As the holidays approach, millions of merry shoppers are getting ready to open their wallets wide and spend on gifts.
Americans are expected to spend an average of $736 on holiday gifts this year, about 10% more than the $669 reported in 2024, according to a consumer survey from Visa Business and Economic Insights.
If you plan to spend that much on gifts, it’s important to be aware of retailer return policies and price-match policies, just in case your gift-giving doesn’t go as planned or a product’s price drops after you purchase it. Major retailers are making the following changes to their policies during the 2025 holiday season.
Target
Target typically offers free returns for 90 days on items that are new and unopened. During the holidays, the return period for electronics and entertainment items is being extended on purchases made between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24.
Here are the return windows as noted on the Target website:
- “Electronics & Entertainment items (excluding Apple and Beats): You’ll have 30 days from December 26 to make a return — items must be returned by January 24, 2026.
- Apple & Beats products and mobile phones (unlocked or pre-paid): You’ll have 14 days from December 26 to make a return — items must be returned by January 9, 2026.
- Target Plus items: Most Target Plus items (excluding seasonal holiday decor) will have 30 days from December 26 to make a return — items must be returned by January 24, 2026.”
Additionally, Target’s Holiday Price Match Guarantee is in effect from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24. So if you purchase something during this window and its price falls after you buy it, Target will match the lower price — meaning you’ll get some money back.
Walmart
Typically, you can return purchases within 90 days at Walmart. During the holidays, the retailer is offering an extended return window for most items.
Items purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2026. However, Walmart cautions that not all Marketplace sellers are offering such extended returns.
Amazon
The millions of consumers who have Amazon Prime are probably aware of the retailer’s 30-day return policy on most items. However, the window for such returns has been extended for the holidays.
Most items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2026. For Apple-branded products, the extension runs through Jan. 15.
Best Buy
Best Buy is making a couple of key changes during the holiday season.
If you purchase any product between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31, Best Buy’s Holiday Price Match Guarantee will allow you to price-match it through Jan. 15, 2026.
Best Buy notes that you cannot price-match competitors’ prices, and the following items do not qualify:
- Items purchased with a third-party contract, such as cellphones and AppleCare+ plans
- Holiday decorations
- Non-returnable products
In addition, most purchases made between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 15, 2026. However, some items are excluded, including:
- Items purchased with a third-party contract
- AppleCare+ plans
- Holiday products
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