Gifting Mishaps: Stores With the Best Return Policies

No one wants to get stuck with unnecessary goods or be put through the wringer for a shopping mistake—especially during the holidays. To take the hassle out of the season, RetailMeNot has compiled a list of retailers with the easiest and most seamless returns processes.

Just in time for gifting mishaps: Stores with the best return policies. Now those unwanted presents don’t have to sit around collecting dust. (PRNewsfoto/RetailMeNot)

Bed Bath & Beyond

If you have a receipt when making a return at Bed Bath & Beyond, you will receive a full refund (with few exceptions). If you have a gift receipt, you’ll get a merchandise credit.

If you have no receipt and the 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.

JCPenney

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 store credit at the item’s lowest selling price within the last 45 days.

For furniture returns, you must return within 30 days with a sales receipt. Fine jewelry must be returned within 60 days, and the same goes for electronics. Special occasion dresses have to be in original condition with the green return tag in place.

Macy’s

You have 180 days to make a return at Macy’s. Now, there are exclusions that must be returned within 30 days; Apple smartphones, for instance, must be taken back in 14 days, and Last Act items must be returned within 30.

Note: Macy’s holiday return policy extends returns for items purchased from November 1 to December 31 until January 31, 2018. 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.

Nordstrom

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 a Nordstrom store—the funny thing being that Nordstrom doesn’t sell tires.

The main takeaway from Nordstrom is that, “there is no return policy,” so to speak. This means there is 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.

Now, Nordstrom does take a stricter approach to its special-occasion dresses. If you return a dress, it must still have its tag on it. Also, Nordstrom Rack has a different return policy. There, you have 90 days to return used merchandise as long as you have the receipt, original tags and a photo ID.

Other retailers with exceptional return policies:

  • Bloomingdale’s
  • Costco
  • Kohl’s
  • L.L.Bean
  • Target
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Zappos