Stores Toughen Return Policies

It's no news that retailers are getting stricter about returning items. This piece from USA Today titled Stores Toughen Return Policies sums up the current, post-holiday situation:

Many retailers have tightened their return policies. Some have added restocking fees and expiration dates. Many have stricter exchange policies for computers, DVD players and other electronics. And if that reindeer sweater was bought online, you might have to pay shipping costs to return it.

Here are their tips on how to be sure you get your refund:

• Don't discard the receipts.
• Don't open the box.
• Don't delay.
• Don't be shy.

If you're unhappy with a store's exchange policy, ask to speak with a manager or supervisor, Dworsky suggests. If you're a regular customer, the store manager may decide that keeping your business is more important than enforcing a deadline.

The piece also lists deadlines for exchanging gifts:
   
Amazon.com -- Jan. 31 for items shipped Nov. 1-Dec. 31.
Buy.com -- Jan. 31 for most items purchased Nov. 1-Dec. 31.
Costco -- No deadline, except six months for computers.
Kohl's -- No deadline with receipt.
Target -- 90 days from purchase.
Wal-Mart -- 90 days for most items; 15 days for computers, 30 days for camcorders and digital cameras.

My thoughts:

1. We keep the receipt for everything we buy (that's not a consumable) for at least six months. For consumables, we keep them until I get a chance to clean out the file. ;-)

2. Another reason to shop at Costco.

3. My wife is the queen of returns. She knows every policy at every retailer for miles. I don't think she's ever been refused a return.

4. Believe it or not, our biggest hassle in returning last year was at Wal-mart. The toy was from a relative (no receipt) and broke. Since we didn't have a receipt and couldn't PROVE they got it at Wal-mart, they gave us the run around: "You can only do this three times in your life (return without a receipt).", "You go into a special database." and on and on. Left a bad taste in our mouths. Luckily, we discovered Costco a month later.

5. Returning is one of the big drawbacks of shopping online. That's why I don't buy clothes on the web -- too high a chance of having to return (which is a pain!).