How to Return Lumber at the Big Box Stores

Returning Lumber at Big Box Stores

Returning Lumber at the Big-Box Stores

There was a time when I thought returning lumber for a refund was pointless. I never kept receipts, never paid attention to a store’s return policy, and always assumed that once I cut a board it was mine forever. As a result, my scrap wood pile grew larger each year. The extra wood not only took up precious space in my shop, but also represented a fair amount cash invested in material that I might never use.

I’ve since become much smarter about returning lumber, and I’m a firm believer now that it’s well worth the time and hassle to take those boards back! In fact, my yearly spring-cleaning ritual now includes a “wood return day.” Although I don’t usually expect to take home a lot of money (I mostly just want to clear out my shop), sometimes I’m surprised to walk away with more than $100 in refunds and store credits. If you think returning lumber is about as fun as going to the dentist, then the following tips should help lessen your anxiety about the whole ordeal – and maybe put some extra cash in your pocket!

1. Got Your Receipt?

Having the original receipt means you’ll get a cash refund for whatever you paid for the boards (nice!). Receipts don’t last forever, though. Most big-box stores have a 90-day limit for giving out cash refunds. If your receipt is older than three months, or you've lost your receipt, you can still get an in-store credit--if you're able to provide the orginal bar code sticker that was attached to the board (see below).

2. Keep Barcode Stickers

Without the barcode sticker there’s really no way for a store to confirm that a board actually came from their store. If you’re the type of person who likes to rip these annoying little stickers off as soon as you get home (like me), that’s okay. Just keep them somewhere in the shop – marked in someway so you know which board they came from.

3. Return Boards Already Cut?

A lot of people don’t realize you can return boards you’ve already cut. Of course, it must be an item that is sold by the foot – not by the board. For example, let's say I spend $12 on an 8-foot piece of maple baseboard that sells for $1.50 per foot. If I use half of the board, I can return the remaining 4-foot section and get a $6 refund. However, if I buy an 8-foot 2x4, I'll get a refund only if I return the entire length of the board (item is sold by the board, not the foot).

4. Does Condition Matter?

Sometimes I return lumber because I’ve discovered a flaw in the board after getting it home. Usually it's warped or it has a crack that I didn’t see. In these cases, I have no reservations about returning this kind of useless lumber. Other times I return lumber simply because I don’t have a use for it, but after sitting in my shop for several years, the boards look rough and dingy. In these cases, I’m still comfortable returning the wood (and the stores seem to be okay with it too), since customers will likely be cleaning, sanding, and finishing the boards anyway. I won’t, however, return boards with holes I’ve drilled or any other damages I’m responsible for. I wouldn’t want these to end up back on the shelf for some unsuspecting customer to buy.

5. Where to Return Boards

The procedure for returning lumber can differ from one store to the next, depending on whether the store keeps all its lumber inside (like Home Depot), or whether the store has an outdoor lumber yard with an entrance gate.

Indoor Lumber Store

For stores where all lumber is stored inside the main building (like Home Depot), it’s a simple matter of checking in at the customer service desk (or contractor’s desk) with the items you want to return. From there, the desk attendant will scan the items you want to return and issue a refund (or credit) on the spot. If you’re returning a large amount of lumber, first check in at the customer service desk and explain what you’re doing and tell them how many boards you have. They can then bring out the necessary carts (or forklift) to move the lumber from your vehicle and back into the store for re-stocking.

Outdoor Lumber Yard

For stores where lumber is kept outdoors (or in another location besides the main building), the best way to return boards is to first go directly to the outdoor lumber entrance, sometimes called a yard gate. Explain to the gate attendant what you’re doing, and he/she will prepare a return slip for the items you’ve brought back. Remember that you’ll need a receipt to get a cash refund, or one original bar code sticker from each type of board you are returning to get a store credit.

After the gate attendant completes the return slip, he/she will give you the return slip and direct you to the location in the outdoor yard where the boards originally came from. You’ll need to find an employee working in that part of the yard to help you unload the lumber and sign off on the return slip (you’ll need the signature to get your refund or credit).

Once you have the yard employee's signature on the return slip, leave the outdoor lumber yard and go into the main building to the customer service desk. From there, the desk clerk can process your return and issue a refund or credit (whew, that was a lot of work!).

If you have a few boards only to return, you can skip the cumbersome return process I've outlined above and simply take your boards to the customer service desk inside the main building. From here they'll scan the bar codes and issue a refund/credit on the spot (later they will call someone in from the yard to re-stock the lumber you dropped off).

How many is a few boards? I’ve dragged as many as ten 2x4s into the main store for a refund, without too many disgusted looks from the clerks. However, I try to be considerate and do this only during off-hours at the store -- when I don’t have to worry about creating a hazard for other customers!