{"id":352519,"date":"2016-04-04T10:42:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/return-policies-and-refunds.html"},"modified":"2023-11-30T19:01:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T00:01:41","slug":"return-policies-and-refunds","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/return-policies-and-refunds.html","title":{"rendered":"Return Policies and Refunds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Return Policies and Refunds<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Hannah Hilst<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Return policies are guidelines set by merchants detailing how consumers can return purchased items for a refund, exchange, or store credit. State laws may require sellers to disclose these policies prominently, particularly for defective goods covered by implied warranties. The Federal Trade Commission regulates deceptive practices, but federal law doesn’t mandate refunds for buyer\u2019s remorse.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nearly every consumer has returned a purchased item for a refund, exchange, or store credit at least once. The experience is usually uneventful, but sometimes, returns don’t go as expected.<\/p>\n

Merchants are not required to accept returns unless there is a defect, in which case an implied warranty<\/a> may cover it. Still, state laws govern the disclosure of refund and return policies.<\/p>\n

The following information covers the basics of refunds and return policies in general. See FindLaw’s guide about warranties and returns<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n

Disclosing Refund Policies Under State Law<\/h2>\n

Many states have specific consumer refund laws. Most laws concern in-store and telemarketing sales<\/a>. Some states don’t clarify how their laws apply to online sales<\/a> of goods from out-of-state sellers.<\/p>\n

Below are some examples of state laws for refunds<\/a>:<\/p>\n