Shopping online feels wonderfully easy right up until something needs to go back. Suddenly, the hunt begins. Tiny links hide at the bottom of a webpage, confusing return windows seem to change from one store to the next, and surprise restocking fees appear at the worst possible moment. A purchase that looked like a great deal can quickly become a frustrating guessing game.
New York hopes to change that. As part of the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, Governor Kathy Hochul signed new consumer protection legislation that requires online retailers to make their return and refund policies easy for shoppers to find. Instead of burying important details behind layers of fine print, retailers must clearly display those policies so customers know exactly what to expect before clicking “Buy Now.”
