Does Amazon tell the buyer when you return a gift?

Amazon's Gift Returns help page doesn't say. It does say gift recipients get an Amazon.com Gift Card on their own account, that gifts over $2,000 can only be refunded to the buyer's original payment, and that if you can't find the order number or tracking number, the buyer has to contact Amazon.

Does Best Buy tell the buyer when you return a gift?

If you return the gift by mail, yes: Best Buy credits the gift purchaser and notifies them by email. If you return it in a store, Best Buy gives you store credit for the purchase price.

Can I return a gift without the giver knowing?

Short answer: Usually, yes, if you return it in a store with a gift receipt: the credit goes to you as store credit or a gift card, not back to the giver's card. The exceptions to know: Best Buy says that if you return a gift by mail, it credits the gift purchaser and emails them. Walmart can credit a gift-receipt return to the sender's original payment (you can choose a Walmart Gift Card instead). And without a gift receipt or order number, you often need the giver's help, which tells them anyway.

Details

No store we checked promises to keep a gift return private, and most don't say whether they notify the buyer. The points below are what the official policies do say (checked Oct 21, 2026).
A gift receipt is the quietest route. It proves the purchase without the price, and the credit goes to the person returning it.

Where the refund goes, store by store

Amazon: gift recipients get an Amazon.com Gift Card on their own account. Amazon's Gift Returns help page doesn't say whether the buyer is notified. Gifts worth more than $2,000 can only be refunded to the buyer's original payment, and if you have no order number or tracking number, the buyer has to contact Amazon.
Best Buy: return a gift in a store and you get store credit. Return it by mail and Best Buy credits the purchaser and notifies them by email. Gifts from Marketplace Sellers also credit and notify the purchaser.
Walmart: gift-receipt items can be exchanged, refunded to a Walmart Gift Card, or credited to the sender's original payment. Pick the exchange or gift card if you don't want the money going back to the giver.
Target: a gift receipt or packing slip gets you a Target GiftCard. Without one, a merchandise return card. Online gifts returned by mail go through Target.com Guest Services.
Apple: a gift receipt gets you an Apple Gift Card.
Macy's, Home Depot, TJ Maxx: gift returns get store or merchandise credit.
Kohl's: you can exchange with a gift receipt. Without one, you get Kohl's Merchandise Credit at the lowest 13-week sale price.

When you'll probably need the giver

Lowe's doesn't accept returns without valid proof of purchase. It can look the sale up by order number, payment card, phone number or MyLowe's account, all of which belong to the buyer.
Costco's policy doesn't cover gift receipts or non-member returns, so the member who bought it usually has to return it.
Apple's policy describes returns with a receipt or gift receipt. It doesn't describe no-receipt returns.
Card lookups (Target, Kohl's, Lowe's, Home Depot) need the giver's payment card or account details.

Have the 17-digit order number ready? Open Amazon's Gift Returns Center (sign-in required). As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sources (official policies): Amazon Gift Returns · Best Buy Return & Exchange Policy · Walmart Return Policy · Target Returns help · Apple Sales Policy · Lowe's Returns policy · Kohl's Return Policy · Macy's Return Policy · Home Depot Return Policy · TJ Maxx return policy (stores) · Costco return policy · Last verified 2026-10-21

Policies change and stores may make exceptions—confirm with the official page before you go.

Can I return a gift without the giver knowing?

Details

Where the refund goes, store by store

When you'll probably need the giver

Related

Holiday gift returns by store

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