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Can I return something I just changed my mind about?

26 quoted answers, each with its source

The short answer

A store generally does not have to give a refund or replacement when a customer simply changes their mind; under the Australian Consumer Law, a customer is only entitled to a refund or replacement for a major problem with a product covered by consumer guarantees. If a store has a change-of-mind policy, it must follow it, and that policy cannot take away those rights; a store may lawfully refuse change-of-mind refunds on sale items, but a blanket "no refunds or exchanges on sale items" policy is illegal as of 21 July 2026. Policies vary: Myer offers change-of-mind refunds or exchanges on most items within 30 days but excludes clearance items and suspected reseller or bulk-purchaser sales, while Kmart requires change-of-mind returns within 60 days, or 365 days for OnePass members, in resaleable original packaging, and does not refund delivery fees. Separate rules apply to telemarketing, door-to-door and public-place sales, where the consumer has 10 business days to cancel for any reason without charge, or 6 months if the salesperson does not tell them about the cooling-off period.

Every part of this comes from the quotes below. How we write these.

What the rules actually say14

Quoted straight from the ACCC, the Australian Consumer Law or a state consumer regulator.

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The ACCC states that if a business has a change of mind policy, the business must follow it.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
However, if a business has a ‘change of mind’ policy, they must follow it.
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The ACCC states that after signing a sales agreement with a telemarketer or door-to-door salesperson, the consumer has 10 business days to change their mind.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
After signing a sales agreement, the consumer has 10 business days to change their mind.
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The ACCC states that a consumer who buys from a…

  • telemarketer can change their mind and cancel the sales agreement for any reason without being charged anything.
  • door-to-door salesperson can change their mind and cancel the sales agreement for any reason without being charged anything.
  • salesperson who approached them in a public place can change their mind and cancel the sales agreement for any reason without being charged anything.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
If a consumer buys a product or service from a telemarketer, a door-to-door salesperson, or a salesperson that has approached them in a public place, they can change their mind and cancel the sales agreement for any reason without being charged anything.
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The ACCC states that the cooling-off period for change of mind becomes 6 months if the salesperson does not tell the consumer about the cooling-off period.

medium confidencefirst-party
2 quotes from 1 source
The cooling-off period becomes 6 months if the salesperson:
doesn’t tell the consumer about the cooling-off period
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a store generally does not have to give a refund or replacement if a customer simply changes their mind about a product.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Generally, a store does not have to give a refund or replacement if a customer simply changes their mind about a product.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that under the Australian Consumer Law a customer is only entitled to a refund or replacement for a major problem with a product covered by consumer guarantees.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Under the Australian Consumer Law, the customer is only entitled to a refund or replacement for a major problem with a product covered by consumer guarantees.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a store with a change-of-mind policy must abide by the policy.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Some stores and chains have an in-store policy to offer a refund, exchange or credit note if a customer changes their mind. If so, this policy should be clearly displayed at the point of sale or included on the business’ website (if it has one), so customers can read it before buying. Stores that have such policies must abide by them.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that an in-store change-of-mind policy cannot take away the customer's rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
However, the in-store policy cannot take away the customer’s rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a sign reading 'No refunds will be given if you have simply changed your mind' is acceptable.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Signs that state 'No refunds will be given if you have simply changed your mind' are acceptable.
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The ACCC states in its guide for businesses and legal practitioners that a supplier does not have to give a refund when a consumer simply changes their mind about the goods.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
A supplier does not have to give a refund when a consumer simply changes their mind about the goods.
#

The ACCC states in its guide for businesses and legal practitioners that a supplier that has a store policy offering a refund, replacement or credit note when a consumer changes their mind must abide by that policy.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
But a supplier can have a store policy to offer a refund, replacement or credit note when this happens. If so, they must abide by this policy.
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Kmart's change of mind returns policy carries an effective date of October 2025.

medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
Kmart change of mind returns policy
Policy effective date: October 2025

Disputed between sources1

Sources that do not agree, presented without picking a winner.

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The ACCC states that store policies saying 'no refunds or exchanges on sale items' are illegal.

medium confidencefirst-party
3 quotes from 2 sources
It’s illegal for businesses to rely on store policies or terms and conditions which deny these rights. For example, policies which say ‘no refunds’ or ‘no refunds or exchanges on sale items’.
It is okay for an in-store policy to have some limits, such as:
'No change-of-mind refunds on sale items'

Often said, but we could not find it in the rules11

Lots of people say this. We went looking for an official source that backs it up and could not find one, so treat it as something people repeat rather than something settled.

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CHOICE states that neither a customer's change of mind nor finding a better deal somewhere else obligates a store to take a product back.

1 quote from 1 source
However, stores are under no obligation to take your product back if you’ve changed your mind or found a better deal somewhere else.
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Myer states that Myer offers refunds or exchanges on most items within 30 days of purchase when a customer has changed their mind.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If you’ve changed your mind, we offer refunds or exchanges on most items within 30 days of purchase.
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Myer states that change of mind returns will not be accepted on merchandise designated as a clearance item.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Please choose carefully when purchasing merchandise designated as a clearance item (either marked as clearance or reduced to clear) as change of mind returns will not be accepted.
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Myer states that sales to individuals it believes to be resellers or bulk purchasers are final sales to which the change of mind policy does not apply.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Sales to individuals who Myer believes to be resellers or bulk purchasers are final sales, and the change of mind policy does not apply.
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Myer states that Myer may refuse to accept change of mind returns from a customer where Myer identifies an unreasonable or excessive return pattern.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Myer may refuse to accept items returned for Change of Mind if we identify an unreasonable or excessive return pattern
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  • Kmart states that a change of mind product must be returned within 60 days of purchase.
  • Kmart states that for a OnePass Member, a change of mind product must be returned within 365 days of purchase.
other
1 quote from 1 source
You must return the product/s within 60 days of purchase, or 365 days if you are a OnePass Member
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  • Kmart states that a change of mind return must be in resaleable condition.
  • Kmart states that for a change of mind return, resaleable condition means the item is in its original packaging including instruction manuals and all accessories.
other
1 quote from 1 source
The product must be in resaleable condition, meaning: - It is in its original packaging, including instruction manuals and all accessories; and
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Kmart states that change of mind returns will not be accepted for a list of product categories.

other
2 quotes from 1 source
Change of mind returns will not be accepted for the following product categories:
Mobile phones and mobile internet modems, unless the packaging is unopened
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Kmart states that for change of mind returns the delivery fee is non-refundable.

other
1 quote from 1 source
For change of mind returns, the delivery fee is non-refundable.