If the holiday season is about giving, then the days after are about taking back.
And your gift could be the next to go.
According to a National Retail Federation study, 4 percent to 6 percent of gifts – most often ill-fitting pieces of clothing – are returned.
In some cases, however, our friends and relatives just don't like what we give them, which might lead them back to the stores to make an exchange.
"Sometimes they just want something else," federation spokesman Dan Butler said.
Regardless of why a gift is returned, shoppers can follow several tips that can make it easier for recipients to take those gifts back.
Keeping receipts is very important, said Lee Syfrett, the manager of Sears at Augusta Mall.
"If there is proof of purchase , it makes it a lot easier. It's the biggest issue," he said.
At many stores, making a return without a receipt might render only an exchange, and not a cash refund, Mr. Butler said.
Many stores can issue a special "gift receipt" that has all of the information of a regular receipt on it, except in bar code format, he said.
Those receipts can be put right in the box with the gift.
Most cashiers, however, won't automatically give out gift receipts.
"They have to remember to ask," Mr. Butler said.
Shoppers also should get to know the return policies at every store they buy from, especially when purchasing something expensive, he said.
"The higher the value, the more critically it's going to be scrutinized," he said.
Many stores display their policies on signs near registers and at other places.
Ignoring the signs is a bad idea, said Gwendolyn Knight, the manager of Stein Mart on Washington Road, which displays its policies at checkout lines.
"People should pay attention. I would," she said.
Gift givers and recipients also should remember that many electronic items will be subject to a restocking fee if they've been opened, Mr. Butler said.
Both Best Buy and Circuit City charge 15 percent restocking fees on some items, meaning it might cost $75 to refund a $500 camera, if its packaging has been opened.
But there are safer alternatives to guessing sizes or tastes.
"If you're buying something for someone and really just don't know what to get, that's when it's really smart to get a gift certificate or card," Mr. Butler said.
Otherwise, it never hurts to ask about size, favorite colors, or simply what they'd really like this year, he said.
Reach Adrian Burns at (706) 823-3352 or adrian.burns@augustachronicle.com.
Christmas Kickback
Some tips to make returning gifts easier:
Source: National Retail Federation
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