WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - As the excitement of the holiday season continues, people realize that some gifts may not be exactly what they want or need. That means those return lines are getting pretty long. 22News is working for you on what you need to know if you want to return a holiday gift. With holiday gifts unwrapped, it is now the busy return season. Many shoppers are returning their gifts to stores or online retailers for something else. Heather of Agawam was making a clothes return for her son at Kohls at the Riverdale Shops in West Springfield. "I'm going to Kohls tonight just to return to things I ordered on Amazon and they make it easy. So my boys growing. I have to return hopefully exchange and get the right size," said Heather Talevi of Agawam. And she is not alone. According to the National Retail Federation, nearly $900 billion in items will be returned between now and the end of the year. During the holiday season about 17 percent of sales are sent back for a refund. You can make your holiday returns easy by: Getting to know the store’s policies, including their online return policies because many retailers change them for the holiday season. Make sure to know the details of a product’s warranty. Most electronics come with warranties that are to be fulfilled by the manufacturer, not the retailer. Make sure to return the item soon, many stores change their return period during the holidays. Consumer Reports says to bring your ID card and receipts when returning your holiday gifts within a certain time frame. It's also a good idea not to open boxes or remove tags. Many stores will only accept returns and exchanges if you show the item with its receipt and original packaging. The holiday deadlines vary for shoppers and are generally extended. For Best Buy, you have until January 14th. Both Macy's and Walmart extended their holiday return window to January 31st. Target's general return policy is 90 days, but electronics must be returned within 30 days. The majority of shoppers tell 22News they prefer online return, instead of going into the store. "Because I can take everything to one place because I ordered everything just about everything on Amazon, I don't have to package it up or anything," said Karen Brown of North Carolina. "Sometimes they'll even pick it up at your house if you leave it outside the door," added Kellee Cote of Westfield. But an adult must be available at the collection address to hand over the package. If you are returning online purchases from Amazon, their return policy depends on the product. Be sure to check the details for the item purchased or contact the seller directly. If you're unable to return something you can always donate it to charity or sell it yourself online. Local News Headlines Springfield Thunderbirds face off Hartford Wolf Pack at MassMutual Center Store deadlines & policies to keep in mind before returning any holidays gifts Chicopee recognizes Kwanzaa with celebration Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.