Many Happy Returns

The joys of the holidays. Your holiday season prep list and gift giving ideas can be quite extensive but in the end, the smiling faces of family and friends make it all worth it. Except when they aren’t smiling. Sometimes the gift that you thought was going to be perfect turns out to be not quite so. Because this can be disappointing, here are some things you can do before and after your purchase that will help to make your gift giving efforts a success.

Return Policies

Although retailers are not required to take back items you have purchased, most do have return policies. But because each store and product is different, it is important to know and understand return policies before making your holiday purchases.

Each retailer has different rules regarding refunds and exchanges. Return policies can vary depending on the product type, the amount of the sale and its date. Also, whether or not you have your receipt will affect your return. Retailers will rarely offer a refund without a receipt because they can’t be sure of the date of the sale or how much you paid for the item. For you, this means that if the item went on sale, they must assume you paid the sale price for it and can only give you that amount on a credit note or an exchange.

• Keep your receipts! Holding on to receipts increases your chances of an even return.
• If you are shopping on-line, be sure you know who you are dealing with. Order well in advance of Christmas and be sure to get complete purchase information including delivery dates and arrangements and the company’s return or cancellation policy. Also, be sure to print all web screens that are relevant to your on-line purchase. For more information about online shopping protections, go to (link to Internet Sales Contract Article)
• For large expensive items, repairs are often done instead of refunds or exchanges. This is usually explained in the product warranty. Read it carefully so you know what you are getting yourself into. Items such as this often come with a manufacturer’s return policy which may override the retailer’s.
• The first few days following Christmas are usually very busy for retailers. Some stores may not even offer refunds or exchanges at this time. It is best to call the retailer before heading out to the store so you don’t have to wait in long lines and can avoid the crowds.
• Gift receipts are a simple way to reduce gift-giving stress. Some retailers can print a duplicate receipt with just the item details excluding the price you paid. These receipts are great for items like clothing because finding the right size is often tricky. If you bought the wrong size for someone, they can exchange the item for the right size on their own. They never have to know how much you spent and they don’t need your credit card or other payment information.
• Gift certificates allow family and friends on your list to pick out something they really want and are therefore a great way to avoid the hassle of returns.

And, as always, start shopping early. Take advantage of sales throughout the year. It never hurts to think ahead. You will have a much better chance of getting something that they will like as opposed to a last minute gift that must be returned.

For more information on consumer protections visit the Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Consumer Information website or phone 1.800.670.4357.