Financial Planning

23 Stores With Great Return Policies

Written by Mint.com
Published Dec 16, 2013
5 min read
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Shopping online is incredibly easy and a huge time saver, but if you get something and decide that it’s not right for you, it’s a bummer to have to shell out cash to return it.

More and more retailers are wising up that if they offer customers free returns, we’ll be more likely to order from them—over and over again.

Here are some of the stores that make returning as easy—and affordable—as possible, as well as info on their shipping fees.

Amazon.com

Many orders over $25 are shipped free (if the product is from another seller, however, there will more than likely be a fee).

If you shop Amazon clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, luggage, accessories and sunglasses, look for the “Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping and Free Returns” or “Eligible for Free Returns” with a Prime logo, in which case, you can order, try on and return without paying a fee as long as you do so within 30 days.

American Apparel

Free budget shipping on orders over $50, otherwise it costs $5.

Free returns on all orders within 45 days, except swimwear, bodysuits, unitards, intimates, cosmetics and, most important to note, sale items.

Apple Store

Drooling over the latest iPad? Orders over $50 quality for free shipping, and most items quality for free returns within 14 calendar days, except iPhones, for which you get 30.

Items ineligible for returns include opened software, gift cards and Apple print products.

Bloomingdale’s

Free shipping on orders over $150, and free returns on most items, excluding cards, furniture, mattresses, mirrors, lamps and wall art.

Clarks

Free shipping, free returns, no minimums.

How awesome is that policy?

Costco

Buying online? Return in store, or contact Costco and the store will send you a prepaid UPS label.

Note: You’ll have to bring the box to a UPS drop-off location.

Diapers.com

Free shipping on orders over $35, and a flat $4.99 for anything under. You can return within one year of sale date—Diapers.com picks up the tab for the return.

(Note the return fine print: “All we ask is that the product is not used or expired, is in the same condition you received it and is in the original box and/or packaging.”)

eBags

Free shipping and free returns within 60 days from the receipt of shipment, so long as the items are in the condition you received them, have their hangtags attached and are in their original box.

Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic/Athleta

Orders of $50 or more qualify for free shipping (including gift cards!) from all stores within the Gap family.

Use a prepaid shipping label to make returns for free.

Hugo Boss

Free shipping and free returns within 30 days when you use the prepaid UPS domestic return shipping label included with your order.

Items must be new, unworn, unwashed, unaltered and have original tags attached.

Justice

If your tween doesn’t like something she received from Justice, she can return it within 90 days for free with the prepaid shipping label.

Kate Spade

Shipping is free, as are returns using the prepaid return label. Full-price merchandise must be sent back within 30 days of purchase, sale items within 14.

Most merchandise is refundable as long as products are unused, unworn and in good condition with original hangtags and all original packaging intact.

ModCloth

Free shipping on orders over $50. Under $50 is a flat rate of $4.

Free returns within 30 days on most purchases, excluding products such as undergarments, cosmetics, and final sale items. Items must be unworn and undamaged.

New Balance

Orders over $75 quality for free shipping.

Free returns with prepaid shipping label within 30 days, no questions asked.

Nordstrom

The store has always been famous for making returns easy, so it’s no surprise they do the same online.

Free shipping, free returns, no fine print.

Piperlime

Also owned by Gap Inc., Piperlime offers free shipping on all orders and free returns within 30 days.

Sephora

They have good rates for shipping (over $50 is free, orders under $50 are only $5.95).

Returns are free within 60 days, whether by mail or in stores.

ShoeBuy

Free shipping, free returns, no sales tax, and many items ship the same day.

Timberland

Free shipping on orders over $100. Problem with fit or style?

Return unworn, unused merchandise within 60 days of shipment of your order. They provide a pre-paid shipping label for free returns.

Urban Outfitters

Free shipping on orders over $50; $10 for orders under that amount. Free return shipping labels are included with most—but not all—packages.

If you do quality for free shipping, you can schedule a free carrier pickup with the United States Postal Service for the next business day.

You have 30 days to make a return for a refund. After that time, you get store credit.

Zappos

Free shipping no matter what, free returns for a full year and super fast delivery.

Generally, though, orders will arrive within four to five business days, unless one item in your order is clothing, in which case, if that order is placed before 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on a business day it will be delivered the next business day.

Note: Most stores with physical locations will let you order online but return in person with no problem as long as you have a receipt and it is within the allowed time frame, and the items are unused and unworn.

What did we miss? Which online store do you think offers the best returns? Does knowing you can return for free make you more likely to order from an online store?

Andrea Pyros is a writer for The Real Deal, the online magazine by RetailMeNot.com, the largest digital coupon website in the U.S.