Christmas shopping returns policies at John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, ASOS and more

Make sure you know how long you have to return unwanted food and gifts this Christmas to ensure you're not left out of pocket.

How long do you have to return any Christmas gifts this year?

It’s always a good idea to check, since inevitably some of the gifts we buy won’t quite hit the mark.

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 an exchange. 

Most shops offer a 'goodwill' refund policy that allows you to take back items just because you've changed your mind.

But it can be difficult to keep track of how long you have to return anything you no longer want.

We look at the biggest high street shops to see how much time you have for different retailers, ranked according to the amount of time you have.

If you're looking for a specific store, simply press the 'control' and 'f' keys on your keyboard and start typing in the name.

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Until early January

Footasylum

The Christmas returns policy at Footasylum applies to purchases made between 4 November and 5 January. So long as they are returned in their original condition, including tags, and with a valid proof of purchase, you can return them until 5 January.

Fred Perry

Fred Perry’s returns policy is a lengthy one, covering purchases made all the way back on 27 September up to 15 December. You can get a full refund or exchange until 19 January, so long as items are unworn, in saleable condition and have proof of purchase.

Goldsmiths

You can only make returns at Goldsmiths until 5 January, and the items need to be unused, in the original packaging, and with proof of purchase.

The policy applies to purchases made from 30 September. 

House of Fraser

You can exchange or get a credit note for items purchased at House of Fraser after 28 October. They need to be returned unworn and in saleable condition up until 5th January.

New Look

Both online and in-store purchases can be returned until 5 January.

The extended returns policy applies to items bought between 28 October and 8 December.

Office

If you need to return an item to Office, then you can make use of its extended returns policy over the festive period. 

You have until 6 January to take back items purchased between 11 November and 8 December.

Sports Direct

Unwanted purchases from Sports Direct can be exchanged or traded for a credit note until 5 January.

The policy covers items bought after 28 October.

Until mid-January

Asos

If you’re looking to take something back to Asos, then you have until 13 January to do so. The extended returns policy applies to items bought between 18th November and 16th December.

GHD

At GHD, you can return items until 14 January. The Christmas returns policy covers orders placed between 1 October and Christmas Eve.

MandM Direct

There is an extended returns policy in place at MandM Direct for Christmas.

It applies to orders made on or after 9 September, giving you until 15 January to return items. Purchases outside of this time have 28 days in order to be returned.

Pandora

The returns policy covers purchases at Pandora from 1 November to 13 December and allows you to get a refund up until 12 January.

Be warned, outlet stores are not included.

River Island

At River Island you can return items for a refund or gift card until 14t anuary. The returns policy covers purchases from 22 October onwards.

Until late January

Argos

Items purchased between 27 September and Christmas day can be returned until 31 January.

Amazon

Most items bought between 1 November and Christmas Day can be returned all the way up to 31 January. 

Boots

The Boots extended returns policy for Christmas applies to items bought online between 1 October, and gives you until 31 January to take them back. They need to be returned in their original condition and unused.

Dunelm

The Dunelm returns policy for Christmas applies to purchases made between 1 November and Christmas Eve. They can be returned or exchanged until 3t January.

H. Samuel

If you’ve bought the wrong jewellery for a loved one at H. Samuel, then you can make use of the extended returns policy for festive purchases. Items bought between 1 October and Christmas Eve can be returned for an exchange or refund up until 23 January.

H&M

You have until 31 January to take advantage of the extended returns policy at H&M. It applies to purchases made between 14 October and Christmas Day.

External brands and special collections are excluded from the extended return period.

Halfords

The Halfords’ festive returns policy applies to items bought between 1 October and Christmas Eve. You can return them all the way up to 31 January.

HMV

You can return items to HMV until 31 January. The refund or exchange policy applies to items bought in November or December.

JD Sports

Refunds will be given at any time between 3rd November and 6 January at JD Sports, so long as the items are accompanied with the dispatch note.

