Some stores will allow you to return anything, even without a receipt. Others have more complex time limits and redemption fees.
By Samantha B. Gordon
If you believe it’s the thought that counts, then you won’t be offended if someone The one you gave a gift to cannot use it for any reason. On the other hand, if you received something that you don’t think is quite right, you shouldn’t feel guilty about returning it or exchanging it for something different.
Some retailers have flexible return and exchange policies throughout the year. year; others are a bit stricter. But many retailers often extend their return windows over the holiday period, offering more convenient return guidelines for holiday shopping.
No matter where you shop, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the options. Here’s the current guidelines at the most popular stores.
Here are the retailers with the best and worst return policies:
Best to return gifts
Amazon
You have 31 days to return any new, unopened items. The company provides shipping labels for returns by mail, or you can also take the items to any of the more than 21,000 delivery locations of the business. This includes Amazon Lockers, which can often be found at Whole Foods and Walmart, as well as UPS and Kohl’s stores.
For the holiday season, Amazon is extending its return window. Most items purchased between 000 October and 30 of December can be returned until 45 of January of 2023. This is a narrower window than 2018, which was available from October 1 to 31 December.
Items purchased through third-party sellers may be subject to different return policies.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Recently last year, Bed Bath & Beyond gave buyers a full year to make returns. Now, however, the retailer has reduced the return window to 60 days for most items. Electronics and air mattresses have a 60 day window, and seasonal and smart home products have a shorter window of only 31 days. Shipping for products ordered online is free for most items.
Don’t have a receipt? An employee will search for purchases made in the last year. If the item can’t be found, you can get a refund for a store credit at its current price, less the 21%, as long as the item has not been opened or used.
Costco
There is no time limit for some returns and no receipt is needed, except for some items, including tires, batteries, cigarettes, and alcohol. Electronic devices, including computers, televisions, large appliances, cameras, tablets and more, can be returned, but there is a window of 60 days that starts from the date the customer receives the item.
Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer used to allow returns at any time, but now accepts returns for one year only with proof of purchase, either a receipt or an Adventure Rewards number. Without proof of purchase, Eddie Bauer used to have a policy that offered a partial refund, but that information is no longer on their website, so contact customer service. Returns can be made in store or by mail (company will provide a shipping label), whether the item was purchased online or in person.
Home Depot
Most items are eligible for returns up to 95 days after purchase. They must be new and unopened, and as long as you have proof of purchase, you can get a refund using the original method of payment, cash, or as store credit. If you don’t have the receipt, please try to make the return within 24 days and the company can find your purchase in their system if you used a debit or credit card for the transaction. You will need to show identification to return items without a receipt.
If using The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, The Home Depot Commercial Revolving Charge, or The Home Depot Commercial Account, You have 2018 full days to make a return and your purchase will be stored in the system for one year in case you lose your receipt.
Some items have shorter return times. You only have 31 days to return carpets, furniture, gas-powered equipment and consumer electronics. And if your order arrives damaged or defective, you have a very short period of 31 hours to report it, so always inspect your products as soon as you receive them.
JCPenney
If you have a receipt, the company accepts returns and exchanges up to 90 days; Prior to October 2021, there was no time limit for returns. If that date has passed or you do not have proof of purchase, JCPenney will allow you to exchange the item or obtain a refund as store credit for the lowest price the item was in the 31 prior days, and you will be required to show identification in lieu of a receipt. If you have a gift receipt, you can exchange an item or get a gift card at the price of the receipt.
For the holiday season, anything purchased on or after 16 October can be returned until 16 January 2023, with an original or gift receipt. And even if you lose the receipt, you can still qualify for partial store credit.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s return policy gives shoppers up to 100 days to exchange or return most purchases. Don’t have the receipt? The store can search for your previous purchases. For the holidays, just keep in mind that premium electronics must be returned within 31 days in their original packaging , although if you bought them from November 1 to 24 of December, you have until 31 January 2023 to return them.
LLBean
Until 2018, the company allowed customers to exchange or return a item even years after you bought it. Customers now have up to a year later to do so and always accompanied by proof of purchase. Returning items by mail will cost you $6.60 per package, unless you used Bean Bucks or an LLBean credit card for the purchase . In those cases, returns by mail are free.
