Now is the season for gift returns. What to know about Amazon, Target, Walmart policies

It's great to get a gift. What's even better? Exchanging that gift for one that fits better or something you actually wanted.

As the annual holiday gift exchanges wind down, it's time for the second round of exchanges – the returning of gifts to stores or online retailers for something else.

Of course, this happens year-round with returns expected to account for about $890 billion in 2024, about 17% of annual sales, according to a report released earlier this month by the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, a UPS company.

Holiday gift returns outpace those of the rest of the year and retailers expect the return rate to increase about 17%, the report found.

Throughout 2024, retailers fought for sales from inflation-weary customers in the shortened holiday season. To kickstart the action, Amazon, Walmart, Target and other retailers held early Black Friday events to help drive traffic.

Now, Amazon, Walmart, Target and other retailers are preparing for the influx of customers with holiday gift returns.

Here's what you need to know about the return policies at Amazon, Walmart and Target.

Amazon return policy

Amazon's Returns Center allows gift recipients to return items marked as a gift at the time of purchase. The digital gift receipt will have a 17-digit order number. If you don't have the order ID or tracking number, the gift purchaser will need to contact Amazon.

Gift recipients will get a refund for the price of the gift as an Amazon.com Gift Card. If you wanted an exchange, you can reorder the item you wanted after you get the gift card amount.

For most items purchased between Nov. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024, you have until Jan. 31, 2025 to return them under Amazon's extended holiday return window. (Apple brand products purchased during that time period can be returned through Jan. 15, 2025.)During the rest of the year, Amazon.com and most sellers on Amazon.com regularly offer returns for items within 30 days of receipt of shipment. Items that cannot be returned include:

• Hazardous materials such as flammable liquids or gases.

• Devices including computer laptops, desktops, and Kindles more than 30 days after delivery.

• Digital goods including downloadable software products, open software, online subscriptions after you accessed them.

• Gift cards (except as required by law); prepaid game cards (for example, World of Warcraft, Xbox 360 Live, Wii Points).

• Collectibles such as Trading Card games and Funko Pop figures and accessories.

• Other items include Amazon Fresh and Grocery Products (food and pet food products, for example); purchases through the Amazon Bulk Liquidations Store (these are final sale and not returnable); and discounted items that are marked as "final sale."

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Target return policy

Target allows returns on most items within 90 days. Target Circle members and card holders have an extra 30 days to return most items. The company allows returns on store-branded items for one year.

Exceptions to this policy include:

• Non-returnable items

  • Trading cards and trading card accessories

  • Open or defective collectibles

  • Personalized items and digital downloads

  • Opened/unsealed breast pumps

• Items eligible for exchange if opened

  • Music, movies, video games and software must be exchanged for the same title

  • Airbeds must be exchanged for a similar item

• Items that may have a shorter window for returns or exchanges

  • Electronics and entertainment items, excluding Apple and Beats products, must be returned or exchanged within 30 days

  • Apple and Beats products, including mobile phones, must be returned or exchanged within 14 days

  • Mobile phones must be returned or exchanged within 14 days

  • Holiday and limited-time-only collections may have modified return policies

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Walmart return policy

Walmart offers returns on most items purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 31 or the standard 90 days after purchase. Exceptions to this policy include:

• Non-returnable items

  • Diabetes monitoring systems

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Weapons and ammunition

  • Gas Powered Recreational Vehicles

  • Trading cards

  • Precious Metals

• Items eligible for exchange only, if opened

  • Unlocked opened wireless phones within 14 days

  • Drones, Projectors within 30 days

  • Air beds and air mattresses within 90 days

  • Durable medical equipment within 90 days

• Items that may have a shorter window for returns or exchanges

  • Most wireless phones are returnable within 14 days

  • Most consumer electronics are returnable within 30 days

  • Most electronic bicycles are returnable within 30 days

  • Most PC components are returnable within 30 days

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Returning gifts: What are the policies for Amazon, Target, Walmart?