Many Happy Returns
Making a post-holiday appearance at the
cash register can be a real hassle. Here’s help.
The Chicago Sun Times
December 27, 2007
BY SUSANNA HOMAN
susanna@suntimes.com
You survived the frenzy of holiday shopping-are you ready to face the chime of the cash register again? About one –third of consumers will return at least one item this holiday season, according to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation. Returns are lower than previous years, thanks to the increasing prevalence of gift cards and online research before people buy.
“We have customer reviews on all of our products and online wish lists, so we’re getting closer and closer to the world of perfect information” explains Craig Berman spokesperson for Amazon.com. “It makes gift-giving easier because customers hit the mark more with all the info that’s available.”
Even so, bad gifts still happen to good people. “Unused gifts kept simply out of guilt are common examples of what I see taking up precious space in my clients’ closets,” says personal shopper Julie Watson from juliewatsonstyle.com. “I constantly hear the comment, ‘I felt bad returning it because I know Aunt Susie spent time picking it out and really thought I’d love it.’ Unfortunately, two years later, the tags are still on and it cant be returned anymore.”
Receipts are the key to hassle-free returns, and this year, nearly 58 percent of consumers indicated that they attached gift receipts, says the National Retail Federation. Without one, some stores will offer a credit-but be warned: it may be for the current retail price.
“If your sweater was marked down to 40 percent off the day after Christmas, and you have no receipt, that’s what you’ll get for it,” explains Laura Merlo, owner of Jade boutique.
Experts advise calling stores in advance to find out the return policy, especially if the store only offers in-store credit for a period of time.
“Even with a receipt, some stores only accept a return within a seven-to14-day window,” says Watson. “Some make exceptions around the holidays, but to be safe, make sure you call the store in a timely manner.”
If you’re returning a gift to an online retailer, returns are easier because receipts are catalogued, but you can expect to be stuck with the cost of return and shipping.
“Anything purchased from Nov.1 through Dec. 31 can be returned up to Jan 31”, says Amazon.com’s Berman. “As long as you know who the gift is from, we can go back and look at the gift givers account and return it even without a receipt. If the item is broken, we pick up the shipping for that. But if it’s something that you just don’t like, you’re responsible for the shipping.”
If you’re making a return in a store, shopping experts say that salespeople often have the discretion to modify return policies, so kindness is key.
“The after-holiday rush can be maddening for store clerks, so if you don’t have a gift receipt and the store requires them for a full refund, don’t act entitled,” says Lindsey Gladstone, host of “The Shopping Detective” on the Fine Living Network. “Be gracious. You never know what a little post-holiday cheer will get you.”
Before heading to the return counter, Watson cautions her clients to identify the holes in their wardrobes by doing a thorough closet inventory so they avoid another bad buy with their refund money.
“Shopping without a strategy is like going to the grocery store ravenous, and you wind up with unnecessary impulse buys because you’re overwhelmed by all of the sales and choices. If the store doesn’t have specifically what you want, hold on to the credit as long as the store allows. Come springtime, when you’ve got the itch to shop, you’ll be thrilled to have the credit.”
But what do you do if the store wont take your return? “The worst-case scenario is that you have to add the item to your ‘re-gift’ pile,” says Gladstone. “Just be sure to label it with a note that has the date and the name of the gifter so you don’t try and give that gift back to the same person.”
Another option, says Watson: Donate unwanted gifts to charity. “The point is to not keep things for the sake of keeping. There’s someone out there who could benefit from your gift, so keep the spirit of Christmas alive after the holidays.
Copyright © 2008 juliewatsonstyle. All rights reserved.
