How to Successfully Return Merchandise Purchased on the Internet

Whether you ordered the product yourself or received it as a gift, you can easily return merchandise purchased from an e-tailer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Original Cartons Or Other Carton
• RMA Numbers
• Postage Stamps
• Shipping Insurance
• Packaging Tape
• Packing Peanuts
• Packing Slips
• Pencils Or Pens
• Spiral Notebooks
• Wide-tipped Marking Pens

1. Locate the product's packing slip, which should have the e-tailer's customer service contact information.
2. E-mail or call the e-tailer's customer service department for an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number.
3. Ask about the company's policy on return shipping charges. Most companies will pay for shipping if the product received was incorrect or the merchandise was damaged during shipping.
4. Ask for the mailing address, the amount of insurance to purchase, the name of the shipping company to use, and the type of shipping service to use.
5. Repack the item in its original packaging if available. Some companies will charge you a repackaging fee if the original packaging is missing or damaged.
6. Pack the item to ship. Before sealing the package, include inside the parcel a note containing any information required by the e-tailer for returning the product.
7. Write your RMA number - in large, bold numerals - on the outside of the package.
8. Send the package off as instructed by the company.
9. Make sure you receive an e-mail indicating that the e-tailer has received and processed the returned item. If you do not receive such an e-mail, follow up immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• Save your packing slip. For most e-tailers, it's a multipurpose receipt that contains the information needed for returning the product, the product number and, often, a mailing label for returns.
• Use Feedback Direct's Orange Pages to locate an e-tailer's customer service information. Just go to the Related Sites and select Feedback Direct's Orange Pages option.
• Most e-tailers have a 30-day return policy, much like traditional retailers.