Holiday Returns

Why on earth am I writing about holiday returns when you probably haven’t even started shopping for holiday gifts? Because there are things you need to know before you make that trip to the mall or before you go cyber shopping. Here are some tips for hassle free returns.

Know the Deal: Return policies are either printed on the receipt themselves or will be displayed at the register. Some electronics retailers (online or physical store) may also charge a restocking fee of up to 15 percent. So it’s best to know before you go so you don’t get any surprises.

Act Fast: Plan on heading to the stores as quickly as possible after the holidays. Most returns are accepted within a limited amount of time. Unless you have the original receipt, be prepared; you may not get the amount that you paid. Markdowns are common this time of year. Look on the bright side; you can take advantage of the post holiday sales as well.

Open At You Own Risk: You may be tempted to open the original packaging to check out the item even if you know you’re going to return it. DON’T! Items in the original packaging where the seal is not broken will be easier to return. And don’t be tempted to take off the tag on clothing until you are sure you want to keep it!

Be Patient: The week after Christmas is still the busy time for retailers and niceness counts. Remember to be pleasant to the overworked staff and if you’re not getting the answer that you want, ask for a manager. The cashier may not have the authority to override any policies. Also be flexible; you may get more by accepting store credit versus getting a cash return.

Don’t Get Blacklisted: Big retailers are using proprietary software to monitor return behavior and will reject returns if customers bring back items too often.

Online Returns: Keep original packaging and return packaging as well. Most online retailers will include a return label and return instructions are generally included with the item. If instructions are not included in the original packaging; go to the website or call the 800 number for instructions.

If All Else Fails: Re-gift, donate to charity or sell the item online at websites like eBay.com, Amazon.com or Cragslist.com.

Let Ideal Lifestyle Concierge assist you through the holidays. Here are some of the personal and corporate services that we offer: Addressing cards. Purchasing & Wrapping Gifts, Decorating, Party Planning, Mailing Gifts, Personal Chef Services, Returns. Don’t see what you need on the list. Call us we’ll be happy to accommodate your request.