Among other things, one quirk I inherited from my mom was my aversion to return lines. Sure, there’s really nothing to fear about going to customer service and returning a purchase that just didn’t work out, but somehow it made me uncomfortable. In most cases I’d rather just suck it up, consider it my bad for buying it, and call it a loss. Maybe I just felt wrong making the retailers deal with my poorly repackaged item or just preferred to avoid any debate over whether it met their policy.
But then I met Sherry, the self-proclaimed Queen Of Returns, and my relationship with those once dreaded lines completely changed.
Sherry has the exact opposite philosophy. If she buys something that isn’t quite right – because it doesn’t fit, doesn’t match, or doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to – she brings it back without blinking an eye. Maybe it comes from years of working retail on 34th Street in Manhattan and dutifully handing money/store credits to thousands of customers who nonchalantly returned items (even if they had no tags or receipt). Whatever its origin, Sherry’s no-fear approach to bringing things back means that our house is less cluttered with “oops purchases” and it also keeps us from settling on things that aren’t exactly what we want. It also means I’ve gotten a lot better at returning items over the last four years (like the flashcards we got from Barnes & Noble for the office clothesline– we later found cuter ones at Anthropologie so the lesser liked pack went back).
Needless to say that in the last half-decade or so I’ve gotten over my own hesitations about it. In fact, returning items has become an important part of our DIY process. After all, some things just need to be seen or tried in your space to know if they really will work. So whether it’s bringing home an armload of curtain options (like we did for our bedroom a few years ago) or bringing back a surge protector that isn’t Mac-friendly (like we did a few weeks ago) – having a “no fear” approach to returning unwanted items actually saves us a lot of time (instead of hours spent debating and guessing in the store as if whatever we buy must remain in our home forever). And on top of cutting down on unnecessary clutter, returning things that just don’t make the grade saves us money too. Yes we do spend time returning stuff, but we frequent stores like Target and Home Depot so often that we rarely have to make trips just to return things (and we figure that small amount of time spent keeping our house from filling with unnecessary, extraneous things is well worth it).
The goods news is that a lot of our favorite stores make returns easy. While we haven’t memorized every return policy out there quite yet, we can breeze through a Target or Home Depot line in no time because neither need receipts (Target can look things up on most credit cards- and Home Depot can do the same). This is also good news because it means we don’t need to hang on to those receipts, minimizing wallet clutter and all that pesky BPA that everyone from the Washington Post to MSNBC is chatting about (here’s where we first mentioned it back in April).
We can also tell you in our sleep that places like Michael’s do need receipts if you want money back (otherwise it’s a store credit for you) while places like Wal-Mart often have long lines. And Babies R’ Us won’t even look at you if you don’t have a receipt. But at least almost all places will take back items without much need for an explanation, even if they’ve been opened (assuming they’re not things like DVDs or medicine). And if any of them ask why we’re bringing something back, a “we didn’t end up needing it” usually suffices. So much for those elaborate and persuasive tales I once believed I needed to tell. Although Sherry’s a happy-to-chat-with-anyone-girl, so she often elaborates and explains things like “we bought a bunch of pillows to see which ones looked the best in the den, so now we’re returning the ones that missed the mark.” This usually brings on some banter with the cashier about how hard it is to make decorating decisions and sometimes ends in the person at the register declaring that they’re going to do the same thing so they’re sure to find the perfect pillows/lamps/fill in the blank.
So while I still feel a little bad when I see a team of red-shirted Targetians wrangling cart-fulls of returns, I now embrace the return line as an important step in our money-saving, clutter-minimizing design process.
What about you guys? Could you join Sherry on the Queen Of Returns throne? Or would you and my mom have a lot to talk about when it comes to avoiding returns at all cost? Perhaps you work in retail and that makes you hate making returns even more, or reminds you that it’s your hard-earned right? We’d love to hear any and all return-related musings. Spill it.
Jess says
I used to have a fear of returns due to one unfortunate customer service incident where the lady was super rude to me. I would always have my best friend do the returns for me.
But I’ve since gotten over that and now I don’t even blink an eye! Especially since I do so much of my shopping online. Clothes are easily my number one return.
However, if I’ve used the item I won’t return it. I’m amazed at Sephora’s return policy – you can returned opened make-up! I just feel bad because then I assume it’s the company that takes the loss.
HollowSquirrel says
I’m all about taking it back if it doesn’t work — makes the most sense financially, right? Good for you.
