Christmas is over and gift return season begins. President of Louisiana Better Business Bureau Carmen Million says before you try to return or exchange an unwanted Christmas gift, double check the store’s policy.
“It is the consumer’s responsibility to find out what that store policy is. Will they give you a refund? Will they give you an exchange? And will they give you a store credit? Read your policy before you try to take the item back.”
Million says stores are not required to accept exchanges or give refunds unless the merchandise was defective or misrepresented. She says most stores will only accept returns and exchanges if you can present the item with its original receipt.
“In most cases, stores will not take an item back even for an exchange unless you have a receipt. So that’s super important.”
Most electronics and home appliances come with warranties that are to be fulfilled by the manufacturer, not the retailer. For electronics, Million says there may be specific return requirements like returning the item in its original packaging.
“They may require that it has to be unopened before they’ll take it back. If there’s something wrong with that item, the store that you purchased it from may not be responsible to make that item good. It may be the manufacturer.”
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