Best Buy Store Purchase

[Tasha-BBY Retired: Social Media Specialist]

Purchasing a phone is always exciting! If you travel a lot, you are also likely looking to ensure your devices work with an overseas carrier. With phones though, it can be a bit tricky due to network compatibility issues and devices being locked to particular carriers. Thus, phones don’t always work as anticipated in other countries. Below is some information you should keep in mind when shopping for a phone with Best Buy that you intend to use in another country.

Most cell phones fall under Best Buy’s 14 day Return & Exchange Promise regardless of your My Best Buy membership tier. Furthermore, many returns or exchanges for cell phones will incur a $35 restocking fee. Should you find the need to return a phone to Best Buy but are already outside of the United States, please know that we are unable to accept international return shipments. You would either need to personally return to the US to return the phone with a receipt, or ship it to a friend/family member in the US with the receipt to return on your behalf.

Please also keep in mind the information mentioned on our International Orders page applies to store purchases as well, including that we assume devices purchased with Best Buy will be used within the United States.

For information on unlocked and universal unlocked phones, check out our page here.

[Gustavomansur]

Hi i bought An iPhone 7 last week in florida , today i retiro to Argentina and ir does not work. In best buy they told me that it was universal and unlock. (in my recipit it says : UNV )

[Chris31876]

It is universal but only for carriers in the United States. It says universal not unlocked it's a big difference. It will only work on us carriers. You have 14 days to do a return if you choose to

[Sam15 Valued Contributor]

Hi Gustavomansur,

You are correct that the iPhone is Universal.  However,as @Mariah-BBY mentioned above, the Universal iPhones sold in our retail stores are intended to be used within the United States, and are not guaranteed to work on carriers outside of the country.

I would encourage you to contact the carrier that you are trying to activate the device with and see if they can offer you any assistance.

[Gustavomansur]

Ok but can i unlock it or not?

[Chris31876]

You can't. But you can request an unlock from the carier they are the only one who can do it. Not apple not Best Buy just the carrier that it's intended for probably a us carrier only. These phones are meant to be used in us then they lock to the carrier that it's activated on here then one would have to request and unlock from them and it's up to them if they do it or not. Carriers have certain requirements for them to unlock it.

[Gustavomansur]

Why dont you said that when people buy staff, i asked 3 times if it works in Argentina and that told me it would works

[Chris31876]

They were mistaken. No where on your receipt does it say unlocked does it

[Chris31876]

I would recommend returning the product before your 14 day policy is up. Keep in mind you may have a 35 dollar restocking fee per the return policy.

[Chris31876]

Also just hang around a moderator will probably be around in a couple days for an official response.