Post-Holiday Guide to Return Policies

Maybe that perfect gift wasn't quite so perfect. Stores' return policies can be really difficult to navigate, and a total time-suck to try and decipher. We've done the digging, the online research, calling around, and the live chatting with sales specialists in order to get the nitty-gritty on the return policies at your favorite stores! Save the stress for something more worthy, Mamas, and let us be your quick guide to returning those unwanted or just not-quite-right gifts! Scroll to the bottom of our list of stores to see how you can exchange gift cards, or even turn them into cash!

Academy

There is no time limit for when you can return items to Academy. The following items are final sale, and cannot be returned:

firearms {with the exception of Yildiz, if the item is damaged or defective}
ammunition {with the exception of damaged or defective Monarch brand ammunition}
generators
personal use items {ie: athletic supporters, mouth pieces, undergarments, etc.}

Purchase at store and return to store with a receipt: If you purchased merchandise from one of our stores and have a receipt, Academy will give you a refund of the purchase price or an exchange of the merchandise.

Purchase at store and return to store without a receipt: If you purchased merchandise from one of our stores and do not have a receipt, Academy will give you a merchandise credit equal to the current price of the merchandise in the store, or an exchange of the merchandise.

Purchase at academy.com and return to store with a packing slip: If you purchased merchandise from academy.com, your packing slip is your receipt. With your packing slip, Academy will give you a refund of the purchase price, less any applicable shipping or other online charges {unless you are eligible to receive a refund of such charges}, or an exchange of the merchandise.

Purchase at academy.com and return to store without a packing slip: If you purchased merchandise at academy.com, your packing slip is your receipt, and you can get a copy of your packing slip at academy.com. If you do not have a packing slip, Academy will give you a merchandise credit equal to the current price of the merchandise in the store, less any shipping or other online charges {unless you are eligible to receive a refund of such charges}, or an exchange of the merchandise.

Amazon

You may return most new, unopened items sold and fulfilled by Amazon within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. During the holidays, items shipped by Amazon between November 1st and December 31st can be returned until January 31st.

If you received a gift from Amazon, you can return it using the order number, and your refund will be issued in the form of an Amazon gift card.

Bass Pro Shop

You have 60 days to return items to the store, whether they were purchased online or in the store.

If you are requesting a refund and have a receipt with you, the refund will be issued in the same method of payment that was used to purchase the merchandise. If the item was a gift and the recipient is returning the item for a refund, a Bass Pro Shops gift card will be issued.

No receipt? A valid picture ID will be required for an in-store return. An even exchange or merchandise only card will be issued.

Boots and some other items may be returned for up to one year after the date of purchase, according to Bass Pro Shop's warranty.

Bed Bath & Beyond/Buy Buy Baby

There is no time limit on returns to Bed Bath & Beyond and Buy Buy Baby!

Merchandise returned using a gift receipt will either be exchanged or refunded in the form of a merchandise credit for the amount paid. Please note that whenever a merchandise credit is issued, customers will be asked to provide a government issued ID. This will help ensure if a merchandise credit is ever lost, Bed Bath & Beyond can research and/or replace.

If returning an item without a receipt, Bed & Beyond can check their system for purchasing information using your credit/debit card information, gift card number, order number, registry number, or checking account number. If your information cannot be found, you can exchange the item or return it for store credit, minus 20% of the current value of the item{s}.

A few exceptions:

Monogrammed, personalized, custom-made or special order items cannot be exchanged or returned with the exception of a manufacturer defect.
Whenever a merchandise credit is issued, customers will be asked to provide a government issued ID. This will help ensure if a merchandise credit is ever lost, we can research and/or replace.
Breast pumps may only be returned unopened and require proof of purchase.
Baby clothing and Destination Maternity items may only be returned with all tags intact and require proof of purchase. Returns of these items made more than 90 days after the purchase date will receive a merchandise credit for the current selling price.

