NILES, Ohio - We all the know the saying: the early bird catches the... return? From the looks of it, yes, as crowds shuffled in and out of Eastwood Mall, Sunday.

Steven Juvelirer, vice president of Ryers Shoe Store which is located inside the mall, said his as well as other stores were prepared for it.

"We knew that we would open up and get returns," he said. "So far it's busy. This is a busy location."

And there were lots of returns Sunday, a day removed from the end of the 2021 holiday shopping season which the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicted would bring with it record breaking sales numbers.

The NRF forecasted holiday sales would generate around $843.4 billion to $859 billion in revenue for retailers. That figure could be up to 11.5% higher than holiday sales in 2020.

Consumer experts also predict consumers could return as much as $66.7 billion in holiday purchases.

However, the post-Christmas crowds weren't just at the mall to make returns. Many retailers are holding after-Christmas sales through the end of the year.

According NBC4 Washington, the best post-holiday items to buy this year are holiday decor, winter clothing and video games. 

Dustin Norcross was at the mall with his girlfriend, niece and nephew looking to take advantage of some of those deals. He said his nephew was especially interested in buying some video games with Christmas money he received. 

"If there's a deal, we're going to take advantage of it," Norcross said. "If not, at least we're spending time together and getting out of the house."

Brenda Terwilliger was at the mall with her daughter-in-law and said she was not looking to make returns. 

"[We're] just killing some time the day after Christmas, looking for some good deals," she said.

If you prefer not to shop in-person, many retailers will also carry out online returns. You just need to make sure you know the return policy for what you purchased, as it varies from item-to-item.

Here's a look at holiday return policies for many of the top retailers:

Amazon
The deadline for returns on most merchandise (shipped between Oct. 1 and Dec.31) is Jan. 31. 

Bath & Body Works
The store's policy is return anything, anytime for any reason for a full refund.

Best Buy
For items bought between Oct. 18 and Jan. 2, customers have until Jan. 16. This excludes items purchased with a third-party contract like cellphones, tablets, etc. 

Macy's
Items purchases made on Oct. 5 and later have until Jan. 31 to make holiday returns. Exceptions so apply, though for certain items.

Sam's Club

Sam's Club doesn't have a holiday return policy, though there are some exceptions: electronics and major appliances have a 90-day return period, commercial heavy equipment and motorsports items have a 30-day return period and cell phones have a 14-day return period.

Target

The return policy is 90 days for most items but varies depending on the type of merchandise you buy. Electronics and entertainment items have a 30-day return policy, while Apple products have a 15-day return policy. Target RedCard holders have an extra 30 days to make returns in addition to the regular return policy. 

Walmart

For most items, customers have 90 days following the purchase date to return or exchange. However, the return period for most items with a return window of fewer than 90 days (that were bought or received this year from November 1 through Christmas Day) begins on December 26 in 2021. The return policy for items from Walmart Marketplace varies. Customers are advised to check the "Details link" on the item page for more information.