Updated September 25, 2023
A return policy outlines a company’s terms and conditions for customers wanting to return a purchased item for a refund. Some common terms addressed in a return policy include the accepted condition of the merchandise, the timeframe for returning a product, and instructions on initiating a return.
Is a Return Policy required?
If a store does not accept returns, some States require that it is disclosed to customers before a sale.
Consumer’s Right to Return (3 days)
Also known as a “cooling off period,” the federal mandate (16 CFR 429.0) created by the FTC gives consumers the right to return items purchased outside a business’s primary location.
Table of Contents |
How to Write a Return Policy (6 steps)
- Are Returns Accepted?
- Refundable vs Non-Refundable Items
- Timeframe for Accepted Returns
- A Returned Item’s Condition
- The Refund Process
- Choosing Refund Options
2. Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Items
4. A Returned Item’s Condition
5. The Refund Process
State Requirements
Display of a return policy and refund requirements by State:
| State | Return Policy Required? |
Conditions |
Statute |
| Alabama | No | – | – |
| Alaska | No | – | – |
| Arizona | No | – | – |
| Arkansas | No | – | – |
| California | Yes* | *If there are any restrictions on returns, including restocking fees, it must be shown to customers at the time of purchase. If not, a consumer can return the goods for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. | Civil Code §§ 1723-1725 |
| Colorado | No | – | – |
| Connecticut | No | Retailers must adhere to the terms mentioned in any return policy. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110b |
| Delaware | Yes* | *For any “assistive technology device” for devices providing functions to help with disabilities, the following must be disclosed in 10-point font and in capital letters:
“IMPORTANT: IF THIS DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED UNDER STATE LAW TO REPLACEMENT OF IT OR A REFUND OF ITS PURCHASE PRICE. HOWEVER, TO BE ENTITLED TO REFUND OR REPLACEMENT, YOU MUST FIRST NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER, ITS AGENT OR ITS AUTHORIZED DEALER OF THE PROBLEM AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR THE DEVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 6, CHAPTER 50B.” |
§ 5003B |
| Florida | Yes* | *Merchants must post their return policy if they don’t offer refunds or are limited in any way. Otherwise, customers have 7 days to return the merchandise. | Fla. Stat. § 501.142 |
| Georgia | No | – | – |
| Hawaii | Yes* | *If a retailer does not accept a return within 60 days of purchase, such limitation must be made to a customer before purchase. | HRS § 481B-5.5 |
| Idaho | Yes* | *For new vehicle purchases only. | § 48-903 |
| Illinois | Yes* | *Only for the sale of pre-paid calling cards. | 815 ILCS 505/2TT |
| Indiana | Yes* | For health spa services only. A copy of a consumer’s cancellation rights, within 3 days of payment, must be mentioned when signing any contract. | IC 24-5-7-5 |
| Iowa | Yes* | *A consumer must be given the right to cancel for door-to-door sales, buying clubs, funeral services, social referral services, business opportunities, membership campground contracts, exercise clubs, and timeshares. | Iowa Attorney General |
| Kansas | Yes* | *A consumer of telemarketing sales is given the right to return an item within 7 days. | § 50-673 |
| Kentucky | No | – | – |
| Louisiana | No | – | – |
| Maine | No | – | Maine State Legislature |
| Maryland | Yes | Stores must post a return policy on the wall, merchandise, or on a receipt. If no policy is mentioned, returns can be made within a “reasonable” time period. | Maryland Attorney General (FAQ) |
| Massachusetts | Yes* | *To clearly and conspicuously disclose to a buyer before the consummation of a transaction, the exact nature and extent of the seller’s refund, return, or cancellation policy. |
940 CMR 3.13 |
| Michigan | No | – | – |
| Minnesota | Yes* | *If a merchant does not offer cash refunds, it must be mentioned in a return policy and displayed clearly and conspicuously on the premises in 14-point font. | Minn. Stat. § 325F.80 (Subd. 3) |
| Mississippi | Yes* | *For life insurance contracts, within 10 days of delivery of the contract, a purchaser has the right to cancel.
