Now that the 12 days of Christmas are coming to a close, it’s time for the 12 (or so) days of Christmas returns to begin.
Just in case your gift opening on the morning of Dec. 25 doesn’t go quite as you expected, you’ll probably want to know what your options are for returns.
Although many major retailers have extended their return policy window for the holiday season, getting a refund or exchange for an unsatisfactory gift isn’t always as easy as you’d think. Here are a few retail return policies you should be aware of this holiday season.
Sears
Sears has extended its return policy to provide extra time to take back select items purchased between Nov. 9 and Dec. 24. Under this expanded policy, items that typically must be returned within 30 days can be brought back through Jan. 24. Purchases with a usual 60-day return window can be returned through Jan. 24 or 60 days from the purchase date — whichever is later. Items with a 90-day standard return period are not covered by the extended policy.
Although Sears gets kudos for giving its customers a longer time frame to return failed gifts, things get complicated when it comes to figuring out exactly what can and cannot be returned. Scooters over $149.99 and specialty occasion clothing, for example, can only be exchanged for an identical item or a “substantially similar item of equal value,” the Sears website states.
As for opened music, movies, computer software, video games and collectibles, these items can’t be refunded, but they can be exchanged for an identical item if they’re defective.
Returns at Sears not only have the potential of causing a headache, they may actually be costly, too. Except in Hawaii, the retailer will charge a 15 percent restocking fee for returns of the following: consumer electronics brought back without the original box, used or missing all the original product packaging, accessories and parts; mattresses; air conditioners; dehumidifiers; water heaters; and built-in home appliances.
[See: 15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Debt.]
Best Buy
For givers or receivers of tech products, popular holiday shopping destination Best Buy will accept returns through Jan. 15 on almost every purchase made between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.
But much like Sears, things get tricky at the electronics retailer, as not everything is covered. Opened computer software, movies, music or video games are only eligible to be exchanged for an identical item, not a return. There’s also a group of final sale items that can’t be returned at all. These include digital content, prepaid cards, memberships and consumable items such as ink and batteries.
Finally, if you return a special order item — one that is not typically carried at Best Buy or required an order from the manufacturer — you’ll be refunded only 85 percent of the original purchase price.
[Read: 5 Price-Match Policies You Should Read Closely.]
Amazon
Online giant Amazon is giving shoppers until Jan. 31 to return items shipped by Amazon.com from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, providing customers with plenty of time to receive a full refund for any gifts that didn’t hit the mark. But wait, not so fast.
Not all products sold on the online marketplace are shipped by Amazon, but the retailer’s holiday returns policy points out that items shipped from other sellers are subject to its rules — unless the specific seller’s return policy states otherwise.
If you’re going to buy anything from Amazon (or already have), pay close attention to whether your order is being fulfilled by a third party seller. If that’s the case, check the individual seller’s policy for its return window.
[Read: 3 Things You Must Know Before Making That Impulse Buy.]
Toys R Us
Toys R Us may be a beloved destination for kids, but its return policy is anything but child’s play.
For starters, the retailer has a hefty set of return guidelines for customers to read through. For example, when sending something back to the Toys R Us Online Returns Center, don’t forget to check the reason for your return on the packing slip list. If you leave it blank, you’ll run the risk of your return not being processed.
Furthermore, when returning an in-store purchase, the method of your refund will depend on the mode of your payment. A purchase made with cash will be refunded in cash, but if you paid by check and it was within the last seven days, you’ll get merchandise credit. (If it’s more than seven days, you’ll get cash.)
It’s also important to note that for most purchases at the retailer, you’ll generally have 90 days to make a return. Exceptions include cameras, camcorders, digital audio players, video game hardware, DVD players and no-contract cellphones — all of which carry 30 day return deadlines.
Regardless of which retailer you shop at during the holiday homestretch, the Better Business Bureau offers a few universal tips for reviewing return policies.
1. How long do you have? Pay attention to the number of days within any given retailer’s return policy window.
2. Was the item bought on sale? Often clearance and sale items are subject to different return guidelines from their full-price counterparts.
3. Where was the item bought? Online purchases may have different rules for returns from in-store purchases. Some retailers allow online purchases to be returned in-store, rather than shipped back.
4. Do you have the receipt? Providing proof of purchase can make the return process much smoother than without it.
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Beware of These 4 Return Policies originally appeared on usnews.com
