General Return Policies

Just as much as buying and receiving gifts is part of the holidays, returns and exchanges are as well. It is estimated that there will be $47 billion dollars in returns this year, meaning that about 10% of what is going to be bought this holiday season will be returned. Seeing as how large this number is many stores have extensive return policies and often slightly change their policies so that return and exchange time periods are longer than the average 30 days. While it is important to review each individual return policy at the companies you purchase from, there are some basic guidelines that you can follow that will almost guarantee you your money back.

The first thing you can do to guarantee a hassle free return or exchange is to never wear the item. Prior to deciding to wear that new top or pair of boots out, make sure you do an at home trial run. Whether this means trying a top on or wearing the boots around the house, ensure that the item fits you as you want it to. Any stains, spills, or scuffs can be a deal breaker for the store because this means that the item cannot be resold.

When going to make a return or exchange don't forget to take the receipt or invoice with you to the store. While some stores can look up a credit card number or will do an exchange without a receipt, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

You also need to be aware of whether a return means getting your money back, receiving store credit or simply an exchange only policy. Knowing this ahead of time will not only put you into the right mindset going in, but it will also make for an easier return or exchange. It may also make you rethink your decision.

To be on the safe side, try to return any unwanted gifts as soon as possible. This will help you get around a return policy that expires soon after Christmas. Another tip with this is that many stores have hot sales following Christmas and getting an item you want and for less always makes for a happy and satisfying purchase.

Remember, these rules are only general guidelines for returning items, and are not strict policies for all stores. It is important to review the return policies for every store you purchase from to ensure that an item can be returned if necessary. Also, trying to return something despite the policy never hurts, many stores become quite lenient over the holiday season to accommodate those who received unwanted gifts.

More shopping tips can be found here!