Holiday Return Policies at 32 Leading Retailers

With 2020’s holiday sales in full swing (several weeks earlier than usual, by the way), proactive shoppers who've already knocked out their gift-giving lists may be wondering exactly how long their gift recipients will have to return or exchange unwanted items. Fortunately, this year many retailers are extending their return windows: In many cases, as long as you have the original receipt -- or your gift recipient has the gift receipt -- you’ll be eligible for a full refund on any unopened or unused items through January 2021. You may even have longer, depending on the retailer.

For those who’ve still got some shopping to do, we’ve rounded up details on return policies for big-box retailers and e-commerce sites to help you plan where to spend your money this holiday season. Take a look.

Amazon: Items shipped between October 1 and December 31, 2020, can be returned through January 31, 2021.

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Apple: Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are delivered between November 10 and December 25, 2020, can be returned through January 8, 2021.

Banana Republic: Shoppers may return items until 45 days from the date of purchase.

Best Buy: Items purchased between October 13, 2020, and January 2, 2021, can be returned through January 16, 2021. This excludes items purchased with a third-party contract (i.e., smart phones and tablets), holiday products (i.e., artificial trees and decorations) and major appliances.

BJ’s Wholesale: Shoppers can return non-grocery items in new condition within one year of purchase. Undamaged electronics items can be returned within 90 days of purchase.

Brookstone.com: Items can be returned up to 30 days from the delivery date with the original packing slip. Customers are responsible for return shipping fees.

Columbia Sportswear: Items can be returned within 90 days of the purchase date.

Costco: Unwanted items can be returned at any time. This excludes electronics (must be returned within 90 days) and diamond jewelry larger than 1.00 ct (refund is contingent upon an inspection by a Costco graduate gemologist).

Dick’s Sporting Goods: Most items can be returned within 90 days of the purchase date. This excludes opened baseball and football equipment, bikes and electric scooters.

DSW: Shoppers have up to 90 days from the purchase date to return unworn products.

GameStop: Unopened products purchased between November 1 and December 24, 2020, can be returned through January 15, 2021.

Home Depot: Shoppers may return items up to 180 days from the purchase date. This excludes furniture, area rugs, gas-powered equipment and tractors, and generators, which must be returned within 30 days.

HomeGoods: Purchases made between October 11 and December 24, 2020, can be returned through January 24, 2021.

Ikea: Items can be returned up to one year from the purchase date (even if assembled, but must be unused).

Kohl’s: Items can be returned up to 180 days from the purchase date. Premium electronics items (see Kohl’s full list here) purchased between November 1 and December 25, 2020, must be returned by January 31, 2021.

Land’s End: Unwanted items can be returned up to 90 days from the purchase date. Refunds requested after 90 days will be issued as store merchandise credit.

L.L. Bean: Unwanted items may be returned up to one year from the purchase date.

Lowe’s: Most new and unused merchandise can be returned within 90 days of the purchase date. This excludes winter holiday items, such as decorations, which must be returned by December 26. Also, electronics items, major appliances, outdoor power equipment and paint must be returned within 30 days of purchase.

Lululemon: Returns must be made within 30 days of the delivery date.

Macy’s: Holiday purchases made through December 31, 2020, can be returned through January 31, 2021, or the last date allowed under the standard return policy (90 days) -- whichever is later.

Marshalls: Items purchased between October 11 and December 24, 2020, can be returned or exchanged through January 24, 2021.

Nike: Unworn items can be returned up to 60 days from the purchase date.

Nordstrom: No time limit. Returns will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If an original or gift receipt isn’t provided, a refund will be issued via store gift card.

Overstock.com: Purchases made between November 1 and December 31, 2020, can be returned through January 31, 2021.

Patagonia: No time limit. Items returned after one year of purchase will be refunded via store gift card.

REI: Most items can be returned within one year of purchase. This excludes outdoor electronics, which must be returned within 90 days of purchase.

Sephora: In-store and online purchases made between October 30 and November 16, 2020, can be returned through January 15, 2021, for a store credit.

Target: Most unopened items can be returned within 90 days of purchase. The 30-day return period for electronics and entertainment products purchased between October 1 and December 25 begins on December 26. The 15-day return period for Apple products purchased during that same timeframe begins on December 26.

T.J. Maxx: Purchases made between October 11 and December 24, 2020, can be returned through January 24, 2021.

Ulta: Shoppers can return items up to 60 days from the purchase date.

Walmart: Most items can be returned within 90 days of purchase. For products with shorter return windows (i.e., some electronics items), Walmart has extended them as well (see the full list of return deadlines for those products here).

Wayfair.com: Most items can be returned within 30 days of delivery. Customers are responsible for return shipping fees, and the item must be sent back in its original packaging. Items such as gift cards, clearance items, bundled goods and personalized products are not eligible for returns.