Stores change return policies for holiday gifts
Rossen Reports: Stores change return policies for holiday gifts
Updated: 4:17 PM EST Dec 22, 2020
Hey, happy holidays. There is one thing that doesn’t really ever change, does it? Even in a pandemic, you get stuff that doesn’t fit or you already have, or it’s too busy. You know where that game that you’re not too crazy about. Either way, you need to return it. Now retailers are making major changes to their return policies this season, bucking a real trend and actually giving you more time to get your money back. We’re hitting the biggest retailers to show you. Let’s go, since we’re not spending money on vacations and going to concerts this year, the National Retail Federation, the NRF, says this holiday will be spending big, up to $766 billion in holiday sales alone. But that also means will be returning things to a new study says. We return 5 to 10% of what we purchase in stores and 15 to 40% of what we buy online. So how much time do we have? Here is the biggest difference at retailers this year. Usually when you buy a product, the clock starts right then for how many days you have to return it. But this year this season. Most retailers. We’re giving you a break, They’re saying, even if you bought something back in October is a gift. The clock doesn’t start until the day after Christmas. How cool is that? So here a target, for example. You have 90 days to return that holiday gift. And again, even if you bought it back in October from anywhere in the store, the clock doesn’t start until the day after Christmas. December 26. Little tighter for electron ICS. You only have till the end of January. Same story at Walmart. For most items, you’ve got 90 days, but electron ICS the end of January over on Amazon. It’s not just electron ICS. You need to return any holiday gift by the end of January. Okay, now the Best Buy. Obviously, it’s mostly electron ICS here, and there is good news and bad news with Best buy. I’ll start with the good news. They usually just give you 15 days from the date you bought it to return it. But now for the holiday season, even if you bought something back in October, just like the other retailers, they’re gonna let you return it until January 16th. so that’s pretty cool. That’s the good news. The bad news is it’s not the end of January. Like some of the others. Apple is helping you out, too, though not quite as much. You only have until January 8th to return items, but that only goes for purchases after November 10th. But the biggest policy change, maybe right here at Home Depot, usually they give you 90 days to return items. But now they are doubling it. You now have 180 days. That’s six months. Just remember, no matter where you shop, save that gift receipt. If you’re still not sure what the return policy is for what you bought, pull out the receipt. You know those long receipts they give you check out the bottom. They often put it right there as a reminder. And if you missed anything, we’re gonna post all the policies we mentioned and some bonus stores we couldn’t get to. It’s on our website right now. Visit us. Rawson reports dot com Hope it all comes out. Okay. Back to you
Retailers are making major changes to their return policies, giving you more time to return the holiday gifts you’re just not crazy about. Take a look at some of the new return policies for some of your favorite retailers:Amazon: Most sellers offer returns within 30 days of the receipt of shipment. For the 2020 holiday season, most items shipped between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31. Apple: Items bought and received between Nov. 10 and Dec. 25 are returnable until Jan. 8. Anything bought outside that timeframe is subject to the standard return policy of 14 days.Best Buy: Purchases made between Oct. 13 and Jan. 2 have an extended return period through Jan. 16. Items excluded from this policy holiday products and major appliances. Costco: Most items don’t have a deadline for returns. For electronics and major appliances, you have 90 days from the date of purchase. Dick’s Sporting Goods: The return policy has been extended from 60 days to 90 days from the date of purchase. This excludes opened baseball and football equipment, bikes and electric scooters.DSW: You have up to 90 days from the date to purchase to return unworn items. GameStop: Any product purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 can be returned by Jan. 15. The product must be in resale condition and if it’s a new product, it must be unopened. Home Depot: The regular return period is doubling from 90 days to 180 days for most items to accommodate customers concerned by in-store visits.HomeGoods: Items purchased between Oct. 11 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 24.Ikea: New, unopened items can be returned within one year of purchase. Opened products may be returned up to 180 days of purchase. Kohl’s: The regular return period is 180 days. For most electronics bought between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, you have until Jan. 31 to return them. Lowe’s: Most items can be returned within 90 days of the purchase date. Some items, like holiday products, are excluded from this policy. Most electronics, major appliances and outdoor power equipment must be returned within 30 days of purchase. Macy’s: Holiday purchases made through Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31 or the last date allowed under the standard 90-day return policy…whichever is later. Some items are excluded from this policy. Marshalls: Items purchased between Oct. 11 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 24. Nike: The return policy is being extended. Unworn items can be returned up to 60 days from the purchase date. All Apple Watch Nike purchases made between Nov. 10 and Dec. 25 can be returned until Jan. 8.Sephora: The return policy is being extended for in-store and online purchases made between Oct. 30 and Nov. 16. These products can be returned through Jan. 15. Any purchases made outside the timeframe will be subject to the normal return policy of 60 days. Target: Most items can be returned within 90 days of purchase. Electronics have a different return policy. For most electronics purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 25, the 30-day return period starts on Dec. 26. For Apple products bought at Target, if purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 25, the 15-day return period starts on Dec. 26. TJ Maxx: Items purchased between Oct. 11 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 24.Ulta: For purchases made before Nov. 16, returns after 180 days will be in the form of a store credit. For all purchases made on or after Nov. 16, the standard return policy applies: returns made after 60 days of purchase will be in the form of a store credit. Walmart: Most items can be returned within 90 days of purchase. For most electronics, the 30-day return period starts on Dec. 26. Your receipt or the confirmation email when you purchase the item also tells you your return policy on the specific item. It will also tell you if you have 15 days, rather than the 30 to return an electronic.TIP: Make sure you keep your receipt. The return policy should be at the bottom of it. Retailers are also sending out the warning that refunds may be delayed this holiday season due to the pandemic.
