Refunds and Exchanges
Think a store is required to give a refund if you want to return an item and have a sales receipt? Wrong!
A store can set its own rules about refunds and exchanges, as long as it lets customers know what the rules are. For example, any of these rules are legal:
“ All Sales Final. NO Refunds or Exchanges”
“ Returns for Store Credit Only”
“ Refunds Given Within 7 Days of Purchase”
So, if there’s a chance you might need to return an item, be sure to
check the store’s return policy before you buy it. If you don't see a
sign telling what the return policy is, ask a sales clerk.
EXCEPTION: If an item is defective or doesn’t work, the business has to give you a refund or replacement, no matter what its return policy is. That’s a Maryland law.
When buying online, always look for the Web site's return policy and read it before buying.
| Always keep sales receipts. They can come in handy even when you might not think so. For example, a teen bought a prom dress for $50 from an outlet store. The receipt said “All Sales Final on Prom Dresses,” so she threw the receipt away. A few days later a friend saw the same dress in the dress store’s main store (not the outlet). It was marked down to $28. She asked if she could exchange her dress for the lower priced one, and they said she could if she had the receipt. She didn’t, and they said, “Sorry!” |
Return to Shopping
Bod Squad | Smoking | Quiz | Feedback/Q & A
A project of the Maryland Attorney General's Office