2020 holiday return policies for Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Costco and more

Many retailers are offering extended return dates on unwanted gift items purchased before Christmas. Here we look at the holiday return policies at some major retailers, from Walmart and Target to Best Buy, Costco and more.

Walmart

“Since many items purchased between Oct 16, 2020 and Dec 25, 2020 are gifts, all items with shorter return windows have an extended return time frame allowing more time to return unwanted items,” Walmart says on its website.

The extended return date for your items differs according to what your standard return window is:

• For standard return windows of 14 days, the extended return date is January 8, 2021
• For 30 days, it’s January 24, 2021
• For 60 days, it’s February 23, 2021
• For 90 days, it’s 90 days from delivery date

“The extended return timeframe excludes postpaid wireless phones and Marketplace items,” the company adds.

Best Buy

The company advises: “Purchases made October 13, 2020 through January 2, 2021 have an extended return period through January 16, 2021, excluding items purchased with a third-party contract (e.g., cell phones, cellular tablets and cellular wearables, AppleCare monthly plans, etc.), holiday products (e.g., artificial trees, lights, decorations, etc.) and major appliances. All other terms and conditions of the Best Buy Return & Exchange Promise apply.

“If you want to return or exchange your purchase, please know that the time period begins the day you receive your product and applies to new, clearance, open-box, refurbished and pre-owned products.

“This policy applies to purchases from Best Buy, Pacific Sales, Magnolia Design Center, Best Buy Education, Best Buy for Business and Best Buy Express kiosks,” according to the Best Buy website.

Target

The refund period begins the day after Christmas for all electronics and entertainment items purchased from October 1 through December 25.

The company states: “For all electronics and entertainment items (excluding Apple products) purchased between 10/1-12/25, the 30-day refund period will start on 12/26.

“For all Apple products (excluding mobile phones) purchased between 10/1-12/25, the 15-day refund period will start on 12/26,” the company adds.

Costco

Costco doesn’t have a special holiday return policy but its existing return policy comes with a 90-day window for electronics.

“Costco will accept returns within 90 days (from the date the member received the merchandise) for televisions, projectors, major appliances (refrigerators above 10 cu. ft., freezers, ranges, cooktops, over-the-range microwaves, dishwashers, water heaters, washers and dryers), computers, touchscreen tablets, smart watches, cameras, aerial cameras (drones), camcorders, MP3 players and cellular phones (return details will vary by carrier service contract),” according to the Costco website.

“Members returning a diamond over 1.00ct must also present all original paperwork (IGI and/or GIA certificates) at which time they will receive a Jewelry Credit Memo. Within 48 hours, our Costco Graduate Gemologist will inspect for authenticity,” the company notes.

See the Costco website for more information.

Macy’s

Macy’s advises “our return policy time frames have been extended for purchases made between now and December 31, 2020. Those purchases may be returned by either January 31, 2021 or the last date allowed under the normal applicable return policy, whichever is later,” on its website.

The following items are excluded from the holiday extension and standard return policies apply:

• Apple products
• Tech accessories and tech watches
• Last act merchandise
• Furniture
• Mattresses
• Area rugs
• Lighting
• Designer merchandise
• Vendor direct merchandise
• Bluemercury merchandise
• Macy’s Beauty Box
• Food and beverage
• Macy’s Optical

Kohl’s

All “premium electronics purchased between November 1–December 25 may be returned through January 31 in original packaging with a valid receipt or account lookup. Some returns may be subject to our refund verification system. Refunds may be limited or declined,” according to Kohl’s website.

“When returning any premium electronic devices, including smart watches, please be sure to remove any personal data or information that may be stored on the device.

“We are unable to process refunds for the purchase of gift cards,” the company adds.

The company’s standard “Hassle-Free Return Policy” allows you to return in-store and Kohls.com merchandise up to 180 days after the original purchase date.

See the Kohl’s website for more information.