Anya L says
I didn’t know someone else carried the same title as I do: “Queen of Returns”–If it doesn’t work, I return it! :)
Katie says
I have to agree with Beth and Ashley here, you guys are posting too many filler posts. It seems like you are dragging out the content you have…I assume it is because you are lacking in ideas for twice per day which is a lot of posts? I know you say you get a lot of comments, but the vast majority of your readers don’t comment and I guess only you know how many hits you get a day. You used to do design boards and other things that filled up the 2-a-days… I never thought this before…lately I have thought this more and more. Not to mention the fact that you are both doing this full-time. I am guessing you rely on people coming here twice a day to get the hits you need for your sponsors…. I am bummed and wish you had the content you used to. None of this dragging a project out for a month because you only do an update once a week on Tuesdays… I am bummed you guys… I would rather you post 2 or 3 times a week personally. I know I could just not read these posts and probably will just do that so I am not annoyed because when you have a good posts I really do enjoy them… you guys have great ideas sometimes! I just wanted to let you know more and more people are probably thinking this…the people who don’t comment…and that is a vast majority of your readers…. the ones who probably come when the RSS says Fab Freebee or your reveal after a 2 month of a room ; )
Hope this helps you and your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie,
Thanks for your input! Our mood boards are coming back in a big way on Wednesday (wahooo!) along with a ton of other makeovers and projects that we have in the hopper! In other words, stay tuned if you’d like (but we can’t make you- haha). And definitely feel free to skip any posts that don’t speak to you- that’s what we assume everyone else does! Heck we even do that when we read other blogs, magazines, etc. We also want to assure you that we post twice a day because we love to (and we’re sure we’d get a lot more complaints if we lowered the number of posts than if we kept everything as it has been for the past few years). It has nothing to do with our sponsors as they’re not guaranteed any certain amount of clicks, traffic, or hits (they pay a flat fee for the month, no matter how many hits we get). I guess at the end of the day we loooove giving everyone what they want, but we know it’s impossible that every reader will adore every single post so we just do our best and that’s all we can do. We promise we’re not sitting around eating bonbons!
xo,
s
Steph says
Here in Australia, I used to work for a company that had performance indicators e.g. percentages for sales etc, and returns gave me a poor percentage for the day, so I definitely DID NOT enjoy putting through refunds!! However I always understood when people brought things back because they didn’t go with their outfit etc.
Also John and Sherry, I just wanted to say that my enjoyment of YHL has not changed from the moment I discovered it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s pretty darn obvious why there has been a slight change in content, and really, it doesn’t bother me at all! I like the variety of posts, and in fact have been enjoying some of the extra tips and random info you have been putting up. Its frustrating to read other posters’ comments about how you’re just doing ‘filler’ and the blog isn’t as good, especially when I am enjoying the variety! I would much rather you put in ‘filler’ like this one than decide the blog is too hard and shut it down!
Love everything you do, keep up the fantabulous work :)
wendy says
I have NO problem with returns! Why should I? They have return policies in place because people have a hundred reasons for something not working, including something just simply not working! I actually don’t even try clothes on anymore, instead I just buy what I think I will like and make any necessary returns after I have a chance to play dress up. This lets me see how a piece will work with whats already in my closet, AND I don’t have to try to keep my 2 kids from crawling under the dressing room doors! Nordstrom and Anthropologie are pretty much the only stores I buy clothes and Target for almost everything else…so returns are a happy part of my life.
amie says
I like to think of myself as the queen of returns – it seems like I return at least half of what I buy! Just last week I returned a $40 bike lock (we found one that was missing for a long time…of course the minute we bought a new one the old one shows up!), a pair of jeans that got a hole really quickly (I WILL NOT accept poor quality! Exchanged them for a new pair), some clothespins at Target (yes, they were $1.35. No, I didn’t return them because I needed the money, more because I don’t like having things in my apt that I am not going to use, even if they are small!). I also returned some soy milk and mozarella cheese after realizing when getting back from the store that we didn’t need them. I return EVERYTHING.
