Exact dates for Christmas returns as shops extend policies including Tesco and Primark – see full list

TESCO and Primark are some of the high street retailers extending their product return dates this Christmas.

Receiving a gift you don’t like is never ideal and even worse if it means someone is left out of pocket as a result.

However, plenty of retailers extend their usual return policies over the festive period to allow for this.

Tesco, Primark, John Lewis and B&M are all offering shoppers wider returns windows for Christmas this year.

Bear in mind, refund policies vary depending on where you’ve bought an item from.

Under usual refund policies, where you have a receipt, most retailers will offer you a full refund – on card if that’s how you paid, or by cash.

Where you’ve got a gift receipt, you’ll usually be offered a gift card.

Where returns are made after the goodwill period, but before the Christmas returns period ends, gift cards or exchanges for something else are more common.

Whether you’ve bought items online or in-store can also have an impact on how you’re refunded.

Below, we round up what some of the bigger UK retailers are offering customers this year.

John Lewis

John Lewis said it has extended its usual time window for returns for the festive season.

The posh retailer said any gift bought between September 26 and December 24 can be returned up until January 23, 2025 if it is unwanted.

Shoppers will need to bring a valid receipt with them to get the refund.

Sainsbury’s and Argos

Sainsbury’s and Argos, which is owned by Sainbury’s, is also extending its return window over the Christmas period.

Any items purchased from September 27 to December 25 can be returned right up until the end of January 31, 2025.

New Look

Fashion retailer New Look is offering shoppers an extended returns window on any products bought in-store or online.

Any items bought between October 28 and December 8 can be returned until the end of January 5.

For any sale products bought in-store or online, New Look’s standard 14-day return policy will apply.

Meanwhile, any sale items bought in-store are exchange-only.

This means shoppers can only return an item and replace it with another item.

M&S

M&S has boosted the length of time shoppers can return any unwanted products over the Christmas period.

Any purchases made online or in-store between October 10 and December 24 can be returned up until January 26, 2025.

For any purchases made from December 25 onwards, M&S’ normal refund policy will apply.

M&S said the tweaked Christmas returns policy does not apply to sale items.

Tesco

Tesco is extending its normal 30-day returns policy to any gifts purchased between October 1 and December 24.

Any purchases made between this period can be returned up until January 31, 2025.

The retailer said the extended policy applies to any products bought via Grocery Home Shopping and Marketplace.

Primark

Primark said any items bought between October 15 and January 3, 2025, can be returned up until January 31, 2025.

The retailer said the returns date has been printed on all till receipts as a reminder to shoppers.

From January 3 next year, Primark will go back to its standard 28-day return and exchange policy.

B&M

Bargain discounter B&M said customers buying any Christmas item in-store from November 3 have until January 31, 2025 to return it.

The retailer said proof of purchase, like a receipt, will need to be provided.

Lidl

German discounter Lidl said any non-food products bought from November 4 can be returned up until January 6, 2025.

After January 6, its standard 30-day returns policy will apply.

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