Shopping Savings: Top Stores With the Best Return Policies

 

As we come to a close on an unprecedented shopping season full of new challenges like shipping delays, some retailers are offering increased flexibility when it comes to returns and exchanges, while others are sticking to more strict policies. To help make the return process easier returns, RetailMeNot has rounded up the retailers with the best return policies.

American Eagle: Free Returns Anytime The much-loved retailer offers free returns with no time limit as long as you have proof of purchase. That even includes items that no longer have tags (with the exception of bathing suits and intimates that have the hygienic liner removed). Lost your receipt? American Eagle will let you exchange the item or give you store credit for the current price. Athleta: Give-It-a-Workout Guarantee A division of Gap Inc., Athleta specializes in athletic apparel for women. Although The Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic accept returns only if you haven’t worn the clothes, Athleta has a Give-It-a-Workout-Guarantee, so you can try out an item, and if it doesn’t perform as you want, you can return it. Bath & Body Works: Anything, Anytime For Any Reason Bath & Body Works really just wants you to love their products (and oh, we do!). That’s why they allow full refunds on used items at any time if you’re not satisfied with the quality, with a receipt. If you don’t have the original receipt or packing invoice, you’ll be able to exchange or get a merchandise credit based on the lowest selling price of the item. Bed Bath & Beyond: Easy-Peasy Returns With or Without Receipt If you have a receipt when making a return at Bed Bath & Beyond, you’ll get a full refund (with a few exceptions) as long as it’s within 90 days of the original purchase. If you have a gift receipt, you’ll get a merchandise credit for the amount paid. There are some exceptions–items like smart home tech and seasonal items cap at 30 days, and electronics cap at 60 days. No receipt? If your item was purchased within the last 365 days, Bed Bath & Beyond will try to find a record of the transaction. If the store can’t, you’ll still get an exchange or merchandise credit—just for 20 percent less than the current selling price. Out of an abundance of caution, they are only accepting returns and exchanges in stores open to the public (this does not include Curbside only locations.) Bloomingdale’s: Oh-So Accommodating For most items at Bloomingdale’s, you have 365 days to make a return for a refund or store credit as long as the item is still in saleable condition. If you don’t have a receipt, there are a few options. The store can credit your Bloomingdale’s account or issue a merchandise credit (provided you don’t have a Bloomingdale’s account). Either way, the no-receipt policy states that you’ll receive the lowest-selling price in the last 180 days. Do note that some categories have restrictions. For instance, you can’t return certain dresses once the tag is removed, and you can return mattresses only within 365 days of delivery for a credit toward a one-time reselection, minus applicable fees. Costco: Return at Any Time Costco’s return policies are hard to beat: There’s no time limit for returning most products purchased from the discount retailer. Simply bring them into your nearest Costco store for a cash or check refund. Electronics are one of the few exceptions, but the 90-day return policy on TVs, computers, cameras, tablets, smartphones and other consumer gadgets should be adequate for most shoppers. There’s also limitations on items like tires, cigarettes, alcohol and diamonds. If you’re returning products years down the track, it’s understandable that you might not still have your receipt. That’s no problem at selected Costco stores that can look up purchases using your membership number. The Home Depot: Free, Fast and Easy Returns The home improvement company wants you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. They offer an easy 90-day instant return policy for most items as long as you have a receipt—with a few exceptions like rugs and furniture that must be returned within 30 days. But here’s the best part: For those with a not-so-green thumb, you’ll be able to get a full return or exchange within a year on any plant that ends up dying—no questions asked. Just make sure to keep your receipt! IKEA: No-Nonsense Returns Not completely happy with your purchase? Don’t sweat it. Ikea allows customers up to 365 days to return new and unopened merchandise for a full refund. You can also return open products within 180 days with your proof of purchase for a full refund. You just need a receipt. No receipt? No problem. They’ll try to locate a record of purchase in their system. If they can’t, they’ll issue a merchandise credit for the lowest-selling price of the item within the last 365 days. JCPenney: Easy, Simple and Sweet JCPenney’s policy depends on the item and whether you have a receipt, but here are some of the general rules. If you’ve got your receipt, you can return an item to JCPenney at any time. Without a receipt, products are good for exchange or refund at the item’s lowest-selling price within the last 45 days. Fine jewelry must be returned within 60 days with a sales receipt. Special occasion dresses have to be in original condition with the green return tag in place. Currently, JCPenney is extending their return policy for merchandise that has a time limit for an additional 30 days from the time they reopen stores. Kohl’s: No Receipt Necessary Kohl’s is already adored by deal seekers thanks to its constant rotation of sales. But the store’s return policy rocks, too. Kohl’s can look up your purchase on Kohl’s Charge or major credit card purchase for up to 180 days, and give you refund. If you wait longer or don’t have a receipt, you can still get store credit or a corporate-issued refund. If you’re returning at the store, bring the item along with the receipt. If your store isn’t currently open, Kohl’s is extending the 180 refund policy to allow returns in-store up to 30 days after the store reopens. If you’re returning by mail, fill out this return form, pack up the merchandise and ship everything back. Lands’ End: Hassle-Free Returns Within 90 Days Not satisfied with your purchase? Lands’ End says as long as your return request hits within 90 days of your purchase, they will refund you in the original form of payment. If your refund request takes place 90 days after the date of purchase or without a receipt, you may be given a Lands’ End Merchandise Credit. That even goes for items that have been monogrammed or