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By Suzanne Blake
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Walmart has updated its return policy ahead of the holiday season.
Under the new rules, most items purchased in-store or online from October 1 through December 31 are returnable until January 31.
Why It Matters
Shoppers could increasingly turn to Walmart to make gift purchases for friends and family. Because many people won’t open their gifts until the day of Christmas or after, Walmart’s adjusted policy could allow for greater flexibility.
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What To Know
Under Walmart’s traditional return policy, items can be returned up to 90 days after the purchase or upon receipt.
This applies to both in store purchase as well as online transactions. However, products purchased from dealers or resellers and not Walmart or Walmart.com directly aren't eligible for return, refund or exchange.
For the holiday season, though, products purchased from October 1 to December 31 have additional leeway, and you can return them until January 31.
“Walmart is competing with Amazon and is extending their return policies to gain back market share as return policies are often factors when purchasing items,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek.
Some items sold and shipped by a Marketplace seller may be returned within 30 days.
For specifically Consumer Electronics products, these items must be returned within 30 days. And wireless phones are returnable within 14 days.
Newsweek reached out to Walmart for comment via email.
What People Are Saying
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: “This shift allows for consumer flexibility and choice. Online retail is becoming more of a normalcy in the U.S. as retailers are trying to increase online sales in a weakening economy.”
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “Walmart’s holiday return policy is one of the more generous ones from major retailers, encompassing most items the store sells at its locations or online between October 1 and December 31. Customers have until January 31 to return any items purchased within the time period, which gives them a few additional weeks to decide on keeping or letting go of purchases made during the holiday season.”
What Happens Next
Shoppers should stay informed of their gift purchase store’s return policies and keep in mind Walmart’s Marketplace rules could slightly differ.
“It's also important to note that Wal-Mart's online store - like other retailers - now has many items for sale through their Marketplace, which includes third-party sellers,” Beene said. “These sellers may have different return policies, and customers will have to verify what those are separately from the company's.”
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