However, the company says it is unable to process refunds or exchanges in store between the dates of 26 and 28 of December.
 

John Lewis

You have until 23rd January to return Christmas purchases at John Lewis. This applies to any purchases from 26 September up to Christmas Eve. 

Gift receipts are offered on smaller items bought online at the checkout, while you can ask for one for all purchases in store.

Items will need to be unused and in their original condition, including with all labels and tags.

Lenovo

With Lenovo you can return anything you’ve bought since 1 November until 31 January.

M&S store. (Image: Shutterstock/Ajit Wick)

Marks & Spencer

The returns policy at M&S covers purchases made online or in store between 10 October and Christmas Eve.

Items can be returned until 26 January.

Matalan

You can get a refund until 31 January on items bought at Matalan between 1 October and Christmas Eve. You will need to have your receipt.

Primark

You can return items to Primark until 31 January, so long as they are in saleable condition and with the original receipt.

It covers purchases made on or after 15 October.

Smyths Toys

There’s an extended returns policy at Smyths Toys over Christmas. It applies to items purchased from 2 September onwards, and you can return them until 31 January.

Ted Baker

The policy at Ted Baker applies to items bought between 29 October and Christmas Eve. 

You can get a refund up to 18 January.

The White Company

At The White Company you can get return or exchange unwanted purchases made between 16 October and Christmas Eve right up until 31 January.

Waterstones

You have until the end of January to return unwanted purchases to Waterstones.

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Woman reading book. (Image: Shutterstock)

Things to watch out for

Outlet stores

A couple of brands, such as Marks and Spencer, won't allow customers to return products bought in outlet stores to their regular stores, so keep that in mind when buying at outlet stores that are a little further afield.

Sale items

Different retailers have very different policies when it comes to sale items, so it is always a good idea to ask when buying a product if it's possible to return it if it's not quite right.

For example, some won't allow customers to return sale items at all but will offer an exchange.

Other retailers allow customers to return sale items, but only give them a shorter window to do so, instead of the usual 28-day time frame for regular purchases.

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Supermarket trolley. (Image: Shutterstock)

Can I get a refund at a supermarket?

With a lot of us likely to be spending more in supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas, the chances of us buying something we don't really want are a lot higher.

But can you return food? And why are you dissatisfied with what you bought?

Here we explore the refund policies of the major supermarkets.

If you've changed your mind 

The refund policy on items that you've changed your mind about is fairly standard across all of the big supermarkets.

Customers are able to return products (excluding those listed below) within 30 days of purchase as long as they are in their original packaging, are in a resalable condition and are still within their use-by date.

Aldi gives customers 60 days to consider whether or not they want to return a product, but it must still be in the original packaging and in a resalable condition.

Items that typically won't be refunded by any supermarkets unless faulty include:

  • Baby food;
  • Milk;
  • Chilled and frozen products;
  • Fireworks;
  • Entertainment items;
  • Alcohol;
  • Tobacco products;
  • Pierced jewellery;
  • Cosmetics;
  • Personalised items;
  • Gift cards.

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Make up. (Image: Shutterstock)

What if my item is faulty?

If you get home and your item turns out to be faulty, you are entitled to return it, regardless of whether or not it is in the original packaging. 

This is only applicable to foods that are not beyond their use-by date.

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What if I tried the product and didn't like it?

This seems to be a lesser-known secret about shopping in supermarkets – you can sometimes get a refund purely based on the fact that you didn't like something.

But this is only applicable to own-brand products in certain supermarkets.

In Sainsbury's, this is known as their TRY Promise (applicable for 30 days after purchase) and you're entitled to a full refund if you don't enjoy what you bought.

You just need to speak to a member of staff in store for a full refund, or if you do it over the phone, you will be reimbursed with vouchers.

While not having a specifically named policy, Marks and Spencer will also happily refund any customer who has bought an M&S food product and is dissatisfied with it in any way.

For each of these supermarkets, this is only applicable to food products and you need to have your receipt handy.

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