Lowes.com is like a lot of big box stores. They’ll accept your return by mail, but you’re still on the hook for shipping and handling. However, if items are defective or damaged in any way, they do waive those fees.

Overstock.com has a pretty standard holiday return policy. But unlike Amazon ,which provides more specific options for the gift recipient, Overstock focuses on explaining which items can’t be returned - including unlikely holiday gifts like swimsuits and mattresses, to more obvious choices including perfume and factory-sealed sports collectible sets.

PotteryBarn.com’s return policy reads like a love letter to its customers. Just the wording makes you feel all warm and fuzzy about the unlikely prospect of returning one of their items. But like many of these sites, it is clear that the Magna Carta of documents that any gift recipient needs to keep track of is the shipping receipt which will have important information, like order numbers, that will help with the return process either via mail or in-store. Also, monogrammed items are never returnable. Duh.

Target.com has the immediate option of indicating whether or not you are the gift buyer or gift recipient. The lesson here is to always have your order number on hand for virtually any online transaction, including returns and exchanges. If you don’t have it, you’ve just replaced the wasted time of standing in line of the returns and exhanges department with waiting on the phone for customer support. Your call.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5