When Margarita Medina buys a SIM card from Boost Mobile from Target, it doesn’t work on her phone. Now she wants her $50 back. Can she get it?
Question
I’m trying to get a $50 refund for a Boost Mobile service SIM card I bought from Target. It does not work.
Target told me to contact Boost Mobile. I did, but Boost Mobile said the refund had to come from Target.
I called Target back, and instead of giving me a refund, it wanted me to accept a $50 gift card. But I don’t want a gift card — I want a refund for a Boost Mobile SIM card that doesn’t work. Can you help me get my money back? — Margarita Medina, Wilmington, Calif.
Answer
Target should have sold you a phone service that worked. And if it couldn’t, it should have refunded you the $50 you spent on the Boost Mobile plan.
Boost Mobile sells prepaid calling plans in the United States. The $50 you spent covered unlimited talk, texting and data without a contract, which is a so-so deal. (You can do better by shopping around for an eSIM, which does not require a physical card, but I digress).
If all this talk of SIMs, eSIMs and unlimited data confuses you, don’t worry. It’s that confusion that keeps customers coming back to stores to buy antiquated technology. And it could be much worse; you could be trapped in a calling plan on a locked phone, which is a massive ripoff. But again, I am going off-topic, so I’m sorry about that.
What you need to know about Target’s refund policies
Target’s famously flexible return policy has some nuances you should know about, especially when it comes to electronics.
- You can return most items within 90 days for a full refund or exchange, as long as they’re unopened and in new condition.
- Electronics and entertainment items have a shorter 30-day return window.
- Apple products purchased at Target have to be returned within 15 days.
- Mobile phones bought in-store or via online pickup have a 14-day return period.
(Target RedCard holders get an extra perk: an additional 30 days on top of the standard return window for most items.)
Some items are not returnable, including opened beauty products, personalized items, digital downloads, and opened or unsealed breast pumps.
If you don’t have a receipt, you have a few options. Target can look up your purchase using your account or the credit/debit card used for the transaction or you can use the return barcode feature in the Target app for in-store returns. If all else fails, you might receive a merchandise return card for store credit.
What does Target’s refund policy say about your SIM?
Target’s refund policy suggests you should be able to get a full cash refund for the Boost Mobile card. There are a few special rules regarding the return of mobile phones. Target says phones purchased with a carrier contract may be subject to early termination fees. It says contract items and carrier plans must be returned to a Target store with help from a Target tech rep. And it says a restocking charge of up to $35 for phones may apply. But these rules should not apply to your SIM.
Bottom line: You should get all of your money back.
I reviewed the correspondence between you and Target, and I have a few thoughts on how you might have improved your chances of a refund. First, you spent a fair amount of time on the phone, and unfortunately, that’s only marginally helpful. You want to contact Target in writing. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Target representatives on this site.
I also noticed that you wrote long sentences in all lowercase, which may have been confusing for people reading your complaint. It’s important to always use complete sentences with proper punctuation so that there’s no question about what you’re trying to say.
You reached out to my advocacy team for help. I contacted Target on your behalf, and it refunded the $50 you spent on your Boost Mobile plan.
