High street shops' return and exchange policies
You have much longer to return unsuitables and unwanted Christmas presents to many of the high street's big names this year.
Bought a Christmas present but it doesn't work or doesn't work or just isn't suitable?
Under consumer law you can get your money back on faulty goods, but with ‘unwanted’ items you’re not automatically entitled to a refund or swap on high street purchases. And you’ll only get 14 days to change your mind when buying online, however some stores go the extra mile (providing items are new), and offer refunds up to four months.
Here are the different refund periods available from some of the big high street names.
Up to four months
Marks & Spencer offers an ‘extended’ Christmas returns policy on items bought both online and in store.
Gifts bought from September 14 onwards can be returned through until January 16; that’s up to four months after purchase. The usual returns policy is 35 days for online or shop bought items.
Return with a receipt for a full refund, with a ‘gift receipt’ you’ll get a credit note and without either a till receipt or gift receipt, you’ll get a credit note for the last selling price.
If you’ve bought something from Mothercare or the Early Learning Centre anytime from October 1 onwards, you’ve got until January 31 to get a refund or exchange.
This is providing you’ve got the receipt and the item’s unused in its original packaging. Exclusions include toiletries, DVDs and food. Just for the record, its standard returns policy is 28 days.
You’ve got until January 31 to return any item bought between October 1 and December 31.
Items bought online or in store as gifts from October 15 onwards can be returned until January 31 however some things including pierced earrings, food or alcohol items can’t be returned unless faulty.
H. Samuel has an extended returns policy for items purchased between October 26 and December 24, meaning you can return them for an exchange or refund up to and including January 30.
However returns and refunds won’t be accepted on December 26, 27 and 28. Items must be unworn, in ‘pristine condition’ with the original purchase receipt and in original packaging.
Purchases made online or in store from October 28 to December 24 can be returned for a refund or exchange up to and including January 30 2016. However returns and refunds won’t be issued on December 26, 27 and 28.
With online orders, you can return items free of charge by contacting its customer service team for pre-paid postage labels.
Up to three months
With John Lewis you get a whopping 90 days to return unwanted items. However as with any returns, items must be in a ‘resaleable’ condition which John Lewis says means undamaged, unused and complete with all its original packaging and labels.
If you’ve got the receipt or delivery note you’ll get a refund. Without the original receipt or delivery note, you’ll get a gift card to the value of the last selling price of the item.
Christmas purchases between October 31 and December 24 can be returned until January 31 along with a receipt. Sale items are ‘exchange’ only and refunds or exchanges won’t be processed on Boxing Day.
Anything bought online from October 25 until Christmas can be exchanged in store or a refund given on a gift card up until January 22. With online postal returns you’ll get an eVoucher.
Its standard 30 day returns policy is extended with items bought between October 24 and December 24 able to be returned up until January 21 for a full refund. Shop bought items should be returned to store.
With online orders, refunds will be given providing items are sent to its warehouse. If items are returned to a store, an exchange or gift card will be offered.
An extension to its usual returns rules means any orders placed after November 1 can be returned up until January.
Its standard 30 day returns policy is extended to run from the start of November to the end of January. Refunds will be given if you’ve got the receipt or exchanges without.
Purchases made between November 3 and Christmas Eve can be returned until January 14. Return the unopened product with proof of purchase for a full refund or exchange.
End of January
Most items usually have a 30 day returns limit, but its extended policy means items bought up until 31 December can be returned at any time before midnight on January 31.
You’ll usually get a refund on any outward postage, and depending on the item (typically shoes, clothes and accessories) you may get a refund for return postage too.
Mid January
An extended returns policy means orders placed between November 23 and December 24 can be returned until January 25. Returns are free for UK customers and you can return items in store, via the Post Office by attaching a pre-paid label, or through one of 5,800 ‘Collect Plus’ locations.
Items bought in store or online can be returned or exchanged until January 18, however delivery charges are non-refundable unless the item is faulty or an online order cancelled within the statutory 14 days cancellation period.
Will exchange or refund any item bought either online or in store until January 17 providing it’s returned in ‘saleable’ condition with the original labels attached.
Without a receipt you may get an exchange worth the most recent selling price.
Thirty days or less......
For store or online purchases you’ve got 30 days to return brand new unwanted items, with some exceptions including personalised, perishable or digital products where the seal or shrink wrap has been unsealed.
You can return online items to stores free of charge, but returns by post are at your own expense.
Returns within 28 days in original condition and packaging along with an itemised till receipt for full refund or exchange. However this doesn’t apply to products that have been specially ordered or made to size.
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