What is an extended holiday return policy?

A longer return window for orders placed in the gift season, usually from early November, returnable until a fixed date in January. It lets people buy gifts early without losing the chance to return them.

Do Black Friday orders get the holiday window?

Only if your holiday dates include them. Many stores start the window on November 1 so Black Friday and Cyber Monday orders qualify. Say the start date in the policy so nobody has to ask.

Can Aide start the return as well as answer?

Yes, once you turn returns on. Aide starts a Shopify return for a verified shopper under your Shopify return rules, or opens your returns portal on the order.

What if the order was placed before the holiday dates?

It keeps your normal window. The reply gives that window and the date it closed, and any request for an exception goes to your team.

Extended holiday returns template

More time to return, with the date in writing.

Tell holiday buyers whether their order qualifies for the longer window, and the exact day it closes.Updated November 3, 2026 · By Ziyad Basheer

Use this template free See the template

Short answer

An extended holiday return reply checks the order date against your holiday dates, then gives the exact last day to return. Orders placed outside those dates get the normal window, stated just as plainly.

The templates

Fills in from Shopify, with a fallbackYours to fill in

EmailHoliday window applies

Subject: Returning order.name

Hi customer.first_name, Good news: order.name was placed inside our holiday dates of November 1 to December 24, so it can be returned until January 31. Items need to be unworn, with the tags on. Refunds go to the original payment method, and gifts can be returned for store credit instead. When you are ready, reply to this email and we will start the return.

ChatShort reply

Yes. order.name was placed inside our holiday dates, so it can be returned until January 31. Reply here when you are ready and I will start the return.

StepsProcedure steps

Check the order date against the holiday return dates in our return policy. If it was placed inside them, say it can be returned until January 31 and explain how to start the return. If it was placed outside them, give the normal return window and the date it closes. Never extend the dates. Hand requests for an exception to the team.

When to use

A customer asks whether an order placed in the holiday season can be returned in January, or when the holiday return window ends. Not when the order falls outside your holiday dates, or the item was final sale.Aide picks a procedure from its When to use. Paste this into your procedure, then edit it for your store.

Only if

They ask about January returnsYour holiday return topic is detected, such as “Can I still return this after Christmas?”

Order foundOnly if an order exists, so the reply checks the real order date.

Season onlySwitch the procedure on in November and off once the holiday window closes.

Example conversation

Customer

I bought a sweater on #2214 in late November as a present. If it does not fit, can I still return it in January?

Aide

Yes. #2214 was placed on November 28, inside our holiday dates of November 1 to December 24, so it can be returned until January 31. It needs to be unworn with the tags on. When you are ready, reply here and I will start the return.

Customer

Great, that takes the pressure off.

✓Order date checked against your holiday return dates

Frequently asked questions

: A longer return window for orders placed in the gift season, usually from early November, returnable until a fixed date in January. It lets people buy gifts early without losing the chance to return them.
: Only if your holiday dates include them. Many stores start the window on November 1 so Black Friday and Cyber Monday orders qualify. Say the start date in the policy so nobody has to ask.
: Yes, once you turn returns on. Aide starts a Shopify return for a verified shopper under your Shopify return rules, or opens your returns portal on the order.
: It keeps your normal window. The reply gives that window and the date it closed, and any request for an exception goes to your team.

Gift returnSomeone who received a gift wants to return it.Email · Chat · Internal note Return policyAnswer what your return policy is.Chat Return outside the windowThe return window has closed.Email · Chat · Internal note Final sale returnThe item was sold as final sale.Email · Chat

Send this with the order filled in

Aide fills in the Shopify order and tracking, then drafts or sends the reply, as you choose.

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