FILE – In this Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, file photo, a man returns a TV to a Best Buy at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, N.J. With the holiday season over, some shoppers are still wondering what to do with the unwanted gifts still hanging around. Shoppers have options, including swapping and selling online. (Craig Matthews/The Press of Atlantic City via AP, File)NEW YORK – With the holidays gone, some people still have bad gifts hanging around. Time is ticking, since many retailers have 30-day return windows. But those who have waited can still find a few ways to discard weird sweaters or duplicate air fryers.
That includes selling them on eBay, using gift-swapping sites or donating them to charity. And if they’re lucky, the purchases came from retailers with more generous return policies.
“There are more options for people who have unwanted gifts because the internet makes it easier for you to be connected to someone who does want that item,” says Lindsay Sakraida, director of content marketing with DealNews.com, a price comparison website.
Here are six ways to unload the castoffs:
» Returns: There’s still time to return gifts at some retailers, as they’re more lenient during the holidays. Many allow returns and exchanges until late January, according to Alex Vlasto, vice president of marketing at StellaService, which monitors customer service at retailers. During the holidays, items shipped by Amazon between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31. And for items from Zappos.com and Bed, Bath & Beyond you have one year to return. For consumer gadgets, though, it might be too late. Best Buy had set a Jan. 14 deadline for most holiday purchases.