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
The Christmas returns policy at Footasylum applies to purchases made between 26th October and Christmas Eve. So long as they are returned in their original condition, including tags, and with a valid proof of purchase, you can return them until 7th January.
Fred Perry’s returns policy is a lengthy one, covering purchases made all the way back on 25th September up to 10th December. You can get a full refund or exchange until 7th January, slo long as items are unworn, in saleable condition and have proof of purchase.
You can only make returns at Goldsmiths until 5th January, and the items need to be unused, in the original packaging, and with proof of purchase.
The policy applies to purchases made from 1st October.
You can exchange or get a credit note for items purchased at House of Fraser after 31st October. They need to be returned unworn and in saleable condition up until 7th January.
Both online and in-store purchases can be returned until 5th January.
The extended returns policy applies to items bought between 30th October and 8th December.
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 8th January to take back items purchased between 1st November and 11th December.
Unwanted purchases from Sports Direct can be exchanged or traded for a credit note until 7th January.
The policy covers items bought after 31st October.
Until mid-January
If you’re looking to take something back to Asos, then you have until 15th January to do so. The extended returns policy applies to items bought between 13th November and 18th December.
At GHD, you can return items until the 14th January. The Christmas returns policy covers orders placed between 2nd October and Christmas Eve.
There is an extended returns policy in place at MandM Direct for Christmas.
It applies to orders made on or after 4th September, giving you until 15th January to return items. Purchases outside of this time have 28 days in order to be returned.
The returns policy covers purchases at Pandora from 1st November, and allows you to get a refund up until 14th January.
Be warned, outlet stores are not included.
At River Island you can return items for a refund or gift card until 14th January. The returns policy covers purchases from 26th October onwards.
Until late January
Items purchased between 29th September and Christmas day can be returned until 31st January.
Most items bought between now and Christmas Day can be returned all the way up to 31st January.
The Boots extended returns policy for Christmas applies to items bought online between 1st October, and gives you until 31st January to take them back. They need to be returned in their original condition and unused.
The Dunelm returns policy for Christmas applies to purchases made between 12th November and Christmas Eve. They can be returned or exchanged until 28th January.
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 1st October and Christmas Eve can be returned for an exchange or refund up until 23rd January.
You have until 31st January to take advantage of the extended returns policy at H&M. It applies to purchases made between 14th October and Christmas Day.
The Halfords’ festive returns policy applies to items bought between 1st October and Christmas Eve. You can return them all the way up to 31st January.
You can return items to HMV until 31st January. The refund or exchange policy applies to items bought in November or December.
Refunds will be given at any time between 1st November and 23rd January at JD Sports, so long as the items are accompanied with the dispatch note.
You have until 28th January to return Christmas purchases at John Lewis. This applies to any purchases 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.
With Lenovo you can return anything you’ve bought since 1st November until 31st January.
The returns policy at M&S covers purchases made online or in store between 12th October and Christmas Eve.
Items can be returned until 28th January.
You can get a refund until 31st January on items bought at Matalan between 1st October and Christmas Eve. You will need to have your receipt.
You can return items to Primark until 31st January, so long as they are in saleable condition and with the original receipt.
It covers purchases made on or after 17th October.
There’s an extended returns policy at Smyths Toys over Christmas. It applies to items purchased from 1st September onwards, and you can return them until 31st January.
The policy at Ted Baker applies to items bought between 28th October and Christmas Eve.
You can get a refund up to 24th January.
At The White Company you can get return or exchange unwanted purchases made between 11th October and Christmas Eve right up until 31st January.
You have until the end of January to return unwanted purchases to Waterstones.
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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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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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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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