hemmed. But, they will not allow returns on face masks and contact customer service for information about returning scrubs. For online purchases, you may be responsible for a $6.95 fee for an Easy Return Label. L.L.Bean: One Full Year to Return L.L.Bean’s legendary lifetime guarantee on products ended in 2018—but they still offer a generous one-year return, even if you’ve worn them. (Caveat: You must have a receipt for in-store purchases.) L.L.Bean Mastercard members can also receive free shipping on returns using prepaid labels available online. If you don’t have this loyalty card, you can print one of these labels for $6.50. Easy peasy. Lowe’s: 90-Day Return Window Lowe’s is committed to making your home improvement dreams come true, and that means offering a 90-day return policy on most new, unused merchandise should you not be completely satisfied. Outdoor power equipment, major appliances and liquid paint are a few exceptions that must be returned within 30 days and look “like new.” Don’t have your receipt? No problem. In most cases, Lowe’s can track down your purchase via your credit card, checking account number, MyLowe’s card or phone number. If they still can’t find it, Lowe’s may issue in-store credit for the item’s current selling price. Macy’s: 90 Days to Make a Return While the store used to allow 180 days for returns, you now have 90 days to make most returns at Macy’s. There are some exceptions: You must return designer merchandise and Apple smartphones, for instance, within 14 days, and Last Act items within 30. You can even return new or gently used cosmetics and fragrances. And if you don’t have a receipt, Macy’s still lets you make a return in most categories—you’ll just get a store credit for the item’s lowest-selling price in the previous 180 days. Extended Holiday Return Policy: The time frame has been extended for purchases made between now and December 31, 2020. Those purchases may be returned by either January 31, 2021 or the last date allowed under the normal applicable return policy, whichever is later. This doesn’t apply to all merchandise. Nordstrom: No Questions Asked—Seriously Nordstrom is famous for its incredibly liberal return policy. In fact, legend has it that a customer in the ’70s successfully returned car tires to Nordstrom—the funny thing being that Nordstrom doesn’t sell tires. The main takeaway from Nordstrom is that there’s no return policy, so to speak. This means there’s no return time limit, no receipt required and no paperwork. Purchased an item online? The store provides free return shipping, or you can take the item back to a physical store. They now offer drop off at curbside for contactless returns. Refunds are expected in 5-7 business days. Nordstrom does take a stricter approach to its special occasion dresses. If you return a dress, it must still have its tag on it and original packaging. Also, Nordstrom Rack has a different return policy. There, you have 45 days to return unworn merchandise as long as you have the receipt, original tags. Patagonia: An Ironclad Guarantee The outdoor outfitter is so confident you’ll love their products, that if for any reason you’re not satisfied, send it back for repair, replacement or a refund. There’s no return time limit, they just ask that items be kept in new condition with the tags attached. However, items received more than a year after the purchase date will be refunded with a Patagonia merchandise credit. it’s important to note that due to high volume and new safety protocols, it may take 12 weeks or longer to process your return or repair. REI: Satisfaction Guaranteed At REI, you can return or exchange anything from the store within one year. The only exceptions are outdoor electronics (which must be brought back within 90 days). Note: REI won’t accept returns on items for normal wear and tear or damage caused by accidents or improper use. But, the store will help you take advantage of the manufacturer’s warranty. Also, hold on to your receipts or make purchases through an REI member number. If the store can’t locate proof of your purchase, you might not be able to make the return. Target: Return Without a Receipt We’ve mentioned Target’s exceptional return policy before, but it’s worth repeating. This American department store will offer refunds or exchanges on most unopened items in new condition within 90 days of purchase with some exceptions, including electronics and Apple products. But Target is so confident in the quality of its Target Owned Brand items that an extended one-year return policy applies to these. Target will even accept returns if you’ve misplaced your receipt; store staff can simply use your credit card, gift card, or check to look up your purchase. You can also return items you bought online to any regular Target store. Just take the item, your packaging slip and the card you used for payment to the guest service desk of your nearest store. Trader Joe’s: Full Refund on Used Items These stores aren’t the only ones impressing customers with their return policies. Trader Joe’s sets the benchmark among grocery stores with its own generous return policy. The store offers refunds on all the items it sells, no matter why you want to return them, whether they’re open (or even eaten!) or not. That means you don’t need to hesitate to try dill pickle–flavored potato chips or salmon jerky. Simply buy them, taste them, and if you don’t like them, you can get your money back. There are even reports that Trader Joe’s has accepted returns on moldy cheese left forgotten in the fridge. Zappos: Free Return Shipping and Full Refund Within a Year Many shoppers will accept an item that’s not quite right to avoid paying to ship it back to the online store. But with fashion e-tailer Zappos, you don’t need to. The online shoe and clothing store will happily waive the shipping fee for United States customers, so you don’t have to squeeze into those too-tight peep-toes. Zappos will also accept returns for a full refund within 365 days, so long as the product’s still in its original condition and packaging, so you’ve got plenty of time to decide if the goods really work for you. If you’ve still got questions about how things work, you can talk to a Zappos representative at any time of the day or night via the site’s 24/7 live-chat feature. They will process your return within 5-10 business days. But, select Zappos VIP members have the option to get refunds faster. If you choose to receive a “Rapid Refund” when requesting your return, they’ll issue your refund in approximately 24 hours from the first scan by UPS at drop-off or pick-up, so you don’t have to wait 5-10 business days.