The 2026 winter sales kick off on Wednesday, January 7, and run until Tuesday, February 3, 2026 in France. It's the perfect opportunity to treat yourself and fill in those gaps in your wardrobe, all while taking advantage of great deals. However, some purchases may not always turn out as planned: a defect noticed too late, wrong size, change of heart... Normally, these new items you no longer want can be exchanged or refunded. But does this guarantee still hold during sale periods?
You may have seen in-store signs stating that sale items are "no returns, no refunds". Is this statement legal, or can we force the store to take back our purchase?
A document published by the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes, on the website of the French Ministry of the Economy, specifies that "a sale item benefits from the same guarantees as any other item. Thus, the "no returns, no exchanges" advertisement sometimes found during sales periods does not exempt the retailer from exchanging or reimbursing the item in the event of hidden manufacturing defects. On theother hand, if the item purchased no longer suits you, or if the garment is not in your size but there are no hidden defects, the retailer is not legally bound to exchange it: he can do so on a purely commercial basis."
In other words, any product, even one on sale, must be refunded or exchanged by the retailer if it has a hidden defect. However, if the product has no defect, the store is under no legal obligation to take it back. However, many stores will exchange a product within 15 to 30 days of purchase. Conditions are usually set out at the checkout, at the time of payment.
Note " that a shopkeeper is obliged to apply any exchange or refund provision he has advertised, in any form whatsoever. " If a store promises you an exchange or refund, regardless of the period, then that store is obliged to carry out the transaction.
Finally, you should also know that online purchases " are subject to the same conditions and regulations as in-store purchases. In addition, whether or not the item is purchased on sale, you may return the product to the seller for exchange or refund, without penalty, within seven days of delivery. "
This rule applies to purchases made by telephone or post, but there are a few exceptions: you may not exercise your right of withdrawal in the case of customized and made-to-order products, products that deteriorate or perish quickly (except for food products), open CDs, DVDs and computer software...
During sales periods, it's best to be cautious and avoid impulse purchases that you won't be able to get rid of later!
Winter Sales 2026 in Paris: Dates, Tips, and Best Deals! - Last Day
Winter sales arrive in the capital from January 7 to February 3, 2026! Get ready for endless shopping sessions and a wave of must-have finds. We’re sharing our top tips, tricks, and insider deals to help you make the most of this exciting sales season! [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From January 7, 2026 to February 3, 2026
Winter Sales 2026 in Paris: Dates, Tips, and Best Deals! - Last Day
