What's a Restock Fee?

A restocking fee is a fee charged to a customer when merchandise is returned for a refund.

Why do I have to pay a restocking fee?

Why do many honest companies charge restocking fees? The reason is simple: to keep costs (and thus prices) down when dealing with the return of items that are not defective. ... If you buy something and then return it, the company has to deal with more costs to handle the return.

Is a restocking fee normal?

A number of companies charge “restocking fees” that that are often about 15 percent to 20 percent but can go much higher. ... A: Consumer Reports has long come down on the practice of charging fees for items returned and not in factory-sealed packages. But it is still a common practice for many retailers.