William Lipovsky
Short Answer
Overstock.com is a legitimate and reliable online retailer. It has been in business since 1999 and is known to sell a wide range of authentic, brand-name merchandise at discounted prices.
Is Overstock Legit?
Overstock.com is a legitimate online retailer. Customers, industry leaders, and influences have come to recognize Overstock.com as a trustworthy retail company since its inception in 1999. Analysts estimate Overstock.com is worth $1.5 to $2.25 billion.
Overstock.com has received numerous awards and recognition from the likes of the Web Marketing Association, the National Retail Federation, the Stevie Awards, and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
It also has an A+ rating (the highest possible) from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). BBB ratings are based on a few key factors, including the business’ complaint history with the BBB, the type of business, length of time in business, business practices, licensing, and government actions known to the BBB.
Policies and Practices at Overstock.com
Here’s a look at some of Overstock.com’s policies and practices, which were likely taken into account in its A+ BBB rating.
1. Club O Gold Membership Perks
Overstock.com offers a membership program for $19.95 per year. Some benefits of membership include:
- Free shipping on all orders (some exceptions apply)
- Special, customized promotions
- 5% rewards earned on each purchase
- Rewards up to $20 for product reviews
- Free, no-hassle returns (on select items)
2. Readily Available Customer Support (Even Overseas)
If you have questions about a shipment or product, Overstock.com offers a variety of way to contact customer service, day or night. You can live chat with someone via the website, text with a customer service agent, or call (800) 843-2446. If you are an international customer, you can call 00-1-919-576-9926 or email [email protected].
3. Fair Return and Refund Policies
Overstock.com’s return policy allows for a full refund for most new and unopened items if they are returned within 30 days of delivery. Partial refunds are available for opened or used products. Select items, such as beauty products, fragrances, ink cartridges, and opened memory foam mattresses, are considered non-returnable.
If a return is the result of an error on Overstock.com’s part or if the product is defective, the company will refund you for the full cost of the purchase, plus shipping charges.
Items returned after 30 days may be issued a partial refund depending on the amount of time that has passed and the physical condition of the merchandise. Refunds are credited within four weeks of returning the item, but you’ll likely receive your refund sooner.
4. Large Variety of Well-Reviewed, Authentic Goods at a Reasonable Price
Overstock.com has partnerships with many leading brand-name companies. Further, if Overstock.com receives a complaint about authenticity, the company is sure to investigate the claim and will even remove the item from its site, a customer service representative told us.
When shopping on Overstock.com, nearly every item has a star rating based on customer reviews — and items can only be reviewed by customers who have purchased them. Many products have hundreds of reviews, giving shoppers a clearer picture of the product’s quality and craftsmanship.
And, while most items are already listed at a discounted price, Overstock.com is usually having a sale — giving you even deeper discounts. If you sign up for Overstock.com emails, you’ll regularly get coupon codes for an additional 10% off.
See our related research for Overstock’s price matching policy.
5. Shipping Is Often Free; Delivery Times Are Average or Better
If you live in the contiguous U.S., you can receive free shipping on orders over $45, and delivery times generally range from three to five business days. If you live in Alaska, Hawaii, or abroad, shipping fees and delivery times vary by product. Many customer reviews report items arriving before the scheduled delivery date. Once you’ve placed your order, you’ll be able to track its progress.
Overstock.com Accepted Payment Types
One thing that sets Overstock.com apart from other online retailers is its accepted payment options. Overstock.com was one of the first retailers to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. In addition to Bitcoin, Overstock.com accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express), debit cards (Visa and Mastercard), PayPal, Overstock.com Mastercards, Overstock Store Credit Cards, and Overstock.com gift cards.
Find out how to use the “shopping cart trick” to get an Overstock Store Credit Card.
Lindsey Desmet
I bought over $600 in Perfumes for Christmas, for myself and my husband. Not one of them stays on for more than a hour. I have cheap perfumes that last longer. I went to Macy’s and theirs were also not long-lasting. Overstock’s vendor refused to compensate me.
Hello, Marie. We are sorry to hear about your negative experience with Overstock! Fragrances are, unfortunately, considered a non-returnable item at Overstock. We have updated our article to include information about non-returnable items.