Maybe it didn't fit; maybe it didn't work. Return policies can be confusing and daunting now that the shopping frenzy is mostly over.
According to packaging distributor Shorr, about 25 percent of online sale returns this holiday season will simply be because the product just didn't measure up to the buyer's expectations.
About $19 billion of the expected $65 billion in online sales this year will be returned. That adds up to about 30 percent, which is much higher than the return rate for in-store sales.
With a high return rate, e-commerce websites need to have good return policies to make their customers happy.
If you bought an item on Amazon.com between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, you will have until Jan. 31 to make a return.
That policy mostly applies to new items that haven't been opened. Consumers will also have to pay for the return shipping unless they are returning the item because of an Amazon error.
Return policies are different for most websites, though.
Some of the top online retailers, like Zappos, have been cited by multiple customer service analysts as having the best return policy. Zappos.com will give customers a free return shipping label if they are not 100 percent satisfied with the product.
Nordstom has a similar policy.
If you bought an item online from a company that also has walk-in stores, like Kohl's or Macy's, you can typically avoid return shipping costs by bringing the product to the store.