The H&M return policy looks fairly straight forward at first glance but when you start to delve into exactly how it works it becomes a little more complicated. Things like an extended return window for online purchases, exactly which items can’t be returned, who pays the return shipping costs, and the gray area surrounding the return of worn items makes their return policy worth a deeper dive. I hope the following information makes your next return at H&M much less complicated.

1. How Long Do I Have to Return Something to H&M?

30 days.

H&M gives you exactly 30 days from the date of purchase to return an item.

2. Can I Return Something Without a Receipt?

No.

This is a new policy as of 2024. You need your receipt to either get a refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase.

If you LOST your receipt you’ll have to settle for an EXCHANGE at the current selling price of the item. (Items exchanged must be of equal or greater value)

The same policy goes if you’re after 30 days but still have your receipt, you’ll have to settle for an exchange.

Also, I was told that the item doesn’t need the tag attached but must be unworn (at least for an extended period of time) and unwashed.

See Also: Forever 21 Return Policy: Everything You NEED to Know for Success

3. How Many Non-Receipt Exchanges Can I Make?

H&M will track your non-receipt returns by asking for a valid photo ID whenever you do it.

Make too many “non-receipt” exchanges and they reserve the right to refuse your return.

I’m not sure what they consider too many, let me know in the comments if you can shed some light on this.

4. What Items Can’t Be Returned?

Items marked as FINAL SALE cannot be returned in-store OR online.

The clothing items that fall into the final sale category include the following:

• Undergarments – FYI: If boxers or underwear come in a 3-pack, H&M considers them “opened” as soon as you open the packaging, even if you never take them out or try them on.
• Swimwear if the “hygienic seal” has been broken.

While you can’t return these items, the good news is that these final sale items CAN be exchanged in-store ONLY.

Also, upon further research, you can’t return gift cards which is fairly obvious but worth mentioning.

5. What’ll Happen If I Try To Return Worn Items?

While their official policy is to NOT take back worn or washed items I’ve read online that some shoppers are able to return worn items no problem.

It’s save to assume that it’ll come down to the manager’s discretion and you’ll have better success if the “worn” return is due to a manufacturer’s defect.

See Also: Lululemon Return Policy: Let’s Muddle Thru the Confusion

6. Can I Return Items Missing the Tag to H&M?

Yes, if the item is unworn and unwashed you can return it without the tag.

If you try to return something without a tag, but appears worn, you’ll probably be out-of-luck depending on the manager on shift.

Also, it’s worth noting that they WILL take back an item with the tag still attached but the barcode section of the tag removed.

7. Can I Return Online Purchases In-Store?

Yes, absolutely.

Just bring back your online purchase to any H&M location within 30 days for a refund or exchange.

For online purchases, you can use either your invoice slip or email confirmation as your proof of purchase.

UPDATE 8/10/21: This has been changed temporarily to 45 days for online purchases due to “extended shipping timeframes”.

8. Will I Have to Pay a Return Shipping Fee?

Yes….but.

When making an online return you’ll be hit with a $5.99 return shipping fee when you use the pre-paid USPS shipping label that comes with your online order.

But…if you’re a H&M Loyalty Member you will only have to pay a $2.99 fee.

Then after you hit the 500 point level you’ll become a Plus Member and get completely free return shipping.

PRO TIP

I’m not a huge proponent of store rewards programs because many stores mine and sell your data, but if you shop frequently at H&M, their program has some nice perks. It’s free to join and you earn 1 point for every dollar spent annually and get a 10% discount on your first purchase.

9. Does the H&M Return Policy Change Depending on the Country?

No.

Their return policy is 30 days worldwide.

10. What’s the Deal with Returning H&M Home Items?

H&M Home items that are bought online CANNOT be returned in-store.

They must be returned via the mail and a refund will be issued within 14 days to the original form of payment.

Follow the return instruction on the invoice that came with your item, or call H&M at (855) 466-7467 to start the process.

See Also: American Eagle Return Policy: Everything You NEED To Know

11. What About Returning Items Bought Using Klarna?

Klarna is H&M’s Pay Later option that has become popular in recent years.

If you make a purchase using Klarna the return process is a little more complicated.

First go to your Account Page and report the return.

Next, your invoice from Klarna will be put on hold until your return finalizes, they’ll then contact you directly with updates on your return.

12. Can Anyone Make the Return For You In-Store?

No.

Since H&M asks for your original credit card at the time of your return, only you can make the return. (Thanks to Ann in the comments for letting me know about this)

Otherwise you’ll have to settle for an exchange only as they will NOT give you a refund.

Ask the Reader: Have you had any bad experiences with the H&M return policy? Let me know in the comments below.

By Kyle James

Photo Credit to Mike Mozart.

