Ordering scented soaps, lotions, and other pampering products from Bath & Body Works can be an enjoyable shopping experience. But sometimes you may need to cancel an order after placement, whether due to changing needs, duplicate orders, or other reasons.
Unfortunately Bath & Body Works does not allow customers to directly cancel existing orders online or by phone. However, there are still options to effectively “cancel” an order by refusing delivery or promptly returning items after receipt. This article outlines the ins and outs of canceling with Bath & Body Works.
Is it Possible to Cancel a Bath & Body Works Order?
Once an order is submitted on the Bath & Body Works website or in-store, it begins processing immediately to fulfill and ship out. For this reason, there is no direct way for customers to cancel an existing order before shipment.
The Bath & Body Works website and mobile app do not include any self-service cancelation functionality. And their customer service team cannot intervene to stop an order once placed. So there is no ability to fully cancel an order ahead of delivery.
However, customers can still effectively “cancel” an order by either refusing the delivery or returning the shipment once received. This involves a few more steps compared to direct cancellation, but still lets you avoid being stuck with an unwanted order.
Refusing Delivery of an Order from Bath & Body Works
If you need to essentially cancel a Bath & Body Works order, one option is refusing delivery once the shipment arrives. Here are the steps to refuse and return the order:
- When the delivery arrives, do not open or accept the shipment.
- Inform the delivery driver you are refusing the order and wish to return it.
- The driver will take back the unopened package and return it to Bath & Body Works.
- You will receive a refund within 7-10 business days once Bath & Body Works processes the return.
By refusing delivery, the order gets rerouted back to Bath & Body Works before you take possession. This essentially cancels the transaction.
Just be aware that return shipping costs may be deducted from refunds on refused orders. But refusing delivery allows quick cancellation without actually receiving the items.
Returning Items to Cancel a Bath & Body Works Order
If an order has already been delivered, the alternative is promptly returning the items to Bath & Body Works. They provide several return options:
- In-store returns – Bring items to a local store within 90 days of purchase.
- By-mail returns – Fill out the return form in packaging and mail items back.
- Contactless returns – Generate a free return shipping label to attach to the package.
To start the return process for cancelling an order:
- Gather all items and original packaging.
- Follow the steps for your desired return method.
- Receive refund 7-10 days after Bath & Body Works processes the return.
Returning orders in-store can provide an immediate refund or exchange. By-mail and contactless returns take longer to process but are still accepted.
Key Return Policy Details for Bath & Body Works
If you need to return an order to effectively cancel it, be aware of Bath & Body Work’s standard return policies:
- Most non-clearance items can be returned within 90 days of purchase.
- Clearance products can only be returned within 14 days of purchase.
- Refunds are typically issued to the original payment method.
- Return shipping costs are deducted from refunds for mail returns.
- Gift receipts are required for returning gifted items.
- Damaged or used products may have refunds denied.
Checking your invoice and following return policy guidelines ensures a smooth cancellation process.
Alternatives to Cancelling Bath & Body Works Orders
Rather than cancelling entirely, there are some alternatives to consider as well:
- Exchange for store credit – Return items in-store for a gift card instead of refund.
- Re-gift items – Give unwanted items to friends and family.
- Donate or resell – Less suitable items can be donated or resold.
- Pause future deliveries – For subscriptions, pause instead of fully cancelling.
While not full cancellations, these options allow you to avoid being stuck with items you don’t want or need.
Steps to Take After Cancelling a Bath & Body Works Order
Once you’ve effectively cancelled your Bath & Body Works order via refusal or return, here are some steps to take:
- Watch for the refund to process back to your original payment method within 7-10 business days.
- Confirm the refund amount matches your order cost minus any return shipping fees.
- Monitor your email and account for refund confirmations from Bath & Body Works.
- Consider adjusting future delivery settings if it was a recurring order.
- Contact customer service with any questions or if the refund is delayed.
Can You Cancel Specific Items from an Order?
If you only need to cancel part of an order, unfortunately this is not possible with Bath & Body Works. Orders must be returned or cancelled in full.
There is no option to return or refuse delivery of just select items from a larger order. The entirety of the order must be processed as a return or cancellation.
Using Live Chat to Request Cancellation
While Bath & Body Works cannot directly intervene to cancel orders ahead of delivery, some customers have had success reaching out to customer service via Live Chat immediately after ordering to request cancellation:
- Navigate to the Live Chat page on Bath & Body Works’ website or mobile app.
- Connect with an agent and explain you need to request an order cancellation.
- Provide order details – the agent can review the status.
- If the order has not yet fully processed, there is a chance the agent may be able to request cancellation.
This is not guaranteed to work but is an option to attempt ordering cancellation via customer service chat. Phone agents cannot cancel.
Purchasing Gift Cards to Offset Unwanted Orders
Another creative strategy used by some customers is placing an offsetting order for Bath & Body Works gift cards soon after an unwanted purchase.
For example:
- You accidentally place an unwanted $50 order on Monday.
- On Tuesday you place a new order for a $50 gift card.
- You then return the unwanted $50 order later for a refund.
- You’re left with a usable $50 gift card to offset the cancelled order.
While unconventional, some have had success using this gift card offset method to essentially “cancel” orders by reclaiming the money in gift card form.
Avoiding the Need to Cancel Bath & Body Works Orders
To avoid having to deal with cancelling orders at Bath & Body Works in the first place:
- Carefully review orders before submitting to prevent buyer’s remorse.
- Double check quantities on large or frequent orders.
- Avoid impulse buys when possible or give yourself a cooling off period.
- Turn on notifications so you can catch any unintended orders quickly.
- Leverage wish lists and reminders to prevent duplicate orders.
With some care when ordering, you can sidestep the need to cancel orders altogether. But when necessary, refusal and returns allow a workaround.
Cancelling Memberships or Subscriptions
For ongoing subscriptions like the Bath & Body Works Shower or Soap Clubs, you can fully cancel future orders at any time:
- Log into your account and navigate to “My Subscriptions”.
- Select the subscription you wish to cancel.
- Click the option to cancel or disable auto-renewal.
- Confirm the cancellation request.
Your upcoming subscription delivery will be cancelled immediately. However, you cannot cancel any individual order that has already been shipped.
Contacting Support for Additional Help
If you have any other issues cancelling a Bath & Body Works order not covered above, you can contact their customer service team for assistance:
- By phone at 877-832-9272
- Via live chat on their website
- Through their official Twitter support account
The support team can provide guidance on returns, refunds, account issues when cancelling, and any other questions that come up.
Cancelling Orders with Other Retailers
While Bath & Body Works does not allow direct cancellations, many other popular retailers do permit cancelling orders online with just a few clicks, including:
- Amazon
- Target
- Walmart
- Best Buy
- Wayfair
- Chewy
- Lowe’s
If timed properly, cancelling orders with these merchants is much more straightforward through account dashboards or quick service chats.
Get Refunds Quickly When Plans Change
Despite the inability to outright cancel orders, Bath & Body Works still provides options to refuse delivery or return items to effectively cancel and get refunds when your plans change.
Just act quickly once realizing an order is no longer needed, and carefully follow the return instructions based on how you received the order. This will ensure you get your money back promptly.
With a bit of diligence, you can painlessly “cancel” Bath & Body Works orders as needed.
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In summary, while Bath & Body Works doesn’t allow direct cancellation of existing orders, customers can effectively “cancel” by refusing delivery or promptly returning items. This ensures you avoid unwanted purchases.
