Now that the holidays are behind us, and your shopping for the year is likely complete, it’s crucial to be aware of the return policies of major retailers in case you need to make returns for gifts that weren’t wanted or needed. Here’s a breakdown of the return windows and policies for Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Macy’s. Additionally, for more shopping tips, explore how to cut shipping costs at these retailers.
Amazon Returns: When you purchase items on Amazon, you typically have a 30-day window for returns. It’s advisable to open the item promptly to check for all parts and ensure it aligns with your expectations. If the item is kept beyond 30 days and the recipient finds it unsuitable, they can still receive a refund for up to 80% of the total price on an Amazon gift card. Note that different Amazon sellers may have distinct return policies.
Walmart Returns: Walmart offers a 90-day return window for items bought either online or in-store. However, for items purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, there’s an extended holiday return policy allowing returns until Jan. 31, 2024. This provides ample time for gift recipients to make returns, especially for items bought during holiday sales.
Target Returns: At Target, you have 90 days to return items, with an extended period of 120 days if you have Target’s credit card, the RedCard. For Target brand items or registry gifts, a full year is provided for returns. There’s also an extended holiday return policy for specific items purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 24, with varying refund periods.
Best Buy Returns: Best Buy allows a 15-day return window for most items and 14 days for activatable devices. My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total members enjoy a 60-day return period, excluding activatable devices. Gift returns result in store credit for the purchase price, and if following last year’s policy, items bought between Oct. 24 and Dec. 31 should be returned by Jan. 14.
Macy’s Returns: Macy’s requires returns within 30 days for general purchases, while gift registry items allow a 90-day return window from the event date. If Macy’s follows last year’s holiday return policy, items purchased from Oct. 3 onward should be returned within a 90-day window, concluding on Jan. 31, 2024.
