Refund policy

Last Updated: August 18, 2026

This Return & Refund Policy applies to eligible merchandise purchased from SMS Car Audio online, in store, through Shopify checkout, or through an authorized SMS Car Audio sales channel.

Because SMS Car Audio sells specialized vehicle-audio equipment, vehicle-specific products, custom fabrication, made-to-order products, electronics, installation materials, and special-order merchandise, return eligibility depends on the condition and type of product.

Please contact SMS Car Audio before returning any merchandise. Unauthorized returns may be refused.

SMS Car Audio
5919 4th Street
Marrero, Louisiana 70072
Phone/Text: 504-289-8127
Email: al@smscaraudio.com

1. Standard Return Window

Eligible standard new merchandise may be requested for return within 14 calendar days of delivery or customer pickup.

A return request does not automatically mean the merchandise is eligible. SMS Car Audio must review and authorize the return before merchandise is shipped or brought back for return.

2. Conditions for an Eligible Standard Return

To qualify for a standard merchandise return, the product must generally be:

Unused.
Uninstalled.
Unpowered.
Unprogrammed.
Unmodified.
Undamaged.
Complete.
In resalable condition.
Returned with its original packaging when applicable.

All manuals, accessories, mounting hardware, harnesses, remotes, trim pieces, protective materials, serial-number labels, warranty documentation, and other items originally included with the product must also be returned.

Products showing signs of installation, wiring, mounting, programming, modification, use, abuse, missing components, cosmetic damage, or packaging damage beyond what is reasonably necessary to inspect the product may be ineligible for return.

3. Return Authorization Required

Do not mail, ship, or deliver a product for return until SMS Car Audio has authorized the return.

A return request should include:

Order number or proof of purchase.
Customer name and contact information.
Product brand and model.
Serial number when applicable.
Reason for the requested return.
Photos of the product and packaging when requested.

SMS Car Audio may request additional information when necessary to determine whether the merchandise qualifies for return, manufacturer warranty, shipping-damage review, or another remedy.

4. Return Address

Authorized returns should be sent or delivered only as instructed by SMS Car Audio.

SMS Car Audio
5919 4th Street
Marrero, Louisiana 70072

Do not ship a return to SMS Car Audio without prior authorization.

5. Return Shipping Costs

For an approved standard return that is not the result of an SMS Car Audio shipping error, the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.

Original shipping charges are generally non-refundable on voluntary returns, except where required by law or where SMS Car Audio determines that the return resulted from an SMS Car Audio fulfillment error.

If SMS Car Audio shipped the wrong product or otherwise authorizes return shipping at our expense, SMS Car Audio will provide appropriate return instructions.

Customers are responsible for adequately packaging authorized returns. SMS Car Audio is not responsible for damage caused by inadequate return packaging or handling before the merchandise reaches SMS Car Audio.

6. Inspection of Returned Merchandise

Returned merchandise is inspected before a refund, exchange, or store credit is approved.

Inspection may include verification of:

Product condition.
Serial number.
Installation or use.
Programming or activation.
Missing accessories or hardware.
Packaging condition.
Physical or electrical damage.
Modification or disassembly.

If returned merchandise does not satisfy the authorized return conditions, SMS Car Audio may deny the return or adjust the available remedy to the extent permitted by applicable law.

7. Restocking Deductions

Certain otherwise-approved returns may be subject to a reasonable restocking deduction when permitted by law and when additional handling, repackaging, missing packaging, missing materials, or reduced resale condition affects the value of the returned merchandise.

Any applicable restocking deduction will be communicated as part of the return review or authorization.

No restocking deduction will be used to eliminate a refund or remedy that must be provided under applicable law.

8. Refund Processing

Once an authorized return is received, inspected, and approved, SMS Car Audio will generally issue the approved refund within 5 business days.

Refunds are normally issued to the original payment method when possible. The customer's bank, card issuer, financing company, payment processor, or other financial institution may require additional processing time after SMS Car Audio submits the refund.

If you have been notified that a refund was issued but have not received it within a reasonable period, contact:

Email: al@smscaraudio.com
Phone/Text: 504-289-8127

9. Final-Sale and Restricted-Return Merchandise

The following merchandise is generally final sale or has restricted return eligibility once ordered, approved, produced, modified, installed, powered, programmed, or otherwise committed to the customer:

Custom subwoofer enclosures.
Built-to-order subwoofer boxes.
Vehicle-specific custom fabrication.
Speaker pods.
Amplifier racks.
Vehicle-specific brackets and adapters made or modified for an order.
Custom panels and templates.
Made-to-order 3D-printed products.
Personalized or engraved merchandise.
CNC-cut or laser-cut products.
Custom acrylic products.
Custom lighting products.
Custom colors, layouts, logos, names, or artwork.
Special-order merchandise.
Vendor-direct merchandise ordered specifically for the customer.
Application-specific custom alternators.
Discontinued merchandise ordered specifically for the customer.
Programmed or activated electronics and interfaces.
Cut wire or cable.
Cut loom, heat-shrink, terminals, and consumable installation materials.
Batteries after installation, activation, or use.

