Return policies more lenient this year

Consumer World has a great post up about which retailers are softening their return policies to accomodate people who want to return gifts. Here are the changes in return policies from six major retailers.

Best Buy lengthened its holiday return period for most items by one to three weeks until January 31, but computers still only have their standard 14-day return period. That means it is already too late to return any PC bought on Black Friday.

Target now allows gifts to be exchanged without a receipt, as long as the total of such unreceipted returns does not exceed $70 in a year. Merchandise can also be exchanged without a receipt for something else in the same department of equal or greater value.

Wal-mart added an extended holiday return period for items normally subject to its shorter 15/30/45 day return period, such as computers and cameras. Now those return periods first begin to run on December 26, rather than from the purchase date (November 15 or after).

Sears doubled its holiday return period for electronics, software and mattresses to 60 days.

Office Depot added a formal extended holiday return period until January 19.

The post also covers quirky return policies and lays out the return policies of 15 retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Buy.com, Costco, Kohls, Macy’s, Marshalls, Office Depot, Overstock.com, Sears, Staples, TJ Maxx, Target, Toys R Us, and Walmart. Keep reading on Consumer World to get those details.