If you’re like me, you shop high and low for just the perfect gift. I really pride myself on trying to come up with the best gift idea for each and every person on my Christmas list (sometimes it can get pretty stressful, though). And there is just no way anyone would ever want to exchange it for something else! But the reality is, holiday gift returns are almost inevitable! Especially if you’re inundated with Speed Racer cars because that is the ONLY thing your 4-year old has asked for this year!
So, I’ve tried to put together a smarty guide on return policies at some of the more popular stores. The biggest thing is GIFT RECIEPTS! I know, I know … we all hate gift receipts! Especially when you’re super smarty and get a great deal on something – that should be your little secret, right? Unfortunately, so many retailers have migrated to the “lets make it impossible to return anything” theory and pretty much mandate one. So, if a gift receipt is enclosed, it makes returning something super easy. And in most cases, if it’s not … well, consider regifting at a white elephant party next year?!
Return Policies have gotten so detailed and vary widely by store so rather than bog down the blog, I’ve provided a link to each specific return policy.
Target
While none of us like Target’s return policy, it’s really hard to boycott their store. I did however discover a couple of super smarty tips, though! Gift receipts actually are printed with a bar code that covers your entire purchase. You can request as many print outs of that one receipt – just ask for as many as you need when you check out. And if you forgot to get one … you can even bring your receipt back at any time and request one then. That’s one thing that annoys me with other stores is that if you forget to ask for one when they first start checking you out, you’re out of luck!
Wal-Mart
I don’t shop often at Wal-Mart, but I think they are actually one of the easiest places to return things. Unless they’ve tightened their policy, they pretty much take anything back.
Best Buy
For qualifying gift purchases made between November 1 and December 24, 2008, returns can be made through January 24, 2009.
Circuit City
Caution! Some of the Circuit City stores are closing. If you purchase a liquidation item, it cannot be returned. I called one of the stores not closing and they confirmed that they follow the standard return policy listed here. I would still be cautious though …
Items purchased between November 2, 2008, and December 24, 2008, can be returned in-store or by mail through January 31, 2009.
Babies R Us
Babies R Us just recently changed their return policy – very frustrating because you used to be able to very easily return or exchange duplicate gifts but now you have to have a gift receipt or it has to be on your registry.
Amazon.com
Items shipped between November 1 and December 31, 2008, may be returned until January 31, 2009 for a full refund.
Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic
Do you have any experiences with returning gifts or super smarty tips to share?
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2 comments
I end up buying for most of my family for my kids so it allows me to make sure we are not getting the same toy twice, control how noisy or messy the toys are, make sure the gift is something that they will actually play with, and then I have all the receipts should something break or not work that I can take it back with. It has worked pretty well. It started off that I had found something on sale at one son’s birthday and picked it up for my parents, and the rest of the family wanted their own “personal shopper” for the kids that now I do pretty much all the family and then they just send me a check. My family loves it becuase it saves them time and works out well for the kids becuase they get stuff they like. My parents will sometimes go out and get something on their own but for the most part this keeps the returns to a minimum!
Best Buy has a horrible return policy…they actually charge a restocking fee on some items and they will not refund your money at the store…it is mailed to you, sometimes taking as long as 6 weeks. I never shop there strictly because of their return policy