Greatest Purchase, like many different retailers within the U.S., is anticipating a rise in gross sales throughout the vacation season this yr, after going through regarding buyer habits over the previous few months.
In the course of the second quarter of this yr, Greatest Purchase noticed its comparable gross sales improve by 1.6% year-over-year, as extra customers bought merchandise in classes akin to gaming, computing, cell phones, wearables and headphones, in response to its newest earnings report.
Nevertheless, in response to latest knowledge from Placer.ai, foot visitors in Greatest Purchase’s same-store places dropped by 1.2% year-over-year throughout the quarter.
Throughout an earnings name in August, Greatest Purchase CEO Corie Barry mentioned that prospects “continue to be thoughtful about big-ticket purchases” and have gotten “deal-focused and attracted to more predictable sales moments” amid financial pressures and challenges within the U.S. housing market.
Regardless of customers being extra cautious about their spending, many are nonetheless prioritizing vacation buying this yr, however with a deal with acquiring offers.
Greatest Purchase has been battling weak shopper demand in 2025.
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How U.S. customers plan to buy throughout holidays in 2025:
- Shoppers plan to spend $890.49 per individual on common this yr on vacation presents, meals, decorations and different seasonal objects.
- Roughly 85% of customers anticipate to pay increased costs resulting from tariffs.
- Additionally, 55% plan to make vacation purchases digitally, whereas 22% are anticipated to present electronics.
- Moreover, 63% of customers plan to wait till Thanksgiving weekend to do most of their vacation buying, up from 59% final yr.
Supply: Nationwide Retail Federation
“Time and again, Americans prioritize spending on loved ones for holidays despite economic uncertainty,” mentioned Katherine Cullen, NRF vp of business and shopper insights, in a press launch. “With more consumers planning to seek out sale events this year, retailers are prepared to deliver on deals and value to ensure consumers have everything they need to make the holiday special.”
Greatest Purchase updates return coverage for the vacations
As the vacation season looms, Greatest Purchase has made its return coverage extra handy in an effort to draw prospects.
The electronics retailer is now giving prospects who made purchases between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31 till Jan. 15, 2026, to return objects. Nevertheless, this extension excludes activatable gadgets (cell telephones, tablets, mobile wearables, and so on.), AppleCare+ plans and vacation decorations.
Associated: Marshalls makes daring change to return coverage forward of holidays
My Greatest Purchase Plus and My Greatest Purchase Whole members have a fair longer window to return objects throughout the vacation season. Members have till January 31, 2026, to return objects bought between Oct. 31 and Dec. 3. For purchases made on or after Dec. 4, members have a 60-day return window.
For all prospects who wish to return activatable gadgets, they’ve 14 days after the acquisition date to take action. It is usually necessary to notice that prospects shall be charged a $45 restocking charge when returning activatable gadgets (excluding pay as you go telephones).
Some objects, akin to drones, digital cameras, digital camera lenses, premium scooters, particular order merchandise, and so on., even have a restocking charge; nonetheless, it’s 15% of the merchandise’s buy value.
Additionally, if prospects plan to return vacation decorations, Greatest Purchase permits them to take action inside 15 days after the acquisition date.
Greatest Purchase’s return coverage change appeals to shifting shopper habits
Greatest Purchase’s choice to replace its return coverage for the vacations mirrors different retailers akin to Goal, Marshalls, Walmart and Amazon, which have all additionally prolonged their return home windows into 2026 as a result of vacation season.
Extra Retail:
- Marshalls makes daring change to return coverage forward of holidays
- Walmart quietly shrinks beneficiant provide for vacation consumers
- BJ’s Wholesale declares free provide for patrons amid struggles
A latest survey from the Nationwide Retail Federation discovered that buyers nationwide are anticipated to return virtually $850 billion in merchandise in 2025, and 71% are much less prone to store with a retailer once more after a poor expertise with returning objects, up from 67% in 2024.
As returns grow to be a much bigger a part of vacation buying, retailers are planning to alter how they deal with returns from prospects.
How retailers plan to deal with returns throughout the 2025 vacation season:
- Roughly 52% of shops anticipate gross sales this yr to be pushed by increased costs, quite than quantity, leaving margins susceptible to return prices.
- Additionally, 65% of shops are taking measures to monitor/prohibit extreme return patterns this vacation season, which embrace implementing restocking charges, limiting free delivery for loyalty members, including return delivery charges, and so on.
- Moreover, 75% of shops say fraud worsens throughout the holidays.
- About 27% plan to prolong return home windows throughout the holidays this yr.
Supply: ReturnPro
“The holiday season is always a test for retailers, but this year the stakes are higher because of tighter inventory, rising fraud risks, and growing consumer expectations for instant, frictionless returns,” mentioned ReturnPro CEO Sender Shamiss in a press launch. “Companies that view returns not just as a cost center, but as a lever for recovery, customer loyalty, and operational discipline will be the ones positioned for success during the 2025 holiday season.”
Associated: Amazon, Walmart, and Goal make vacation return coverage modifications
