It happens to everyone eventually. You get a gift that just isn’t you. Sometimes you get a gift that is so not you; you aren’t even sure who it’s for. At this point, there is only one thing to do. Return the item and get something that is just right for you.
Of course, a bad gift is not the only reason you might have to return something. The item may be the wrong size, broken or you may already have it. There are a hundred reasons why you might need to return something.
Returning an item can be a big hassle, especially after the holidays. But there are a few things you can do to make the job a little easier.
The first thing you can do to make it easier is to read the return policy. These days, with most stores having an internet site, it should not be too much of a problem to find a store’s return policy on their website. If you can’t find it, feel free to email the companies Customer Service. These people will be more than happy either send it to you or direct you to where it is posted.
Find out the terms of their return. Store credit or refund? 30 days, 60 days or 90 days to return? Do you need a receipt? Be prepared before you head to the store.
The second thing you can do to make returning easier is to have the receipt. With gifts, this can be a bit difficult but it can be done. If you are returning the item due to the wrong size or something is wrong with the item, the giver will be more than happy to give you the receipt so that you can fix the item. If the reason you are returning the item is because you don’t like it, tell a little white lie and tell them that it was broken.
The third thing you can do to make returning an item easier is to return it as soon as possible. The longer you let something sit unreturned, the less chance there is that you will and can return it. Most return policies only let you return something within 30 days. Putting it off till next weekend, will most likely become the week after next and then the week after next and suddenly you find yourself 3 months later with an item you can no longer return and you don’t really want. Return your item as soon as possible.
The last thing you can do when returning an item is to be nice but firm. Even if you do not have the receipt, there is a chance that you can still return the item. To improve your chances, it always helps to be nice to the clerk, but it doesn’t mean you should turn around and leave the first time you hear the word no. Explain that the item is a gift and you do not have a receipt. If the clerk tells you no, keep going. Be as nice as you can but keep insisting that you really need to return this item. If after a few minutes, the clerk still won’t budge, politely ask for their supervisor and start the same process with the supervisor.
The trick is to keep going until you almost have to be physically removed from the store. For some people, doing this will take some practice. Many of us were raised to believe that no means no, but this isn’t true. No really means no until you get annoying enough to bend the rules for.
Being nice and polite is also key. People do not want to bend the rules for someone who is rude and nasty, and if you lose your temper, they will have a reason to physically remove you from the store. Keep smiling, even if you have to grit your teeth.
If you follow these steps, you should have a much easier time of returning that unwanted something. If in the end, you can’t return it, just remember. There is always regifting.