Buffalo Wild Wings refunds points within 7 to 10 business days after you request the return

When you return food or drinks to Buffalo Wild Wings, the points you earned on that purchase go back into your account automatically once the refund processes. The timeline depends on how you paid and which refund method the restaurant uses. If you paid with a card linked to your B-Dubs Rewards account, the points typically reappear in 7 to 10 business days. If you paid cash or a card not connected to your rewards profile, you may need to contact the restaurant directly to have points added back manually, which can take longer.

The refund itself (the money back to your card or cash) and the points return are separate processes. Your money might arrive in 3 to 5 business days if you used a debit or credit card, but the points can take the full 7 to 10 days even after the cash refund clears. This lag happens because the rewards system and the payment system don't always sync at the same speed.

Key Takeaways

  • Points refunds take 7 to 10 business days after the restaurant processes your return, separate from when your money comes back.
  • Your points return faster if you used a card linked to your B-Dubs Rewards account at the time of purchase.
  • If you paid cash or with an unlinked card, the restaurant may need to manually add points back, which extends the timeline.
  • Weekends and holidays don't count as business days, so a return requested on Friday may not show points until the following week.
  • Contact the restaurant directly if your points haven't returned after 10 business days — they can check the refund status in their system.

Why points and money refunds don't arrive at the same time

Buffalo Wild Wings runs two separate systems: one for payment processing and one for the rewards program. When you return an item, the cashier or manager voids the transaction in the register first, which triggers the money refund to your payment method. That's usually fast — 3 to 5 business days for card refunds. But the rewards system has to receive a separate signal that the purchase was reversed before it can subtract the points from your account and send them back.

This delay is standard across most restaurant rewards programs. The payment processor (your bank or card company) and the rewards platform don't talk in real time, so there's always a gap. During that gap, your money has returned but your points are still showing as spent. Once the rewards system catches up, the points reappear.

How to check if your points have been refunded

Log into your B-Dubs Rewards account on the Buffalo Wild Wings website or mobile app and look at your current points balance. Your account shows your total available points and usually displays recent transactions, including refunds. If you see the points back in your balance, the refund is complete.

If you're not sure whether the return was processed at the restaurant, ask for a receipt. The receipt should show the refund amount and the date it was issued. Keep that receipt for your records — if there's a problem, you'll need it to prove the return happened. Some locations print a separate refund receipt; others show it on the original receipt with a "void" or "return" notation.

What to do if your points haven't returned after 10 business days

Contact the Buffalo Wild Wings location where you made the return. Have your receipt and the date of the return ready. Ask the manager to look up the refund in their system and confirm it was processed. Sometimes a refund gets entered incorrectly or doesn't sync to the rewards platform, and the restaurant can manually push it through again or escalate it to corporate support.

If the restaurant can't resolve it, reach out to B-Dubs Rewards customer service through the app or website. Explain the return date, the amount, and that your points haven't reappeared. They can check whether the refund signal reached the rewards system and either process the points manually or investigate why the automatic sync failed. This step usually takes 3 to 5 business days.

Refunds for points you already redeemed

If you returned an item but had already redeemed points from a previous purchase before the return was processed, the refunded points simply add back to your balance — they don't reverse the redemption. For example, if you earned 50 points, redeemed 40 of them for a free appetizer, then returned the original purchase, you'd end up with 50 points again (the 10 you didn't redeem plus the 50 refunded). The free appetizer redemption stays in place.

This matters if you're close to a redemption threshold. A return might push you over the points needed for a reward, or it might not if you've already used points from other purchases. Check your account balance after the refund clears to see where you stand.

Partial refunds and points

If you returned only part of your order — say, one item out of three — the restaurant should refund only the points for that item. The points refunded should match the price of what you returned, proportionally. If you earned 100 points on a $50 order and returned a $10 item, you'd get back roughly 20 points.

Some locations calculate this correctly automatically; others might refund all the points by mistake or refund none. If the points refund doesn't match what you returned, contact the restaurant again with the receipt showing which items you kept and which you returned. They can adjust the points manually if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get points back if I return food I already ate?

No. Buffalo Wild Wings refunds points only on items you return before consuming them. If you ate the food or drank the beverage, the restaurant won't process a refund, and the points stay deducted. You can ask, but the policy is the same across locations.

What if I paid with cash — do I still get points back?

Only if your rewards account was linked to the transaction when you ordered. If you paid cash but gave your phone number or account number at the register, the points should refund normally in 7 to 10 days. If you paid cash with no account link, the restaurant has to manually add points back, which may take longer or require you to contact them directly.

Can I speed up the points refund?

No. The 7 to 10 business day timeline is set by the rewards system and can't be rushed. Contacting the restaurant or rewards support before 10 days have passed won't accelerate it, but they can confirm the refund was processed and tell you when to expect the points.

Will my points refund if I used a gift card to pay?

Yes. If you earned points on a gift card purchase, those points refund the same way as a card or cash purchase — in 7 to 10 business days. The money refund goes back to the gift card balance, and the points return to your rewards account separately.

What happens if the restaurant closed or I can't reach them?

Contact B-Dubs Rewards support through the app or website with your receipt and return date. They can look up the transaction and either confirm the refund is pending or manually process the points if the restaurant didn't report it correctly. This usually takes 3 to 5 business days.