Skip to content We want you to feel confident when purchasing from EXPLORIST.life, and we also want to make sure returned products are handled fairly for both our customers and our team. Because many of the products we sell are electrical system components, returned items must be inspected before a refund can be finalized — the final amount depends on the condition of the product when it's received back at EXPLORIST.life.
Packages or equipment damaged in shipping fall outside of the scope of the standard returns and refunds policy and are handled on a case-by-case basis to make things right.
If your order arrives damaged in any way, please email us as soon as possible at [email protected] and include a photo of the item's condition and the packaging condition. We'll do everything we can to provide a satisfactory solution.
We accept eligible returns within 30 days of purchase. To be eligible, the item must be returned to us for inspection using the return instructions provided by our team.
Unless the return is due to an EXPLORIST.life error, the customer is responsible for return shipping and any non-refundable original shipping costs.
If EXPLORIST.life shipped the wrong item or made an error that caused the return, we'll cover return shipping and refund customer-paid shipping when applicable.
To return an item, please email customer service at [email protected] to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number and next-step instructions.
Refunds are based on the condition and resale value of the item when it is received and inspected. A product can only be refunded as a new-in-box return if it can be confidently resold as brand new to the next customer.
This means the item must be:
If an item is returned in less-than-new condition, the refund may be reduced based on the condition of the item and whether it can be resold.
The table below shows the expected refund treatment based on the condition of the returned item. Final refund amounts are determined after inspection.
| Return Condition | Expected Refund Treatment |
|---|---|
| EXPLORIST.life error | Return fee waived. Return shipping covered by EXPLORIST.life. Original customer-paid shipping may be refunded when applicable. |
| Standard item returned new-in-box | Item price minus 3% + $10, capped at 15% of the item price. |
| Large item over 50 lbs returned new-in-box | Item price minus 8% of the item price. |
| Open Box / Like New | Refund reduced by 25% of the item price. |
| Cosmetic Damage | Refund reduced by 25% of the item price. |
| Used, connected, installed, or programmed | Refund reduced by 50% of the item price. |
| Damaged, incomplete, modified, failed testing, unsafe, or unsellable | Refund may be denied. |
These amounts do not include any non-refundable shipping charges or return shipping costs that may also apply.
If an item is returned unused, uninstalled, complete, undamaged, and in resale-ready new condition, a return fee may apply.
For standard items, the return fee is 3% of the item price plus $10, capped at 15% of the item price. For large items over 50 lbs, the return fee is 8% of the item price. These fees help offset non-refundable payment processing costs, return handling, inspection, and restocking.
A standard item costs $250 and is returned new-in-box.
3% of $250 = $7.50
$7.50 + $10 = $17.50
Expected refund before shipping deductions: $232.50
An item may be considered Open Box / Like New if it appears unused but can no longer be sold as brand new. Examples include:
Open Box / Like New returns are generally refunded at 75% of the item price, meaning the refund is reduced by 25%.
An item costs $250 and is returned Open Box / Like New.
$250 − 25% = $187.50
Expected refund before shipping deductions: $187.50
If an item is returned with cosmetic damage, the refund may be reduced to reflect the discounted resale value of the product. Examples include:
Cosmetic damage does not always mean the product is electrically damaged, but it may still reduce the value of the item. Cosmetic Damage returns are generally refunded at 75% of the item price, meaning the refund is reduced by 25%.
An item costs $1,200 and is returned with cosmetic damage.
$1,200 − 25% = $900
Expected refund before shipping deductions: $900
Products that show signs of use, installation, connection, programming, mounting, or power-up may receive a significantly reduced refund or may require additional inspection before a refund decision is made. Examples include:
Electrical equipment that has been installed or connected may require testing before it can be resold, and may not be eligible for a full refund. These returns are generally refunded at 50% of the item price, meaning the refund is reduced by 50%.
An item costs $1,200 and is returned showing evidence of installation or connection.
$1,200 − 50% = $600
Expected refund before shipping deductions: $600
Refunds may be denied for items returned in a condition that cannot be safely or confidently resold. Examples include:
Large items over 50 lbs require additional care because they often ship in manufacturer packaging and may be more susceptible to packaging damage during transit.
A large item may only be treated as new-in-box if the product and packaging are both in good enough condition to be resold and shipped to the next customer as brand new. If the manufacturer box is torn, crushed, heavily taped, punctured, water-damaged, structurally compromised, or otherwise not suitable for resale as new, the item may be treated as Open Box, Cosmetic Damage, Used, or another applicable condition category.
If EXPLORIST.life shipped the wrong item, made an incorrect recommendation, or made another error that caused the return, we will make it right. In those cases, return fees are waived, return shipping is not charged to the customer, and original customer-paid shipping may be refunded when applicable.
However, if the item is damaged, installed, connected, modified, or otherwise changed after delivery, the physical condition of the returned item will still be considered during inspection.
Refunds are issued after the returned item has been received and inspected. Inspection allows us to confirm:
Once inspection is complete, our team will process the applicable refund based on the condition of the returned product.
Cancellations for any reason prior to shipping are subject to a 4% cancellation fee. This fee covers the merchant credit card processing fees we are charged immediately when your order is placed. These processing fees are not refunded to us if an order is canceled, so we are unable to refund that portion back to the customer.
When a product exchange is requested, we will process this request as a return for a full refund rather than a direct swap. This means the original payment for the item will be credited back to your account, effectively canceling the initial transaction. From there, you are free to browse our catalog and purchase the specific items or variations you actually need — giving you complete flexibility to adjust your order based on current availability or your changing preferences, while still guaranteeing a full refund for the original product.
If you have any questions concerning our return policy, please contact us at [email protected].
