How to Use the Return Counter to “rent” Items in Retail Stores

Stores don’t like it when you buy things that you plan to return, but let’s be honest: most of us have thought about this at least once or twice. If you are going to play on a refund system, do it right. Here’s how.

This post is part of our Evil Week series on Lifehacker where we take a look at the dark side of goal achievement. Sometimes evil is justified, and sometimes knowing evil means knowing how to defeat it. I want more? Visit our wicked week tags page .

Generally, buying the item you are about to return is kind of bullshit. However, there are times when this can come in handy. Maybe you need interview clothes but can’t afford them until you get a job . Maybe you forgot your beautiful camera when you went on vacation. Or maybe you just don’t know which router is best for your home. If you only need to use something for a short time, a “favor” of something in a retail store can help without compromising your budget.

Prepare to return before purchasing

Before you reach the returns counter, you will need to prepare a little. You don’t want to waste all your time standing in line and you don’t want unnecessary attention. Here are a few things to consider before purchasing items that you plan to return later:

• Make sure you can save money. You can get your money back in the long run, but until you get it back on the refund counter, you won’t get it. If you’re going to buy a $ 500 camera and return it after two weeks, you need to make sure you can pay your bills until then.
• Always keep your receipts. Some stores allow returns without a receipt , but do not count on it. Save your receipts and make sure you have them when you return them. If you are going to beat the system, at least make it easier for the staff who are helping you.
• Review each store’s return policy. Not all store policies are the same. Most companies have a return policy that you can read online. If they don’t, you can ask someone at customer service. Find out the details in advance to be ready.
• Save all boxes and packaging. If you have the box your belongings came in, as well as all the miscellaneous junk included in it, you’re less likely to be late at the counter later. When you buy things, make sure you save everything that comes with the kit. You can also use the unboxing videos to get a sense of how to repack items correctly if you’ve forgotten how all of those things fit in them altogether.

Knowing what you are doing ahead of time helps to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Keep in mind that stores are not very fond of returns. Not only did they lose the sale, but they often had to ship the item back to the company that made it for inspection and repackaging. Employees can get stressed out by interacting with angry customers, and some sales people can lose commissions if the item is returned. There are usually about a dozen ways to give someone a headache by returning something. Taking the time to make sure everything is in order and simple can make the process a lot smoother.

Politics that can ruin your plan

Not all return policies are the same. Some of them may have short return times or only provide store credit in return. Let’s say you want to go evil and buy some routers to see which one works in your home and then return the ones that don’t work. A store with a two-week return policy and a 15% restocking fee will ruin your master plan. Knowing the rules of the store helps. Here are some of the more common things to look out for:

• Short return windows. Many stores allow returns within 30-90 days, but some stores may have shorter returns. Others may have exceptions for certain product categories. Before buying, make sure you know how much time you will have for each item.
• Restocking fee. Restocking fees are usually charged to ensure that this is not what happens. Stores don’t want you to borrow expensive gadgets for a month just to return them for a full refund, so they charge 15% of the price to dissuade you. Check before buying to avoid wasting money (or accept the rent as a rent and be okay with it).
• Exchange or shop policy on credit only. Some stores may have explicit policies that only allow exchanges or store credit when returning an item. Make sure you know ahead of time that the store will give you real money back so you don’t get overwhelmed.
• Exceptions for some products. Not all items may be returned or subject to certain conditions. For example, Blu-Ray discs, video games, or some electronics cannot be returned after removing the plastic packaging (for obvious reasons). Please make sure you are aware of these exceptions before purchasing.

You may also find that large retailers have more flexible return policies than smaller family-owned stores. Precisely because they can afford it. Keep this in mind when looking for a store where you can “rent”. If the place you are visiting is already trying to make ends meet, do not use their return policy . Even if they technically allow it, taking advantage of a smaller store is pretty foolish.

Stores with the best return policy

To save you the hassle of checking every store for the last section, here are a few nationwide chain stores that have pretty good return policies to get you started. Keep in mind that they may vary depending on location, so it might be worth double checking a store in your area. Hope this can still help you with this:

• Walmart: If you have a receipt, you can return most items to Walmart within 90 days . You can also return most items under $ 25 without a refund receipt. You can even return items you bought from Walmart.com at the store. Informally, most stores tend to make fairly generous exceptions rather than dealing with frustrated shoppers.
• Target: Target has a pretty stellar return policy, allowing almost any item to be returned within 90 days (30 days for electronics) without a receipt. However, in such cases, the store requires a valid government issued ID. Many stores do this so that you don’t return too many items in one year. Best of all, if you have a TargetRED card, you get an additional 30 days for your return period.
• Costco: On paper, Costco’s return policy is even better than Walmart’s. You can return almost anything, with or without a receipt, at any time, without a return window (although there are certain exceptions ). Of course, this is possible because Costco requires a membership, so it won’t help if you are not already a member. However, for those who already have it, this is great.
• Lowe’s: Lowe pens work well for a hardware store too. You can return almost everything within 90 days (or 30 days for large appliances). While it’s still a good idea to have a receipt, the store can also search for your purchase using your credit card number, phone number, or MyLowes card number.
• Kohl’s: Although this store may be the leader in the “You Saved X Dollars!” wrong price , their return policy is top notch. There is no time limit for returns, and if you have a Kohl card, you can return goods without a receipt. However, don’t wait longer than a year. For very old items, Kohl’s can arrange for a “corporate return,” which involves mailing a check to you. Better to just get out of the hassle and come back early.

You can also see this list of 17 stores that allow you to return used items with a full refund . These are general rules, but again, there are always exceptions. For example, storing movies and video games without plastic wrap will almost always lead to a store loan at best. Be sure to check your specific item before heading to the store. However, these are some of the best.

Golden rules for every store

Of course, in order to return a lot of things, you need not only know the rules. Keep in mind that you are still dealing with real people and real business. By definition, the businesses you do business with don’t want to be rental locations. They may turn a blind eye to random returns, but they will probably start drawing lines if you return anything you buy. Here are some golden rules to deal with this without being a jerk.

• Be effective. Don’t waste time at the checkout. Get your receipts and get ready to go. Don’t take a full shopping trolley with you. Don’t make multiple trips to the store every week. Minimize the number of repetitions. The less time you spend returning, the better for everyone involved.
• Don’t be a jerk. While what you do may not technically be against any rules, you know you are playing the system. Don’t yell at clerks to get your way. Do not argue with the manager if he refuses your return. Don’t be impatient if the return line is long. You decided to buy something that you did not plan to keep for yourself. It’s up to you what to do with the precipitation.
• Expect to keep whatever you buy. Despite your best efforts, there may be times when you just need to save something. You have read the return policy incorrectly. You’ve waited too long to get it back. You did this five times a week, and this is getting too much. Whatever the reason, the store may decide not to issue a refund to you. Get ready for this. Don’t waste your budget on things you can’t afford if there’s even a small chance you won’t be able to return them. And there is always a small chance. If the worst happens, know how to sell your stuff .

If you don’t do anything else in this guide but follow these guidelines, you will probably be fine. Most large retailers don’t want to spend a lot of time fighting for returns. Small shops have a lot to lose, but big retailers don’t care about this lost sale. They take care of the customer. Unless you’re acting like a huge jerk, you can probably get away with getting out of trouble from time to time.

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