Columbia vs The North Face Return Policy

Columbia

• Items must be in original, unworn condition with tags attached.
• Footwear must include the original box in new condition.
• If a clothing hang tag has been accidentally removed but the item is still in new condition, a return may be attempted, subject to inspection by the warehouse team.
• Parcels can only be returned from the country where they were delivered.

The North Face

• Items must be unused.
• Items must be unwashed.
• Items must be unaltered.

Columbia

• Online purchase returns of ten (10) or more items must be initiated online and returned through the mail, not in-store.
• Irregular quality or defaced-label items purchased from Factory Outlet stores are not eligible for return.
• Direct exchanges are not possible; customers must return the item for a refund and place a new order.
• A $6 return shipping fee is deducted from the refund for returns using the provided shipping label.
• Returns sent without proof of online purchase will be returned to the sender.
• Purchases made with merchandise credit or gift cards are refunded as merchandise credit.
• In-store purchases returned without a receipt require a government-issued photo ID and will be refunded with merchandise credit at the lowest price sold in the past 60 days.

The North Face

• Items purchased online using PayPal, Klarna or Apple Pay are not eligible for in-store returns.
• Returns without the original receipt, exchange receipt or order details from an online account can only receive a merchandise exchange at the lowest selling price of the item(s), and only at the discretion of store management.
• If the original purchase was made with a credit card, a refund will only be issued if the authorized cardholder is present with the same card; otherwise, only store credit will be issued.
• Damage caused by accident, improper care, negligence, normal wear and tear, or the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use is not covered by warranty and likely not eligible for return as a defect.
• Footwear and products from The North Face Renewed series are excluded from the Limited Lifetime Warranty and may have different return conditions.

Columbia

• Original payment method (with receipt or customer account lookup).
• Merchandise credit (for purchases made with merchandise credit/gift cards, or in-store returns without a receipt).
• Physical gift card (for Loyalty Rewards from online orders returned in-store).
• Virtual merchandise card/credit (for Loyalty Rewards from online orders returned by mail).

The North Face

• Original form of payment.
• Gift card via email if original purchase was made with a gift card or rewards.
• Store credit (e.g., if original credit cardholder is not present or without original receipt).

Columbia

• Customers can initiate a return online to print a shipping label.
• Returns can be shipped back via UPS using a pre-paid label provided by Columbia (a $6 fee is deducted from the refund).
• For locations not serviced by UPS (e.g., Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska), a USPS label will be provided.
• Other unsupported locations may require customers to use their own shipping method and record the tracking number.
• Online purchases can be dropped off at Columbia Branded or Factory store locations with an order confirmation email.
• Online purchase returns of ten (10) or more items must be initiated online and returned through the mail.

The North Face

• Accepted within 30 days from the date of purchase.
• Items must be unused, unwashed and unaltered.
• Initiate return process via the order status page on thenorthface.com.

Columbia

• Purchases made in-store must be returned in-store.
• In-store returns require the original receipt or a customer profile lookup.
• Without the original receipt, a government-issued photo ID is required, and the refund will be issued as merchandise credit for the lowest price sold within the past 60 days.

The North Face

• Online purchases can be returned at The North Face retail stores within 30 days of purchase.
• Order number or order confirmation email is required.
• Items purchased online with PayPal, Klarna, or Apple Pay are not eligible for in-store returns.
• Refund to original credit card requires the authorized cardholder and the same card to be present; otherwise, store credit is issued.

Columbia

• Purchases made with gift cards are refunded as merchandise credit.
• Loyalty Rewards used on original online orders are refunded as merchandise credit (virtual if mailed, physical gift card if in-store).

The North Face

• If original purchase was made with a gift card or rewards, a gift card will be issued via email for the return.
• Returns without original receipt or order details may receive a merchandise exchange at the lowest selling price, at store management's discretion.

Columbia

• Loyalty Rewards points for in-store returns will be refunded back to the purchaser's account.
• Loyalty Rewards from online orders are refunded as merchandise credit (virtual if mailed, physical gift card if in-store).

The North Face

Not available

Columbia

Not available

The North Face

• Limited Lifetime Warranty covers manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the practical and reasonably expected lifetime of the product (excluding footwear and Renewed series).
• Defective products will be repaired or replaced without charge, at The North Face's discretion.
• Submit an online claims form with photos of the damaged product; customer service responds within 5-7 business days.
• Warranty does not cover damage from accident, improper care, negligence, normal wear and tear, or natural breakdown of colors and materials.
• Eligible defective products may receive a replacement, gift card, or repair.

Columbia

• Direct exchanges are not possible.
• Customers should return the original item for a refund and place a new order for the desired item.

The North Face

• Exchanges are possible within the 30-day return window.
• Items must be unused, unwashed, and unaltered for exchange.
• Without original receipt or order details, only a merchandise exchange at the lowest selling price is possible, at store management's discretion.

Columbia

• Columbia Sportswear reserves the right to limit returns or exchanges.
• For online returns, a $6 return shipping fee is deducted from the refund when using the provided shipping label.
• Customers are responsible for recording their tracking number for returns via their own shipping method, as Columbia is not responsible for items while in transit.

The North Face

• Online purchases can be returned at The North Face retail stores within 30 days of purchase.
• Proof of purchase may be required for warranty claims.
• The Limited Lifetime Warranty covers the reasonably expected lifetime of the product, not the owner's lifetime, excluding misuse and normal wear and tear.