Mixed paint. Sweaty gym gear. An opened bottle of wine. Plenty of retailers will accept returns of items like these and more. It pays to understand a store’s return rules, whether you shop in-person or online.
There are also informal practices and individual decisions left to managers and customer service staff. It never hurts to ask. Even a smashed wine bottle can sometimes be replaced at no charge if you approach it the right way.
Who Would’ve Thought You Could Return That?
1. Worn Athleta Activewear
Forget the old mall rule that clothing must still have the original tags to be returned.
Activewear brand Athleta provides a notable Give-It-a-Workout-Guarantee. Shoppers can actually wear pieces for a workout (or a shopping trip) and if the fit or performance disappoints, return them for a full refund within 60 days.
2. Opened Bath & Body Works Soaps and Lotions
The fragranced chain will take back even opened items — in other words, used products — for a full refund within 90 days if you have a receipt.
Without a receipt, you may receive a merchandise credit based on the product’slowest selling price.
3. Custom-Mixed Paint
Home improvement stores Lowe’s and Home Depot will let you return mixed paint if you try it on your walls and don’t like the color. Typically you can exchange it for a different shade.
4. Assembled or Partly Assembled IKEA Pieces
As part of IKEA’s new buy-back initiative for gently used goods, assembled furniture, partially assembled pieces and other used items can be sold back to the company. You won’t receive full retail, but you’ll recoup some value rather than discarding or donating it.
The buy-back scheme supports Ikea’s aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. It will issue 30% to 50% of the original product price in gift cards depending on condition.
Use the retailer’s estimator to get a sense of what your item could fetch, then bring it into the nearest store.
5. Dead Shrubs
Struggling to keep landscaping alive? Good news: Home Depot and Lowe’s accept returns of dead trees and shrubs up to a year after purchase. Just hold on to your receipt. This policy often applies to perennials as well.
6. Used Makeup
Many retailers that sell cosmetics allow customers to sample products and then return the remainder for a gift card, store credit or exchange if the look isn’t right.
You can return cosmetics to retailers including upscale stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Sephora, as well as everyday outlets such as Walgreens, Target and CVS.
So go ahead and experiment with that midnight-blue shadow or the volumizing mascara.
7. Food Purchases
Yep. If you finish a bag of clementines and find a few are mushy or moldy, return the bag for a store credit or refund. Most grocers will replace produce that isn’t as fresh as expected once you bring it back home.
Some grocery stores also accept opened food items — a bag of chips, a brownie mix, or a container of hummus — simply because the flavor wasn’t right for you. Trader Joe’s has a reputation for encouraging customers to try products and return them for a store credit, exchange or even a full refund.
8. Opened Wine Bottles
Often it’s handled case-by-case. Many independent wine merchants and some chains will accept an opened bottle if you don’t like it.
At Total Wine & More, the largest independent wine retailer, returns of opened products are at the store manager’s discretion, according to company staff. Frequently a manager will offer a replacement with a similarly priced item or a store credit.
Don’t expect a refund if only a sip remains. But if you’ve had a glass or two and it’s not to your taste, recap it and begin the return process.
9. Personalized School Uniforms from Lands’ End
Lands’ End, a longtime online retailer and school uniform supplier, provides a useful benefit for busy parents.
You can return school uniforms personalized with your institution’s logo for Lands’ End merchandise credit. That’s especially helpful if you ordered several pieces for different children and the sizes aren’t right.
10. Nearly Anything From Warehouse Clubs
Beyond low prices, Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club have very forgiving return policies, covering open food items and even offering a refund on membership fees if you’re not satisfied.
Costco and Sam’s Club place no time limit on most returns, though there are exceptions for certain high-value electronics, major appliances, tires, tobacco, alcohol and other categories. BJ’s allows returns within a year.
And Then There’s Some Leeway
Maybe you’ve missed Zappos’ 12-month shoe return window by a few weeks. Or dropped a $15 bottle of Sonoma-Cutrer on the pavement, shattering it outside the store. Or you simply can’t find the gift receipt.
Even when a return policy doesn’t clearly allow a refund or replacement, it’s worth asking.
7 Tips For Returning Items That Aren’t Technically Returnable
1. Ask gently. Don’t demand.
Admit that you realize it’s a long shot but you’d like to try. Your goal is to recover some money or value for an unwanted purchase, not to win an argument.
2. Use humor.
A lighthearted remark about your misfortune or forgetfulness can help. Again, make it clear the mistake was yours, not the store’s.
3. A receipt helps a lot.
Even if it’s crumpled and a little stained, a receipt shows you’re not attempting fraud. If the purchase was online, hunt for a confirmation email if the printed receipt is missing.
4. Propose a store credit or exchange.
That’s more likely to be granted than a cash refund or credit card reversal.
5. If at first you’re denied, try again.
If the first staffer says no or lacks authority, politely ask if you can explain your case to a supervisor.
6. Be courteous.
Don’t blame the frontline employee. This isn’t a good-cop/bad-cop routine. Acknowledge everyone’s efforts to provide a positive customer experience.
7. Say thank you regardless of the outcome.
If you walk away with a refund after requesting an exception, be sure to thank the person who approved it. Even if the answer is no, thank them for their time and patience.
From Personal Experience
Yes, I once walked back into Publix carrying a plastic bag with a broken bottle of Chardonnay minutes after buying it. I showed the damage and my receipt to the customer service clerk, explained it was the final straw of a rough day, and asked if they replace broken items. She smiled and told me to pick out another bottle.
I also rediscovered an unworn pair of $50 shoes that didn’t fit under my bed 14 months after I bought them on Zappos. After trying to sell them online with no luck, I checked Zappos’ policy and saw it offers a 12-month return window. I called, explained I’d intended to return them earlier, and the representative kindly emailed me a prepaid return label and issued store credit. The shoes were still in their original box and clearly unused, which helped.
Turn Store or Merchandise Credit into Cash
If you receive gift cards or store credit after a return without a receipt, you can still convert that value into cash. Depending on where you sell them, you might get up to about 85% of the gift card’s face value in cash.
Read the fine print before selling your gift cards. Some reputable third-party resale sites include CardCash, GiftCash and ClipKard.
Margaret Lane is a senior writer for Savinly.
