With the holiday gifting season in largely the rearview, the time for giving-it-back is in full-swing.
Retailers surveyed by the National Retail Federation and UPS subsidiary Happy Returns said they expect roughly one sixth of holiday purchases this year to be returned.
But the nature of the holidays would ordinarily make it a little tricky to get a refund in the 30- or 90-day windows that are common in the retail industry.
Retailers know that a lot of the stuff that was bought in October and November wasn’t actually opened or tried on by its intended recipient until the fourth week of December.
In response, several large companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Target have extended their returns period on holiday purchases to as late as January 31.
Not included in this list is Costco, which has one of the most flexible return policies of any retailer, so an extension for the holidays wouldn’t make much sense.
At the same time, some retailers are increasingly charging fees for certain returns (especially on e-commerce orders) and carving out exceptions for certain product categories.
Here are the major retailers’ policies and what to watch out for.
Amazon
Amazon says it will accept returns until January 31 on most items purchased in November and December, but Apple-branded products must be returned by January 15.
Normally the return period on Amazon purchases is 30 days, and the company says most purchases have at lease one free return shipping option. It also reserves the right to charge additional fees for items that are late, damaged, or need special restocking.
Walmart
Walmart typically has a 90-day return window, which it is extending for products purchased in October. Most items purchased from Walmart itself between October 1 and the end of the year are eligible for return until January 31.
Third-party marketplace sellers may have different policies, and mobile phones and other consumer electronics generally have shorter return windows.
The retailer also offers curbside returns in some cases, as well as pickup-from-home options for Walmart Plus members.
Target
Target isn’t changing its normal 90-day return policy, but items that typically have shorter windows like electronics and mobile phones are getting an adjustment.
For certain items bought between November 1 and December 24, the return window has been adjusted to start on December 26. That means most third-party marketplace items and consumer electronic can be returned be January 24, while Apple, Beats, and other mobile devices have until January 8.
Of course, all of that is for national brand merchandise. Anything sold under one of Target’s dozens of in-house private labels is backed by the bullseye’s unusually generous one-year satisfaction guarantee.
The company also offers free returns in-store, via drive-up, or prepaid shipping.
Best Buy
Best Buy normally has a 15-day return period, but the electronics retailer is extending that to January 15 for most purchases made between October 31 and December 31.
Devices that require activation — like mobile phones — still have a 14-day limit and will incur a $45 restocking fee.
Other products like drones, scooters, cameras, and projectors that have opened packaging are subject to a 15% restocking fee.
Kohl’s
Like Walmart, Kohl’s normally has a 90-day return window and will allow returns until January 31 on items purchased as early as October 5.
Sephora products have a little less time: their eligibility only goes back to October 31 for returns by January 31.
The company also says in-store returns are always free, but customers are responsible for any costs to ship items to its returns center.
Macy’s
Macy’s normally offers a 30-day return window, but it is giving a January 31 deadline for most purchases made between October 6 and December 31.
Exceptions to the policy include Last Act items, which are considered final sale, as well as Dyson products and Mac Duggal apparel.
In-store returns are free, and online orders may be shipped for a $9.99 shipping fee that is deducted from any refund.
TJX brands
TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods, and Sierra normally have a 30-day return window, which TJX is shifting to end on January 25 for most purchases made between October 5 and December 24.
The company is offering store credit for gift returns that have a receipt, and notes that items from one chain may only be returned to that chain. No returning TJ Maxx stuff to Marshalls.
Items must also be unused an in sellable condition to be eligible for return.
Online purchases made between October 5 and December 24 have until February 4 to be returned by mail or to a store. Shipped returns will have a $11.99 fee deducted from any refund.
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