The Ross return policy is as straightforward as it gets. You can’t make purchases from the Ross Stores website, so you won’t see an option online to print out a label and make your return by mail. With Ross purchases, you have to return things the old-fashioned way — by getting yourself into a physical store.
But other parts of the Ross return policy aren’t as clear. Like, can you return items to Ross without tags — or without a receipt — like you can with the Walmart return policy and the T.J.Maxx return policy? And does Ross accept returns after 30 days? And don’t assume you’re covered by the Marshalls return policy — Ross and Marshalls are NOT owned by the same company.
Don’t worry, though. I’m about to break down all the Ross return policy lingo for you, even the easy parts.
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1. How long do I have to return an item to Ross?
If you’re looking for a full refund, be sure to return Ross items within 30 days of your original purchase. But low-key, my Ross manager told me that if you have your receipt, you’ll still get a full refund for about 2 – 3 months because of the way the computer system is set up.
But the official policy states that after 30 days, you can only get store credit for a return with a receipt.
Related: Looking to save on future Ross purchases? Check out our Ross savings hacks.
2. What if I lost my receipt?
While you do need to have your Ross receipt for a return, if you lost it, you’re not totally out of luck. Ross will let you off the hook if you need to make a return without a receipt — but you’ll need an ID to do it. They’re keeping track! If you’re a repeat receiptless returner, they may ban you from returns in the future.
You’ll only get store credit for returns without a receipt. Ross will give you store credit for the item’s current price. Sometimes that might be less than what you originally paid for the item.
TIP: If you’re shopping in late December or January, you won’t want to miss the Ross clearance sale.
3. What do I need to return an item to Ross?
You’re really supposed to have your receipt for each and every Ross return, but they do have some wiggle room (see what we talked about in Tip #1). If you’re gonna make a receiptless return, make extra sure you have a valid ID on you.
While the Ross return policy doesn’t explicitly say you need tags for returns without a receipt, The Krazy Coupon Lady readers consistently report issues with tagless, receiptless returns. Try to make sure you have at least one or the other before you head to the Ross store.
4. Can I return an item that I used or wore?
Absolutely not. Ross says you can’t return “used or altered items.”
5. Can I make a Ross return without tags?
Again, Ross’ return policy doesn’t clearly state whether they require tags for a full refund. Now, let’s say you just tried something on. You didn’t really “wear” it for more than 2 minutes in front of the mirror, but you noticed a defect. You’ve already cut the tags off, though.
Well, you can give that return a shot. Depending on the manager working that day, you may or may not be able to return the item. You’ll have much better odds if you have your receipt, though.
6. Are there exceptions to the Ross Return Policy?
Yes, their return policy includes a few exceptions. Kind of. It’s more like a list of “you-better-make-sure-the-tag-is-still-attached” items. You will also need your receipt, for sure. Here are those items where they get really picky about needing the tags attached:
Jewelry
Swimwear
Lingerie
7. Can I return software to Ross?
Yes, you can return software to Ross if it’s unopened. While you’re not supposed to return anything if it’s opened or used, the Ross return policy goes out of its way to specifically call out opened software purchases as being ineligible for returns.
You won’t be able to return opened software to Ross ever, but if it’s defective, they will let you exchange it.
8. What is Ross’s return policy for gift cards?
If your Ross gift card gets lost or stolen, they will issue you another one for the same amount. But you’re gonna need a paper trail. They will need to see your original gift card receipt when you make the claim, and if you’ve made any subsequent purchases with the gift card, it’s not a bad idea to have those receipts handy, too.
9. Does Ross have a holiday return policy?
Yes, Ross has a special holiday return policy window. The exact dates change from year to year. This holiday season, any items you purchase in the month of December can be returned through Jan. 24, 2024. That way, even if you gift something from Ross under the tree, the person who receives it should still have a full month to return the item if they don’t like it.
10. How long will I have to wait for my Ross refund?
You won’t have to wait long for your refund if you paid for the item with a credit card or cash. Just keep in mind that while Ross issues your refund immediately on their end, the actual time it takes to hit your account depends on your bank or credit card company.
And refunds will take a bit longer if you paid for your Ross purchase with a check. There’s a five-day waiting period before you can get your money refunded. This helps Ross avoid fraudsters.
11. Can I return an item that I bought online?
No, you can’t return a Ross item you bought online (how did you do that anyway?!). This is kind of a no-brainer since Ross doesn’t have a shoppable online site.
You can return items to any Ross store location, though. Jewelry is the only exception to this rule. If you’re returning a jewelry purchase, you must return it to a Ross store that has a fine jewelry section (not all of them do).
Related: While you can’t shop at Ross online, did you know you can shop online at Kohl’s? Check out our Kohl’s hacks for more tips.
12. Is Ross owned by T.J.Maxx?
Nope. Ross is an independent company owned by their shareholders. There’s no one institutional shareholder that owns an overwhelming percentage of the company. That means you definitely can’t make Ross returns at T.J.Maxx or vice versa. They’re not owned by the same people.
You might be thinking of Marshalls, who is owned by T.J.Maxx. But according to the T.J.Maxx return policy, it’s the same deal — no Marshalls returns are allowed at T.J.Maxx, and no T.J.Maxx returns at Marshalls either.
13. How do I contact Ross customer support?
Your best bet for getting in touch with Ross is to just call your local store. They’re the people who will be handling your return anyway. If you have an exceptionally bad in-store experience, though, you can always use the customer service contact form at the bottom of this page.
Related: If combing through return policy fine print makes your eyes glaze over, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to return and exchange policies.
Do you have any Ross return stories? Share your experience in the comments below!
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