Best Buy

Most products have a 15-day return policy. Best Buy Elite Members have 30 days to return items for exchange or refund, and Best Buy Elite Plus Members have 45 days. All cell phones and devices with a carrier contract must be returned or exchanged within 14 days. Refunds will be issued in the same form of original payment, but if you paid more than $800 in cash or more than $250 by check or by a debit card without a major credit card logo, you will be refunded in the form of a check within 10 business days of the return.

Returns made without a receipt are accepted at the discretion of Best Buy, and require a valid photo ID. A return made without a receipt will be refunded in the form of a gift card, minus sales tax.

A really great thing about Best Buy is that they accept returned items that have missing or damaged packaging or accessories. You can return the items for a refund, and they just deduct a small percentage for the damaged or missing parts.

Build-A-Bear

Build-A-Bear accepts returns for refund or exchange for 90 days after the item was purchased, with your receipt.

Carter's

There is no time limit for returning items to Carter's.

Unworn, unwashed items with a receipt can be returned for a refund in the form of original payment, or exchanged for a different item. If you do not have a receipt, your purchase can be looked up using your Preferred Customer number, physical address, or email address. Those purchases will be treated as though you do have the receipt present. If your purchase can't be located using one of those methods, then only an exchange or refund to merchandise credit can be processed.

Any item purchased at a Carter’s or OshKosh B'Gosh retail or outlet store, along with eligible Carter’s items purchased online {those not marked ’Return by Mail only’}, may be returned or exchanged at any Carter’s retail or outlet store. The only exceptions are furniture, décor, and bedding, which can only be returned my mail.

Costco

I don't think it's much of a secret that we love Costco. Their return policy is just one more reason we think they're awesome!

Costco will refund your purchase price on any item, at any time, with the following exceptions:

Electronics: Costco will accept returns within 90 days from the date of purchase for Televisions and Projectors, Computers, Touchscreen Tablets, Cameras, Camcorders, MP3 players and Cellular Phones.
Diamonds: 1.00ct or larger: 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.
Cigarettes and alcohol: Costco does not accept returns on cigarettes or alcohol where prohibited by law.
Products with a limited useful life expectancy, such as tires and batteries, may be sold with a product-specific limited warranty.
Special Order Kiosk and Custom Installed Programs: Custom product(s) manufactured to our member’s personal and unique specifications cannot be returned or refunded, except for warranty repair/replacement due to failure to meet specifications.

Returns and exchanges can be made with or without a receipt, and with or without the original packaging.

Dick's Sporting Goods

Returns and exchanges will be accepted up to 90 days after the date of purchase or delivery if they are new and in the original packaging. All accessories that came with the item need to be included.

Returns with the original sales receipt or packing slip receive a refund based on the initial form of payment.

In-store returns and exchanges without a receipt or packing slip are offered store credit for the lowest price.

Returns with a gift receipt are offered a gift card or exchange.

Exceptions {items that cannot be returned or exchanged}:

firearms
ammunition
used bikes
personalized, customized and/or autographed items
gas and electric scooters
baseball bats {after the original packaging has been opened or the factory seal is broken}

Gymboree

Gymboree has a 6 month return policy. However, there is some fine print:

Items returned for refund with a receipt or packing slip within 60 days will receive a full refund in the form of original payment.
Items returned for refund with a receipt or packing slip after 60 days will receive merchandise credit for either the original price or the current price of the item, whichever is lower.

If returning an item with a gift receipt, refunds over $5 will be issued in the form of a merchandise credit or merchandise exchange for the price paid.

Without a receipt, items can be exchanged or returned for a refund in the form of merchandise credit. A valid photo ID is required.

Home Depot

Items purchased online or in the store can be returned to the store within 90 days with a receipt, gift receipt, or packing slip.

