TDCI Shares Tips for Holiday Gift Returns

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 | 09:14am

NASHVILLE – The holidays have come and gone, leaving some Tennesseans with gifts to be exchanged or returned. Before bundling up and heading out to the store, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Division of Consumers Affairs encourages consumers to review the following tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help the gift return process go smoothly.

HOLIDAY GIFT RETURN TIPS

  • Check on return and exchange policies. You can usually find them on the back of sales/gift receipts, at the store, and on the seller’s website. Be aware: Merchants often have different refund and return policies for sale items, especially clearance merchandise. For items purchased online, check to see if the seller has a storefront that lets you make in-person returns and exchanges.
  • Bring your ID. Even if you have a receipt, some stores require a driver’s license or other government-issued ID.
  • Take your receipts. Having the original receipt or a gift receipt usually makes things easier, and improves your chances of getting a full refund or exchange. Without a receipt, you’ll probably only get a store credit for the lowest recent sale price.
  • Ask about fees. Some merchants charge a restocking fee — often 15 percent or more of the purchase price — for returns of electronics and big-ticket items.
  • Keep items in their original packaging. Products like computer software and DVDs generally aren’t returnable once their packaging has been opened, unless they’re defective.
  • Digital gifts. Refund and exchange policies for e-books, downloadable games, software, apps, and digital music and video services vary by seller. For example, some will exchange an e-book for a gift card, as long as you haven’t downloaded the book. Others require the purchaser to request refunds for e-books and music subscriptions. Most sellers generally don’t allow returns for downloadable games, software or apps.
  • Ask to speak with a manager. If you have trouble returning or exchanging a gift, ask to speak with a manager or visit customer service.

For more consumer tips, or to file a complaint about store returns, visit www.tn.gov/consumer.

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