If truth be told, no matter how much you think you know that special someone, or yourself, not every holiday gift is a guaranteed smash hit. Perhaps you should’ve ordered that pair of fuzzy winter boots a size larger, or the “new” laptop can’t seem to hold a charge; the odds are always stacked against you. If you think about it, the end of the year is when most retailers and brands embrace the holiday cheer to clean out any leftover products in their warehouses, so defects and irregularities are not surprising. Still, you should absolutely return a product that didn’t arrive as described. Also: Every major airline’s travel policy for smart suitcases Below I’ve broken down the fine print of every major retailer and brand so you know exactly how much longer you have before that return window is closed for good.
Holiday return policies for major retailers
Here’s a snapshot of every major retailer and how their return policies compare:
Holiday return policies for brands
And here’s a snapshot of every major brand and how their return policies compare:
As always, downloadable and consumable digital products such as gift cards are not eligible for returns, period.
That said, retailers like Costco, Macy’s, and Target do accept receipt-less returns. In some cases, you’ll have to settle for store credit instead of getting actual cash back.
For physical purchases, it’s always good practice to take a picture of the receipt in case the item is not as described or you change your mind.
