For Immediate Release
May 20, 2010
Contact Information

Sonshine Communications
Vanessa Loy
(305) 948-8063

(BPRW) Getting Good Returns On Your Shopping

(BLACK PR WIRE) –  While Christmas time is the busiest shopping season, summer is popular as well as a time for graduations, weddings and family reunions. As much as everyone tries to select the perfect gift, we all have misses at times that require the recipient to do a return of the merchandise. Maybe that music CD you bought for your nephew is an album he already owns, or your mother prefers the blouse you bought her in a different color.

They will be making their trips to the original merchant, and hopefully will be satisfied with their results. Before making your purchases, there are some facts to keep in mind to ensure that everyone on your gift list is able to make the most out of what you buy, even if they need to make an exchange.

The first step you should take before purchasing any gift is to find out the store’s return policy. This is especially important with electronics and entertainment media retailers, who tend to have stricter policies than other retailers. Stores generally allow returns within 1 to 2 months of the purchase date as long as the original receipt is presented and the items are unopened. In addition, different retailers will have different refund terms, which you should also inquire about.

Some stores will allow the gift recipient to simply return the merchandise and receive cash back in all circumstances. More typically, a store will refund in the same method of the original payment. That means if you purchased an item with credit, the refund can only be charged back to the same card, often requiring proof of identification. So unless you are willing to go back to the store, your gift recipient has the remaining options to exchange for different merchandise or to receive a store credit. In any case, be sure to save all receipts until everyone is satisfied. You may even request double receipts for yourself and your recipients from the retailer.

Speaking of store credits, some shoppers decide to bypass these concerns by giving gift cards. Many mall properties offer gift cards good for all merchants in the mall. If the mall is corporately owned, the card may be usable at other properties as well. This can be the perfect option for many people. Just remember that a gift card may have expiration dates, maintenance fees or other fees. Some cards are replaceable if lost or stolen, others are not. Read all of the fine print and keep all of the terms and conditions in the same packaging as the card so your recipient can read them. Being able to give another person joy with your gift is the best return of all.