My boyfriend and my mom both think I’m crazy returning things all the time, but clearly they haven’t seen how much money I save returning things I’m not going to use. Maybe my real problem is spending too much money and buying too many things in the first place, but what’s a girl to do? It feels good to spend!
sheila says
Ok, Call me crazy, and I’m not doing this to be argumentative – but after reading all these comments…
I feel if you’ve had and used the item for a long period of time, and then it breaks/wears out, if you return it you are taking advantage of a liberal return policy. And that’s really – here’s brute honesty – very close to stealing. Buy it, use it. It WILL break/wear out. If everyone returned everything that broke/wore out after a year or two or ten (depending on what the store would allow), businesses would get slaughtered. And if everyone doesn’t do it…It’s just not right. There’s a return line… it shouldn’t be crossed. I’m not speaking for S & J, but I don’t think they are that kind of people and condone such things. Do you, guys?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sheila,
We definitely don’t believe in using things for months or damaging them in some way and returning them! We only believe in bringing back things that have not been worn, damaged, etc. Unless of course it’s one of those things like an Eastpack backpack (they have a lifelong guarantee and the company loves when you send your backpack in to get a new zipper – it’s greener than tossing it and getting a new one, right!). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jenny says
I am the return queen. But I do get a little embarassed if I return items too many time to one store, so I make my hubby alternate with me :)
Elizabeth says
I love to return things. My husband thinks I’m nuts, but I always end up returning items I didn’t like.
Even when I get store credit, I don’t mind. A few things I’ve learned:
1. Victoria’s Secret now asks for a state-issued ID for a return. They have started to track it and I know people who have been refused returns due to to-frequent use.
2. Macy’s likes to take gift cards and split the money between multiple items, meaning that if you buy 5 things that cost $100 with a $20 gift card, you can’t return anything without getting store credit. Use the gift card seperately on something close to it’s cost, so you don’t end-up with LOTs of money in merchanidise credit
3. Staples has a no-time-limit policy, which is great!
Christy Q says
LL Bean also has an awesome return policy – you can return things years later if you’re unhappy with it and they’ll fix or replace it for you. I’m heading through ME for vacation soon and will be taking my coat that I’ve had for 10+ years with me since the cord inside it broke. They said they’d be happy to replace it for me if I wanted to mail it in. Since they no longer make the coat anymore, I have to pick something else out and would rather try on replacements in the store instead of taking a gamble on picking something out from the catalog or online. Can’t beat LL Bean!
melissa says
Returning today has become alot easier, however the hardest place to return anything is Babies R Us and Wal-Mart. Both require receipts otherwise you are simply stuck with that item. I love that I can return anything to target and all I need is the card I used. So simple and quick!
Jo says
I’m glad I’m not the only one! My mother always says I’m the only person she knows that ARRIVES at the stores with armloads of shopping bags (all to be returned). It’s just so much easier to take things home and decide if you want them. Here in Australia though you must have your receipt for a refund, which can get pesky. If you don’t have the receipt you can only get a store credit and if the item has been reduced, you will only get the reduced amount as a store credit, not what you paid for it. Which is exactly what happened to me this morning – went to return a pair of pants that didn’t fit my son, couldn’t find the receipt, and they’ve now been reduced to half price :(
Sara says
I work for Target so I’m obviously a big fan of them ;) but we do make it a priority to make things as easy as possible for our guests, like with our returns. After all we want them to keep coming back and spending money in our stores!
Just an FYI, next month we are rolling out a new program where instead of having to wait to reach 1,000 points on your target card to get your 10% off a full day of shopping, you will get 5% off each and every purchase you make, every day, all day, as long as you use our check or credit card. Just thought you should know!
YoungHouseLove says
Sweet! Thanks so much for the heads up Sara! We’re so looking forward to that 5% discount!
xo,
s
Amy says
I am a huge fan of returning things that you don’t end up needing. There is no point in cluttering your house with items that still have tags on them because you didn’t need them.
One of my favorite stores is Urban Outfitters. It is a more affordable, sister store to Anthropologie. They do not have a location near me. Their online sales are better than their in-store sales. They have more of a selection. They usually have 10 dollar or even free shipping and returns are always free. They provide the shipping label, and I just reuse the Urban Outfitters box that my items arrived in.
P.S. I love your blog. It is such an inspiration, and Clara is adorable.
patrice says
Totally make returns ;)Like you guys, I can pretty much tell anyone any store’s return policy…and I save all my receipts and leave tags on all the items until it’s a definite keeper.
Especially in the home decor category. Clothes are another thing, once you try them on you know. But home decor can take awhile to figure out if it’s right or not.
Also, think of it as being ‘green’. One less thing that needs to be recycled or put in the trash right?
