The Abercrombie & Fitch return policy is getting worse, there I said it. Whether you’re buying an item online or gifting A&F clothing this season, there’s always the potential you may need to make a return. It’s important to fully understand their return policy, especially as it relates to the fees they charge for returns via the mail. Read on to learn the exact things to keep in mind, many of which are not mentioned anywhere on their website.

How Many Return Days Does Abercrombie Allow?

30 days.

You have 30 days after purchase to return your Abercrombie item(s) to receive a full refund.

Don’t forget to bring your original sales receipt when making the return.

Do I Need My Receipt?

Yes.

If you want money returned to your original form of payment, YOU NEED your original A&F sales receipt.

As of September 2024, Abercrombie will NO LONGER take back or exchange your order without a receipt, invoice, or order confirmation.

Previously, if you DIDN’T have your receipt, your return will be considered an “after 30 days” return and you’d get store credit in the form of an Abercrombie e-gift card. No more.

See Also: American Eagle Return Policy: All Your Questions Answered

PRO TIP: “AFTER 30 DAYS” POLICY HAS CHANGED

Abercrombie now requires you to be a member of their myA&F VIP rewards program to have any “return recourse” after 30 days. Specifically, you’ll be able to return items for store merchandise ONLY for up to 60 days after purchase. On day 61 you’re stuck with it, even as a VIP member. Terrible policy.

Can Items Be Worn or Laundered?

No.

You technically cannot return items that have been worn or laundered as this will impact the original condition of the item.

That being said, if you wore the item, but still have the original tags on it, you can potentially return the item as long as it maintained its original condition.

What Happens if I Lost My Receipt?

Unfortunately, you cannot return your purchase without your original receipt, invoice, or order confirmation.

Luckily, if you made an online purchase that you’d like to return, you can easily locate your receipt/ order confirmation that was sent to your email.

PRO TIP: RETURN ITEMS FROM MULITPLE ORDERS TOGETHER

If you have more than 1 item to return, and they came from different orders, Abercrombie will let you return them together in the same box. This is a great way to make sure you only get hit by the $7 fee once. To make it happen, be sure to include the invoice for each order but only create a digital return for ONE of the orders. Otherwise Abercrombie is going to think your returning the items separately.

Does Abercrombie Offer an Extended Holiday Return Period?

Yes.

Abercrombie does have an extended holiday return policy.

If you made a purchase anytime between November 1 – December 21, you can make a return and still receive a full refund anytime up until January 31 of the new year.

Are Any Products Not Returnable?

Yes.

The following items are not eligible for return or exchange at Abercrombie:

– Face Masks

– Personalized Items

– Final Sale Items

– Custom Products

For some other questionable items like women’s swim bottoms, intimates, and more, as long as the product has its hygiene liner still attached to the product, and the original tags are on the item, you can return them.

The key is to have the A&F product in the same condition as when you originally bought it.

See Also: J.Crew Return Policy: It’s Kinda Confusing But We Make Sense Of It

PRO TIP: 14-DAY PRICE ADJUSTMENT POLICY

If you notice that Abercrombie lowered the price on something you bought, you don’t need to return and rebuy at the lower price because they offer a 14-day price adjustment. It’s also worth mentioning that if you start a live chat, and you’re way beyond the 14 days, you stand a GREAT chance of them doing a 1-time courtesy price adjustment. From the Reddit thread linked above, it helped that the item was still in stock. Just hit them up via Live Chat and you stand a great chance of getting some money back.

Do Online Orders Have the Same Policy?

Yes.

Online orders at Abercrombie follow a similar return policy in that you have up to 30 days from the Estimated Delivery Date -OR- Actual Delivery Date, whichever date is later.

As noted above, only VIP Members get the extra 30 days to make a return. BUT…from day 31 to day 60 you’ll be stuck with store credit.

The credit will be sent as an e-gift card sent to the email address that you used to make the order.

PRO TIP: TRY RETURNING FINAL SALE ITEMS IN-STORE

I have a friend who’s a HUGE Abercrombie fan and gave me this cool tip. He recently bought a couple Final Sale items online and unfortunately they didn’t fit. So on a whim, he tried to return them in-store with his shipping label and the employee gave him a full refund back to his credit card, no questions asked.

Can I Do an Exchange on an Online Return?

Yes.

To make it happen you NEED to include the following with your online return:

1. Full Item Name.
2. Size requirement.
3. Color requirement.

Make sure you’re explicit about what you’re exchanging, especially if requesting a size and color different than the original A&F item purchased.

Who Pays Return Shipping Costs?

This is where their policy is not the best as YOU are responsible for return shipping costs.

$7 will be taken off your original refund amount to pay for the return shipping label costs.

Keep this in mind if you are deciding to make your return in-store vs. online.

Always opt for an in-store return if you live near an Abercrombie store.

Don’t Pay the $7 Return Shipping Fee

If your online order arrives, and the quality of the item is not what you thought it would be, DO NOT pay the $7 to return it.

Instead call them a 1-866-681-3115 and inform them of the issue and tell them they need to pay the return shipping charges and they should oblige.

The same goes for items with sizing and fit issues that are out of your control.

They should be on the hook for return shipping costs if the issue is on their side.

Don’t be afraid to call them and voice your concern.

How Do I Make an Online Order Return?

If you have no choice but to return online, you’ll need to follow the below steps.

1. Start your online return process by clicking HERE.

2. If you wish to track your return, consider using the return service. As mentioned earlier, the fee to use this service is $7 and will be deducted from your total refund amount.

3. Once you’ve securely attached your shipping label to your box with your return items inside, ship your order.

Keep in mind, it may take up to three weeks since you shipped your return before you receive your refund.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever had any issue with the Abercrombie return policy? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)