Tag: gifts

Every year, millions of gifts change hands to the delight of adults and kids around the globe. But not everybody gets what they want for the holiday, and this leads to several returns the day after Christmas, as well as the weeks that follow.

It can be easy to pick up the wrong gift for someone, so there’s no need to feel bad about it. People are busy, and not everyone knows each other well enough to find the perfect present in time for Dec. 25. Tap or click to see the most popular gifts on Amazon this year.

But when the time comes to make a return, you’ll need to know the ins and outs of each stores’ return policies. Every store has different nuances to its policies, with dates and conditions varying widely. We’ll show you how to successfully return unwanted gifts no matter where they originally came from.

What’s in a return?

To prevent abuse from greedy or fraudulent customers, every retailer sets return policies that outline the terms and conditions. This usually sets the dates you’re allowed to make a return, what the store requires to accept the return and limits to the condition of the product.

Before attempting to return any product, look through the checklist below and make sure the item you’re trying to bring back qualifies. Missing information like a receipt or bringing an open box can disqualify you from returns, or at the very least limit you to in-store credit instead of a full refund.

• Keep the receipt. A smart gift-giver always includes a receipt with their present, and most stores offer gift receipts. If the gift you want to return doesn’t have one, you may want to contact whoever gifted it to you.
• Don’t open the box. Open-box returns are not accepted by many retailers, and if they are, you’re usually limited to in-store credit. Some may even charge you a fee if you have an open or absent box. Don’t be caught without one!
• Bring your ID. The cashier may ask you to identify yourself when presenting a return. This is meant to keep shoppers accountable and help prevent abusive customers from taking advantage of lax return policies. Having your ID on hand can save you and the cashier time — and during the holidays, nothing is more important.
• Call ahead. This can help prevent you from being caught off-guard by tricky or complex return policies. When you call, ask the operator to detail the return policy and tell them upfront what you’re trying to do. This can help set your expectations, as well as prepare the store’s employees for another return ahead of time.
• When all else fails, negotiate. Though some stores have iron-clad return policies, politely requesting a compromise from the employee or manager can sometimes mean the difference between store credit or a wasted trip to the mall. If your product doesn’t qualify for a full refund, ask the employee if they’ll consider store credit or a gift card as a courtesy. And whatever you do, make sure to be polite. Employees are already under loads of stress from the season, and kindness will go a long way.

Which stores have the best and worst return policies?

To help you navigate the seas of shoppers doing returns, we’ll be going over some of the specific policies from individual stores. According to Consumer Reports, many of the more flexible outlets have generous time limits and condition requirements. As for the others, we’ll let you be the judge.

The stores with the best return policies

Nordstrom: All returns are handled on a case-by-case basis, and no receipts are required. You don’t even need the original tags and there’s no time limit to speak of. Items just need to be in good condition and still sold by the retailer for your best chance.

L.L.Bean: Customers have one year after purchase to return any item, so long as you have your receipt handy. Returned gifts will be exchanged for store credit.

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Millions of Americans have made the switch from shopping in person at the mall to buying Christmas gifts online. The numbers this year have been staggering.

Amazon reported it had its most profitable day of all time on Cyber Monday, with a sales total reaching over $9 billion. That’s a lot of gifts! Tap or click here to see Amazon’s top-selling Cyber Monday items.

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With the holidays approaching, there are a few things to keep in mind: gifts for your loved ones, good will toward others and, of course, scammers on the move. Click or tap here to see some of the most popular scams of the past years.

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Have you started to set up your smart house? If not, it’s time to go for it. There are always tons of sales going on for smart home technology and as time passes, tech only gets better.

Not sure where to start? Tap or click here for the smart home starter kit Kim recommends. If you’ve already got your smart home underway, think about gifts you can buy for friends and family at their next birthday, celebration, graduation or holiday.

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