How to Discreetly Return A Christmas Gift

After spending countless hours finding just the right gift for your family and friends, you will probably also find yourself on the receiving end of Christmas gift giving this holiday season. You weren't the only one who combed the earth to find just the right Christmas gift for all the loved ones on your list. What do you do if Uncle Ralph and Aunt Sally were a little off when they bought you a sweater that was two sizes too small? How about that Christmas gift from Cousin Fred---foot massaging slippers? When you receive a Christmas gift that you know you won't use, accept it graciously and then secretly formulate a game plan to return the Christmas gift for something you will really use.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Use discretion. You know the saying, "It's the thought that counts." Keep this in mind when you receive a Christmas gift that lands in your "Christmas gifts to return" pile. Nothing good will come of going public with your wish to return something. To spare everyone's feelings, your only option is a covert gift return. In other words, you will return your gift to its point of purchase without informing the gift giver of your plan to do so.

2. 
    

   Search for documentation. If you are lucky, the gift giver has already assumed that you will want a different size/color/style and they have thoughtfully included a gift receipt to expedite the return process. Hiding places for gift receipts vary. Some gift givers like to tape the gift receipt to the merchandise tag hanging from the gift. Other time the gift receipt may be concealed inside of the packaging or wrapping. If you are lucky enough to find a gift receipt, just drop the gift to be returned into a shopping bag along with the gift receipt and head to the store to turn your gift into something you really like.

3. 
    

   Investigate your options if you are unable to find a gift receipt for your return. Not everyone who gives a gift includes the receipt. If such is the case with the gift you wish to return, you will need to do some investigating. Check the tags to get a brand name. Enter the brand name into a search engine to ascertain what store carries the brand in question. Popular store brands include the following: Sonoma by Kohl's, Arizona by JCPenny and Cherokee by Target.

4. 
    

   Check the return policy. Once you've determined where you will be returning your gift, you'll want to check the return policy of the particular store to which you will be making your return. Most stores will require a photo ID for documentation but it is wise to check beforehand if anything else will be needed for your return without receipt. This is easy to accomplish--just head to the home page of the store in question and click on their return policy. (Links to popular stores are included in the resource section of this article.)

5. 
    

   Make the return. Once you've determined where to go and what to take in order to return your Christmas gift, you can head out and join the hundreds of other people who are also making discreet gift returns.

Tips & Warnings

• If you will be making returns to multiple stores, be sure to separate your returns into different shopping bags according to the stores to which you will be making your returns. This will eliminate any confusion once you arrive at the return counter.

Resources

• Return information for Target
• Return information for Kohl's
• Return information for JCPenny
• Return information for Walmart
• Return information for Bed Bath and Beyond

[wordwhirler]

on 12/26/2008 So true! Be prepared if you have someone who will inquire after a gift. There is one in every family . . .

[Susanh]

on 12/24/2008 Keep in mind too that some friends and family members are bold enough to check to see if you still have their gift the next time they visit...!