After shopping the whole sales month, you just found out that you bought two the same pull over to your husband and a toy that your kid already got last Christmas. So now it’s time to go back to the store to return them. But now retailers are stricter and you can simply end up with some gifts or with your unreturned products. In fact, retailers do not have any obligation to accept returns, but they are required to display their policies. So you have to ask a salesperson about the store policy about returns since this can vary greatly from one store to another. Even though polices can be very different from one store to another, you can apply some basic rules to return an undesired item.

First, you should not wait too long between the day you purchase and the day you want to return the item. Sometime, especially after Christmas, it seems to be more convenient for you to wait that the entire crowd disappear. But sometime if you wait too long, s store may refuse that you return the item. Even large chains such as Wal-Mart clearly stipulate that return should be done within 90 days after the purchase date.

Second, you should always keep the boxes of the item. Indeed many stores refuse returns if the item is not in its original box. Be careful also before you even break the seal on new electronics. Some stores like Best Buy even impose now a 15% restocking fee on notebook computers, digital cameras, and camcorders if the packaging has been opened.

Then, everybody knows the importance to keep all the receipts of your purchases. Nowadays numerous retailers even offer receipts that show the date of purchase without the price. Therefore it is important to be well organized in keeping the receipts. If you lost lose a receipt, you can ask to have a new print-out. Many stores are now able to print out a new receipt if you paid by credit card. However if you pad with any other form of payment, you will likely have to accept the most recent and probably lower price.