Sellers Take Heed: Walmart Offers Extended Returns during the Holidays

Sellers will have to honor Walmart’s extended returns policy during the holidays. Walmart shoppers who purchase items between October 1 and December 31, 2023 will have until January 31, 2024 to return their purchases. Only a few categories are excluded from the policy.

Walmart told merchants who sell on its platform the policy will help boost sales and repeat customers:

“To help give customers more flexibility and satisfaction, we’re excited to offer extended returns for top-performing Walmart Marketplace products, and you’ve been opted in unless you’ve been informed otherwise. (This can help boost your conversion and drive repeat customers).

“From October 1 through December 31, 2023, all items purchased in-store or online can be returned until January 31, 2024—excluding wireless phones, Walmart protection plans, AppleCare, precious metals, and select luxury items.”

Amazon likewise offers shoppers extended returns during the holidays. Initially Amazon’s policy applied to purchases made beginning November 1st, but in 2020, it rolled it back to October 1st, where it remained until holiday season 2022, when it applied to orders beginning October 7th. Amazon has yet to announce this year’s extended return policy for the 2023 holiday shopping season.

Ina Steiner

Ina Steiner is co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). She is a member of the Online News Association (Sep 2005 - present) and Investigative Reporters and Editors (Mar 2006 - present). Follow her on Twitter at @ecommercebytes and send news tips to ina@ecommercebytes.com. See disclosure at EcommerceBytes.com/disclosure/.