Retailers are making major changes to their return policies, giving you more time to return the holiday gifts you’re just not crazy about. Take a look at some of the new return policies for some of your favorite retailers:
- Amazon: Most sellers offer returns within 30 days of the receipt of shipment. For the 2020 holiday season, most items shipped between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31.
- Apple: Items bought and received between Nov. 10 and Dec. 25 are returnable until Jan. 8. Anything bought outside that timeframe is subject to the standard return policy of 14 days.
- Best Buy: Purchases made between Oct. 13 and Jan. 2 have an extended return period through Jan. 16. Items excluded from this policy holiday products and major appliances.
- Costco: Most items don’t have a deadline for returns. For electronics and major appliances, you have 90 days from the date of purchase.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods: The return policy has been extended from 60 days to 90 days from the date of purchase. This excludes opened baseball and football equipment, bikes and electric scooters.
- DSW: You have up to 90 days from the date to purchase to return unworn items.
- GameStop: Any product purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 can be returned by Jan. 15. The product must be in resale condition and if it’s a new product, it must be unopened.
- Home Depot: The regular return period is doubling from 90 days to 180 days for most items to accommodate customers concerned by in-store visits.
- HomeGoods: Items purchased between Oct. 11 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 24.
- Ikea: New, unopened items can be returned within one year of purchase. Opened products may be returned up to 180 days of purchase.
- Kohl’s: The regular return period is 180 days. For most electronics bought between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, you have until Jan. 31 to return them.
- Lowe’s: Most items can be returned within 90 days of the purchase date. Some items, like holiday products, are excluded from this policy. Most electronics, major appliances and outdoor power equipment must be returned within 30 days of purchase.
- Macy’s: Holiday purchases made through Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31 or the last date allowed under the standard 90-day return policy…whichever is later. Some items are excluded from this policy.
- Marshalls: Items purchased between Oct. 11 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 24.
- Nike: The return policy is being extended. Unworn items can be returned up to 60 days from the purchase date. All Apple Watch Nike purchases made between Nov. 10 and Dec. 25 can be returned until Jan. 8.
- Sephora: The return policy is being extended for in-store and online purchases made between Oct. 30 and Nov. 16. These products can be returned through Jan. 15. Any purchases made outside the timeframe will be subject to the normal return policy of 60 days.
- Target: Most items can be returned within 90 days of purchase. Electronics have a different return policy. For most electronics purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 25, the 30-day return period starts on Dec. 26. For Apple products bought at Target, if purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 25, the 15-day return period starts on Dec. 26.
- TJ Maxx: Items purchased between Oct. 11 and Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 24.
- Ulta: For purchases made before Nov. 16, returns after 180 days will be in the form of a store credit. For all purchases made on or after Nov. 16, the standard return policy applies: returns made after 60 days of purchase will be in the form of a store credit.
- Walmart: Most items can be returned within 90 days of purchase. For most electronics, the 30-day return period starts on Dec. 26. Your receipt or the confirmation email when you purchase the item also tells you your return policy on the specific item. It will also tell you if you have 15 days, rather than the 30 to return an electronic.
TIP: Make sure you keep your receipt. The return policy should be at the bottom of it. Retailers are also sending out the warning that refunds may be delayed this holiday season due to the pandemic.