I’ve talked about why I love Costco’s return policy so much before, but did you know there are a number of other stores that have equally awesome return policies? While I never ever recommend you take advantage of these stores because of their return policies {let’s all be ethical humans!}, I do prefer to shop at these stores because it’s worry free. If I buy something and it doesn’t fit or it tastes like dirt or it falls apart soon after purchase, I know I can drive on back and get a refund without having to call over a manager or argue with a cashier. Here are a few stores who have awesome return policies:
Trader Joe’s:
You ate part of that box of crackers before you just couldn’t stomach them anymore. They weren’t what you were hoping for. No worries. You can bring your receipt and the container {even if it’s empty} and you’ll get a full refund! Their products are so good though, I’ve never had to return anything.
JC Penney:
If you make a return without a receipt, or with a gift receipt, you will get store credit instead of cash, but you can return anything at anytime without question. With a receipt? A full refund! Now you don’t have to be concerned when those pants you loved fit funny after the first wash! You won’t be stuck with them!
Bath & Body Works:
With a 100% satisfaction guarantee, you know you’re good to go if that vanilla scent smelled more like cotton candy {true story!} or their lotion wasn’t quite as lotion-y as you’d hoped. With a receipt, you’ll get a full refund. Without one you’ll get store credit based on the lowest sale price of the returned item.
Kohls:
There are no time restrictions on returns and they have a “no questions asked” policy. Like it’s in writing. Receipt or no receipt, either way works for them. You’ll get cash or store credit.
LL Bean:
They will take back both new and used items at any time should the products fail you for any reason. No receipt? No problem. They’ll give you store credit or replace the item on the spot. I ordered Lucy a winter coat last year but even after we washed it the coat was too small. LL Bean allowed us to return the coat for a smaller size, no questions asked.
Bed, Bath & Beyond:
If you bought your items within the last year and have a receipt, you’ll get refunded in the original form of payment. Without a receipt, you can still get a refund in the form of store credit, no questions asked.
Anthropology:
All merchandise, with the exception of furniture and other oversized items, may be returned at any time for any reason. Even 5 years after you purchased it. Awesome, right? {My mother LOVES their plates!!}
Nordstrom:
So technically, Nordstrom doesn’t even have a return policy. And while they’ll take back any item at any time with or without a receipt, they want to have a conversation first so they can learn why you were dissatisfied with an item, so they can hope to prevent it int he future..
Land’s End:
They’ll take back any item at anytime for any reason. If you return an item after 9 months, they’ll issue a refund in the form of a refund check, otherwise it’s cash money!
REI:
Let’s say you buy a coat you think will be awesome, but after 11 months of use it starts ripping or you find that it doesn’t keep you as warm as it claimed. You can still return it within a year for a full refund {you’ll need a receipt, of course!}. If you’re an REI member, just have the cashier look up your member number and they can return it that way.
Where are some other places you’ve had great return experiences? Any bad experiences?
~Mavis
Carrie says
I had this happen to me right after your post about Costco’s return policy….
I was on the second to last cup of Noosa yogurt and there was mold on the top. Normally I wouldn’t ask for a refund because I ate 11 out of 12 cups but I wanted them to know it was moldy and hadn’t expired. Since I knew the return policy was great I asked for a refund. They said they would give it to me this one time, otherwise I need to return half or more of the product and it can’t be expired (mine wasn’t but just for future reference). Maybe different store have different policies?
Laura says
OMgoodness! That is ridiculous! Mold should be pointed out to the manufacturer, whether it was the first pod or the last. I would have asked to speak to a manager, because that is absurd. Which warehouse if you don’t mind me asking? I have found Kirkland, WA to be the absolute worst so I don’t go there for any questionable returns any longer (food, etc.). Manager there is awful. Employees unhappy, etc. Go elsewhere now as a result.
Carrie says
Greensboro, NC.
I normally don’t have any issues at this store. I bought 3 ceiling fans about a month ago and one squealed when on (we were thinking a barring) and I was able to return it fine. Although, I really wanted to exchange it but they no longer had the exact fan. đ
Jeanie says
Amazon. If you are a prime member (maybe if you arenât also) they will return anything and most of the time they donât want the âthingâ back. We have received credit for anything we have complained about even electronics.
Fitbit. My daughter wore her Fitbit on a rafting trip and lost it in the river and when she called Fitbit to order a new one, they sent her a complimentary upgrade because they said it should not have come off. Actually Fitbit is a great company with great customer service.
Samâs Club. Kind of the same deal as Costco. Not satisfied…return.
Laura says
Not true. Received Xmas present and had it all set up to return when customer service person told me, “sorry, this item is no return” (despite not being opened or used). Uggh. Disappointing.
Jeanie says
Is that Fitbit or Amazon?
Laura says
Amazon
Laure says
I’ve also had problems with Amazon. Bought a work-related book I thought I needed, found out I didn’t 32 days after ordering. Could not return since it was beyond the 30 days… I’ve actually found Amazon to be very NOT return-friendly (expensive shipping to return, etc). I only will buy anything that MIGHT have to be returned (shoes that need to be tried on, etc) from Amazon if it has a free return policy, and then I know I have to figure out whether to keep or return right away, as the clock starts ticking from time of order, not date of receipt.
Laura says
This is one of the reasons I am excited about Kohl’s accepting returns. Makes things much easier, or at least that is my impression!
