Consumer Reports reviews store return policies
Millions of shoppers are expected to return gifts as the holiday season ends. Some stores will let you return anything, even without a receipt. Others have time limits and restocking fees. Consumer Reports reviewed the retailers with the best and worst return policies.“Many retailers extend their return windows around the holidays. Most offer 60 days. If you have a store card, you might have more time, like 100 days. Costco doesn’t have a time limit on most items. A warning here, if you’re returning an electronic, you probably have a shorter window and need to return it soon,” Samantha Gordon, of Consumer Reports, said.It might cost consumers to mail back the item. Expect to pay $6.50 per package at L.L. Bean, unless “Bean Bucks” or an L.L. Bean credit card were used for the purchase.GameStop has a $8.99 mail return fee.Amazon, though, is a company that makes returns a breeze.“If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can ship it back for free. Walmart and Target and plenty of other retailers don’t charge you shipping for returns either,” Gordon said.As for restocking fees, Best Buy has a 15% restocking fee on certain items, including drones and some digital cameras and lenses, if the original packaging has been opened. For activatable devices like phones and tablets, the restocking fee is a flat $45.Consumer Reports says Nordstrom has one of the most relaxed return policies.”Nordstrom has no formal return policy,” Gordon said. “Returns are handled case by case. No receipts are required. There are no time limits and no original tags are needed.”Wherever and whatever you’re trying to return, Consumer Reports has some tips. Shoppers should save the receipt, return the item as soon as possible, and if they can, don’t open the box.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
Millions of shoppers are expected to return gifts as the holiday season ends. Some stores will let you return anything, even without a receipt. Others have time limits and restocking fees.
Consumer Reports reviewed the retailers with the best and worst return policies.
“Many retailers extend their return windows around the holidays. Most offer 60 days. If you have a store card, you might have more time, like 100 days. Costco doesn’t have a time limit on most items. A warning here, if you’re returning an electronic, you probably have a shorter window and need to return it soon,” Samantha Gordon, of Consumer Reports, said.
It might cost consumers to mail back the item. Expect to pay $6.50 per package at L.L. Bean, unless “Bean Bucks” or an L.L. Bean credit card were used for the purchase.
GameStop has a $8.99 mail return fee.
Amazon, though, is a company that makes returns a breeze.
“If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can ship it back for free. Walmart and Target and plenty of other retailers don’t charge you shipping for returns either,” Gordon said.
As for restocking fees, Best Buy has a 15% restocking fee on certain items, including drones and some digital cameras and lenses, if the original packaging has been opened. For activatable devices like phones and tablets, the restocking fee is a flat $45.
Consumer Reports says Nordstrom has one of the most relaxed return policies.
“Nordstrom has no formal return policy,” Gordon said. “Returns are handled case by case. No receipts are required. There are no time limits and no original tags are needed.”
Wherever and whatever you’re trying to return, Consumer Reports has some tips. Shoppers should save the receipt, return the item as soon as possible, and if they can, don’t open the box.
