5 Retailers With Generous Return Policies

You still have time to get rid of any unwanted holiday gifts

Donna Fuscaldo,

AARP

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En español

Published January 18, 2024

a wrapped gift with a long reciept used as a ribbon

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There’s good news for procrastinators who have been sitting on returns since the holidays. There’s still time to make an exchange or get a refund but you better act soon.

In 2023, consumers returned $743 billion in merchandise, including $247 billion in online purchases, according to the National Retail Federation and consumer online data analyst Appriss Retail. With returns spiking as more people shop online, retailers are tightening their return policies. Some are charging fees while others are limiting the time and type of items that can be returned.

Lucky for consumers, not every retailer is making it harder to return merchandise. Some are doing the opposite, including these five.

1. Costco

Known for its generous return policy, the warehouse retailer doesn't set a time limit to get a full refund for most items in its stores. Electronics and major appliances are exceptions. Those need to be returned within 90 days of purchase. Costco also has special return procedures for diamonds that are a carat and bigger.

Returns can be made in person at any Costco warehouse or online, where you can print a return label or schedule pickup.

A bonus: You don’t need a receipt. Since Costco requires a membership, your purchases in-store and online are tracked, and thus there’s no need for proof of purchase.

2. Kohl’s

This retailer will accept returns on most items purchased in-store and on Kohls.com for up to 180 days after the item was purchased, with or without a receipt. There are some exceptions including electronics and watches, which need to be returned within 30 days of purchase. Beauty purchases, including Sephora at Kohl’s, can be returned within 60 days of purchase with a valid receipt or account lookup. Items must be new or in gently used condition.

During the holiday season, premium electronics, watches and Sephora at Kohl’s items purchased after November 1, 2023, can be returned until January 31, 2024.

3. Nordstrom

This retailer doesn’t set a time limit on returns in general but determines eligibility on a case-by-case basis. While a receipt or order number speeds up the process, Nordstrom can track down the purchase in other ways. If no record of the sale is located and the retailer chooses to refund, you’ll be required to provide identification and will receive a Nordstrom gift card.

Returns can be made in person at any Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack store or by mail. You can print your prepaid label or get a QR code that can be used at participating USPS and FedEx locations. Returns are free.

4. Target

Loyalty has its perks, and that’s particularly true of Target’s return policy. If you paid with Target’s RedCard, you have 120 days to receive a full refund on most items. If it was a Target brand or registry item, you have up to a year to change your mind. Otherwise you can receive a refund up to 90 days after purchase. Returns can be made in-person at any Target store, via the retailer’s drive-up service or through the mail. Target offers free shipping on all items returned via mail. Customers are sent a prepaid return label to print out.

5. Walmart

Shoppers have until the end of January to return holiday purchases for anything they purchased between October 1 and December 31, 2023. After that, the retailer reverts to its normal return policy, which gives customers up to 90 days to get a refund for most items. There are some exceptions. Appliances have to be returned within two days, and marketplace luxury items and most wireless phones must be returned in 14 days. Walmart+ offers curbside returns. Returns can be made in person at a store or online. If you select the latter, you can print out a free label or download a barcode and bring the merchandise to a participating FedEx store. Walmart+ members can schedule free pick-up from their homes.

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Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.