Stores with the best return policy:
Costco: Return at Any Time
Costco’s return policies are hard to beat: There’s no time limit for returning most products purchased from the discount retailer. Simply bring them into your nearest Costco store for a cash or check refund.
Electronics are one of the few exceptions, but the 90-day return policy on TVs, computers, cameras, tablets, smartphones and other consumer gadgets should be adequate for most shoppers. There’s also limitations on items like tires, cigarettes, alcohol and diamonds.
If you’re returning products years down the track, it’s understandable that you might not still have your receipt. That’s no problem at selected Costco stores that can look up purchases using your membership number. If you receive a gift from Costco but are not a member yourself, you can return your item to the store so long as you have a gift receipt or your gift-giver’s membership number.
The Home Depot: Free, Fast and Easy Returns
The home improvement company wants you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. They offer an easy 90-day instant return policy for most items as long as you have a receipt—with a few exceptions like rugs and furniture that must be returned within 30 days.
But here’s the best part: For those with a not-so-green thumb, you’ll be able to get a full return or exchange within a year on any plant, perennial, tree or shrub (but not cut flowers) that ends up dying—no questions asked. Just make sure to keep your receipt!
IKEA: No-Nonsense Returns
Not completely happy with your purchase? Don’t sweat it. Ikea allows customers up to 365 days to return new and unopened merchandise for a full refund. You can also return open products within 180 days with your proof of purchase for a full refund. You just need a receipt and a valid government-issued I.D. to make returns or exchanges.
Kohl’s: No Receipt Necessary
Kohl’s is already adored by deal seekers thanks to its constant rotation of sales. But the store’s return policy rocks, too. The Kohl’s receipt lookup policy means that Kohl’s can look up your purchase on Kohl’s Charge or major credit card purchase for up to 180 days, and give you a refund. If you wait longer or don’t have a receipt, you can still get store credit or a corporate-issued refund.
If you’re returning at the store, bring the item along with the receipt. If you’re returning by mail, fill out this return form, pack up the merchandise and ship everything back.
Some exclusions apply — for example, you have 30 days to return premium electronics and watches along with the original packaging and a receipt or account lookup, and beauty buys must be new or gently used and returned within 60 days of purchase.
Nordstrom: No Questions Asked
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 Nordstrom—the funny thing being that Nordstrom doesn’t sell tires.
The main takeaway from Nordstrom is that there’s no return policy, so to speak. This means there’s 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. They now offer drop off at curbside for contactless returns. Refunds are expected in five to seven business days. You’ll be refunded the same way as your items were purchased. If you don’t have a receipt or record of sale, your item will be eligible for a refund at the current price on a Nordstrom gift card so long as you can provide personal identification.
Nordstrom does take a stricter approach to its special occasion dresses. If you return a dress, it must still have its tag on it and original packaging. Also, Nordstrom Rack has a different return policy. There, you have 45 days to return unworn merchandise as long as you have the receipt and original tags.
Target: Return Without a Receipt
Target Holiday Return Policy 2022: Most items purchased between Oct. 6 and Dec. 25 can be returned through Jan. 24. Apple products purchased that same period can be returned through Jan. 9. Learn more.
Target will offer refunds or exchanges on most unopened items in new condition within 90 days of purchase with some exceptions, including electronics and Apple products. But Target is so confident in the quality of its Target Owned Brand items that an extended one-year return policy applies to these.
Target will even accept returns if you’ve misplaced your receipt; store staff can simply use your credit card, gift card, or check to look up your purchase. You can also return items you bought online to any regular Target store. Just take the item, your packaging slip and the card you used for payment to the guest service desk of your nearest store.
There are some exceptions, including a shorter return window for phone and other electronics, and you can only exchange, but not return, opened music, movies, video games, software and Airbeds.
Zappos: Free Return Shipping and Full Refund Within a Year
Many shoppers will accept an item that’s not quite right to avoid paying to ship it back to the online store. But with fashion e-tailer Zappos, you don’t need to. The online shoe and clothing store will happily waive the shipping fee for United States customers, so you don’t have to squeeze into those too-tight peep-toes.
Zappos will also accept returns for a full refund within 365 days, so long as the product’s still in its original condition and packaging, so you’ve got plenty of time to decide if the goods really work for you. If you’ve still got questions about how things work, you can talk to a Zappos representative at any time of the day or night via the site’s 24/7 live-chat feature. They will process your return within 5-10 business days.
But, select Zappos VIP members have the option to get refunds faster. If you choose to receive a “Rapid Refund” when requesting your return, they’ll issue your refund in approximately 24 hours from the first scan by UPS at drop-off or pick-up, so you don’t have to wait 5-10 business days.
If you received a Zappos gift and wish to return it, call the Zappos Customer Loyalty Team at 1-800-927-7671 for assistance returning the item.
Trader Joe’s: Full Refund on Used Items
These stores aren’t the only ones impressing customers with their return policies. Trader Joe’s sets the benchmark among grocery stores with its own generous return policy.
The store offers refunds on all the items it sells, no matter why you want to return them, whether they’re open (or even eaten!) or not. There are even reports that Trader Joe’s has accepted returns on moldy cheese left forgotten in the fridge.
