Q: Now that holiday gift-giving is over for another year, what are some easy ways to return unwanted presents, without causing hurt feelings?
-- Sarah Stressed
Dear Stressed: Assuming your friends and family purchased the way savvy consumers should, you can return gifts without much trouble.
1 Avoid the immediate post-Christmas sales. The days following Christmas are still prime shopping times that involve long lines and slow customer service. From Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, fewer customers conduct business right when the store opens and closes. To avoid hassles, review stores' return policies before starting out. At Toys "R" Us, for example, some electronics must be returned by Jan. 9 to receive a store credit or a refund. Most merchandise can wait until Jan. 25. Obviously, return policies run the gamut, so be careful to check a store's guidelines, particularly with respect to heavy or expensive items. ConsumerWorld.org is a public service consumer resource guide that has an updated list of company policies. Don't despair if you have no receipt. If you charged the gift using your store card, employees can verify your purchases. Some companies have a long return period. Check with different stores for details.
2 Keep the receipt or include a gift receipt. With either in hand, you've paved the way for a successful return, especially if cash changed hands in the transaction. However, if you or your "giftee" go to the store empty handed, the clerk or even the manager may only dispense a gift card or a store credit. Credit card transactions may also help with proof of purchase, though it could take a return phone call, email or fax from customer support.
3 Be careful trying to exchange an online gift at a brick-and-mortar store, which often has a limited return policy. Worse, if that item came from the online store and must be returned to the same source, you might have to pay for shipping.
4 Make certain gifts are in returnable condition. A lot of stores refuse to take back items that have been opened or appear to be used. If the company's policy prevents this return, suck it up and try to sell it on eBay or Craig's List.
5 Carry your ID to help with returns. Even if you belong to the loyalty program or are a charge card holder, an ID often helps speed the exchange or credit.
6 Restocking fees can eat you up! If returning electronics or other items that are open but unused, a restocking fee of 15 percent of the purchase price can add up big time, particularly if the gift's original price hit the hundreds or, worse, into the thousands. Instead, consider selling the item outright to avoid paying the fee and, hopefully, even obtain the full price you (or whomever) paid in the first place.
7 Don't be a jerk. The proverbial tip about "catching more bees with honey" is never truer when dealing with a fellow individual. Exhausted, irritated employees often help IF they wish; a smile, kind word or just plain politeness on the customer's part can make a huge difference, especially if you'd like a refund, a credit or an exchange for the same amount of money originally spent but don't have a clue as to the location of the item's receipt.
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@times freepress.com.