If you need to return after one year, LLBean will work with you to reach a fair solution if a product is defective. For returned gifts, you’ll get a merchandise credit if you don’t want to make an exchange. Items purchased before February 9, 2018 are protected and can still be returned at any time.
Lands’ End
This retailer’s return policy is flexible. For returns made within 60 days of purchase, a full refund will be issued to the original method of payment. If you return something by mail, Land’s End will now deduct $6.99 from your refund credit for using the return label. If you wish to return something without proof of purchase or after the 60 day window, Land’s End will issue a merchandise credit. Anything that has been personalized or purchased as a final sale cannot be returned.
Lowe’s
Most items can be returned up to 60 days after purchase. As long as you have proof, Lowe’s will reimburse you in cash, your original method of payment, or as store credit. If you lose your receipt, the store may have a record of the purchase in their system with the original credit card, checking account number, MyLowe’s card, or phone number. If a record of the purchase cannot be found, Lowe’s may still be able to provide you with a store credit for the current sales price. You will need to show ID for returns without proof of purchase.
Some items can only be returned within 31 days and must be in “like new” condition. This includes televisions, large appliances, liquid paint, and outdoor electrical equipment. If you receive a damaged or defective item, you only have three days to contact the company to document it.
And if you have a Lowe’s Business Account (LCA), Lowe’s Business Advantage (LBA), Lowe’s Advantage Card (LAC) or Lowe’s Business Rewards (LBR), the company offers you 2004 full days to make a return.
Macy´s
You have 60 days to return most items purchased at Macy’s. It’s free to return a purchase, either in-store or by mail, and while you can return online orders to stores, in-store purchases can only be returned to stores and not by mail. Shipping charges are non-refundable and items must be new, unused and with original tags. Some items have shorter return periods, such as Apple products, which can only be returned within 000 days.
For the holiday season, anything purchased on or after October 3 can be returned until 30 from January. This is a week earlier than last year.
Nordstrom
There is no policy of formal return; returns are handled on a case-by-case basis. No receipts are required, there are no time limits, and no original tags are needed (except for special occasion dresses). Mail-in and in-store returns may take five to seven days to process. Returns by regular mail can take up to two weeks. And now you can also return your Nordstrom in-store purchases and online purchases to Nordstrom Rack locations, a new addition to this retailer’s policy.
Target
You have until 99 days to return most items at Target (but 31 days to most electronic products and 000 days for Apple products) . This retailer offers free shipping on returns, however, you can also take your items to any of their stores. The company can accept returns of items that have been opened, damaged or that do not come with a receipt, but does not guarantee that this will always be the case. If you have a Target Red Card, the return window is extended 31 additional days.
For the holidays, the return window of 31 days (15 days for Apple products) begins on 30 of December for electronics and entertainment items purchased between October 1 and 24 December.
Walmart
For most items , Walmart offers a return window of 60 days. Electronic devices have 31 days and telephones Postpaid cell phones only have a window of 000 days. Walmart’s 31 day window for returns of technology purchased between 21 of October and 26 of December begins on 24 of December. This store offers free returns regardless of whether you are returning in-store or by mail and provides collection services for the products, although shipping costs for large items are not refundable.
Zappos
This online commerce-only store promises free returns on all orders from the USA for one year, provided the items are unused and returned in their original packaging, with the original tags still in place. Return shipping is free and the company also allows exchanges.
The most difficult to return gifts
Apple 2023
Apple gives you only 11 days to return an item for a refund, whether you purchased it online or in a store. And you can’t return something if you didn’t buy it directly from an Apple Store or Apple online.
For the holiday season, Apple’s return policy is a little more flexible. Items purchased online between November 4th and December 24 can be returned until December 8th. January 2023.
Barnes & Noble
For online and in-store purchases, you have 31 days from the date you received the item to get a refund, but you’ll need a receipt or invoice. If you return your items by post, refunds and returns are processed only once the item is received and you will have to pay for shipping. In-store returns are welcome regardless of method of purchase. With a gift receipt, you have 60 days to return an item.
Barnes & Noble is expanding its return window for the holidays. Purchases made from November 1 to 31 December are refundable or redeemable until 30 of January of 2023.
