Holiday Return Windows: How to Return Gifts Without Losing Money
Gifts get returned: the wrong size, a duplicate, an item that arrived damaged, or something that is simply not wanted. Whether you can return it, how long you have and what you will get back depends on the store’s policy and, in some countries, on the law. This guide explains how holiday return windows normally work, what to watch for, and how to avoid losing money. To count the days for your own purchase, try the return deadline calculator.
The usual shape of a holiday return policy
Many large retailers have a standard return period — commonly somewhere around 30 days — and some extend the period for purchases made during the holiday season so that gifts bought in November can be returned in January. The details differ by store and change from year to year, so there is no safe universal number. Three things are typical: a start date from which an extended window begins, an end date by which every holiday purchase must be returned, and a list of exclusions. The most common exclusions are electronics from certain brands, opened software, personalised items, perishable goods, gift cards and final-sale clearance items.
The key practical point is the clock start. Some stores count from the date you bought the item, some from the date it was delivered, and some give a fixed end date for the whole season. If you order in mid-November and the item arrives in December, a delivery-based clock gives you longer than a purchase-based one. Use the right start date in the calculator — and read the store’s policy page for the item you bought, not just the headline.
What the law says
United States
There is no general federal law that gives you the right to return a product because you changed your mind. A store’s return policy is a matter of its own choice, and the FTC says that if a store limits returns, it should clearly state its policy. A retailer that sells a defective product, or that misdescribes it, can have obligations under state law and the warranty rules, but a simple change of mind generally falls under the store’s policy only. Check the policy before you buy, especially for gifts that may need to be exchanged.
United Kingdom
The Consumer Contracts Regulations give buyers who purchase at a distance (online, by phone or by mail order) a right to cancel. GOV.UK states that you have 14 days after the day you receive the goods to cancel, and then a further 14 days to send the goods back. There are exceptions, for example for personalised goods and for some perishable items. Separately, the Consumer Rights Act protects you if goods are faulty, not as described or not of satisfactory quality — and that applies even in a shop.
Canada
Consumer protection in Canada is mostly provincial. Whether you have a cooling-off right for online purchases depends on the province and on the type of contract, and in general stores set their own change-of-mind return policies. For defects, provincial laws and implied warranties apply. Look up your province’s consumer protection office if there is a dispute.
Australia
Under the Australian Consumer Law, you are entitled to a repair, replacement or refund for a major problem with a product, and the consumer guarantees (acceptable quality, fit for purpose, as described) cannot be excluded. The ACCC states that you are not automatically entitled to a refund if you simply change your mind, although a store may choose to offer one. A “no refunds” sign does not remove your rights for faulty goods.
Gifts: who gets the refund?
If you are returning something you received as a gift, the store may only give store credit or an exchange unless you have a receipt or gift receipt. Keep gift receipts when you give gifts, or, where available, ask the retailer to send a gift receipt that shows the item but not the price. Online orders that are marked as gifts at checkout often include a gift receipt in the box or a link to a returns portal. For online returns, the refund typically goes to the original payment method of the purchaser, which means that a gift giver may have to start the return.
Protect your money: a returns checklist
- Save the receipt and order number in one place, with the date of purchase and the date of delivery.
- Keep the packaging and all accessories until you are sure you will keep the item. Many returns are rejected or partly refunded for missing pieces.
- Photograph the item when you open it, especially if it is damaged on arrival. Date-stamped photos support a damage claim.
- Note the return deadline in your calendar the day you buy, with a reminder a week before. Our calculator provides the date.
- Check who pays return shipping. Some stores offer free returns in store but charge for mailed returns, or deduct the label from the refund.
- Get proof of return. Keep the tracking number and the drop-off receipt until you see the refund.
- Check for restocking fees, which are common for opened electronics and large items.
Refund timing
A store usually refunds after it receives and inspects the item, and the refund can take several days to show on a card statement. If you do not see a refund by the date the store promised, contact the store first with your proof of return. If that fails, ask your card issuer about a dispute. In the US, the Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute certain billing errors on a credit card, generally by writing to the issuer within 60 days of the statement date on which the error appeared. Keep your records, and follow your own card issuer’s procedure.
Price adjustments and returns
If the price of an item falls soon after you buy it, some stores will adjust the price if you ask within a limited time, while others do not. It is worth reading the “price adjustment” or “price match” section of the policy, because many stores suspend it during Black Friday week. If a store does not match, you might consider returning the item and buying again at the lower price, if the return policy allows.
Returns of Black Friday purchases
Doorbusters and clearance items are the most likely to be final sale. Before you buy a deal that you could not otherwise afford, check whether the usual return policy applies. If you are buying a gift without knowing the size or colour, choose a store that has a clear exchange policy, even if it costs a little more. For a large, expensive gift, ask the recipient what they want, or use a gift card.
Online marketplaces
Items sold by third-party sellers on a marketplace follow the seller’s policy, which may differ from the marketplace’s own. Check whether the listing says “sold by” a third party, and what the returns terms are. Some marketplaces have buyer-protection guarantees that apply in addition to the seller’s policy, with their own time limits for filing a claim. Overseas sellers add complexity: return shipping can be expensive, and the refund may be partial. Keep the cost of returning an item in mind when you compare prices.
After the holidays
January is the busy return season. Lines in stores are long and some online returns portals run slowly, so return early if you can. If you need to exchange for a different size, check stock first by phone or online. Returning an unwanted gift quickly also means you can still use the money in the sales — see our Boxing Day and New Year sales guide.