“We have the meats!” Oh wait, that’s Arby’s not Costco. But I’m here to tell ya that Costco has the meats too. But as you can tell from the picture below, Costco meats aren’t always cheap but they are definitely high quality. But if you know what you’re doing you can save money at Costco and even pay less than some grocery stores and butcher shops. Let’s break it all down so you can save on your next trip to the warehouse club…

First off let’s breakdown the meat section at Costco by answering a few questions…

Is Costco Meat Good Quality?

The beef, chicken, and fish sold at Costco does tend to be of higher quality then what you’ll find at many of your local grocery stores.

This is especially true when you look at the Prime cuts that Costco sells.

Their Prime section in general tends to have excellent marbling and delicious flavor.

PRO TIP: ASK ABOUT BUYING A “CASE” OF ROTISSERIE CHICKENS

If you have the freezer space, some Costco locations sell a case of 10 uncooked rotisserie chickens for only $49. I’ve personally seen it twice at different Costco locations and I wished I had pulled the trigger but didn’t really have the freezer space at the time. Ask the folks stocking the rotisserie chicken area and they’ll let you know if it’s available.

Where Does Kirkland Meat Come From?

It really depends on the cut of meat and where it is sourced.

While Costco tries to buy from U.S. suppliers, often times they are forced to buy their organic beef from Australia and Canada.

With that said, they get most of their pork from JBS Swift USA and their chicken from farms that they actually own.

See Also: 7 Genius Costco Bakery Hacks That Will Save You Money and Time

What Meats are Sold at Costco?

Costco sells all the usual suspects:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Pork
• Fish: Salmon, cod, tilapia, tuna, rockfish, and even walleye from time to time.
• Shellfish: Crab, oysters, scallops, and shrimp.

You’ll even find lamb and ground bison at most Costco locations.

Are Costco Meat Prices Competitive?

Costco tends to run on the more expensive side.

This is especially true when compared to supermarket specials and coupons that often undercut Costco pricing significantly.

But when comparing the Costco price to your local butcher shop, Costco will usually win.

See Also: Costco Liquor: 4 Things You Gotta Know Before You Buy

Now on to some highly clever tips to help you save some money…

5 Costco “Meat Hacks” That Will Help You Save

Bulk Buying Secret

I’ve talked about this hack before.

Many Costco locations sell bulk meat in cryovac bags and these bags come at a steep discount.

Could be a case of rib eyes, case of tri-tips, case of crab legs, etc.

BUT…according to one employee, you’ll get “3 or so times the meat for the same price.”

And the best part is that the cryovac bags let you freeze the meat for a REALLY long time.

You usually can’t find these bags on the sales floor so be sure to ask a meat department employee about it and they’ll happily let you know your options.

Ask About Special “Butcher” Discounts

According to a Costco meat cutter that I talked with recently, they often receive large shipments of a particular cut that they know they CANNOT sell by the sell-by date.

So he said to always ask about these “overbuys” and you can often get a really sweet deal.

He said the savings is often in to the 30-40% off range.

See Also: How to Essentially Get a $60 Costco Membership for Free

Cool Hack for Buying Salmon at Costco

As any salmon fan can attest, wild salmon taste WAY better than farmed salmon.

Plus farmed salmon is often grown in poor conditions, unless it’s from Norway where their farming standards are far superior compared to other countries.

But often times wild salmon is actually CHEAPER than farmed at Costco.

I recently saw wild Sockeye Salmon priced at $7.99 pound and the farmed variety was $9.99.

Moral of the story, always look around at Costco to see what salmon they have stocked as they often DON’T put the wild salmon next to the farmed.

Ask For Special Cuts

I was recently at my local Costco and someone near me asked the meat cutter if they could cut a flank steak into 1 inch cubes for them and they said “Of course!”.

Turns out shoppers do this all the time and will ask for some steaks cut in half (length-wise) or even pork chops cut extra thin.

Might not save you money but will surely save you time if your recipe calls for a certain type of cut.

Ask For a 10 lb. Chub of Ground Beef

This tip comes from the folks at The Family Handyman and it involves buying ground beef in a long 10 pound tube called a “Chub”.

Ask for it by name in the Costco meat section and they’ll hook you up. Although I noticed recently that my Costco now has them for sale right next to the regular ground beef packages.

The clear plastic chub packaging is much cheaper and requires less labor to produce. So many Costco locations will happily pass the savings along to you and give you a nice discount to take 10 pounds home with you.

The chubs are typically a leaner 90/10 ground beef mix but they are excellent for chili, casseroles, and even burgers if you like them a little less fatty. Break the chub up and freeze it in usable portions.

As for the savings, you’ll save about $0.70/lb compared to the regular ground beef packages at Costco.

If you have the freezer space, you’ll want to check out the chub on your next Costco visit.

Ask the Reader: Do you buy your meat from Costco? What tips do you have to share, let me know.

