The 4 best (and worst) return policies this holiday shopping season
If you fail to read a store鈥檚 return policy before shopping there, you could get stuck with an item that doesn鈥檛 work out. But if you fail to read return policies before gift shopping, it鈥檚 a friend or relative who could get stuck with an unwanted item.
Fortunately, just about every store鈥檚 return policy can be found online these days, and they鈥檙e not hard to read if you know what questions to ask鈥�
How to interpret a return policy
In-store purchases
- What鈥檚 the time window for return?听This is especially important for gifts. For example, if you buy a Christmas gift on Black Friday from a store with a 30-day return window, the recipient won鈥檛 be able to return it after Christmas.
- Will the refund be in the original form of payment?听Some stores issue certain refunds only in the form of store credit 鈥� especially for gift returns.
Online purchases
- What鈥檚 the time window for return?
- If you return an online purchase by mail, will you have to pay for the return shipping? (And will the refund be in the original form of payment?)听Most stores will make you pay to ship a return, which is why the next question is important.
- Are online purchases returnable to brick-and-mortar stores? (And will the refund be in the original form of payment?)
The best return policies
The following stores offer a return window of at least 90 days, provide a full refund, and allow online purchases to be returned to stores鈥�
Costco
- Time window?听None for most items (the exceptions 鈥� TVs, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, tablets, MP3 players, and cell phones 鈥� must be returned within 90 days).
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听Yes 鈥� and they鈥檒l even refund the shipping.
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, they鈥檒l email you a UPS label, although you鈥檒l have to take the package to a UPS drop-off spot.
- Note:听Costco even allows returns of Photo Center purchases that you鈥檙e dissatisfied with 鈥� just call 866-459-9284. They鈥檒l also refund your membership fee at any point if you鈥檙e dissatisfied.
L.L. Bean
- Time window?听None.
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听Yes.
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, but you pay the return shipping unless you鈥檙e an L.L. Bean Visa cardholder.
- Note:听L.L. Bean never charges to ship purchases to you either.
Nordstrom
- Time window?听None.
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听Yes, with the packing slip and the听credit card听used for the purchase.
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, but you pay the return shipping.
Zappos.com
- Time window?听365 days.
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听N/A (Zappos is online only).
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, if the item is in the condition you received it in and in the original packaging. You鈥檒l receive a prepaid return shipping label.
- Note:听Zappos never charges to ship a product to you either.
Worst return policies
If a gift recipient wants to return your gift, these stores will only offer them store credit, so make sure the gift recipient is a fan of the store or avoid gift-shopping there鈥�
Babies R Us
- Time window?听90 days for most items (see听听for exceptions).
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听Yes, but only for store credit.
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, with the original packaging and any paperwork, but you pay the return shipping unless the purchase was damaged or defective.
- Note:听In-store purchases returned to a store are generally refunded in the original form of payment, but gifts are an exception. So even if you bought a gift in a store and it was returned to a store, the recipient will still only receive store credit 鈥� assuming they have a gift receipt.
碍辞丑濒鈥檚
- Time window?听None.
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听Yes, with receipt. If you don鈥檛 have a receipt 鈥� or if you have a gift receipt 鈥� you can still return the item but only for store credit.
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, but you pay the return shipping.
- Note:听If a gift was purchased in a store, it must be returned to a store and can still be returned only for store credit.
惭补肠测鈥檚
- Time window?听180 days for most items (see听听for exceptions).
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听Yes, with invoice, for most items (excludes area rugs).
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, with invoice and return form, for most items (excludes bridesmaid dresses), but you pay the return shipping.
- Note:听Gifts can be returned only for store credit, and food and gourmet gifts are nonreturnable.
Toys R Us
- Time window?听90 days for most items (see听听for exceptions).
- E-purchases returnable to stores?听Yes, but only for store credit.
- E-purchases returnable by mail?听Yes, with original packaging and any paperwork, but you pay the return shipping unless the purchase was damaged or defective.
- Note:听In-store purchases returned to a store are generally refunded in the original form of payment, but gifts are an exception. So even if you bought a gift in a store and it was returned to a store, the recipient will still only receive store credit 鈥� assuming they have a gift receipt.
Karla Bowsher covers consumer, retail, and health issues for听, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.
