For those hoping to make a holiday gift return, some stores have proven to make their policies easier to navigate than others.

Among the most relaxed returns policies are Macy's, which allows six months to make a return, while Lands' End has no time limit.

But Best Buy offers a much more stringent limit: their deadline is Jan. 14.

Some tips to avoid a hassle on returning items include knowing the store's holiday policies, which are often different from the rest of the year's. Tracking these deadlines on a calendar is always helpful.

Before even making the returns, asking for gift receipts is key.

If you also wind up with a defective item, be sure to tell the store, as that tends to take priority over policy.

Finally, be sure to check policies on clearance items, as some stores don't allow them to be returned.