Grocery Store Chains With The Best Return Policies

Your newly purchased peanut butter has a broken seal, but your success in getting a refund depends on the flexibility of your grocery store's return policy. Shopping mishaps affect everyone — grocery bags may contain moldy bread, misleading products, or green potatoes. Even if you carefully inspect food in the store, you may discover an unpleasant surprise at home. Since many food items are inexpensive, you might toss spoiled products into the trash instead of seeking a return. After all, the time needed to return a $3 bag of moldy bread may not seem worth it. For some, though, it's a matter of principle in holding supermarkets accountable for the quality of their food.

Every grocery store has a unique return policy, and legally, retailers only have to accept returns on defective products. So often, though, shoppers have other reasons for returning items — a product didn't taste as expected, they bought more than they needed, or they purchased the wrong item. Returns under these circumstances are not possible everywhere since some supermarkets follow stricter policies. The reason for this is they usually have to throw out food returns. It would be unsafe to sell returned frozen or chilled products, and likewise, dairy, meat, and produce could also pose health hazards. So, if you're planning a food board for your next party but don't know how much you'll need and want to return the surplus, head to a supermarket with a fantastic return policy like the ones listed here.

Members have had good luck returning food to Costco. The website announces, "We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell, and will refund your purchase price," and the company lives up to it. Redditor u/zihaoyu returned a package of frozen burritos even though they'd already eaten two, and Costco accepted the partially eaten product. Then, Reddit user u/johndoenumber2 bought a bag of tangerines and later saw many were spoiled. They also received a full refund. If something like this happens to you, ask the warehouse how to proceed. Most stores don't want rotting produce back — they'd prefer a photo and your receipt. Alternatively, freezing the whole bag makes it less disgusting to handle.

Costco has no time limit on returning most merchandise — the exception is a 90-day limit on electronics. U/dell_55 asked Reddit about returning an air fryer five years after purchase. Most of the community thought Costco would accept the return but agreed it was morally questionable for u/dell_55 to do so. Conversely, another user replied, "You can try to return whatever you want, whenever you want. The only thing stopping you is your own shame."

Although lenient, you should use common sense when returning items to Costco. Too many questionable items could lead customer service reps to ask to see receipts (which you can find on the app if you've lost the paper copy). A Costco general manager could also revoke your membership account for abusing the policy.

Trader Joe's is one of the easiest places to make a return. The FAQ section of the chain's website encourages customers to seek a refund for any private-label item that didn't meet expectations. According to Redditors, it is simple to return any item to this supermarket. U/PovImyourfriend recalled a time they bought spoiled ham. The next time they were in the store, they told the cashier without the intention of receiving a refund or replacement. They hadn't even brought in a receipt. The employee instructed them to grab another package. This customer hadn't brought the ham back to the store or shown a receipt but received a replacement anyway because the worker trusted them.

Many customers report that the store's policy is "no questions asked," and friendly Trader Joe's employees receive returns warmly. At the same time, many shoppers report taking steps to respect the store's generous return policy because they want it to remain as it is. Reddit user u/LAgator77, for example, says they only return inedibly bad items as opposed to products that they don't like much. They'll slowly work their way through the latter and never buy it again, but return the former. Cassava chips were the last food that customer remembers taking back for a refund because they were unable to finish the bag due to the awful taste.

The truth about Walmart is that you can return most items within 90 days of purchase, but it can be tedious. You may discover long lines at the returns desk, shorter hours, and reps who ask for a receipt and reason. This makes Walmart's policy seem harsher than the ones that allow you to return disappointing products to a cashier for a replacement, no questions asked. On the other hand, as long as you're willing to wait in line at the service desk and have your receipt in hand, you will most likely be able to return any groceries you want. Considering the low price of most food items, jumping through those hoops may feel like too great an effort.

Alternatively, requesting refunds through Walmart.com's app is a breeze. A word of caution about employing this method, though: It may not work for purchases from a physical store. Reddit user u/Useuless used Walmart Pay in store so they could request a refund via the app if necessary. When the time came for that, the app didn't work as expected. So, the disappointed customer visited the service counter, but the reps couldn't help since the process started in the app. In the end, neither the service desk nor the app granted a refund. Other Redditors on the thread recommended returning purchases from brick-and-mortar locations in person at the service desk and items from the online store through the app. Mixing and matching too often resulted in confusion and denied refunds.

Sam's Club offers members a "100% Satisfaction Guarantee," meaning customers can return most items, including all food and groceries, for a refund. There's no problem at this store's service desk if you show up with open products or frozen foods, especially if you have a receipt. Buy a box of popsicles, try a few, and return the remainder if you don't like them — Sam's Club reps at the service desk probably won't blink an eye. There are a few exceptions to this flexible policy, though, including electronics, appliances, cell phones, and motorsports items, all of which have shorter time frames for returning, but the service reps are lenient when it comes to groceries.

A quick perusal of Reddit reveals some of the surprising items customers return to Sam's Club and successfully get refunded for. For example, service rep u/Conscious_Ant_8200 received a half-eaten pumpkin pie. Policies like this one may seem too easy to abuse, but most customers feel too embarrassed or think returning these sorts of items takes too much effort. Usually, shoppers have a good reason for returning items, and only a few take advantage.

Aldi's return policy has a catchy name — "Twice as Nice Guarantee" — and makes it simple to get a replacement, as well as your money back, if an Aldi brand product disappoints you. To get this guarantee, you simply walk up to a cashier, show them your receipt and subpar product, and tell them you are dissatisfied. They'll give you double back. This policy only applies to food, not Aldi Finds, though. Those you can return for a replacement, cash back (if you have a receipt), or store credit.

