I was always confused why Nordstrom Rack had a worse return policy than the amazing “Unlimited Days” return policy that you’ll find at Nordstrom. After researching this article, and talking to some Rack employees, I was blown away with how much they’ve had to crack down on “return abuse” the last couple years. So it brought up a lot of questions about their return policy that I know you’re going to want to know so let’s break it all down.

How Many Return Days Does Nordstrom Rack Give Me?

30 days for in-store purchases.

40 days for online purchases.

Nordstrom is one of the only stores that has a different return window for in-store purchases compared to online.

What Happens After 30 Days?

You’re NOT completely out of luck.

Nordstrom Rack will give you a gift card for the amount of the purchase for any late return received up to 60 days after the original purchase date.

After 60 days you’re up Schitt’s Creek without a paddle.

See Also: Macy’s Return Policy: We Explain It ALL On a Single Page

Do They Offer an Extended Holiday Return Period?

Yes.

The Rack is one of many stores that gives you more time to make a return around Christmas.

Specifically, for purchases made between 10/16/23 and 12/24/23 you have until 1/15/24 to make the return.

Can Items Be Worn or Laundered?

No.

Unlike Nordstrom, the Rack seems pretty strict about this one.

Stuff must still have the tag on it and not show any wear or be washed.

Did Their Policy Get Worse in Recent Years?

Yes.

In recent years, the Nordstrom Rack return policy has definitely gotten stricter, especially in terms of the days allowed for a return.

It wasn’t long ago that they offered 120 days, then it was cut to 60 days, now it’s down to 30 days.

It’s WAY worse that the Nordstrom return policy which offers UNLIMITED return days.

For whatever reason, the Rack was getting a lot of shoppers abusing their liberal return policy and were forced to crack down.

Is There Anything I Can’t Return?

Yes.

You CANNOT return any of the following to Nordstrom Rack:

– Beauty Items – Doesn’t matter if they’re opened or not, you CANNOT return them.

– Final Sale Items – Anything with a Final Sale tag cannot be returned under any circumstance.

– Non-Returnable Items – The same as Final Sale items.

– Fine Jewelry – This one is a little different and only applies to jewelry bought at Nordstrom.com or Nordstrom….these items CANNOT be returned to a Rack store.

– “Designer” Items – The same policy that applies to fine jewelry (see above) also applies to designer items.

See Also: Lululemon Return Policy: We Make Sense Of a Confusing Policy

Can I Return Stuff to a Regular Nordstrom Store?

Yes.

This one surprised me as I thought the Rack and a regular Nordstrom store carried different merchandise.

But alas, after a quick conversation with a Rack associate, I was told you absolutely CAN return your Rack purchase to ANY Nordstrom location.

What If I Lost My Receipt…Can the Rack “Look Up” My Order?

Probably.

If you have a free Nordy Club account they can look up the details of your purchase history and essentially use that info as your receipt.

It’s free to join so it’s kind of a no-brainer as it alleviates the need to hold on to your Rack and Nordstrom receipts.

Can I Return Stuff to Any Rack Location?

Yes.

As long as you’re within the return time window, you can return items to any Rack location across the country.

How Long Will It Take to Get My Money Back?

Depending on your credit card, you can expect it to take 3-5 business days to get your money back.

For online returns, it can take 10-14 business days to process your return and get your money returned to you.

How Do Online Returns Work?

To start your online return via the mail, you’ll want to VISIT THIS PAGE on the Rack website and start the process.

Note: You’ll need your order number to start the return.

You’ll find your order number on either your email confirmation or your packing slip.

Who Pays the Return Shipping Fees?

You do.

When you start an online return the Rack is gonna take $9.95 out of the return amount when they generate the label.

To avoid the shipping fee, take your return back to a Nordstrom Rack store for immediate service if at all possible.

It’s worth noting that I was told by a Nordstrom Rack chat representative that they’ll make “an exception to the fee” if the reason for the return is the fault of Nordstrom Rack.

Note: If for some reason you need to return an in-store purchase via the mail, it’s worth noting that the purchase is ineligible for a return UNLESS the purchase is available in your Nordy Club account via your Purchase History.

Can I Take My Online Return Back to a Rack Location?

Yes.

As noted above, this is the preferred method as you’ll avoid the $9.95 return shipping fee by doing so.

Can I Make an Exchange Rather Than a Return?

No.

Instead of making an even exchange, you’ll have to return the item and rebuy it in the correct size or color (for example).

Will Some Rack Cashiers Be Lenient on the 30 Days?

Yes.

I’ve read several accounts of Nordstrom Rack allowing the return if you’re just a few days over the 30 days.

Be polite and friendly and your success rate will rise even more.

Also, I’ve heard from some diehard Nordy shoppers who recommend taking your Rack return back to a Nordstrom location as most cashiers won’t care how long it’s been and make the return happen regardless.

Ask the Reader: Am I missing any important details when it comes to the Nordstrom Rack return policy? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Photo Courtesy of Nordstrom Rack.

