returning a largish item to john lewis without original packaging

whitesatin

I ordered a large, upholstered footstool from John Lewis, at a reduced price. I unpacked it to inspect it but my husband assumed I was keeping it and threw the original packaging away. Now I find it is not going to be suitable for where I wanted to use it. Do you think there is any point in me asking if they would pick it up and refund, if I put it in some new packaging - polythene basically?