7 Retailers With the Best Online Return Policies
These brands offer the best policies in the business, from free return shipping to extended time limits.
Shopping online is great...until you have to make a return. You often have to deal with return shipping fees and restocking fees, and by the time the return is actually credited back to your card, it’s often way less than what you spent in the first place. And that’s if the retailer even accepts an online return.
For home decor and furniture, sometimes things just don’t work out. Maybe the color is off or the texture is wrong. Maybe it’s a sofa or a mattress that isn’t as comfortable as the online reviews say. But returning home items is much more difficult than other wares online. So, we’ve shopped around and read the fine print for the best return policies, and we’ve even found companies with amazing return policies on big-ticket items. Read on to see the top brands with amazing return rules.
BUY IT: Glass Door Cabinet, $349.00
IKEA is hands down the best furniture retailer for online returns. The Swedish company has a "no-nonsense return policy" offering customers "365 days to change your mind." That’s an entire year! Even better? IKEA will refund your delivery fee if the return is processed within two weeks. That’s a pretty generous window of time for big-ticket items.
BUY IT: Eliot Reversible Sectional, $1,959 - $2,239 (Up to 30% off)
Not to be outdone by IKEA, Joybird offers a similar policy on furniture. You have a full year to return and, if you return an item in 14 days, Joybird will pay for the return shipping. That’s a game changer because shipping costs for furniture can get $$$$. This means that for commitment-phobes you can change your mind on trends without worrying about losing money on a return.
BUY IT: Casper Sleep Mattress, $595 - $1,092.17
Most mattress companies offer a 30-day or 60-day window for returns because you actually have to sleep on a mattress for a month or two to see if it’s a good fit. This is referred to as the "break-in period." But what most mattress companies don’t tell you is that if you do return a broken-in mattress, you have to pay a restocking fee. It’s a catch-22. If you wait to see if you like the mattress, you’ll break it in. And breaking it in is the only way to know if you’ll like it. Also, sometimes that "restocking fee" is hundreds of dollars! Online mattress retailer Casper has grown a cult following and we can see why with their return policy alone. You get a risk-free 100-night trial. That’s more than three months and plenty of time to break-in a mattress. If you don’t like it after all that time, they’ll collect the mattress for you and refund the full amount. Bonus: You can shop for Casper products on Amazon, too.
BUY IT: Tufted Outdoor Cushion, $49.99
Michelle Madhok shops a lot and returns a lot. We asked the online shopping expert and founder of deals site shefinds.com for her favorite brands with amazing return policies, and her #1 pick is Nordstrom. "Nordstrom’s return policy clearly reads, 'There are no time limits for returns or exchanges.'" said Madhok. "The store asks that customers treat them 'fairly' and notes that 'from time to time' it may not accept a return," she added. Still, that’s an insanely generous return policy. Just try to hold onto your receipt. "As with every return made at, basically, every major store on the planet, having a receipt will always make the transaction smoother," said Madhok. "But if you accidentally tossed your receipt with the bag, Nordstrom may be able to track your purchase in other ways. If you qualify for a return, you will be asked to provide personal identification — and your return will be provided at the current price on a Nordstrom gift card."
BUY IT: Monogrammed Cane Weave Pillow, $19.95 (Originally $39.95)
Madhok is also a big fan of the 90-day "Guaranteed. Period." policy at Lands’ End and added that even if you’re past this three-month window, you can still get a store credit. "The really amazing thing," she said, "is that Lands’ End will take back products that have been monogrammed. This is one of the few stores that will do that."
BUY IT: Pendleton Throw Blanket, $189
Zappos offers one of the most seamless, no-fuss return policies around. You get a full year to return and they pay for the return shipping. And it’s not just shoes. Zappos carries a lot of home decor and gift brands such as ban.do and Pendleton.
BUY IT: Medallion Stripe Duvet Cover, $139.99-$179.99
Returning an item at Bed Bath & Beyond is already easy in-store with no time limits and no receipt needed--though you’ll only get store credit without a receipt. And returning online is just as easy with a prepaid shipping label and the same any-time return policy. This easy policy is great if you’re redecorating a room and change your mind on a style.