*For Medicare supplement policies or certificates must have a notice stating the purchaser has 30 days to return if not satisfied for any reason. |
§ 83-7-51, § 83-9-111 |
| Missouri | No | – | – |
| Montana | No | – | – |
| Nebraska | Yes* | *For telephone sales, a refund policy is required, and the consumer can return a product within 5 days of receiving or hearing the return policy. If a seller requests a refund, it must be paid within 30 days of the refund request. | § 86-225 |
| Nevada | No | For telephone sales, a consumer has the right to return goods within 14 after receipt. | |
| New Hampshire | Yes* | *Credit repair services must provide the disclosure of a refund policy in at least 10-point font, in bold, above the signature line in a contract. | Consumer Sourcebook – Credit Repair |
| New Jersey | Yes | Refund policies are required to be displayed by merchants if the refund policy is 20 days or less. | NJ Attorney General – Division of Consumer Affairs |
| New Mexico | No | – | – |
| New York | Yes | A merchant is required to post a refund policy. If not, a buyer can return a product within 30 days. | Dept. of State – Refunds, Rebates, and Rainchecks |
| North Carolina | No | – | – |
| North Dakota | No | For sales made separate from a permanent place of business and over $25, merchants must provide a refund for 3 days following purchases (if over 65 years old, 15 days for a refund). | – |
| Ohio | No | If a merchant has a refund policy, it must be displayed in a conspicuous place. | Ohio Attorney General – Refund Policies and Restcoking Fees |
| Oklahoma | No | – | – |
| Oregon | No | – | ORC Ann. 1345.03 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes* | *Door-to-door salespeople and gym memberships must give a refund policy, and the customer has at least 3 days to return. | Pennsylvania Attorney General – Your Right to Rescind |
| Rhode Island | Yes | It is required for merchants to display a return policy in a conspicuous place. If not, the customer has 10 days to return the item for a refund. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-27-9 |
| South Carolina | No | For door-to-door salespeople of purchases over $25, a return policy must be disclosed, with a customer having 3 days to cancel and obtain a refund. | South Carolina BAR – Consumers right to cancel door-to-door sales contracts |
| South Dakota | No | For door-to-door salespeople of purchases over $25, a return policy must be disclosed, with a customer having 3 days to cancel and obtain a refund. | South Dakota Consumer Protection – Door-to-Door Sales |
| Tennessee | Yes* | For door-to-door sales, it should read the following on any purchase: A title of “BUYER’S RIGHT TO CANCEL” and content of “If this agreement was solicited at your residence and you do not want the goods or services, you may cancel this agreement by mailing a notice to the seller. The notice must say that you do not want the goods or services and must be mailed before twelve o’clock midnight (12:00) of the third business day after you sign this agreement. The notice must be mailed to: (insert name and mailing address of seller).” | |
| Texas | No | For door-to-door sales of more than $25, a customer has 3 days to cancel and obtain a refund. If a refund is requested, it cannot take more than 10 days for the customer to receive it. | Door-to-Door Sales & 3-Day Right of Rescission |
| Utah | Yes* | For door-to-door sales of more than $25, a customer must be given the following notice: “You, the Buyer, May Cancel This Transaction At Any Time Prior to Midnight of the Third Business Day (or Time Period Reflecting the Supplier’s Cancellation Policy But Not Less Than Three Business Days) After the Date of This Transaction or Receipt of The Product, Whichever is Later.” | |
| Vermont | Yes* | *For door-to-door sales of more than $25, a “Notice of Cancellation” must be given to customers. | 9 V.S.A. § 2454 |
| Virginia | Yes | Merchants that do not offer returns within 20 days of purchase must have a refund policy displayed in a conspicuous area. | Virginia Consumer Services Division – Refunds and Exchanges |
| Washington | No | For a retail transaction away from a usual place of business and more than $25, a customer has 3 days to obtain a refund. | Washington Attorney General – Refund rights on door-to-door sales, RCW 63.14.154 |
| West Virginia | No | – | – |
| Wisconsin | No | – | – |
| Wyoming | No | – | – |
Implied Warranty
All states have adopted some variation of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), including a provision (§ 2-314) that most goods have an unspoken guarantee that they will be functional after the purchase. This specifically applies to defective items and items that are damaged when received by the customer. The exact language of this provision and return policy for applicable items may differ from state to state.
Sample
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
RETURN POLICY
[NAME OF RETAILER] wants you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you are not satisfied, we will gladly accept returns for refund or merchandise credit under the following terms and conditions:
1. ITEM CONDITION. Unless an item is being returned because it was damaged or defective upon receipt, item(s) to be returned (select one):
☐ must be in new, unused, and saleable condition with tags attached.
☐ may be “open box” but must be complete and all original packaging intact.
☐ may be in any condition
2. FORM OF PAYMENT. For returned items, refunds will be issued (select one):
☐ in the original form of payment.
☐ as store credit only.
3. EXCLUDED ITEMS. All items, with the exception of the following, are eligible for return (select those that apply):
☐ Clearance Items
☐ Final sale Items
☐ Perishable
☐ Special-order items
☐ Custom-made products
☐ Gift cards
☐ Other: [OTHER ITEMS IF ANY]
4. IN-STORE RETURNS. Returns are accepted within [NUMBER] days of the original purchase with a valid receipt or proof of purchase.
5. ONLINE RETURNS. For items purchased online, returns are accepted within [NUMBER] days of the delivery date. To initiate a return, please contact us at [WEB ADDRESS OR LINK] or email [EMAIL] to obtain a return authorization. Please include your original order number and reason for the return. Returns that are shipped without authorization may not be accepted. Please allow up to [NUMBER] business days for your refund to be processed once your return is received.
6. RETURN SHIPPING. Return authorization for items shipped in error, or items that are being returned because they are defective or damaged, will include a pre-paid shipping label. Return shipping on items that are being returned for other reasons will be (select one):
☐ paid for by the customer.
☐ paid for by [NAME OF RETAILER].
7. RESTOCKING FEE. (select one)
☐ Restocking fees are not charged by this retailer.
☐ Except for items that are returned for being damaged or defective or items that were shipped in error, at the retailer’s discretion, to cover the cost of inspecting, repackaging, and restocking items, a restocking fee of [PERCENT]% (or the maximum amount permitted by state law, whichever is less) may be assessed for the following items or types of items: [ITEMS]
8. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
[DETAILS]
If you have any questions about this return policy, please contact us at:
[CONTACT INFO].