Tips for Returning Holiday Gifts

Oh no, she didn't! What do we do with those unwanted holiday gifts that Aunt Clara gave us for Christmas? We return them for something we really like and never tell her. That's right! But don't head back to the mall with those unwanted holiday gifts until you read this. This guide will help you make that dreaded visit to the return center hassle free. 5 Helpful Tips for Returning Unwanted Christmas Gifts:

1. Stop! Don't be in a hurry. Even though you are dying to exchange that weird item for something you love, don't rush. There's nothing worse than joining in the massive amount of people that are also in a hurry to crowd in at the exchange/return department right after Christmas. So simply wait a few days. But bear in mind not to wait too long, because some stores only offer a 30 day exchange policy if your item is not accompanied by a store receipt. But by all means, please don't rush to the long, after holiday, return lines. It will just cause an extra headache.

2. Do you really need to return this item to the store or could you re-gift it? If you could re-gift it, it could save you extra time and possibly make someone else happy in the long run. So be sure you've thought of everyone on your list who may not be connected to the person in which you received the item from. Even though these weird gifts may not make us happy, whose to say someone else wouldn't just love it.

3. Before heading out to the store to return those unwanted holiday items, look inside the box for a gift receipt. Sometimes stores will give a gift receipt when an item is purchased for the sole purpose of giving to others. And they know there's a small chance the giftee may not like the item and therefore they have set up a process in which they will include a gift receipt. It may not have the price on the tag, but with one simple scan of a bar code, your item will be able to be returned or exchanged easily.

4. Easy on the wrappers! Don't be tearing those boxes to shreds if you don't plan on keeping an item. Stores will possibly look down on this because the packaging is damaged very badly. And will probably think you have had an item for a longer period of time than you actually have. So when receiving a gift at Christmas, remember to open the box with as minimal damage as possible or not at all if possible. The nicer the item looks, in it's original package, the easier it will be to return an unwanted holiday gift.

5. Accept a store credit if necessary. Not all stores will offer a full refund policy even if you have an accompanying receipt. Although plenty of them do offer an exchange policy or even better, the store credit. This way you are not hassled at that very minute to pick out something. You will be able to shop again at a later date for free, in a sense.