How to Cancel Your Guitar Center Order

You can cancel a Guitar Center order within 30 days of purchase if the item has not shipped yet. If your order has already left the warehouse, you will need to refuse the delivery or start a return instead. The fastest way to cancel is to call Guitar Center's customer service line at 1-800-444-1391 — they can check your order status and process a cancellation on the spot if it is still possible.

If you ordered online and want to try cancelling yourself first, log into your Guitar Center account, find the order in your purchase history, and look for a "Cancel Order" button. This option only appears if the order status shows "Processing" or "Pending" — once it changes to "Shipped" or "Out for Delivery", the button disappears and you must contact customer service instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Call 1-800-444-1391 to cancel an order when ready; this is faster than waiting for an online cancellation to process.
  • You can only cancel orders that have not yet shipped; orders already in transit must be refused at delivery or returned after arrival.
  • Log into your Guitar Center account and check your order status — if it shows "Processing", you may see a cancel button.
  • Refunds to credit cards or debit cards typically post within 3 to 5 business days after cancellation is confirmed.
  • In-store purchases cannot be cancelled online; you must return to the store with your receipt within 30 days.

Cancelling Before Your Order Ships

The window to cancel is narrow because Guitar Center begins preparing orders for shipment quickly. Once an order moves to "Shipped" status, cancellation is no longer an option through the normal process. Check your order status as soon as you decide you want to cancel — the sooner you act, the better your chances of catching it before it leaves the warehouse.

When you call customer service, have your order number ready. You can find this in your confirmation email or in your account under "Order History". The representative will tell you whether the order is still cancellable. If it is, they will process the cancellation when ready and provide you with a confirmation number. If it has already shipped, they will explain your options for refusing delivery or returning the item.

What Happens If Your Order Already Shipped

If your order status shows "Shipped" or "Out for Delivery", you cannot cancel it through the normal process. Instead, you have two choices: refuse the package when it arrives, or accept it and return it within 30 days.

To refuse delivery, you must be present when the carrier attempts to deliver. Tell the driver you refuse the package, and they will mark it as refused and return it to Guitar Center. This triggers a refund to your original payment method. If you are not home and the package is left at your door, you can contact the carrier (UPS, FedEx, or USPS depending on who is delivering) and request they pick it up as refused. You will need your tracking number, which Guitar Center sent in your shipping confirmation email.

If refusing delivery is not practical, accept the package and start a return within 30 days. Guitar Center covers return shipping on most items, so you can print a prepaid label from your account or request one by calling customer service. Once Guitar Center receives and inspects the returned item, your refund will be processed.

Refunds and Processing Time

Refunds are issued to your original payment method — the card or account you used to place the order. If you paid with a credit card or debit card, the refund typically appears within 3 to 5 business days, though your bank may take an additional 1 to 2 business days to post it to your account. If you paid with PayPal or another digital wallet, the refund goes back to that account first and then to your bank.

Store credit refunds process faster and appear in your Guitar Center account when ready. If you prefer store credit instead of a refund to your card, mention this when you call to cancel or when you process a return online.

In-Store Purchase Cancellations

If you bought an item in a Guitar Center store and want to cancel that purchase, you cannot do it online. You must return to the store with your receipt within 30 days. Bring the item in its original condition and packaging if possible. The store will process the return and issue a refund to your original payment method or as store credit.

If you no longer have your receipt, bring your ID and the card you used to pay. The store can look up the transaction using your payment information. Some locations may ask for additional details like the date and time of purchase to locate the correct transaction.

Special Cases and Restrictions

Certain items have different cancellation rules. Used or open-box items, clearance merchandise, and items marked as final sale cannot be cancelled or returned. Check the product page or your receipt to see if your item falls into one of these categories. If you are unsure, call customer service before attempting to cancel.

Pre-orders and items on backorder can usually be cancelled at any time before they ship, even beyond the 30-day window. Contact customer service to confirm the status of a pre-order and request cancellation if you no longer want it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel my order if it is out for delivery today?

Not through Guitar Center directly, but you can refuse the package when the driver arrives. Contact the carrier using your tracking number if you will not be home, and request they return it as refused. Once the carrier confirms the refusal, Guitar Center will process your refund.

Will I be charged a restocking fee if I cancel?

No restocking fee applies to cancellations before an order ships. If you refuse delivery or return an item after it arrives, there is no restocking fee either — Guitar Center's 30-day return policy does not include restocking charges on most items.

What if I paid with a gift card?

The refund goes back to your Guitar Center gift card balance. You can use it on a future purchase or contact customer service to ask about converting it to a different form of payment, though this is not always possible depending on how the gift card was issued.

How do I track my refund after cancellation?

Log into your Guitar Center account and check your order history. The order status will change to "Cancelled" and show the refund date. If you paid with a card, contact your bank to confirm the refund has posted. Refunds typically appear within 3 to 5 business days.

Can I cancel part of an order if I only want some items?

If your order contains multiple items, you cannot cancel individual items before shipment through the website. Call customer service at 1-800-444-1391 and explain which items you want to remove. They can sometimes split the order, but this depends on whether the items have already been picked from the warehouse.