Whether we like it or not, every year we give or receive gifts that will ultimately be returned.
Consumer Reports estimate that 20% of Americans will return at least one gift from this holiday season. The National Retail Federation estimates that the value of holiday returns will be up more than $1 billion this year, to $43.82 billion. Even scarier for the retailers is that the industry will lose about $3.68 billion in return fraud. What happened to the holiday spirit? Does it vanish after the last gift is opened?
Our advice to you this time of year, when you’re returning or exchanging your holiday gifts: Make sure you have your receipts and tags on hand, read the return policies on the receipts, and go in with a smile! If in doubt, give the store a call and explain what you want to return. We’ll walk you through the rest.
