Shopping stories, from the most sought-after toys to Black Friday bonanzas, dominate business news this time of year.
But a new survey looks at the opposite side of buying: the return. From financial website gobankingrates.com, the report ranks the best, and worst, national chains for a return. Given 68.6% of consumers say they returned gifts some or most of the time last year, according to a separate survey from the National Retail Federation, it's a timely report.
The five worst chains for returns, according to the survey, are Forever 21, Kmart, Barnes & Noble and GameStop and Sears.
The best places to make a return, the survey says, include:
1 Nordstrom: Employees are given wide latitude on return decisions.
2 L.L. Bean: Receipts are not required, and like Nordstrom, employees have flexibility.
3 Bed, Bath & Beyond: Policy has few restrictions, and covers shipping costs on mail returns.
4 JCPenney: No time limit on most returns.
5 Costco: No time limits, except for electronics, which have a 90-day cap.
6 Staples: Offers holiday season extensions on electronics and furniture.
7 Zappos: Online shoe retailer gives up to a year for returns and provides free shipping labels.
8 REI: Outdoor gear store's flexible policy includes some open and used items.
9 Macy's: No time limit on returns with a receipt.
10 Kohl's: No time limit with a receipt, and employees will look up items without a receipt going back 12 months.