UPDATED WITH CLARIFICATION ON RETURNS, EXCHANGES, PRICE-MATCHING PERIOD, AND A LIST OF ONLINE STORES INCLUDED IN THE PRICE-MATCHING.
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While Best Buy has yet to confirm or deny rumors about the halving of its return and exchange period, the retailer has announced that it will be launching a price-matching policy that it believes will help keep customers from “showrooming.”

According to a statement from the company, starting March 3 Best Buy’s Low Price Guarantee will “price match all local retail competitors and 19 major online competitors in all product categories and on nearly all in-stock products, whenever asked by a customer.”

UPDATE: A tipster has provided documentation that clarifies details on all the rumors we’ve been hearing for the last 48 hours.

RETURNS & EXCHANGES:
According to the document, starting March 3, the “Return and Exchange period for eligible products will change from 30 days to 15 days.”

Any purchases made on or before March 2, will qualify for the 30-day return period.

Reward Zone Premier Silver members will continue to have 60 days from the date of purchase for returns and exchanges.

All returns and exchanges will still require a receipt and valid identification (except in New Hampshire).

The no-restocking policy remains in place.

PRICE-MATCHING:

From the document:

Starting March 3, 2013 Best Buy will price match the current pre-tax price for new, identical, immediately available products from local retail competitors and select designated major online retailers at the time of purchase only. (No subsequent price matching of competitors is allowed)

If Best Buy lowers a price on a product (online or in-store) we will allow price-matching up to 15 days following the original purchase. This applies to all customers including Reward Zone Premier Silver members. Please note: After a transition period for Reward Zone Premier Silver members through April 18, 2013, the 15 day period of the Price Match policy goes into effect (post-purchase – Best Buy only).

So this clarifies earlier rumors that post-purchase price-matching is going away at Best Buy. The policy remains, but it will be limited to the shorter 15-day return period.

Further, here is the list of online stores that are Best Buy is willing to price-match at launch in the Low-Price Guarantee:
Amazon.com
Apple.com
Bhphotovideo.com
Buy.com
Crutchfield.com
Dell.com
Frys.com
hhgregg.com
HP.com
HomeDepot.com
Lowes.com
Newegg.com
OfficeDepot.com
OfficeMax.com
Sears.com
Staples.com
Target.com
TigerDirect.com
Walmart.com

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