When you buy some product, either at a local store, online or through an app, you want to make sure that you know how to return it in case you’re not happy with it.
Don’t know how to return a product?
One of the things that you may not know is that according to the consumer law return policy, merchants are required to accept returns. However, these are special circumstances. Nevertheless, there are specific rules that determine these conditions for each state in the United States.
So, how does the consumer law return policy work?
According to the consumer law return policy, merchants are only required to accept returns when the products you bought are damaged or defective. In addition, there is also the so-called “Cooling-Off Rule”. This federal law gives consumers 3 additional days after buying a product to change their minds are return them.
Make sure to check out this return policy example.
In addition to the consumer law return policy ruled by the federal law, it is important that you know that each state has their own laws and regulations about returns. So, let’s check each state into more detail:
- Alabama – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Alaska – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Arizona – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Arkansas – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- California – All retailers need to show their refund policy unless they offer a store credit, an exchange or a full cash refund within 7 days of the purchase. In case the retailer doesn’t provide this information, they will need to accept full refunds within 30 days of purchase.
- Colorado – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Connecticut – All retailers need to have their own return policy and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. In case the retailer fails to do this, buyers can return their products for a refund.
- Delaware – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Florida – When a retailer doesn’t want to offer a refund, he needs to display it clearly at the place of sale. When this is not done, customers can ask for a refund within 20 days of purchase date.
- Georgia – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Hawaii – All retailers need to have their own return policy and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. In case the retailer fails to do this, buyers can return their products for a refund.
- Idaho – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Illinois – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Indiana – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Iowa – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. In case the retailer doesn’t accept returns, he needs to disclose it.
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- Kansas – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Kentucky – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Louisiana – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Maine – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Maryland – All retailers are required to post their return policies on the receipt, on the products or on the wall. When this doesn’t happen, they will need to accept returns within a reasonable period.
- Massachusetts – All retailers need to have their own return policy and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. In case the retailer fails to do this, buyers can return their products for a refund.
- Michigan – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Minnesota – All retailers need to have their own return policy in boldface type, with a minimum of 14 points, and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. In case the retailer fails to do this, customers are entitled to cash refunds on products that are accepted for return.
- Mississippi – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
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- Missouri – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Montana – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Nebraska – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Nevada – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- New Hampshire – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- New Jersey – All retailers need to have their own return policy and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. In case the retailer fails to do this, buyers can return their products within 20 days of purchase date for a refund or a credit.
- New Mexico – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- New York – All retailers need to have their own return policy and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. In case the retailer fails to do this, buyers can return their products within 30 days of purchase date.
- North Carolina – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- North Dakota – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Ohio – While retailers aren’t required to have their own refund policy, in case they have one they need to show it to consumers at the time of sale. Whenever the retailer doesn’t have a refund policy, consumers are entitled to a refund.
- Oklahoma – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Oregon – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Pennsylvania – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Rhode Island – Unless retailers post at the store entrance, cash register or any other visible place that all sales are final and that they don’t accept returns, customers can return the products they bought within 10 business days within date of purchase.
- South Carolina – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- South Dakota – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Tennessee – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Texas – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Utah – All retailers need to have their own return policy and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. In case the retailer fails to do this, buyers can return their products for a refund.
- Vermont – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Virginia – All retailers need to have their own return policy and it needs to be shown to the customer at the time of sale. However, in case they provide a credit or cash refund within 20 days of purchase date, they don’t need to show their return policy to consumers.
- Washington – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- West Virginia – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Wisconsin – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.
- Wyoming – As a consumer, you can’t cancel a purchase or contract agreement. The ability to get a refund depends on each merchant.