Diana says
I returned a purse I got at REI because the zipper separated from the body and it was so tight and tiny that I couldn’t fix it myself. It had been probably two years, but I hadn’t used it hard or anything and they refunded it straight across. Probably helps that my husband will find any excuse to spend money there …
Susan says
REI has changed its return policy to only one year. I bought some expensive (to me) Keen boots a few years ago and both soles split. Even though I had the receipt of buying it before the change, I couldn’t return them. I was super bummed, especially because a lot of what you buy there should last a really long time (I.e., gear), and 1 year isn’t that great.
KC says
Aldi! They’ve got a “cash and replacement product” policy, so you can try their store-brand things without any worries about wasting your money – they’re hoping that you’ll try another can of their green beans (or whatever) and change your mind, but you can also just get the refund without the replacement product if you really don’t want it. Granted, this isn’t as useful with the super-low prices to begin with (is it really worth talking to a manager about something that cost less than a dollar?), but if that 8oz brick of sharp cheddar just wasn’t sharp enough, you can try another in case that particular batch was somehow odd *and* get your money back.
Pauline says
OK, this is a regional store but I just have to add it: the grocery store Wegmans simply *rocks* customer service. Full refund or exchange if youâre not happy with something you bought and, if you should need to email them with a negative comment about something, they often send you a substantial coupon good for any product in that department in appreciation for your feedback.
Helen in Meridian says
Speaking of Costco, I noticed 2 weeks ago that they had got their 2 pk of black tights into the warehouse. They are $9.97 and are a 2 pk of Yummie by Heather Thomas. I love your Mary Jane shoes and you should look great wearing them all winter and into spring.
Julie says
Chewy.com I ordered a set of stairs for my elderly dog to use to get on the bed. She was afraid of them. I called customer service for return instructions, they gave me a full refund and asked that I donate the stairs to my local Humane Society. I thought that was wonderful.
Carrie says
I love chewy.com! When I was buying a soft crate for travel I didn’t know which size to get (my pup was on the edge of the weight and size recommendation) they said I could exchange for free if it wasn’t right. The crate was much cheaper there than my local pet store (and actually looks much nicer!).
Yvette says
Good to know! I’ve been eyeballing Chewie, but was nervous about ordering from an unfamiliar company. Good to know they are as awesome as they seem to be!
TJD says
Ross Dress For Less has an ironclad return policy. I returned a pair of shoes NOT worn, tags still on, in the box. I had my receipt (visa card) in hand. They WOULD NOT issue a refund to my card because their policy is 30 days. I was there on day 31. I asked to speak to a manager, she wouldn’t even come out of the back room. I was totally upset. Store credit only. I took the store credit($58.00) gave it to my daughter that lives in another town and not have shopped there since. That was about a year ago. So rude, I have never been treated so badly by a national chain in my life. I should have called someone in the corporate office but I didn’t want to waste anymore of my time/energy on them.
Emma says
I don’t think Nordstrom is as good as the used to be. My daughter bought a shirt, paid cash. didn’t work out, went to return it, with receipt and they would only give her a gift card because she didn’t have a driver license. I was mad, so I took it back with my driver license so she could have her cash back. She was under 18 and didn’t have ID yet.
Laura says
Not only that, but they don’t put the price you paid on the tag they stick on the item when you buy it, so if you don’t have the receipt (or if it was a gift), you only get the lowest sales price. I get why they do this, but they are absolutely resting on their “great customer service” laurels. I was very upset with this and haven’t shopped their since I noticed this new policy. I think you should get what you paid if the item is unused. But, save your receipts so you get the right amount back if you need to return there!
Sarah says
Zappos has a 1 year return policy. (Items must be unworn and still with original packaging, but you still have 1 year to make that return.)
Heather says
I think people are taking advantage of Costco’s great return policy. I saw someone returning obviously worn running shoes because they were wearing out. It turns out that they bought them over a year ago. The person insisted so they got their money back, but I wasn’t too happy since I know that the cost of the item will be passed on to the rest of us.
Candy C. says
No wonder many Kohls and JC Penney stores have bit the dust. Their return policy is too lenient. I recall one of my daughters telling me that several of her friends bought shoes /dress for a dance there b/c they could just return them after wearing them. No questions asked. I informed her in no uncertain terms would that take place in our home. That is not right..ever.
Alison says
Aldi has a double money back guarantee. Moldy produce – return it, get your money back and a replacement item. I’ve only returned one thing and I didn’t want it replaced, but I got my money back.
Emily says
Our local running store will take shoes back if they don’t work out after you’ve had a chance to run in them. I hope this is common, so it’s worth asking about. Sometimes it’s hard to really know if running shoes are a good fit until you can try them out for real.
Torry says
Many years ago, my daughter and I went to the Tacoma Mall so she could return some shoes she bought at Nordstrom’s. The shoes were coming apart in an area you wouldn’t expect for them to come apart. The guy was stonewalling her trying to tell her that it was normal for shoes to split on the tops. Until I came up and started to lose my cool. I think he thought she was younger than she was and didn’t have to be nice to her. (She was college aged and looked about 12.)
They didn’t have the same style (I wonder why?) and gave her credit toward another pair of shoes that were slightly more expensive. So she had to pay the difference, because they wouldn’t refund her money. Just store credit.
I have never shopped there since. Although I did shop at an outlet store for my mother of the bride dress. They were great that time, but when they sent the dress, they put a smelly advertisement in the box and I had to air the dress outside for days in order to wear it. Ugh!
Idaho Girl says
I’m shocked and saddened that you’d tell people “You ate part of that box of crackers before you just couldnât stomach them anymore…” as a reason to return food to a store. This is one reason why food is so expensive!