Your Guide to Amazon, Apple, Walmart, Target and Other Retailers' Holiday Return Policies

With the holiday season wrapping up, you might be staring at a gift or two you don't really need. Before you rush to return anything, it's worth brushing up on how the biggest retailers handle returns. Every store has its own rules for refunds and exchanges, including how long you have to bring something back. Some windows are generous... others, not so much. Keep reading for a quick breakdown of return policies at Amazon, Apple, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Macy's. And if you're shipping anything back, you'll also find tips on cutting those shipping costs . Amazon returns Items bought from Amazon -- even Amazon Warehouse -- typically have a 30-day return window. Since 30 days can come and go quickly, it's always best practice to open the package immediately to determine if you want to keep it. If not, box it back up in the same packaging and ship it back as soon as possible. If you need to make a return past the 30-day window, you may be able to get a refund for up to 80% of the total price on an Amazon gift card. Many Amazon retailers will also exchange the item for another size or color for free. Amazon sellers may all have different return policies, so be sure to read the product details to catch any special considerations. For tips on how to ship the Amazon return, follow these guidelines . Apple returns Apple's standard return policy is 14 days from the date you received the product. Note, only items that have been purchased directly from Apple, either online or at an in-person Apple Retail Store, can be returned to Apple. Apple has an extended holiday return policy. Eligible products from Apple Store Online received between Nov. 12, 2025, and Dec. 25, 2025, may be returned through Jan. 8, 2026. Best Buy returns Best Buy offers a standard 15-day return policy for most products and a 14-day return window for activatable devices like phones or tablets. My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total members have a full 60 days to return anything purchased, excluding activatable devices. If you're returning a gift you received, you'll get store credit for the purchase price if you return it in a store. If you return the gift by mail, the gift buyer will get the credit. Best Buy also offers an extended holiday return policy . Purchases made Oct. 31, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, have an extended return window through Jan. 15, 2026, with a few exceptions. Macy's returns Items from Macy's must be returned within 30 days. If it's an item from a gift registry, you have a 90-day window from the event date to return it. For the holiday season, Macy's return timeframe is extended. Most purchases in-store or online made between Oct. 6, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025, will be returnable until Jan. 31, 2026. Target returns Target also has a standard 90-day return policy, with a few exceptions. If you...

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