Everyone returns a gift now and then. Maybe it doesn’t fit. Maybe it doesn’t suit your taste. Or maybe you just read a book extolling the virtues of minimalism and want to give that lifestyle a swing. Covid-19 changed a lot of things (and you might be getting more questionable gifts in the mail from people you'd normally spend time with), but you can still easily return things. And in some cases, return windows have been extended.
Whatever your logic for returning a gift, you’re not alone. The National Retail Federation estimates that around $309 billion worth of merchandise was returned in 2019, accounting for about 8 percent of total sales. Around the holiday season, an estimated two-thirds of giftees return an item.
“Consumers are really used to being able to return their goods,” said Larisa Summers, senior vice president of marketing and e-commerce at Optoro, a platform that helps retailers like Target and Staples recoup the costs of returned goods. “I think a lot of consumers are not aware of how complicated that is for retailers.”
You might think that returned goods are restocked on the shelf where they came from, but Summers said this happens only about half of the time. Other times, the returned goods are sold to other retailers—or worse, thrown out. Optoro estimates that 5 billion pounds of returned items end up in landfills every year.
So if you're going to return holiday gifts, do it in a smart and sustainable way. Being smart about returns yields the best gift of all: a less-cluttered home and planet.
Updated December 2020: Much of our advice on how to return still stands; we've updated retailer return deadlines and policies.
First things first: You have more time than you think. While “30 days after the time of purchase” is the normal year-round policy, most retailers adjust their return-by date this time of year to accommodate post-holiday returns. And we've already seen regular return policies extended because of Covid-19–related reasons.
Make sure to pack your item with all tags, accessories, and original packaging if possible. Unless you’re exchanging a defective product, be sure your item is in good condition. Goods returned in their original packaging and in original condition are much easier to resell, Summers said. Without the original packaging, there’s a higher chance the items will be thrown out.
Got a gift receipt? Generally, having one makes it easier and more likely that you’ll get cash or store credit for your return. Some stores will work with you to gather order information if you’ve lost your receipt. At other retailers, you’ll get zilch. Some stores require you to show them ID, so be sure to bring that along, too.
Summers encourages you to share why you're returning a product. Retailers take this kind of feedback seriously since it helps them potentially reduce returns for the following year.
Finally, know individual store policies. Some stores will adjust their policy for opened or unopened products while others will take returns and exchanges only in stores. We’ve rounded up policies from some of the most popular retailers, but it’s a good idea to have a firm understanding of policies specific to the item you’re trying to return before you head back out into the crowds at the mall.
Odds are, you received at least one gift from the online retail giant. Amazon.com will honor returns and exchanges for items shipped between October 1 and December 31 this year, so long as you return them by January 31, 2021. Pack your item and log in to your Amazon account to start a gift return. You’ll need to enter the order ID from the packing slip. Print and affix the provided return label to your package. When your item is received, you’ll get a refund in the form of an Amazon gift card. (If you're the gift giver, you'll get a refund.)