What's a reasonable return window?

30 days is the most common and most-expected. 14 days is acceptable for fast-fashion or perishable goods. 60-90+ days signals customer-centric brand (Costco, REI, Zappos). 7 days is short and may face customer resistance. Match the window to the product type and customer expectations.

Are restocking fees legal?

Generally yes if clearly disclosed at point of sale. Most states allow restocking fees up to 25% on opened or used items, and 0-15% on unopened items. Restocking fees on defective items are NOT legal. State attorneys general have prosecuted retailers for excessive (above 25%) or undisclosed restocking fees. Always disclose at checkout, not just in the return policy.

Do I have to refund original shipping?

Generally no for unwanted returns. Yes for defective, damaged, or wrong-item shipments. The policy should clearly state this. Some retailers refund original shipping as a goodwill gesture even on unwanted returns; others charge return shipping in addition. Your choice — but disclose clearly.

How do I prevent return fraud?

Best practices: (a) require photo evidence for defect claims; (b) inspect returned items before refunding; (c) maintain return-history database to identify abusive returners; (d) use serialized SKUs for high-value items; (e) require returns to original packaging; (f) ban habitual returners (Amazon does this). Most fraud is "wardrobing" (use once and return), substitution (replace authentic with counterfeit), and false defect claims. Photo documentation deters most fraud.

Return Policy Template

E-commerce or retail return policy — eligibility, time window, condition requirements, refund mechanism, exceptions.

Customise

Effective date

Business / store name

Website URL

Return window (days)

14-90 typical; 30 is most common.

Condition requirement

Refund method

Refund processing time

Return shipping cost

Items excluded from returns

Restocking fee

Exchange policy

Damaged or defective item handling

Customer contact for returns

State (governing law)

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RETURN POLICY

NorthHaven Outdoors
https://northhavenoutdoors.com
Effective May 7, 2026

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OVERVIEW
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We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If something isn't right, you may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a refund or exchange, subject to the terms below.

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RETURN ELIGIBILITY
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Time window: You have 30 days from the delivery date to initiate a return.

Condition: Items must be unused and in their original packaging with all tags, labels, and accessories included.

Items must include all original components: packaging, manuals, accessories, parts, and any free gifts. Returns missing components may receive a partial refund.

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HOW TO RETURN AN ITEM
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1. Contact us at returns@northhavenoutdoors.com or call (207) 555-0184 (Mon-Fri 9 AM-5 PM ET) within the 30-day return window.
2. Include your order number and the items you wish to return.
3. We will provide return instructions and (where applicable) a return shipping label.
4. Pack the item securely in its original packaging.
5. Ship the item to our returns address (provided in the return instructions).
6. We will inspect the item upon receipt and process your refund within 5-10 business days after we receive and inspect the returned item.

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REFUNDS
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Refund method: Refund will be issued to the original payment method (credit card, PayPal, or other).

Processing time: 5-10 business days after we receive and inspect the returned item.

Restocking fee: No restocking fee.

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RETURN SHIPPING COSTS
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Customer is responsible for return shipping costs. We recommend using a tracked shipping service for items above $50.

Original shipping costs paid at the time of purchase are non-refundable, except in cases of damaged, defective, or wrong-item shipments.

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DAMAGED, DEFECTIVE, OR WRONG ITEMS
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Damaged or defective items are eligible for a full refund OR replacement (customer's choice) regardless of return window. Notify us within 14 days of delivery with photos showing the issue. We provide a free prepaid return label and process the refund or replacement within 3 business days.

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EXCHANGES
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Exchanges for size or color are processed as a return + new order. Customer ships the item back, we issue refund, and customer places a new order. We do not pre-ship the new size before receiving the return.
For defective items, we ship a replacement at no charge before requiring the defective item return; replacement is shipped after photographic confirmation of defect.

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ITEMS THAT CANNOT BE RETURNED
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The following items are NOT eligible for return:

Custom or personalized items.
Undergarments and swimwear (for hygiene).
Perishable goods (food, fresh flowers).
Digital products and downloads.
Gift cards.
Items marked "Final Sale" at time of purchase.
Used gear with damage from misuse or accident.

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CONSUMER RIGHTS DISCLAIMER
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This return policy is in addition to your statutory consumer rights under federal and state law. Nothing in this policy waives or limits your right to: (a) a refund for goods that are defective, damaged, or not as described under state warranty laws and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 USC §2301); (b) chargeback rights with your credit card issuer for unauthorized or disputed charges (Fair Credit Billing Act); (c) state-specific consumer-protection rights (e.g., California Civil Code §1782, "lemon law" equivalents for retail goods).

