Here’s a secret: If you order something online, then later find a better deal somewhere else, extended holiday return policies make it easy to return the original item. Not all stores offer such a policy, but plenty of the big stores do. If you know the policies ahead of time, you can shop to your heart’s content knowing you have this fail-safe to fall back on.
Be careful counting your chickens before they hatch, however. Ideally, you should return your old order only after you receive the new one and check that it’s genuine and functional. You don’t want to be in a situation where you have no gifts and two sets of customer reps to deal with. Be wary of sneaky online retailer tactics to avoid paying more for gifts, as well.
Amazon’s extended returns policy
Amazon’s extended return window is already live. On its website, Amazon says that most items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, can be returned until Jan. 31, 2024. The only notable exception is anything Apple: These products can only be returned through Jan. 15, 2024. If any gift isn’t well-received, you can use this policy to get a full refund.
This policy excludes non-returnable items such as hazardous materials, gift cards, digital downloads, and a handful of other items. Items bought at Amazon Global Store have different return policies too, so keep that mind.
Apple also has an extended online return window
If you prefer to order Apple products directly from the company’s online store, you can still take advantage of a longer return window. Apple says that orders placed between Nov. 3 and Dec. 25, 2023 can be returned until Jan. 8, 2024. There are some restrictions, such as certain carrier-financed iPhones, gift cards, etc., so be sure to check Apple’s returns page before placing your order.
All things being equal, you might want to shop for Apple through Amazon this year, since you get an extra week to return things.
Best Buy’s extended return window
Best Buy’s extended returns window allows you to return items purchased between Oct. 27 to Dec. 30, 2023 all the way through Jan. 13, 2024. Exceptions to this include holiday decorations and “activatable” devices (which really means cellular devices). There’s also a 15% restocking fee on various opened tech items, such as drones, digital cameras, ebikes, and projectors. This policy applies to items purchased in-store and online, but you should check the returns policy carefully before ordering.
Walmart also offers longer holiday returns
Walmart has a longer return policy than most other stores. For most items bought offline or online from Walmart between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, the return window is open through Jan. 31, 2024. Exceptions include major appliances, marketplace luxury items, more wireless phones, and Walmart protection plans. You can check out the full policy here.