If you found this article you’re either considering a job at Hobby Lobby, have an interview scheduled, or are a recent hire with questions. So I thought I’d try to fill the void and I enrolled a friend who’s worked at Hobby Lobby for over a year to answer all my questions. Here’s everything you need to know about the job perks, discounts, and benefits at Hobby Lobby.

They Offer a 15% Employee Discount

All Hobby Lobby employees get a 15% off employee discount on in-store purchases regardless of position or seniority.

The discount will work on sale and clearance items as well, along with any coupons that you stack for additional savings.

Only Full-Time Employees Get Health Benefits

Only full-time Hobby Lobby employees who work over 35 hours a week are eligible for health benefits.

You also need to work for at least 30 days to be eligible as a full-time worker.

See Also: Here’s the Hobby Lobby Sale Schedule….Use It to Save BIG

BEWARE OF THE FULL TIME “CARROT DANGLE”

According to some Hobby Lobby employees, they’ll schedule you for 40+ hours a week but never consistently enough to qualify for full-time benefits. It would be one week at 40 hours followed by a week at only 32 hours. Then at busy times of the year they would have part timers work 40+ hours but sign a waiver saying they waive their full time status and accompanying benefits. Just something to be aware of.

Dental Insurance Is Also Available

Full-time employees also get dental insurance.

The same eligibility rules apply to dental coverage as medical.

Unfortunately Tuition Assistance is Not Available

Unlike the folks at Starbucks, Hobby Lobby does not offer to pay or reimburse you for your college tuition.

But I was told that some locations will offer discounts for employees to attend local junior colleges and universities.

If you know anything about this please drop a comment, thanks.

PRO TIP: HOURLY PAY DISCREPANCY

Hobby Lobby has been known to offer part-time employees a substantially lower hourly salary compared to full-timers. If you’re only looking for part-time employment, you’d be smart to politely ask during your interview what the job pays in comparison to full-time employees. You can then make an informed decision on what you’ll be paid as you might be better off working at another craft store or perhaps a store like HomeGoods, Michaels, or Joann’s.

Will I Get Any Paid Time Off (PTO)?

Yes. Full-time employees start accumulating vacation after 6 months of work.

You’ll start at 1 week PTO per year, then at 5 years it goes to 3 week PTO, and after 10 years it jumps to 4 weeks paid vacation per year.

I was also told by my friend, who works at Hobby Lobby, that her store does not let folks take vacation days in November, December, or January.

Part-time workers unfortunately do NOT get any paid vacation or time off.

See Also: Hobby Lobby Return Policy: How It Works + Savings Hacks

Hobby Lobby Offers 401(k) Matching Too

Hobby Lobby does offer a 401(k) program which includes a company match.

Specifically, they’ll match 100% of the first 3% of your contribution and then a flat 50% matching after that.

In order to get the company match I was told that you need to work 1,000 hours as a part-time employee or 1 full year as a full-time employee.

But you certainly don’t have to wait that long to start contributing to your 401(k). For part-time workers you can start after 90 days and full timers can start after 30 days.

Employees Gets a Christmas Bonus

Full-time employees get a bonus at the end of November of $100 for the first year of employment.

The Christmas bonus then goes up by $100 each subsequent year.

So the 2nd year you’d get $200, 3rd year would be $300, and so on.

The part-time Christmas bonus works the same but it’s only $50 for the first year but grows at the same rate as full-time employees.

Paid Maternity Leave For Full-Time

If you’re a salaried employee at Hobby Lobby, or a store manager, you WILL get paid maternity or adoption leave of 6 weeks.

If you’re a part-time employee you’ll get 6-8 weeks maternity leave that is unpaid.

Hobby Lobby Requires a Drug Test

I was told that warehouse employees have to do a swab drug test before they’re officially hired.

Not sure about cashier and sales floor positions, let me know in the comments if you know.

Also, I was told that they reserve the right to drug test after an accident or injury that occurred while working at Hobby Lobby.

See Also: 25 Hobby Lobby Savings Tips to Insure You NEVER Pay Full-Price

Will a Medical Marijuana Card Make You Exempt?

No.

My friend said she has an acquaintance who has a medical marijuana card and applied for a job at Hobby Lobby.

They were denied employment because of this.

This could vary by store, I’m not sure. Let me know if you know.

See Also: Here Are the Hobby Lobby Hours So You’ll Know When You Work

Be Prepared For a Math Test During Hiring Process

My friend had to take a basic math test right after her Hobby Lobby interview which she said was “pretty easy”.

The test was graded right on the spot by a co-manager and she passed it with flying colors.

Hobby Lobby Does Hire Felons

BUT…the felony that you were convicted of CANNOT be within the last 7 years.

This internal policy goes for all positions at Hobby Lobby and is part of the background check that they perform on ALL applicants.

Ask the Reader: Help me make this article the most accurate Hobby Lobby employment resource online by dropping a comment with what you know. Is there anything about their job benefits, employee discount, or hiring process that I missed or got wrong?

