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BARNES & Noble customers could lose out on some cash if they miss a deadline within an updated policy.
The bookstore chain recently confirmed the decision, but it shouldn’t be too shocking to regular customers.
Barnes & Noble has updated a policy for holiday shoppers (stock image)[/caption]
Like many retailers, Barnes & Noble has extended its return window for the holiday season, something it has done in previous years.
Those customers who made or will make purchases from November 1 to December 31 can bring them back for a refund or exchange until January 31, 2025, per the policy.
This also applies to devices like NOOKs.
Additionally, NOOK Protect Plans can be added on by a customer no more than 60 days after any purchases made between November 1 and December 31.
Should the shopper miss the deadline, they will lose out on the ability to return the items and potential refunds or exchanges.
PROOF, PLEASE
A crucial aspect of the holiday return extension at Barnes & Noble is that customers must have proof of purchase.
The return will not be accepted if they do not have a gift receipt or another form of documentation.
The same goes for Barnes & Noble’s standard return policy.
Consumers should remember a few qualifications for returning merchandise to the bookstore chain.
First, those items returned new or unopened within the holiday extension period can get a full refund.
That refund will be made to the original form of payment.
If that form of payment isn’t available, an electronic gift card with Barnes & Noble credit will be provided.
Secondly, those with a gift receipt will also get store credit.
Barnes & Noble customers who also make purchases as part of a “Buy X, Get Y Free” deal format will only get exchanges if they return some items.
HOLIDAY RETURNS EXTENDED
Retailers who have switched up their return policies for Christmas include:
Amazon: The usual 30-day return window has been extended until January 31, 2025 for items bought from November 1 to December 31, 2024. The deadline for returning Apple products however, is January 15, 2025.
Walmart: Consumers have until January 31, 2025 to return goods purchased online or in store between October 1 and December 31, 2024.
Target: Shoppers have until January 24, 2025 to return most electronics and entertainment products purchased between November 7 and December 24. The deadline for mobile phones, Beat and Apple products however is January 8, 2025.
Best Buy: The deadline to return items bought from November 1 to December 31, 2024 is January 14, 2025 for many products. Consumers have 15 days in which to return holiday decorations, while for activatable devices such as cell phones it’s 15 days.
Check individual retailer websites for full details of return policies as deadlines can vary, depending on product.
They’d have to return all merchandise included in the deal to be eligible for a refund.
OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Customers should know that their purchases don’t have to be returned to the same Barnes & Noble store from which they were made.
The items can be returned at any of the bookstore chain’s around 600 locations nationwide within the extension window and with a receipt.
Several items sold at Barnes & Noble can also not be returned, no matter what — including magazines, newspapers, used books, and more.
Shoppers can find more specifics on Barnes & Noble’s website.
Barnes & Noble also recently shuttered all of its locations for 24 hours in a retail blackout, forcing shoppers to make other plans.
It also permanently closed a beloved store earlier this year in California.
