measuring 37 inches or larger. If something arrived damaged or missing, report it within two business days of receipt. For a mail return, include the invoice and accessories, then keep your tracking number until the refund posts.