Rachel says
Crown me a queen of returns as well. I probably return 25% of what I buy, especially home decor and clothes. Not only is it helpful to go home and compare pillow colors, for example, but sometimes I also discover that I really don’t need another black sweater, or whatever the case may be.
I keep any receipts that I think I might need for future transactions. And I love watching the sales and going back for that price adjustment, even if its only a couple dollars. If the original sale is beyond the price adjustment period, I simply purchase the item a second time (on sale) and return it with my old receipt. Wala – my own price adjustment. Works every time!
My only peeve about returns is the occasional clerk who asks “Is there anything wrong with it?” like there must be more to the story. If there were something wrong with the item I would state that in the first place! Also, it’s not that I have anything to hide, but I feel the asking of questions is a little nosy. That’s why I love Kohl’s return policy – no questions asked.
Did you know that Home Depot stores do not accept home depot.com returns? I wish I had known that last year before I shelled out $100 for Christmas decorations that didn’t work out (and spent a fortune on return shipping). Live and learn.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rachel,
Wow, we didn’t know that. Thanks for sharing!
xo,
s
lutz says
it would be better if you would really return those things that does not fit with your expectations and the companies promises..we pay the exact amount for the thing so it is just right that we should get the “whole” thing…
Jessica H says
I’m all about the returns! I use it as a way to give myself options when decorating or looking for the perfect item. This was (and still is, to some degree) an issue for my husband and me when we first lived together – he freaked the first time I came home from the store with a couple hundred dollars’ worth of decorative pillows. I had to explain to him that this was my “method” and that most of them would be going back to the store. They actually all ended up going back, for which I have no embarrassment or remorse. So I’m definitely with Sherry!
Btw, Babies R Us just changed their policy so that if you make a purchase and use your Rewards Club card, they now keep track of your purchases so you can return without a receipt. I’ve already taken advantage of it a couple times!
Julie Anne says
I think it must be a Pacific Northwest thing (or even Seattle thing), but with Nordstrom having taken the lead on taking anything back for nearly 100 years now here in coffee city, it’s pretty ingrained into our habits that returning what doesn’t work out or breaks prematurely is just a natural part of shopping.
The nice thing is, we’re also pretty honest about it collectively in the Seattle area. I was a retail manager for a few years when I was first out of college, and I can count on one hand the number of times someone tried to scam on a refund. 99% of the time the item simply didn’t work out for the customer, or truly did not perform up to reasonable expectations.
Which makes me want to respond to Rachel’s peeve, above: There’s a reason that sales personnel ask why you are returning the item. They are not just randomly nosy. Unless you are like Sherry, and cheerfully explain why you are returning the item, the person taking the return does not know if it is because you just didn’t need it or because it is broken or malfunctioning, or flawed.
Items returned that just didn’t work out can have their packaging repaired or replaced in the back room and go back onto the shelf as regular inventory, but an item that is being returned because it was broken or flawed needs to be processed so that it does not go back onto the floor and accidentally resold to another customer. Generally, it goes back to the manufacturer for credit to the store. Otherwise, it’s written off and marked as flawed and donated to charity if the damage or flaw does not pose a safety hazard (or destroyed, if the damage does pose a safety hazard.)
Wendy says
Here in my country, Spain, it is bad seen, in some way, if you return thigs, as well as food,…I personaly think that it is a matter of complex, as if you do not earn money enough to cope with the loss, you now?. Usually, people in charge of the refunds say to you that you are the first person with a specific problem related with the item, or nobody has complained that purchase…
Nothing to say about hypermarkets, because they do not have problems with returns.
Hopefully, my mum is another Queen of Returns (a selfconfident Spanish Queen, God save us from!), and she has taught me that it is my right to ask for return if I buy something that turns out to be inadequate or defective. Personally I am grateful for the advice, even I feel a little embarrassed during the process.
By the way, I love your blog. (I hope you understand me when I am writting, I am not used…with english).
Kristin says
Ikea (at least here in germany) has also got a very friendly return policy. It is imperative to have a receipt for your purchase, but the receipt number is enough as they can look the number up in their computers and see that you purchased the item at that store, so if you prefer to keep that information in a text file on your computer you can toss the (probably BPA-containing) receipts and reduce your paperwork.
However, I try to avoid returns if I can (lots of research beforehand, take color swatches with me etc.). Lots of items cannot be sold again for the regular price, so in the long run the prices will rise to compensate for returns, and everybody has to pay more in the end. If something really does not meet my expectations or fulfil my needs, I do return it.
