Holiday Gift Return Rules At VA Retailers: Amazon, Kohl's, Target

VIRGINIA — The trend of consumers switching to online shopping because of the coronavirus pandemic escalated in 2020, which might mean even more Christmas gifts need returned than in past years. Size and colors shown on websites don't always match our expectations.

Many northern Virginia and DC retailers have extended the time you have to return holiday gifts, even if you don't have a receipt and will exchange merchandise, although a receipt simplifies the return process.

Return policies vary widely among national retailers, from practically no limits at American Eagle Outfitters, Lands' End, Nordstrom and Kohl's, to stringent rules that allow only unopened DVDs, movies, video games and computer software to be returned at Best Buy and other retailers.

Many businesses extend the normal deadline for returns for the holiday season, including Amazon's holiday policy, which gives you until Jan. 31 to return gifts purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

Patch has links to the return policies of some of the country's biggest retailers, with help from Offers.com. Here are nearly 100 major companies, with their holiday return deadlines, which in some cases vary depending on whether your item was purchased in a store or online:

• Abercrombie & Fitch: 60 days
• Ace Hardware: 30 days
• Advance Auto Parts: 45 days
• Amazon: Jan. 31 for orders shipped Oct. 1-Dec. 31
• American Girl: 2 years
• American Eagle Outfitters: No deadline
• Apple Store: Jan. 8 for orders placed Nov. 10-Dec. 25
• Ashley Stewart: 30 days
• AT&T Wireless: 30 days (14 days for some devices)
• Backcountry: 30 days
• Banana Republic: Jan. 1 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 24 or 60 days, whichever is later
• Barnes & Noble: 14 days
• Bass Pro Shops: 60 days
• Bath & Body Works: No deadline
• Bed Bath & Beyond: 180 days
• Belk: 180 days
• Best Buy: Jan. 16 for orders placed Oct. 13-Jan. 2 (excludes cellphones and some other devices)
• Big Lots: 30 days
• Bloomingdale’s: 1 year
• Bose: 30 days
• Bowflex Home Gyms: 6 weeks
• Cabela’s: 90 days
• Coach: Jan. 24 for orders placed Oct. 17- Dec. 24
• Cole Haan: Jan. 6 for orders placed Oct. 26-Dec. 20
• Converse: 60 days for orders placed Nov. 1-Jan. 4 when returned online; 45 days when returned in stores
• Columbia Sportswear: 90 days
• Costco: 90 days for select electronics and appliances; no deadline for most merchandise
• Crate and Barrel: 30 days for furniture and rugs; 90 days for most other merchandise
• Dell: Jan. 15 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 25 or 30 days, whichever is later
• Dick’s Sporting Goods: 60 days
• Disney Store: 30 days
• eBay: Varies by seller
• Eddie Bauer: No deadline
• Express: 60 days
• Forever 21: 60 days
• Finish Line: Feb. 16 for orders placed Nov. 16-Jan. 1
• Foot Locker: 45 days
• Free People: Jan. 31 for orders placed Nov. 1 to Dec. 24
• Fry’s: Jan. 16 for orders placed Nov. 23-Dec. 24
• FTD: 30 days for non-perishable items
• GameStop: Jan. 15 for orders placed Nov. 1- Dec. 24
• Gap: 45 days
• Guess: 30 days
• Guitar Center: Jan. 31 or 45 days for most orders, whichever is later
• H&M: Jan. 32 for orders placed Nov. 14-Dec. 24
• Harbor Freight Tools: 90 days
• HP: Jan. 15 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 25
• Home Depot: 30 days for furniture and area rugs; 90 days for most merchandise
• IKEA: 1 year
• JCPenney: 45 days with no receipt, 30 days for appliances, electronics, furniture, 60 days for jewelry, in CT & MA, 90 days for any purchase
• Kmart: 7 days for furniture; 30 days for most merchandise
• Kohl’s: Jan. 31 for select electronics purchased Nov. 1-Dec. 25; no deadline for most merchandise
• Lands’ End: No deadline
• LEGO: 90 days
• Lenovo: Jan. 15 for orders placed between Oct. 26-Dec. 16
• Lids: 90 days
• L.L.Bean: 1 year
• Lowe’s: 90 days
• Macy’s: Jan. 31 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 31 for items that have a 60-day policy
• Marshalls: Jan. 1 for orders placed Oct. 11-Dec. 24
• Microsoft Store: Jan. 31 for eligible items purchased Oct. 1-Dec. 31
• ModCloth: Feb. 28 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 31
• Neiman Marcus: Jan. 31 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 25
• Nike: 60 days
• Nordstrom: No deadline
• The North Face: 60 days
• Office Depot & OfficeMax: Jan. 14 for orders placed Oct. 1-Dec. 24 or as policy allows, whichever is later
• Old Navy: 45 days
• OtterBox: 30 days
• Overstock.com: Jan. 31 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 31 or 30 days of delivery, whichever is later
• Patagonia: No deadline
• Petco: 60 days
• PetSmart: 60 days
• Pier 1: 30 days
• Plow & Hearth: 90 days
• Pottery Barn: 30 days for most merchandise, 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery items
• PUMA: Feb. 28 for orders placed Nov. 25-Dec. 25
• Ralph Lauren: Jan. 31 for orders placed Nov. 22-Dec. 31
• REI: 1 year, 90 days for outdoor electronics
• Saks Fifth Avenue: Jan. 23 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 24
• Sam’s Club: 90 days for select electronics, games, movies and music; no deadline for most merchandise
• Samsung: 15 days after the product is received
• Sears: Jan. 31 on items with a 30-day return policy for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 24
• Shutterfly: 60 days with 50% fee
• Staples: Jan. 25 for orders placed Nov. 15-Dec. 24
• Stein Mart: 60 days
• Target: The 30-day and 14-day refund periods for returns begin Dec. 26 for orders placed Oct. 1-Dec. 25.
• The Children’s Place: Jan. 16 for orders placed Nov. 1-Nov. 30
• T.J. MAXX: Jan. 24 for orders placed Oct. 11-Dec. 24
• UGG: Jan. 1 for orders placed on or after Nov. 15
• Ulta: 60 days
• Urban Outfitters: Feb. 28 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 25
• Verizon: Jan. 15 for purchases made Nov. 28 to Dec. 31
• Victoria’s Secret: 90 days
• Walmart: Jan. 8 for items with a 14-day return policy and Jan. 24 for items with a 30-day policy for orders placed Oct. 16-Dec. 25
• West Elm: Jan. 31 for orders placed Oct. 15-Dec. 26
• Williams-Sonoma: 30 days for most merchandise
• World Market: 60 days
• Zappos: 1 year