There are some exceptions:

Products containing hazardous materials must be drained of all flammable or hazardous liquids before being returned to the store.
Live goods including perennials, trees and shrubs have a one-year guarantee. Any live goods that arrive damaged should be returned to the store within 3 days.
Cut flowers and floral arrangements are non-refundable and non-returnable.
Generators must be returned within 30 days of purchase. Any product damage or defects must be reported within 30 days of purchase. IMPORTANT: Whole house generators or stationary generators are non-returnable and non-refundable.
Televisions and computers must be returned within 30 days of purchase.
Furniture must be returned within 30 days of purchase. Any product damaged or defective must be reported within 30 days of purchase.
Major appliance product damage must be reported within 48 hours of delivery. After 48 hours, any product issues must be handled through your local The Home Depot store's Special Services Desk. Be sure to bring a copy of your sales receipt with you.
Gas powered equipment and tractors must be returned within 30 days of purchase.
Wallpaper and flooring samples are not returnable.
Utility trailers are not returnable.

Kohl's

There is no time limit on returns to Kohl's. There is also no receipt required! Items purchased using a Kohl's credit card within the past 12 months can be looked up on their computers, and you will receive credit back to your card. Merchandise not purchased on a Kohl's credit card or outside of the 12-month period can be returned for store credit, or exchanged.

Items returned with a receipt can be refunded in the form of original payment, or exchanged.

Lowe's

You have 90 days to return most items to Lowe's with a valid receipt. If you do not have a receipt, your transaction can be looked up using the credit card number, checking account number, or phone number. If your transaction still isn't found, your return will be processed using your photo ID, and you can receive a refund in the form of a gift card.

You have 30 days to return major appliances, outdoor power equipment, and highway trailers.

Macy's

Unworn, unwashed, and unaltered items can be returned for a refund or exchange any time after they are purchased, with no time limit.

Returns with a gift receipt can be exchanged or refunded in the form of a gift card.

If you do not have a receipt, you may return items for a refund in the form of a gift card {for the lowest price of the item during the past 180 days}, or exchange the item.

Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic

Unwashed and unworn, or defective items can be returned within 45 days of purchase with the original receipt or gift receipt. Refunds are issued in the same form as the original payment. If an item was a gift and you have the gift receipt, a refund will be issued in the form of a gift card.

Sports Authority

Normally, Sports Authority has a 30-day return policy. For the holidays, purchases made between November 1 and December 31, 2015 can be returned until January 31, 2016.

All items must be returned in unused condition, in original boxes {whenever possible}, and with all paperwork, parts and accessories to insure full credit. All items properly returned under this policy are eligible for a full refund of the purchase price, minus the shipping, handling, gift wrap, or other charges.

Exceptions {items that cannot be returned}:

athletic supports or mouthguards
bats {opened}
customized products and collectibles
electronic media {opened}
firearms and ammunition
gas scooters
pools
swimwear and undergarments

Target

Items returned within 90 days of purchase in their original packaging and with original receipt can be returned for a refund or exchange. A refund will be issued in the same manner of the original purchase, or you can opt for a Target gift card.

All electronics and entertainment items must be returned within 30 days for a refund or exchange. Drones must be returned within 14 days for a refund or exchange. For these items purchased between 11/1 – 12/25, the 30-day refund period will start on 12/26.

Something really great about the Target REDcard {as if the 5% discount wasn't great enough!}: You have an extra 30 days to return items purchased with your Target REDcard!

Items returned with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Target gift card.

Returns or exchanges made without a receipt will require a state-issued ID, and will be refunded in the form of a Target gift card.

Toys R Us

Products being returned must include the packaging {in like-new condition}, all parts, and any manuals and accessories. You must present your receipt, gift receipt, packing slip {for online orders} or a state-issued ID to receive a refund on any products.

Time for returns depends on the product being returned:

You have 15 days to return eReaders, latops, tablets, and netbooks.
You have 30 days to return camcorders, cameras, digital audio players, DVD players, no-contract cell phones, and video game consoles.
You have 90 days to return all other merchandise including movies, bedding and breast pumps with original seals still in place. Anything not still sealed can be exchanged for an identical product, but not returned for a refund.
You can return items from a baby registry within one year of purchase. Refund will be in the form of merchandise credit.