Who doesn’t love Target?
It’s everyone’s favorite store to wander through.
The only problem is you may end up spending $100 when you only needed to get a shower curtain thanks to all of the amazing products you will see while at the store.
Sometimes, the excitement can make us buy the wrong product or a product we really don’t need.
Luckily, you can return the product.
However, what happens if you lost the receipt?
Here is Target’s return policy without a receipt.
Target Return Policy Without A Receipt
You can return items without a receipt at Target in most situations.
However, you can only return up to $100 worth of items a year without a receipt.
You can’t return items worth more than $100 without a receipt.
However, if you find the receipt, you can return most other Target items, despite the price.
There are also restrictions and exceptions.
For example, you must have a receipt to return an item you purchased that day.
That’s because Target’s internal receipt lookup system won’t log a transaction until the next day.
Items should be in good condition and unopened to qualify for a return.
One exception to this rule is makeup as Target has a special return policy on makeup that accepts opened products since they understand the need to try a specific color to see if you like it.
In most cases, you can return items within 90 days, but electronics must be returned within 30 days.
Some electronics sold by Target partners may have a smaller return window based on the manufacturers’ policies, referring to cell phones in particular.
It’s also important to note that Target brand items can be returned up a year after purchase.
Some popular Target brands that qualify for the year-long return window include:
- A New Day
- Pillowfort
- Room Essentials
- Goodfellow & Co.
- Universal Thread
- Xhilaration
If you don’t have a receipt of any kind, and you paid in cash, you will only be able to receive a Target gift card as compensation.
You can return Target products to any store, whether you bought the item in-store or online.
All returns require a government-issued ID.
If you do not have an ID or it is not valid, your return will likely get denied.
Target tracks all returns in order to identify and hinder fraud.
Alternative To A Receipt
If you don’t have your receipt, you may still have something that Target can use to process your return.
Outside of receipts, Target will use return bar codes and packing slips.
Target employees can pull up a receipt by using the barcode of the item you need to return.
If you had the item delivered, you can also use the packing slip that came on the delivery.
Target RedCard Members
It pays to be a Target RedCard member.
It also increases your return timeframe.
You can return items 30 days after the typical return windows, 60 days for electronics, and 120 days for regular items.
This is a great option for people who return items often or corporate purchases.
Items You Absolutely Can’t Return For Refund
You cannot return a Target gift card for any reason.
All sales on Target gift cards are final.
There are also items that you can’t return for a refund but may get store credit for an exchange:
- Opened collectibles
- Opened airbeds
- Open media (music, movies, games, etc.)
Once these items become opened, they decrease in value or damage easily, meaning Target will need to properly examine and repackage the item before putting it back out onto the floor.
Also, only providing in-store credit ensure that no one scams the store by stealing media and then trying to replace something else.
Returns During Coronavirus
During Coronavirus, Target announced that they could not take in-store returns for three weeks to promote public health.
Returns via mail were still accepted.
Soon after, Target upgraded safety processes enough to take in-store purchases again.
Can You Return Alcohol At Target?
Target absolutely will return alcohol as long as the law permits it.
For example, Michigan does not permit the return of alcohol unless it is somehow unsuitable for human consumption (and still unopened).
In states that allow the retailer to decide whether they want to accept the return or not, like New York and California, Target does accept returns.
Can You Return Discounted Or Clearance Items?
You can return discounted and clearance items to Target.
Of course, you will receive the discounted price you paid for the item and not the full price of the item.
If you paid in cash and don’t have a receipt, you will get the value of the item at the current time, even if the price has dropped since you bought it.
What Happens If I Paid Online Using PayPal?
If you used PayPal to pay for your Target purchase online, Target will give you a gift card since they don’t have the ability to refund money to PayPal.
Finding A Target Receipt
Just because you don’t have the receipt on you doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gone for good.
Target employees can look up most orders if you paid using any of the following methods:
- Debit card
- Credit card
- Target gift card
- Personal check
Transactions stay in Target’s internal system for one year.
If you have the card you used to purchase the item, you can simply give it to the Target employee for them to look it up in the system.
If you don’t have the card information, you won’t be able to take that route.
How To Locate A Receipt At Home
You can actually locate an in-store purchase receipt yourself if you used a card under your target.com account or want to return an item you bought online.
You cannot locate a receipt at home if you made a purchase with a Target gift card or cash (but employees can use the gift card to locate receipts).
To locate your own receipt, follow these simple steps:
1. Login To Target.com
You must have a Target.com account to find your in-store receipts online.
Setting up an account is easy.
When you sign up, register as a Target Circle member for free for even more benefits!
To log in, simply enter your email address and password.
If you’re doing this on a device that is used only by you, consider leaving your account logged in so that you don’t need to worry about forgetting your password.
