StewMac Return Policy
Every return window, fee, and holiday extension for StewMac — pulled from the retailer's own policy page and linked below so you can confirm it yourself.
Tonewood has to come back completely untouched - no sanding, cutting, or shaping - so don't start a guitar build until you're sure you're keeping the wood.
Policy at a glance
- Return window
- 365 days (unaltered, unused)
- Return shipping
- Standard customers pay return shipping; StewMAX members get free return shipping (prepaid domestic label, international costs reimbursed on receipt)
- Free returns
- Yes (members)
- Restocking fee
- None published
- Holiday extension
- None published
- Category
- Crafts
Can’t be returned: Consumables (sandpaper, finishes, glue, polishes, cleaners), started kits requiring assembly or finishing (pedal, amp, or guitar kits - these get gift cards or replacements instead), altered or worked items
Why StewMac earned a A
How StewMac compares
Top-graded Crafts rivals — tap one for the full side-by-side.
About StewMac
Luthiers and guitar hobbyists building or repairing their own instruments turn to StewMac for the tools and parts you can't find at a regular music shop - fret wire, tonewood, nut blanks, that kind of thing. It grew out of an actual repair shop's need for better tools, not a general music retailer branching out.
A 365-day return window is unusually generous, and it comes with a lifetime replacement promise on top of that for anything that breaks or wears out. The catch that trips people up: kits and raw materials like tonewood have to come back completely unaltered, so this isn't the place to buy 'just in case' wood for a build you're not sure about. DIY guitar builders and repair techs are the core customer base.
What they sell
- Guitar building and repair tools
- Tonewood, fret wire, and luthier parts
- DIY guitar and pedal kits
- Finishing supplies like polish and glue
Frequently asked questions
What is StewMac's return window?
365 days (unaltered, unused)
Does StewMac offer free returns?
Yes (members)
How much does StewMac charge for return shipping?
Standard customers pay return shipping; StewMAX members get free return shipping (prepaid domestic label, international costs reimbursed on receipt)
Does StewMac charge a restocking fee?
None published
Does StewMac extend its return window for the holidays?
None published
What items cannot be returned to StewMac?
Consumables (sandpaper, finishes, glue, polishes, cleaners), started kits requiring assembly or finishing (pedal, amp, or guitar kits - these get gift cards or replacements instead), altered or worked items
Also known as
stewmac.com, stewmac
Return-policy data is compiled from StewMac’s public customer-service pages by Thrifle AI, our in-house research system. Policies change often and we can be out of date — always confirm on StewMac’s official site before purchase. Spotted something wrong? Tell usand we’ll fix it.