Key takeaways
Return windows vary wildly by design — knowing the exceptions before you buy beats discovering them after.
- Return windows range from Apple's 14 days to Costco's effectively unlimited — and the clock can start at purchase, shipping, or delivery depending on the store.
- Restocking fees and final-sale exclusions are rarely advertised up front. Check both before you buy, not after you try to return.
- Refund vs. store credit isn't always your call — late returns, missing receipts, and sale items often default you into credit whether you want it or not.
Return policies change frequently — always verify current policy on the retailer’s website before making a purchase decision.
Return policies are confusing on purpose. Every retailer runs different rules, different windows, different exceptions — 30 days here, 90 there, 14 somewhere else, and “it depends” at a fourth.
This cuts through it: two dozen major retailers across seven categories, what the window actually is, what breaks it, and the one thing worth knowing before you click “buy.”
A sample across categories, shortest to most generous. “Unlimited” still has practical limits — see Costco below.
The essentials, before anything else
- The clock starts differently everywhere. Some retailers count from purchase date, some from shipping, some from delivery — a gap that alone can run a week or two.
- Online and in-store policies often diverge. Read the fine print for the channel you actually used.
- “Final sale” means final. Sale and clearance items frequently lose return rights entirely, even at generous retailers.
- Keep the receipt or the confirmation email, even just digitally — you’ll need it.
- Hang onto original packaging, especially for electronics, until you’re genuinely certain you’re keeping it.
Major online retailers
| Retailer | Window | Exceptions | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 30 days from delivery | Electronics 14 days; hazmat/groceries not returnable | Holiday purchases (Oct–Dec) get an extended window to Jan 31 |
| Target | 90 days (120 with Target Circle Card) | Electronics often 30 days; opened media final sale | Owned brands (Cat & Jack, All in Motion) get a full year |
| Walmart | 90 days | Electronics 14–30 days; some items need original packaging | Walmart+ members get free return shipping |
| Costco | Unlimited (90 days electronics/appliances) | No cigarettes, alcohol, or custom items | The generosity is real — the 90-day electronics cap is strict |
Fashion retailers
| Retailer | Window | Exceptions | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nordstrom | No official limit | Some special-occasion items restricted | Genuinely flexible — but be reasonable about it |
| Zara | 30 days from shipping | Swimwear/underwear with broken hygiene seal | In-store is free; mail returns cost $4.95 |
| H&M | 30 days | Swimwear, pierced jewelry once opened | Members get 45 days instead of 30 |
| ASOS | 28 days from delivery | Swimwear/underwear with broken seal | Premier members get extended holiday windows |
| Uniqlo | 30 days from purchase | Altered items, underwear | Strict about tags staying attached |
| Nike | 60 days, even if worn (Members) | Customized items may be restricted | Members get free return shipping too |
| Gap / Old Navy / Banana Republic | 30 days (45 for some cardholders) | No cross-brand returns | Don’t try returning Old Navy items to Banana Republic |
Electronics
| Retailer | Window | Exceptions | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 14 days from delivery | Software, gift cards, subscriptions final sale | Strict — don’t assume any flexibility here |
| Best Buy | 15 days (60 for Total members) | $45 fee on activatable devices; 15% on some items | Membership meaningfully extends the window |
| B&H Photo | 30 days from delivery | Opened computers are final sale | Don’t open the box unless you’re sure |
| Samsung | 15 days (28 for some Members) | 5% restocking fee if opened but not defective | Original packaging is required, no exceptions |
Beauty
| Retailer | Window | Exceptions | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sephora | 30 days for refund, 31–60 for store credit | Used items accepted | Cash back only within the first 30 days |
| Ulta | 60 days for full refund | Prestige items may run shorter | No receipt means store credit at the lowest price |
| Glossier | 30 days | Used products accepted if unsatisfied | Known to honor requests even past the window |
Home & furniture
| Retailer | Window | Exceptions | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA | 365 days unused, 180 days opened (with receipt) | Custom countertops, cut fabric, plants, food | One of the most generous furniture policies around |
| Wayfair | 30 days from delivery | Clearance/personalized final sale; mattresses 100 nights | Document large-item condition the moment it arrives |
| West Elm | 30 days (7 days on Quick Ship upholstery) | Made-to-order, final sale items | Quick Ship furniture has a much shorter window |
| CB2 / Crate & Barrel | Furniture 30 days, everything else 90 | Made-to-order, mattresses vary | Know which category your item falls into |
| Target (Home) | 90 days | Air mattresses need the original receipt | Owned brands (Threshold, Room Essentials) get a full year |
Outdoor & sporting goods
| Retailer | Window | Exceptions | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| REI | 365 days for members, 90 for non-members | Outdoor electronics 90 days; final sale excluded | Membership pays for itself on returns alone |
| Patagonia | Unlimited (“Ironclad Guarantee”) | Reasonable use expected | They’ll often repair rather than replace |
| Dick’s Sporting Goods | 90 days (30 at some Outlet stores) | Electronics 30 days, bikes 60 days | Golf clubs return within 90 days even if used |
Luxury
| Retailer | Window | Exceptions | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net-a-Porter | 28 days | Swimwear, lingerie, cosmetics with broken seal | Tags and original condition are required |
| Farfetch | 14 days from delivery | — | The shortest window on this list — act fast |
| Ssense | 30 days | Final sale items excluded | Check final-sale status before you buy, not after |
Universal rules worth remembering
Know which date starts the clock. Purchase, shipping, or delivery — the gap between them can be a week or two, easily enough to blow a deadline you thought you still had.
Restocking fees are common and rarely advertised up front. Consumer Reports notes they’re often about 15–20% (and can run higher) on electronics — Best Buy, for example, lists 15% on select opened items and a flat $45 on activatable devices — and sometimes on furniture or opened software. Factor it in before you buy, not after you decide to return.
Refund vs. store credit isn’t guaranteed to be your choice. No receipt, a late return, or a sale item can quietly convert a refund into credit-only — know which one you’re actually getting back.
A credit card’s purchase protection can outlast the store’s own policy. Worth checking before you assume a window has closed for good.
Use it before you buy, not after
Return policies are complicated by design — but knowing them puts the money back on your side of the ledger. Before you check out: note the window, note the exceptions, note what you get back if you change your mind.
Already own something you’re not sure about? The Hidden Cost of Missed Return Deadlines covers what happens when the clock runs out before you decide.
Return policies change frequently — always verify current policy on the retailer’s website before making a purchase decision.
