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Little is more frustrating than trekking out to a store (wasting some gas in the process) to return a pair of jeans that had been sitting in your trunk for the past month and getting rejected because you procrastinated one week too many. You promise yourself: Never again.
We’ve warned you about being a returnaholic, but half the battle is learning how to return well. As you’ll see below, return policies vary widely from retailer to retailer. Although it’s impossible to cover every retailer you might visit, we’ll give you the lay of the land by breaking down the policies of several national retailers:
| Retailer | Deadline for Returns | Requires receipt? | Restocking Fee? | Other Details |
| Electronics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy | Computers, monitors, projectors, cameras, iPads, tablets: 14 days; all else: 30 days | Yes | 25% restocking fee for special order products | Bring a valid photo ID; refunds generally in the same form as original payment |
| NewEgg.com | 30 days | NA | 15% restocking fee on refunds (not for exchanges) | Returns require a special return authorization number |
| Radio Shack | Unopened CDs, DVDs or software, unless defective: 30 days; defective items: 90 days | Yes | 10% on Cinego DLP projectors | If bought online, can't return in-store; may have to pay return shipping for online items |
| Clothing Stores | ||||
| Anthropologie | Indefinite (30 days for furniture) | No | No | Awarded price diff if item goes on sale w/in 14 days of purchase; $5.95 shipping for refunds or exchanges; online purchases can be exchanged in stores |
| Banana Republic & The Gap | 45 days as long as unwashed, unworn (or defective), and not final sale. Sunglasses require receipt, case & tags. Swimwear must have tags & hygienic liner | Yes | No | $6 postage if return or exchange by mail; some online items are “Return by Mail Only,” but others can be returned to store; online goods eligible for one-time price adjustment if marked down w/in 14 days of order date |
| Zappos | 365 days | No | No | Free return shipping |
| Department Stores | ||||
| Bloomingdale’s | Indefinite (furniture must be returned within 3 days of delivery). Most merchandise is eligible for exchange or return | Yes | No | For exchanges, new item shipped free of charge but you pay for return shipping unless retailer error; most items bought online can be returned in store |
| Macys.com | 180 days (some items have a shorter window) | Depends on the item | 10% restocking fee on furniture | Cannot return online purchases in store |
| Nordstrom | 30 days for items purchased from Nordstrom Rack; longer for other items | No | No | Can return online purchases in store; $6 shipping if returning online purchases by mail; original shipping charges for online items are nonrefundable |