Reading through a thread about Aldi's return policy, Redditors who say they work at the chain have big opinions about store policy. As per u/BlakeCarConstruction Aldi is almost too generous about taking returns. Another commenter reminded them, though, that if someone is abusing the policy, an Aldi location may take steps to make returns more difficult by banning shoppers from Twice as Nice. 

Kroger, a grocery chain that may be older than you thought, has a shorter window for making returns than most supermarkets. But, this chain sometimes gives cash refunds even if you don't have your receipt. If you're planning on taking something back to this store, make sure you do it in the first month after purchase since the return policy here says the store will only accept items for 30 days. Usually, the store refunds your money in the same way you made your purchase. You can show them a physical receipt or one through their rewards program. If you don't have a receipt, there are two alternative outcomes. First, if your item is worth more than $10, Kroger will give you a gift card. Otherwise, the reps will give you cash for items worth less than $10.

Reddit user u/Nosoycabra shared an experience that most people can identify with. This shopper bought a tub of yogurt only to discover that the expiration date had passed. This customer was unsure if they could take the item back to Kroger, but other Redditors in the thread encouraged them to do so. Their final comment in the thread was, "I took it to the store and the girl was really nice about it."

Meijer provides full refunds for all food items with or without receipts, but you'll have to visit the store when the service desk is open since this chain only receives returns in this department. The thing that makes this difficult are the lines and reduced hours at the desk — this department often has shorter hours than the whole store. The exact times depend on the specific store in your town, so call ahead to find out when the desk is open if you need to make a return. In practical terms, this means you can buy frozen macaroni and cheese at 10 p.m., but you might not be able to return your unsatisfactory frozen burrito at that time.

You can return most types of merchandise to Meijer as long as it's within 90 days of purchase. You'll have the best luck if you can show the service reps your receipt. If you have an mPerks account, the store can likely look up the transaction there. Also, note that any returns without a receipt mean you'll get a gift card to use in-store instead of money back.

The easiest things to return to Albertson's are store-brand products. The chain has a satisfaction guarantee called "Love It or It's on Us." You may have noticed the seal with a blue heart in the center when you shopped there. If there's anything you didn't like about a product, you can get a full refund if you take your receipt to the store within 90 days of purchase.

Returning other types of merchandise is more complicated through Albertson's online store. The website allows returns by mail or in person at stores for 30 days after purchase and requires that items be unused and in the original packaging. Some items are exempt; for example, used skincare and makeup. This means Albertson's return policy on non-food, non-Albertson's products is slightly stricter than most other grocery store chains.

On the other hand, Albertson's service reps will likely work with you as long as you are polite and kind when you request a refund or price match. On a Reddit thread about this supermarket, user u/Annie_b666 said they work at the service desk. This rep encourages customers to return mistakenly purchased items, saying it's their job and only takes a few minutes.

Target's return policy is incredibly flexible, with the store accepting most items for 90 days after purchase. Even more amazing, you have a year to return any store-brand product that didn't meet your expectations. This policy allows customers to get refunds for products they've taken home, used, and found they didn't like or changed their minds about. There are exceptions for items like electronics, gift cards, and collectible trading cards.

The store's policy is so lenient in most cases that service reps like u/_Bacon_Cat_ have taken to Reddit to complain about the refunds they have to give. The service desk worker noted that many shoppers are unreasonable with the things they bring back, including used and washed clothing or toys that children have played with and got tired of. Food, toys, and clothes are all simple to return, with customers either getting a refund if they have a receipt or in-store credit if they don't.

Publix will take nearly all returns. The company only asks that customers bring in the items with receipts. If you don't have a paper copy, customer service reps may find it in the system if you belong to Club Publix. On the other hand, if you can't provide a receipt and the rep can't find the transaction, he or she will likely give you in-store credit on a Publix gift card.

The r/Publix thread on Reddit shows that the service desk at Publix puts this flexible policy into action and reps won't ask too many questions. U/Ov3rclock1ngcow perhaps exaggerated, though, when they wrote, "You can literally buy something, eat the entire box, spit in the wrapper, crumble up the receipt, throw it at the picture of George Jenkins, and they will still refund your money." George Jenkins started the Publix company and, by many accounts, was focused on providing fantastic customer service, reflected today by the refund policy.

Amazon owns Whole Foods Market, and the flexible returns at the grocery store reflect the attitude of the online retailer. You have 90 days to return most items, but you must have your receipt. Without it, Whole Foods Market will not refund you. In many cases, though, service reps can help you find an e-receipt and if that fails, they may issue you a gift card.

One Redditor, u/Electronic-Ad-1818, purchased protein powder from Whole Foods, used some of it, and discovered they couldn't stand the taste of it. Since this is an over-the-counter pharmacy product, many stores would have a stricter return policy regarding it. So, this user asked the thread if Whole Foods would accept it back. Nearly everyone agreed that the supermarket would if the customer had a receipt. Others in the conversation listed other unusual items successfully taken back for refunds: half-eaten rotisserie chickens, green fruit, and omega-3 vitamins.

H-E-B, Texas's favorite grocery store chain, will refund most food items, but only within 90 days of purchase with a receipt. This policy is right in line with the majority of grocery stores and makes sure customers leave the store happy.

Nowadays, H-E-B is flexible, but it isn't always that way. One user on Reddit, u/GeekyGrannyTexas, recalled a time they tried to get a refund for spoiled milk and the service rep refused. That must have been years ago because others on the thread describe an incredibly liberal return policy. Most notably, u/PatioGardener received a refund for an entire meal ruined by spoiled tomato sauce. This cook poured the sauce into their pan and mixed it with veggies and ground beef. Upon tasting the recipe, they realized the sauce was off even though the expiration date hadn't passed. H-E-B graciously returned the value of the whole meal. So, if you remember a past time when you were refused a refund, don't let that keep you from taking an item back now. H-E-B has changed its ways.