These restrictions do not apply when applicable law requires a different refund, cancellation, replacement, warranty, or other remedy.

10. SMS Precision Products

Many SMS Precision products are vehicle-specific and are manufactured, 3D printed, assembled, or otherwise prepared for the customer's selected application.

Made-to-order SMS Precision products become final sale once production begins, except when SMS Car Audio approves otherwise or applicable law requires a remedy.

Customers are responsible for selecting the correct vehicle year, make, model, trim, factory audio package, speaker size, or other listed application.

If fitment is uncertain, contact SMS Car Audio before ordering.

A product that does not fit because SMS Car Audio supplied materially incorrect fitment information will be reviewed separately from a customer ordering the wrong vehicle application.

11. Lit FX and Personalized Products

Personalized and one-of-a-kind Lit FX products require full payment before production unless otherwise stated.

When SMS Car Audio provides a production render or design approval, the customer is responsible for reviewing spelling, artwork, layout, selected options, vehicle information, and requested personalization before approving it.

After a customized Lit FX product is approved or production begins, the order is non-cancelable and non-refundable except where:

SMS Car Audio made a material production error.
The product arrives damaged.
The product has a qualifying defect.
The product materially differs from the approved order.
Applicable law requires another remedy.

12. Custom Enclosures and Fabrication

Custom enclosures and fabrication are built for a particular customer, vehicle, equipment combination, design, or specification.

Once design work, cutting, CNC work, assembly, fabrication, finishing, engraving, printing, or other production begins, the custom product is generally non-refundable and non-cancelable.

Minor manufacturing, material, grain, texture, finish, acrylic, or 3D-print variation that does not materially affect fit, structure, function, or the approved design is not automatically considered a defect.

13. Special Orders

Special-order products are products SMS Car Audio does not normally stock or products ordered specifically for a customer's vehicle, configuration, project, color, model, or application.

Once SMS Car Audio places a non-cancelable order with the manufacturer, supplier, or distributor, the customer's order may also become non-cancelable and non-refundable.

SMS Car Audio will disclose material special-order restrictions when reasonably applicable to the transaction.

14. Used, Open-Box, Demo, Closeout and Clearance Products

Products specifically identified as used, open-box, display, demo, scratch-and-dent, clearance, discontinued, closeout, or final sale are generally final sale unless the product page or invoice specifically states otherwise.

These products may have cosmetic wear, damaged or missing retail packaging, signs of testing, previous installation, previous use, or other conditions consistent with their disclosed condition.

A material defect or condition that was not disclosed before purchase will be reviewed separately from normal wear or a condition that was clearly disclosed before purchase.

15. Installed, Powered or Programmed Electronics

Electronics that have been installed, powered, wired, programmed, activated, registered, mounted, tuned, or modified are generally not eligible for a standard merchandise return.

If the product is believed to be defective, it will instead be evaluated under the applicable manufacturer warranty or SMS Car Audio warranty-support process.

16. Defective Products

A product believed to be defective is not automatically considered a standard return.

SMS Car Audio may need to inspect or test the product and associated installation before determining whether the problem is caused by:

A product defect.
Installation.
Wiring.
Vehicle electrical problems.
Incorrect impedance.
Improper crossover settings.
Low voltage.
Clipping or overpowering.
Water or corrosion.
Software or programming.
Another component in the system.

Manufacturer warranty claims are governed by the manufacturer's applicable written warranty and claim procedures.

17. Manufacturer Warranty

SMS Car Audio is an authorized retailer for multiple manufacturers and will assist with legitimate warranty claims for qualifying products purchased through SMS Car Audio.

Manufacturer warranty coverage is controlled by the manufacturer's written warranty, proof-of-purchase requirements, authorized-dealer requirements, serial-number requirements, exclusions, and claim decision.

Manufacturer warranty does not automatically include:

Diagnosis.
Removal.
Reinstallation.
Shipping.
Programming.
Fabrication.
DSP retuning.
Rental transportation.
Vehicle downtime.

Those services may require additional labor unless specifically covered by SMS Car Audio or the manufacturer in writing.

18. Installation and Workmanship

Installation labor, DSP tuning, fabrication labor, diagnostics, programming, troubleshooting, removal, reinstallation, wiring repair, and other completed services are generally non-refundable after the services have been performed.