By Kyle James

The return policy at Whole Foods got a little confusing to me when they were purchased by Amazon a few years ago. All of the sudden Amazon returns entered the picture as did in-home and curbside deliveries that originated via the Amazon app. So I figured it was time to research exactly how the Whole Foods return policy currently works along with some insider tips and tricks for success.

How Many Return Days Does Whole Foods Allow?

90 days.

Whole Foods has a standard 90 day return policy on pretty much everything.

Is Whole Foods Return Policy the Same as Amazon’s?

No, Whole Foods has a completely different return policy compared to parent company, Amazon.

The return policy at Amazon is 30 days on most things.

The biggest difference is that food items can’t be returned to Amazon, but they may be eligible for a refund or replacement if Amazon is to blame for the problem.

Any Exceptions to the 90 Days?

The only exception is gift cards as they CANNOT be returned, doesn’t matter when you bought them.

See Also: Costco Return Policy: 12 MUST Knows Before You Shop In The Warehouse

Can I Return Opened Items or Food?

Similar to the return policy at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods lets you return food items for any reason, opened or not.

Insider Tip: I’ve been told by an employee that will even take food back without a receipt if they still currently sell the item.

He said he’s accepted these type of returns many times.

PRO TIP: NO NEED TO BRING FOOD ITEMS BACK

When returning food to Whole Foods, either opened or unopened, you do not have to bring the food back, just your receipt. I was told by a manager that they have to throw the food away so they’d actually rather have you keep it. She actually suggested giving it to a friend or food bank if you don’t want it and it’s still edible.

Do I Need My Receipt?

It’s recommended, but NOT necessary.

They can often look up your receipt using your credit card.

Whole Foods is “committed to your happiness” so it doesn’t matter if it’s unopened, half gone, or almost gone, they’ll take it back for whatever reason.

BUT…if they notice you’re abusing this generous policy, they reserve the right to cut you off and limit your returns.

The only exception to this policy is Beauty and Body-Care Products as you MUST have a receipt to return those.

In most cases they’ll refund you via a gift card when you show up sans receipt.

See Also: ALDI Return Policy: Here’s the REAL Dealio + Hacks for Success

How Do I Return Amazon Purchases at Whole Foods?

First step is to visit the Amazon Return Center.

Next select the Whole Foods Market where you want to make the return.

This will trigger an email sent to you with a QR code from Amazon that Whole Foods will scan when you drop it off.

That’s it.

Whole Foods will box it up for you, create the label, and send it back to Amazon for you.

Can I Return Produce or Fruit?

Yes.

Whole Foods will happily issue a refund on produce and fresh fruit.

However, I’m not sure exactly how they will handle the return.

Since it’s a perishable product they may advise you to throw it away.

PRO TIP: TRYING TO RETURN A GIFT WITHOUT A RECEIPT?

I have a friend who shops at Whole Foods a lot and recently stocked her daughter’s refrigerator when she moved away to college. Her daughter ended up not needing all of the Whole Foods items and wanted to return many of them but didn’t have the receipt. My friend was able to return to Whole Foods, obtain a copy of her receipt, snap a picture of it and text it to her daughter. Her daughter was then able to use that receipt to return the items she didn’t need. Clever little workaround if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

What About Returning Alcohol?

Not all Whole Foods locations allow you to return alcohol, depends on the state.

If you live in area that allows it, you MUST have your receipt showing that you bought the booze at the same store where you’re making the return.

Can I Return Vitamins and Supplements?

Yes, as long as you have the receipt.

Whole Foods can’t resell these and put them back on the shelf, so they’ll usually donate them to a shelter or have them destroyed.

If I Lost My Receipt Can I Find It In My Amazon Account?

Yes.

If the order was placed through Amazon there will be a copy of your receipt within the Amazon app.

If it was an in-store purchase the store will be able to pull up your receipt history using the payment method that was used.

See Also: Target Return Policy: Confused? We Make Sense Of It

Can I Return Curbside Deliveries Placed Thru Amazon?

Yes.

Items can be refunded and returned through Amazon.

Keep in mind that the return NEEDS to be initiated through Amazon.

Also, all Whole Foods locations have Amazon return hubs in the building to make your returns even easier.

What About At-Home Deliveries?

Yes, you can return at-home deliveries but the return would need to be initiated directly through Amazon.

Contact them and they will have further instructions on exactly how to go about the return.

What If I Used a Manufacturer’s Coupon?

You can make the return like normal and you’ll get back the price you paid PLUS the amount of the coupon.

You’ll get back the amount of the coupon in the form of a gift card or you’ll get cash if under $5.

What If I Used a Whole Foods Coupon?

You’ll get a refund for the purchase price MINUS the value of the coupon.

Ask the Reader: What’s been your experience with the return policy at Whole Foods?

Also, did I miss any tidbits of information that you want share? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Portal Abras.