Make a Plan to Return Unwanted Holiday Gifts As Soon As Possible
Chances are, you received one or more holiday gifts this year that you don’t need.
Maybe you’ve put on a few pounds since Aunt Edna last saw you and need a different sweater size, or maybe you don’t want the kittens to cover the sweater at all. Two-thirds of shoppers are expected to return this holiday season. If you are one of those who need it, then it is in your best interest to get it back as soon as possible.
How long do I have?
Most stores generally have a 30-day return policy, but those 30 days start on the day the donor purchased the item, not when you received it. While a number of retailers tweak this rule slightly during the holiday season, it is recommended that you return your gift as soon as possible so you don’t run out of time.
If you received something like electronics, then the return window may be even smaller. Apple, for example, typically requires merchandise to be returned within 14 days of purchase. It extends the timeline around the holidays for items purchased between November 15th and December 25th, but this 14-day timer for all of these gifts started on December 26th. This means that you only have until January 8th to return.
Marketwatch has clarified return policies for several major retailers. You can check it out here .
When should I return?
According to Reader’s Digest, the “best” time to return packages is 10:00 am on Sunday, followed by the next Monday. Tuesday 2nd January should be the most popular return day. UPS expects to pick up 1.9 million packages that day. On the contrary, the company usually handles only 1 million parcels per day, so we are talking about doubling the number of units.
When you do return, the closer you can get the product to look “new”, the better. This means putting it back in its original packaging if still in stock and making sure you have all the accessories that came with the item inside the box.
Even though it can be inconvenient, it is worth asking the donor for a receipt for this unwanted item. Without a receipt, you may need to take out a store loan, receive only a fraction of the purchase price back, or be unable to return the item at all.
And that should be taken for granted, but be nice when you come back. Yes, the queue will be long and the whole experience will be quite unbearable, but the shop assistant who helps you has been going through this test for several days. When you return, it costs nothing to be nice and you will enhance the experience both for yourself and for the person responsible for bringing back this Cat-mas sweater.