2. Select Orders Tab
Locate the “Orders” tab on the left vertical menu.
Once the page loads, you will see your order history.
3. Select In-Store Orders
Your order history will automatically show your online orders first.
If you want to see your in-store orders, click the “In-Store” tab at the top-left of the page (to the left of “Online”).
4. Search For Your Receipt
At this time, all of your receipts will show up.
They will automatically appear in chronological with the latest transaction showing up first.
When you find the correct receipt, click it to see the details and print it.
Returning Target Items By Mail
You can return items by mail if you prefer to do that instead of going to the store.
You can return any items by mail that show up on your Target account, whether you bought them online or in-store.
You will follow the above steps to find your orders. When there, you will follow the following steps to complete a return by mail:
1. Pick Item You Want To Return
Select the item you want to return from the appropriate order.
You will get the option to process a return once you select the item.
If returning multiple items, be sure to select them all!
2. Select Return Reason
At this time, you will be asked to select your return reason out of a number of options.
You may select “other” if you don’t see your reason in the dropdown menu.
3. Choose Return Type
You will next choose between “Replace Item” or “Refund Item”.
If you choose a refund item, the money will go back onto the appropriate debit card or credit card once they receive the item.
4. Verify Shipping Address
Next, you need to verify your shipping address.
If you do need to change your shipping address, you can backtrack and do so under your account settings.
5. Print Your Mailing Label
Target will email a mailing label to you with details for the post office on where to send the item.
You can print the mailing label at home if you have a printer.
6. Package, Label, And Mail Back
Pack the items(s) into an appropriately sized box and tape the mailing label onto the box.
Be sure to include all accessories and instructions that came with the product as well as the packaging.
Now, you simply drop the box off at the post office.
Once Target processes the return, you’ll notice the refund sent to the appropriate card.
What To Do If Your Return Is Denied
Target has the right to deny returns, especially without receipts, at their discretion.
They offer returns as a courtesy to the customer and remain competitive with their rivals.
However, that doesn’t mean they will automatically take your return.
If Target refused your return, you can always try to take it up with a manager.
However, most decisions are final, and most managers will support the decision of their employees.
You will probably find better luck reselling the item yourself than fighting the Target hierarchy only to still get denied.
You can resell items on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and numerous other platforms.
If you can’t process a return because you exceeded the $100 a year limit for refunds without a receipt, you may ask a friend or family member to return the item for you.
Target Return Policy Compared To Competitors
Target’s main competitors are Walmart and Amazon.
However, how do these retail giants compare when it comes to returns?
We cover the similarities and differences in their policies.
1. Target Return Policy Vs. Walmart Return Policy
Target and Walmart both offer industry-leading return policies.
Target requires items to be unopened and undamaged.
However, they will take back an item if it was damaged when you got it.
For example, we once exchanged a television that had a crack in the corner with no problem.
However, we had a receipt.
Walmart, on the other hand, tends to be more relaxed about the condition of the items you return.
They also allow the return of opened items.
Walmart also accepts produce for up to 90 days, which is uncommon in the industry.
However, Target also offers returns on food items for up to 90 days.
Outside of that, the policies are very similar.
Both companies allow you to return items in-store or online.
Both stores also offer 90 days on most items.
2. Target Return Policy Vs. Amazon Return Policy
Target offers a much longer return period (90 days) than Amazon (30 days).
Amazon also won’t accept returns for perishable items at all.
You also have no choice but to return items by mail in most cases when returning an item to Amazon, while Target offers more flexibility thanks to the number of stores they have.
Outside of these small details, Amazon also offers a similar return policy to Target and Walmart.
Eliminating The Need To Return Items
It can be beneficial to eliminate the need to return or refund items as much as possible to avoid any problems.
Minimize the need to return or refund items by using the following tips:
- Stick to a shopping list: If you force yourself to stick to a list, you can eliminate impulse buys that you later regret and want to return.
- Research items in advance: Perform online research on items you want to buy so that you can read reviews and compare to similar items to find the best choice for you.
- Try on clothing before buying: Always try on your clothes before buying them to ensure that they not only fit but also look good on you.
- Give yourself ample time to shop: Instead of rushing, plan plenty of time to shop to prevent rushed purchasing decisions.
- Buy gift cards as gifts: Instead of guessing and making the recipient of the gift return it themselves, give them a gift card from the start.
Luckily, if you do need to make a return, Target tends to be rather accommodating to their customers.
Conclusion
Target has a customer-friendly return policy, even without a receipt, as well as numerous ways to find receipts when you need them as long as you pay using a debit card or credit card.
There are only a few exceptions to the rules, such as gift cards.
However, you can always resell items that you end up unable to return.
Of course, it’s up to you to minimize returns with smart consumer behavior.
Now, if only Target could stop us from buying all of that stuff we do want to keep.
Leave a Reply