Best Buy Outlet Condition Ratings Explained (Excellent to Fair)
OpenBoxFox Team
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Best Buy Outlet grades its open-box items Excellent – Certified, Excellent, Satisfactory, and Fair. The four tiers map closely to Amazon's Like New to Acceptable scale. The difference at the top is that "Excellent – Certified" items have passed Geek Squad's certification: inspected, tested and cleaned.
The four Best Buy Outlet ratings, decoded
| Rating | What Best Buy promises | Closest Amazon equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent – Certified | Looks new with no flaws; original parts and accessories; original box or a suitable replacement; passed the Geek Squad Certified process (select categories only) | Used – Like New, plus testing |
| Excellent | Looks new with no physical flaws, scratches or scuffs; all original parts and accessories; original box or a suitable replacement | Used – Like New |
| Satisfactory | Minor to moderate signs of use that don't affect performance; no dents, chips, cracks or deep scratches; packaging usually missing; nonessential parts (like a cable or remote) may be missing | Used – Very Good / Good |
| Fair | Works as intended; more significant scratches, dents or chips; packaging usually missing; vital accessories (like a TV stand or proprietary cable) commonly missing | Used – Acceptable |
Best Buy says open-box items often come with the same manufacturer warranty as a new product. That's a clearer warranty position than Amazon Warehouse, which makes no warranty promise.
What else to know about the Outlet
- Best Buy's standard return policy applies: 15 days for most customers, 60 days for My Best Buy Plus and Total members (activatable devices like phones are 14 days for everyone). That's shorter than Amazon's 30 days, so test quickly.
- The inventory comes from customer returns, store display units and clearance. Display units can have more screen-on hours than a typical Amazon return, so for TVs and monitors, prefer "Excellent – Certified" over plain "Excellent." To compare current listings, see monitors under $100 (Canada).
- Prices step down by rating, so a lower grade is reliably cheaper than a higher one.
- The Outlet is one of the best open-box sources for large appliances, with delivery and haul-away available. Amazon Warehouse barely sells them.
Best Buy Outlet vs Amazon Warehouse
Warehouse wins on selection (about 829,000 live Amazon open-box listings in our July 2026 data, far more than any other outlet) and on the longer return window. The Outlet wins on inspection (Geek Squad testing on Certified items), clearer grade definitions, warranty clarity, and big-ticket categories like TVs and appliances. Use both: Warehouse for everyday goods and hard-to-find products, the Outlet for TVs and major appliances. The full Warehouse breakdown is in our Amazon Warehouse review.
Frequently asked questions
Do Best Buy Outlet items come with a warranty?
Best Buy says open-box items often come with the same manufacturer warranty as a new product, and Geek Squad protection plans can usually be added. Check the warranty line on each listing.
Is "Excellent – Certified" worth paying more for than "Excellent"?
Both Excellent tiers include all original parts and accessories, so the difference is testing: Certified items have been through Geek Squad's inspection, testing and cleaning. That's worth paying for on complex electronics like laptops and TVs. For simple items, plain Excellent is usually the better value.
Can I return an Outlet purchase?
Yes, under Best Buy's standard return policy: 15 days for most customers. That's half of Amazon's window, so test right away. The checklist is in our open-box safety guide.
Which grade should I buy?
The top tier for gifts and items on display, and the middle tier ("Satisfactory") for the best value on gear you use for function. Our condition grade decoder compares retailers.
Ratings summarized from Best Buy's published open-box condition definitions, and return terms from Best Buy's return policy, checked October 7, 2026; policies change, so confirm on the listing. Comparison data from the OpenBoxFox live database, July 2026. OpenBoxFox earns affiliate commissions on some outbound links. See our affiliate disclosure.