9 Holiday Gift Return Policies You Need to Know

If you’ve found yourself stuck with a frumpy cardigan, creepy teddy bear or other unwelcome items after the holidays, you might be pleasantly surprised by how easy it can be to make a return. Over the holidays, many stores relax their policies to allow returns and exchanges into late January and early February.

We’ve rounded up a guide to the standard and extended holiday return deadlines for top retailers for the 2016-2017 holiday season. Before queuing up in a store’s customer service line, familiarize yourself with these 10 holiday return policies.

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Amazon Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: 30 days. May vary by seller.
— Holiday return deadline: Jan. 31, 2017 for orders shipped from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2016. May vary by seller.
— Gift receipt required? No.
— Original packaging required? If your product is missing any packaging or accessories, a restocking fee may be deducted from your refund.
— Return shipping cost: Varies by item and shipping method.
— How a gift refund is issued: Amazon gift card.
— How to return a gift: Look up your item by order number at the Online Return Center or contact Amazon to locate your gift by purchaser name or email address. If your return request is approved, you can choose to ship the item back via UPS or drop the item off at an Amazon Locker. You will receive your return in the form of an Amazon gift card, minus any shipping or restocking fees.

Best Buy Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: 15 days for most products.
— Holiday return deadline: Jan. 15, 2017 for most orders placed between Oct. 30 and Dec. 31, 2016.
— Gift receipt required? No.
— Original packaging required? If your product is missing any packaging or accessories, a restocking fee may be deducted from your refund.
— Return shipping cost: Varies by item and shipping method. Any return shipping fees will be deducted from your refund.
— How a gift refund is issued: Store credit.
— How to make a gift return: You can return an item in store to receive store credit for the purchase price. If you return a gift via mail, the gift purchaser will be credited the purchase amount. Any return shipping or repackaging fees will be deducted from your refund.

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Target Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: 30 days for select electronics and entertainment. 90 days for most merchandise.
— Holiday return deadline: Return period begins on Dec. 26 for select electronic and entertainment orders placed from Nov. 11 to Dec. 25. Standard return deadline applies for most merchandise.
— Gift receipt required? Yes.
— Original packaging required? Yes.
— Return shipping cost: Gift returns are not accepted by mail.
— How a gift refund is issued: Target gift card.
— How to make a gift return: Visit a Target store location with your gift receipt and unopened item.

Wal-Mart Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: 15 days for select electronics and 90 days for most merchandise.
— Holiday return deadline: Jan. 10 for items with a 15-day return policy and Jan. 25 for items with a 30-day policy for orders placed from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
— Gift receipt required? No. Packing slip, order number or gift purchaser email address are accepted.
— Original packaging required? Yes.
— Return shipping cost: Gift returns are not accepted by mail.
— How gift refund is issued: Store credit.
— How to make gift return: Bring your return to the customer service desk at a Wal-Mart retail location.

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Kohl’s Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: 30 days for select electronics. No deadline for most merchandise.
— Holiday return deadline: Jan. 31 for select electronics. No deadline for most merchandise.
— Gift receipt required? No.
— Original packaging required? Yes.
— Return shipping cost: Gift returns are not accepted by mail.
— How gift refund is issued: Even exchange or store credit .
— How to make gift return: Bring the item you want to exchange to the customer service desk at a Kohl’s store.

Macy’s Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: One year.
— Holiday return deadline: One year.
— Gift receipt required? No.
— Original packaging required? Yes.
— Return shipping cost: Free.
— How a gift refund is issued: Store credit.
— How to make a gift return: You can return a gift in store or print out a mailing label from Macys.com to return a gift via mail for free. If you have a gift receipt, you’ll receive the refund in the form of a gift card for the original purchase amount. If you don’t have a gift receipt, you’ll receive the refund in the form of a gift card for the item’s lowest selling price within the last 180 days.

J.C. Penney Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: 30 days for furniture and appliances and 90 days for most merchandise.
— Holiday return deadline: 30 days for furniture and appliances and 90 days for most merchandise.
— Gift receipt required? No.
— Original packaging required? Yes.
— Return shipping cost: Varies by item and shipping method.
— How gift refund is issued: J.C. Penney gift card or merchandise voucher.
— How to make gift return: Bring your gift to a J.C. Penney retail location or mail in the item through your shipping carrier of choice. With mailed returns, include the gift receipt, name, address, phone number and approximate date of purchase. If you have a gift receipt, you’ll receive the refund in the form of a gift card for the original purchase amount. If you don’t have a gift receipt, you’ll receive the refund in the form of a merchandise voucher for the item’s lowest selling price within the last 45 days.

Nordstrom Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: No deadline.
— Holiday return deadline: No deadline.
— Gift receipt required? No.
— Original packaging required? Determined on a case-by-case basis.
— Return shipping cost: Free.
— How gift refund is issued: Nordstrom gift card.
— How to make gift return: You can return your item in store or print out a return label from Nordstrom.com to mail back the item for free. When making a gift return, you have the option to refund the gift recipient with a gift card or to refund the gift purchaser in the original form of payment.

REI Gift Return Policy

— Standard return deadline: Within one year of purchase.
— Holiday return deadline: Within one year of purchase.
— Gift receipt required? Yes.
— Original packaging required? No.
— Return shipping cost: Varies by item and shipping method.
— How gift refund is issued: Check.
— How to make gift return: You can return your gift at an REI store or through the mail. You must arrange for your own shipping and include a gift receipt, your name, contact information and address. After your return is accepted, you’ll be sent a check to the name and address you provided.