Sam says
Loved this post (and the Izzy bottles story). People’s comments always make us laugh and sparks conversation. They don’t feel like filler posts to us – just a light hearted diversion now and then :D. Keep up the good work.
Here in the UK we have a big retailer called John Lewis who are amazing about returns and refunds. My partners parents bought us a new vaccume cleaner for Christmas (not very romantic I know, lol, but ours was at the end of its life). Just after Christmas they reduced the price on it by £50. He contacted them and they refunded us the difference as the sale started within 10 weeks of something being bought.
They also replaced a pasta maker that broke that we didn’t even buy from them because they said they could return it to the manufacturer, no worries.
We love John Lewis.
Erika says
I am a fearless returner as well and I also try to shop Target on Sundays. This gives me the opportunity to hit up the latest sale and two more Sunday Sale days to get a discount on previous purchases. (If the item you purchased goes on sale in the next 14 days you can get the difference refunded. You just have to know which items are on sale and bring your receipt back to the customer service counter.)
One sad note: I learned that a lot of the items you bring back to some of the big box stores do not get returned to the floor. Some, fortunately, are written off and sent to places like Goodwill, others are put in the garbage. I know this sounds crazy, but I bought a leather recliner from one of my favorite big box store websites with the promise that I could return to a brick and mortar. It turned out the color was not quite what was described online and it clashed badly with our existing leather sofa. I took it back to the local store and after some searching they were able to mark it for donation. I was told that if (for whatever reason) that product was not marked for donation it would be placed in the garbage. If anyone dumpster dived for it they would be considered thieves, and if caught prosecuted. This also included termination for the employees of the store if they snagged something out of the garbage. I thought that was so sad and harsh. I am glad that many items make it to the charity stores, but it has made me less likely to purchase impulsively (especially online) as I have in the past. Just thought you might like to know.
YoungHouseLove says
Wow Erika that’s crazy! We have heard that two of our most frequented big box stores donate everything they can’t repackage or resell, so that’s definitely good news to us. And when it comes to the things we return personally, we always ensure that they can be put right out on the floor and resold (we re-fold curtains and put them back into their packaging, snapping it shut so it looks mint, and pillows are an easy one since they don’t have any packaging to worry about). Perhaps the items that you’ve heard can’t be donated and must be put in the dumpster are defective in some way that might hurt someone and leave the company liable (like blinds that have been recalled due to strangulation risk)? Otherwise it would be sad that workers and strangers couldn’t save them from the dumpster!
xo,
s
katieQ says
I agree that if a product is not what you need or want it should be returned. Although having worked in retail, I know that returns cost the store money which is then transferred on to the customer in the form of higher prices. While it may be a process that helps people decide what looks best when decorating their home, in truth buying a dozen items to see which one looks best in your home and then returning the rest to the store carries a price. The retailer is being charged two fees by the credit card company; one when you purchase the item and another when you return it. An employee must handle the return transaction as well as restock the item on the shelf. While an employee is handling the return transaction they can’t help another customer make a purchase. The store is paying a salary that is not aiding store revenues. All of these small costs are passed on to the consumer in the way of higher prices whether they are the ones consistently returning items or not.
It’s a great idea in theory and one that certainly works for many people. However, I believe that consumers should spend more time making intelligent decisions when purchasing an item in the first place so that returning items is left for constructive reasons rather than a whim.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey katieQ,
We definitely agree that people shouldn’t buy a truckload of items only to return them and waste everyone’s time (including their own)! However when I worked in retail I was actually taught that the store loved returns because it added up to more foot traffic (which in turn drummed up more sales). So statistically it helped them move more merch, which was good for keeping prices down and revenue up. I’m not sure if that’s true for all stores, but it’s definitely something to consider! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
tmolly says
I stand with the majority of your readers, who enjoy your posts everyday, twice a day, and don’t think of any of them as “filler.” I must admit, I used to spend a lot less time on your website when I would see a “Burning Question” or similar type post, but I’ve come to realize that I LOVE reading through the other readers’ comments! Just yesterday, I read someone’s comment about painting custom backsplashes (to look like tile, but easy to clean and easy to change) and it was such an epiphany for me! When we redo our kitchen, I’m DEFINITELY using that idea, perhaps to look like Portuguese or Moorish tiles. So thank you so much — your excellent posts AND your creative readers have really inspired me! :-)
Elida Rodriguez says
My husband was exactly like John. So much so that he dreaded even trying on things in the store. He’d go straight to the men’s section, pick up a pair of pants and say, “Yep, these will work.” I would gasp and say, “Well aren’t you going to try them on?” He’d say, “They’re my size, I like the color.” My fear was they wouldn’t fit him, and when it happened, I literally dragged him to return them. I don’t know if he had a phoebia of even the smell of stores, but before we got married, I realized he had a stack of unused paints and items in general that just didn’t work out and he didn’t want to return. I, on the other hand, will say am the queen of returns. There’s no shame in my game…and from my perspective, what do you loose (other than a few minutes of your time)?
