Bloomingdale's has one of the longest standard return windows in department store retail — a full year for most items. Here's what the policy actually covers and where the exceptions are.
The standard policy
- 365 days from purchase for returns on most items
- Returns accepted in-store or by mail
- Original receipt preferred; purchases tied to your Loyallist account can be looked up
- Items should be in saleable condition (unworn, undamaged, with tags for most categories)
A year is genuinely generous — you can buy something, try it through a season, and return it if it doesn't work out. This is notably more flexible than competitors like Nordstrom's "case-by-case" approach or department stores with 30–90 day windows.
What's not returnable
Despite the broad policy, some categories are excluded:
- Final sale items — marked on the product page and receipt; non-returnable
- Fur products — separate return policy with shorter windows
- Altered items — if you had something hemmed or tailored, it's no longer returnable
- Mattresses — subject to a special return policy
- Perishables and consumables — food, flowers, opened beauty products (beauty has stricter rules than apparel)
Beauty and cosmetics
Beauty at Bloomingdale's follows the general return policy — 365 days in theory — but opened or used products can be declined. Partially used fragrances, opened skincare, and used cosmetics are returned at store discretion. Unopened products are easier to return.
Designer and luxury items
Bloomingdale's carries designer merchandise, and some designer items have additional tags or conditions that specify they're final sale or have shorter return windows. Check when purchasing. High-end items like watches and fine jewelry may have different policies.
How to return in-store
Bring the item with your receipt (or the charge to your Loyallist card or credit card) to any Bloomingdale's location. Associates process refunds to the original payment method.
If you don't have a receipt, they'll look up the purchase. Without any documentation, you may receive a merchandise credit rather than a cash refund.
How to return by mail
- Go to bloomingdales.com and log into your account
- Find the order and initiate a return
- Print the return label (a $9.95 fee is deducted from your refund for mail returns)
- Pack and ship; refund processes within 5–7 business days of receipt
In-store returns are free. The mail fee is avoidable if you have access to a Bloomingdale's location.
Bloomingdale's Outlet (B-Outlet)
B-Outlet has a shorter return window — 30 days — and more restrictions. Outlet-purchased items should be returned to outlet locations; the full-price store's 365-day policy doesn't apply to outlet purchases.
The honest read
Three hundred sixty-five days is one of the most generous return windows in retail. In practice, Bloomingdale's does evaluate returns, and returning an obviously worn item a year later won't necessarily succeed — but for items in good condition, they're genuinely flexible. Loyallist members have purchase history readily available, which smooths the process.
High-value resale from Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's carries brands that hold strong secondary market value — Vince, Theory, Tory Burch, designer contemporaries. If you have Bloomingdale's purchases in good condition that you're not wearing, the resale market is worth exploring.
Cove tracks the secondary market value of your wardrobe across brands, so you can see what your pieces are actually worth before deciding whether to return, sell, or keep them.