Today, I shall return. Then I shall also exchange and buy.
It’s another one of those big shopping days when people come in droves to take back stuff that didn’t make their cut, or to get better stuff that catches their eye and soothes their material bone, or to buy at presumably the lowest prices of the season. And I’m going out there to brave the crowds, despite my aversion to throngs, hoping that things have quieted down a bit. I go out there as I do every year, to reenact a long held practice of making some bulk purchases for next year’s holiday stash and gift lists.
Though I skip Black Friday events, I’ve been more courageous about After Christmas sales because somehow it lacks that sense of urgency and desperation I feel in the air, right before the holidays, from the collective vibe of determined shoppers breaking through the shopping districts. People are hopefully in better moods after a nice heavy Christmas dinner. Perhaps more people are hung over and can’t make it to the shops, and there’s no longer a looming deadline to snap up the must have merchandise.
But then I come across this story, and I’m a little concerned.
Many big retailers, including Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, and Wal-Mart, now use proprietary software systems to monitor return behavior. Those retailers are usually quiet about how they use the data, but Wal-Mart announced in 2004 that it began using its return-tracking system to alert cashiers to customers who bring back more than three items without receipts within 45 days. Those customers must get a manager to approve their returns.
….
The company’s system automatically instructs cashiers to reject returns when customers bring back items too often or for too much money. The Return Exchange would not tell us exactly how many returns cause your name to get red-flagged for excessive returns, saying it varies by retailer.
Well, now you could be in trouble if you’re thinking of taking your entire Christmas booty over for an overhaul. As a rule, I very rarely return gifts I receive from others, though I do make occasional returns for things I’ve purchased myself. So reading further along, I also just realized I’m faced with a dilemma….
Will persuading friends and family members to give you gift cards help to pre-empt returns? Not necessarily. If you get a Talbot’s gift card and Old Navy is more your style, you’re out of luck. Most stores will not refund a gift card.
Gift cards are quite inflexible and I didn’t realize this until after shelling out some bucks for an ITunes card for someone whose computer is registered internationally. Apparently ITunes can’t be installed in foreign machines. I’m outta luck. I’ll have to think of new ways to make use of the card.
To alleviate such concerns, here are some suggestions for dealing with these shopping woes.
How To Avoid Problems When Doing Returns Or Exchanges
Act fast.
You’ll need to beat that return deadline to make it work.
Open at your own risk.
There’s such a thing as a restocking fee which you are charged if you tamper with the items’ packaging. It’s around 10% – 15% of an item’s price.
Talk turkey.
Make your wishes known among your gift givers to avoid getting stuck with something that just isn’t “you”.
Keep your receipts.
If you care about merchandise returns, watch those receipts like you do your lottery tickets. Like a hawk.
Speak up.
If you’re at a stand off with a cashier or representative, don’t argue with them: ask for a supervisor, manager or the right person who knows how to deal with your problem. That way, you don’t waste your time and incur any more stress.
For your own giving, consider cash.
I always found items with a personal touch to be unique and thoughtful, but it would be virtually impossible to return. And cash? Well, it’s a bit non-traditional for my taste plus I won’t be able to disguise its value like I could some fantastic sale items I come across!
Bonus recommendations: patronize stores with liberal return/exchange policies and try to secure gift receipts for the things you buy.
Now that I’m well equipped with such information, I shall now stake out those stores, go forth and conquer.
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