By Kyle James

I recently needed some pet medication for our husky and didn’t want to call my vet every time I needed a refill, so I checked out Chewy.com. It was a very easy process to get the Rx approved and my first Chewy order arrived quickly. But it made me wonder what the return policy was at Chewy, especially as it related to medications. After some digging, I discovered a pretty great policy but it has some caveats that pet owners need to be aware of, especially as it pertains to prescription drugs for dogs and cats. Here’s exactly how the Chewy return policy works.

How Many Return Days Does Chewy Give Me?

365 days.

Chewy gives shoppers a whooping 365 days to return an item if they are not satisfied with it.

This easily puts their return policy on par with the likes of Costco and significantly better than both Petco and PetSmart who offer 30 and 60 days respectively.

How Do I Initiate a Return?

Since Chewy is an online only business, you have to reach out to them with a message in order to initiate your return, CLICK HERE to make it happen.

You’ll need to either chat, email or call Chewy directly in order to process your return. 

Be sure to include your order number in the message in order to expedite your return.

When using the Chewy app, or their website, ALL returns will have to be processed by an agent.

Who Pays the Return Shipping Fees?

Chewy pays the return shipping costs.

For ALL returns that you request, Chewy takes care of the return shipping fee and can even schedule the pick-up FREE of charge.

They will provide a prepaid FedEx shipping label for you and you can either drop it off at FedEx or schedule a pickup from your home.

Can I Return Pet Food That My Pet Won’t Eat?

Yes.

You have one full year to return dog or cat food that your furry friend has turned it’s nose up at.

I verified this with a Chewy representative and was told that you can ALSO return a bag of pet food if it’s half empty or almost gone.

Also, if you’re returning wet food and some cans are missing, they will STILL take it back.

Is Anything NOT Returnable to Chewy?

Yes.

The one item that you may have trouble returning to Chewy is prescription drugs…more on that directly below.

Everything else can be returned.

So…Can I Return Prescription Drugs?

Yes and no.

Chewy has a general rule that prescription medications are NOT returnable.

BUT….I’ve talked to several loyal Chewy users who say that you should call the pharmacy team directly at 1-877-977-3879 and ask for a return or exchange on pet medications if needed.

In many cases, Chewy will take back prescription drugs, especially if you’re simply swapping out your pet meds for a different drug if the original medicine isn’t working.

Also, if Chewy messes up your prescription, or sends the wrong drug, they will definitely allow you to return it at no cost to you.

Can I Get an Exchange Instead of a Return?

Yes.

When contacting Chewy, tell them you’d like to exchange the item rather than get a refund and the rep will make it happen for you.

Can I Return a Used Dog Toy?

Yes.

This one blew me away.

I actually had a Chewy rep tell me you can indeed return a used dog toy if it doesn’t work out for whatever reason.

See Also: 9 Highly Clever Ways to Save Money at Walmart

How Do I Return Something That Was a Gift?

If the gift was delivered directly to you, you’ll need to reach out to the person that bought you the gift so they can process the refund and order the item you want instead.

Similarly, if the product was given to you as a gift, and ordered under someone else’s account, you won’t be able to make the return yourself, you’ll need their help to make a return or exchange happen.

Will Chewy Let Me Keep Some Items I Try to Returns?

Yes.

Often times when you try to make a return to Chewy they’ll tell you to keep the item or donate it to an animal shelter.

This seems to happen the most often on bulky/heavy items as it’ll cost Chewy more in return shipping costs than the item is worth.

See Also: Here’s Why Amazon Lets You Keep Some Items You Try to Return

Can I Return Pet Food After My Pet Dies?

Yes.

This is where the Chewy return policy gets kinda AWESOME and reminds me of the great customer service at Zappos.

From this Reddit thread, it seems Chewy will refund you the cost of pet food after you lose an animal and instead of having you return the food, they ask if you can donate it to a local animal shelter.

Pretty cool stuff, hats off to Chewy on this one.

What Does Chewy Do With the Items People Return?

If the item you return to Chewy is unopened they’ll simply place it back for sale on their website.

If the product is used or opened they’ll either send it back to the manufacturer, donate it, or destroy it.

They currently do NOT sell refurbished products or “opened box” specials.

Can Their Policy Be Abused and Get Me Banned?

Perhaps.

While their return policy seems very lenient, it’s safe to assume that there will be repercussions if you return too many items over a given period of time.

This is especially true if the reason for your orders is to try and score free products by Chewy telling you to keep them when you try to return them.

Don’t abuse their return policy as it will only hurt shoppers down the road as Chewy will be forced to make policy changes.

How Do the Prices at Chewy Compare to Amazon?

On average, Chewy is a little more expensive than Amazon.

After doing about two dozen price comparisons, I was surprised that Chewy actually beat the Amazon price on several items, namely dog beds and cat toys.

Ask the Reader: What’s been your experience with the return policy at Chewy? Let me know in the comments if I’m missing any tidbits of information.

By Kyle James