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INTERNATIONAL ORDERS
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International returns are handled on a case-by-case basis. Customs duties and taxes paid on the original shipment are not refundable. International customers are responsible for return shipping costs and any customs fees on the return shipment.

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CONTACT US
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Questions about this return policy?

  Email: returns@northhavenoutdoors.com or call (207) 555-0184 (Mon-Fri 9 AM-5 PM ET)

We aim to respond to all return inquiries within 1 business day.

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POLICY UPDATES
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We may update this policy from time to time. The version in effect at the time of your purchase governs your return rights for that purchase.

Last updated: May 7, 2026
Governed by the laws of Maine.

About this template

A return policy is one of the most-read documents on any e-commerce site — second only to the product page itself. Studies consistently show that 60-70% of online shoppers read the return policy before purchasing, and a clear, customer-friendly return policy materially increases conversion rate. Yet many small businesses publish unclear, hostile, or legally problematic return policies that hurt sales and create disputes. The most-litigated areas: (1) Defective vs. unwanted returns — federal and state law require sellers to refund or replace defective products regardless of return policy; the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 USC §2301) and state warranty laws apply. The return policy can limit unwanted returns (changed mind, wrong size) but cannot waive defect-return rights. (2) Restocking fees — generally permissible, but must be clearly disclosed at point of sale. Excessive restocking fees (above 25%) face state attorney general scrutiny. (3) Final sale items — permissible if clearly marked at point of sale; unclear marking creates disputes. (4) Original-shipping-cost refunds — most retailers do not refund original shipping unless the item was defective; this should be clearly stated. (5) International returns — customs duties and taxes are typically not refundable; clear disclosure prevents disputes. (6) Time window — 30 days is most common; 14 days is the legal minimum in some EU countries (US has no federal minimum); 90+ days (REI, Costco) signals customer-centric brand. (7) Refund processing time — credit card refunds typically post 5-10 business days after the merchant initiates the refund, but the merchant's actual processing time varies. Best practices: (a) Keep the policy short and customer-friendly — long, complex policies signal bad faith; (b) Use clear examples — "If you order shoes and they don't fit, ship them back within 30 days for a full refund"; (c) Provide a self-service return portal where customers can initiate returns without emailing; (d) Use prepaid return labels — the small cost is typically offset by higher conversion and reduced support cost; (e) Photograph defective items before refunding — discourages return fraud; (f) Test the return process yourself periodically. State considerations: California Civil Code §1723 requires retailers to display return policies prominently; Massachusetts requires retailers to clearly disclose return policies and allows 7-day cooling-off for door-to-door sales; New York General Business Law §218 provides similar disclosure requirements. FTC guidance: the FTC has aggressively pursued businesses that misrepresent return policies or use deceptive auto-renewal/refund procedures. The Restoring Consumer Choice in Online Subscriptions ("Click-to-Cancel") rule (2024) requires similar simplicity for cancellation as for sign-up. Consumer expectations: Amazon (no-questions-asked returns within 30 days, free shipping) has set the de facto standard for e-commerce returns. Smaller retailers compete by being either (a) more generous (REI lifetime returns) or (b) more transparent about restrictions, both of which work better than imitating Amazon imperfectly.

When to use it

E-commerce store returning physical goods.
Brick-and-mortar retail with online presence.
Marketplace seller (Amazon, eBay, Etsy) requiring own return policy.
Subscription box or curated commerce (where some items can't be returned).
Wholesale/B2B retail (with appropriate B2B-specific terms).

What to include

Return time window (typically 14-90 days).
Condition requirements for returned items.
Refund method and processing time.
Return shipping cost allocation.
Restocking fees (if any).
Exclusions (items that cannot be returned).
Damaged/defective item handling.
Exchange procedures.
Customer contact information.

Frequently asked

For unwanted returns, generally yes — there is no federal law requiring retailers to accept "changed mind" returns. However: (a) defective product returns are required under federal warranty law and state consumer-protection statutes regardless of return policy; (b) some states (CA, NY, MA, FL, VA) require retailers to clearly disclose "no returns" or restrictive policies — undisclosed restrictive policies may be void; (c) "no returns" creates significant customer-service friction and reduces conversion rates. Most successful retailers offer at least limited returns.

⚠ Legal disclaimer. Return policies are subject to federal warranty law (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 USC §2301), state warranty and consumer-protection law, and state-specific disclosure requirements (California Civil Code §1723, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Virginia, etc.). Restocking fees and "no return" policies face state attorney general scrutiny. Defective and damaged item returns are required under federal and state law regardless of policy. Credit-card-issuer chargeback rights (Fair Credit Billing Act) provide additional consumer protection. International returns face customs and tax considerations. For any business with significant return volume or complex return requirements, engage a consumer-protection attorney to review the policy. Not legal advice.