If a customer believes there is a problem with SMS Car Audio workmanship, SMS Car Audio must be given a reasonable opportunity to inspect the vehicle and work before another person or shop changes, removes, repairs, or modifies the installation.

Emergency safety conditions should be addressed immediately. When possible, retain photographs, removed parts, invoices, diagnostic records, and other documentation.

19. Diagnostic Charges

Diagnostic and troubleshooting labor may remain due even when:

The problem is intermittent.
The reported problem cannot be reproduced.
The product ultimately requires replacement.
The failure is outside SMS Car Audio's work.
The customer declines the recommended repair.

A diagnostic charge compensates for the labor and testing performed and is not dependent solely upon the discovery of a repairable fault.

20. Customer-Supplied Equipment

SMS Car Audio does not install products that were not purchased through SMS Car Audio.

SMS Car Audio does not provide return or product warranty coverage for merchandise purchased from another seller.

21. Wrong Item Shipped by SMS Car Audio

If SMS Car Audio sends a product different from the product ordered, contact SMS Car Audio promptly before installing, wiring, programming, or modifying the merchandise.

SMS Car Audio will review the order and provide appropriate correction and return instructions.

When SMS Car Audio confirms that the wrong merchandise was shipped through our error, the customer will not be responsible for reasonable authorized return-shipping costs.

22. Shipping Damage

Inspect shipments promptly after delivery.

If a package or product appears damaged:

Do not discard the shipping carton.
Keep all packing materials.
Keep shipping labels.
Photograph the exterior packaging.
Photograph the interior packaging.
Photograph the product and damage.
Photograph the serial number when applicable.
Contact SMS Car Audio before installation.

Carrier claims may require the customer to preserve all packaging and cooperate with inspection or documentation requirements.

23. Missing Items

If an order arrives with missing merchandise, hardware, accessories, or other components, contact SMS Car Audio promptly and retain all packaging.

SMS Car Audio may review shipment weight, package photographs, packing records, manufacturer packaging, inventory records, or carrier information when investigating the claim.

24. Order Cancellations Before Shipment

Standard stock merchandise that has not shipped or entered a non-cancelable supplier process may generally be canceled before shipment.

Custom, personalized, special-order, programmed, cut, engraved, printed, fabricated, or otherwise customer-specific merchandise may become non-cancelable after production or ordering begins.

25. Delayed Online Orders

SMS Car Audio will comply with applicable requirements governing delayed online merchandise orders.

When SMS Car Audio cannot ship merchandise within the promised shipment period, or within the legally applicable period when no shipment time was stated, the customer will be provided any notice, delay-consent option, cancellation option, and refund required by applicable law.

A customer who does not agree to a legally covered shipment delay may cancel the affected unshipped merchandise and receive the refund required by law.

26. Financing and Lease-to-Own Refunds

Orders paid through Snap Finance, Acima, Shop Pay Installments, or another financing, installment, or lease-to-own provider may require SMS Car Audio to process the refund or cancellation through that provider.

The provider's account, lease, loan, financing, and refund procedures may affect how and when the adjustment appears on the customer's account.

Cash refunds are not substituted for amounts that must be returned to a financing or payment provider.

27. Exchanges

SMS Car Audio may approve an exchange instead of a refund when appropriate and agreed upon with the customer.

Any price difference, shipping cost, restocking deduction, or additional charges will be disclosed as part of the approved exchange.

28. Store Credit

Store credit may be offered by agreement in certain situations, but SMS Car Audio will not substitute store credit when applicable law requires a monetary refund to the original payment method or another specific form of refund.

29. Refused and Undeliverable Shipments

A refused, unclaimed, or undeliverable shipment is not automatically treated as an approved return.

Shipping charges, carrier return charges, address-correction costs, and other reasonable costs caused by an incorrect customer-provided address or refused delivery may be deducted from an otherwise-approved refund to the extent permitted by law.

30. Chargebacks

If you believe a charge or refund is incorrect, contact SMS Car Audio so we can investigate the transaction.

When responding to a payment dispute or chargeback, SMS Car Audio may provide the payment processor, financing provider, financial institution, or card network with relevant transaction evidence including invoices, order records, shipping records, tracking, customer approvals, communications, photographs, and return-policy information.

31. Non-Waivable Rights

Nothing in this policy limits a consumer right that cannot legally be waived. Where applicable law requires cancellation, refund, repair, replacement, warranty service, or another remedy, SMS Car Audio will provide the remedy required by that law.

32. Questions or Return Requests

Contact SMS Car Audio before returning merchandise.

SMS Car Audio
5919 4th Street
Marrero, Louisiana 70072
Phone/Text: 504-289-8127
Email: al@smscaraudio.com
Website: smscaraudio.com

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