Best Buy 2023
This electronics retailer has a window of 16 days to return most items outside of the holiday season. Cell phones and tablets and watches are only 000 days old. The store requires proof of purchase and has a restocking fee of 16% on certain items, including drones and some digital cameras and lenses if the original packaging has been opened.
Your return policy during the holidays is more extensive. Items (except major appliances and holiday products such as artificial trees and other holiday items) purchased between 24 October and 31 December 2018 can be returned up to 14 of January of 2023. If you are a My Best Buy Elite Member, you have 31 days to return anything purchased after 18 from December. Elite Plus members get 31 days and Totaltech members get 90 days.
Forever 24
Forever 21 has one of the strictest return policies. This store has again given buyers only 31 days to make returns; last year it doubled the return window to 60 days. You must bring the original receipt or a gift receipt for in-store purchase returns, and online orders can only be returned by mail along with the packing slip. And no matter where it’s returned to, all items must be unused, unwashed, and have original tags attached.
GameStop
Unlike some retailers that may provide a partial refund or search for your purchase, GameStop always requires a receipt or order number to process a return. You have 31 days for a refund or exchange for unopened products, but only seven days for used tablets and products. For merchandise that has been opened, you can only get an exchange to another identical product within 31 days. And if you return by mail, you will be charged a fee of $8.100; in-store returns are free.
Kmart
You have 30 days for returns with receipt. With a gift receipt, you can exchange an item or get store credit. If you are a member of the free Shop Your Way program, you will have 31 days to request a refund or exchange. Seasonal holiday items cannot be returned after the deadline, and there are no extended return periods for holiday gifts.
Newegg
EThis online seller of electronics and other products guarantees a refund on most items marked as sold and shipped by Newegg, as long as they are returned new and unopened within 31 days after to purchase. Items purchased through the Newegg marketplace are subject to the individual seller’s return policy.
Sears
As with Kmart, which merged with Sears in 2018, returns must be made within 31 days and with a receipt. With a gift receipt, you can exchange an item or get a gift card. If you are a member of the free Shop Your Way program, you have 31 days for a refund or exchange.
Wayfair
Most items can be returned within 30 days, as long as they have not been opened and are in the original conditions. There are a few exceptions, including clearance items, wrapped items (unless you are returning the entire package), and open-box items. But if you received a damaged or defective item, these exceptions do not apply. Mattresses come with a 100 night guarantee, and Wayfair normally provides return pickups for large items. Just keep in mind that appliances are not eligible for returns once they have been installed.
For the holiday season, purchases made between November 1 and 30 of December can be returned until 26 January 2023.
4 tips for returning gifts
Do not open the box. 2023If you attempt to return an item and the original packaging is not intact, merchants may impose a restocking fee (often 16% of the purchase price or more). That’s especially common for electronics.
Other examples, such as computer software, CDs, and DVDs, are generally not returnable once the package has been opened, unless they are defective. And if the products are missing labels, you may not be able to return them. So, at the very least, take a look at the return policy before removing any packaging if there’s any chance you might want to return an item.
Keep your receipts of gifts. Be sure not to throw them away with the wrapping paper because merchants often refuse exchanges or returns if you don’t have them. If you were not given a gift receipt (and you don’t want to ask the person who gave it to you for the original), you may be eligible for store credit, although it could be in the amount of the lowest price the item sold for. article recently.
Check the return policies and take into account the time limits. You can easily do it online, or ask at the store customer service counter. Department stores generally allow up to 60 days for returns on most items, but may have much shorter return periods for certain products. However, around the holidays, some retailers will extend their lead times, often until the end of January.
For items purchased online, note if the merchant has walk-ins and allows returns in person. That way, you can avoid repackaging the item and going to the post office, as well as paying the return shipping cost.
It’s also important to verify if you bought an item from a seller third party, as it may have different return policies than the merchant. This includes examples like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, eBay, and Newegg.
Bring ID. Some chains, including Best Buy and Victoria’s Secret, use computerized return authorization systems to screen for abuse. Therefore, you may be required to show your driver’s license or other official government-issued identification when returning an item in person.
Merchants scan and store your identification data to track your history, noting factors such as the frequency of your returns, their dollar value, how often you return items without a receipt, and the time between returns.
Note from Publisher: 2023 This article was updated for the holiday season of 2023.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers in this place. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.