Paige says
Oh man, I can’t imagine not returning things! I do it all the time, especially if I’m at Target grocery shopping and some clothes fall into my cart, too. I don’t try stuff on when I’m officially there for groceries, so sometimes those spontaneous clothing finds have to go back once I put them on at home.
I worked retail for about a year and in my experience, returns were pretty few and far between. Maybe one or two a day, so it’s not like we ever got swamped with extra recovery.
Krys72599 says
While I stand shoulder to shoulder with Sherry, I must say that in some cases I’ve personally witnessed, some people can go WAY OVERBOARD!
** How about the loud woman who returned her CHRISTMAS TREE on New Year’s Eve, WITH PIECES OF TINSEL STILL ON IT, insisting that “Carlos said she could return it since you (Home Depot!) have a guarantee on your plants for one year.”
** ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
** Or the Home Depot customer who returned his USED lawnmower, complete with gas and grass clippings in November, after a season of lawnmowing???
** Or how about the Costco customers who returned an air conditioner in October with water stains on the outside, no carton, obviously used for the summer!
Sometimes I’m just amazed.
Keighley@BellaLife says
Returning books at Barnes & Nobles is the worst! I feel like they all hate me and assume I read the book and am returning it within the 2 week time frame… ok maybe I’ve done that HOWEVER the books were horrible and were not worth the $14.
Carrie says
I am also a queen of returns but I refer to it as UNSHOPPING!!!
Emily @ NewlyWife says
When it comes to returning things, I’m with you, John, and my husband Matt is more like Sherry. You summed up exactly how it is for me. I feel like I’m inconveniencing someone because of a mistake I made, when really, I’m returning something and the employee is doing his/her job. One day I hope to get over it.
Bonnie says
Wow. I can’t imagine returning something just because you found something you liked better – that’s just not an acceptable reason, in the culture I inhabit.
If it doesn’t work or if you got something wrong (size etc) then I’d be happy returning – although I’m generally too lazy to bother.
Tina says
I love that we can change our mind and return the items we don’t need/want. I’ve returned and exchanged a lot of things, but I always save my receipts and the box/package that the items come in. On clothes, once I rip the tag off and wear it out at least once, I wouldn’t return it. I don’t believe in returning clothes that have been worned and washed multiple times because someone changes her mind, or items that have been used for months (unless they’re defective), or items that have been damaged by the buyer, etc. I used to work at a grocery store and once we had this woman returned less than half of the deli meat that she bought and told us she didn’t like it. Wouldn’t someone know immediately if they didn’t like the meat after first few bites? Some people just plain abusing the return policy. In short, if something really doesn’t work out for you after taking it home, then by all means, return it and be honest with the store. But don’t take advantage of the policy and return items that you have used for awhile or damage it yourself and then lie about it. That’s an integrity issue for me.
Jan Glusac says
My mom and I LOVE to shop. She has excellent taste in everything from clothes to shoes to home decor – and has never batted an eye about returning something. Fortunately, I inherited her sensibilities (and her good taste) and shop with this mantra: I CAN ALWAYS RETURN IT. My dad called it the 5 most dangerous words in the English language – he was NOT a returner, didn’t like to shop, and didn’t see the value of buying something if you are just going to return it. My perspective is this – if you are not sure, buy it. If you go home empty handed to decide, you’ll kick yourself if you go back to buy it only to find the item long gone. I keep all my receipts in a small accordion pouch organized by month, so it is never an issue finding it if I do decide to return. Some people are frequent flyers in the return line – you have to have SOME discretion when you shop – and some stores keep a list of those frequent flyers and set a limit to how much they can return. But for most folks, next time you are contemplating a purchase but just can’t decide, repeat after me: “I CAN ALWAYS RETURN IT”!!
Lindsay says
I don’t work for them, but I do love Price Protectr (priceprotectr.com). I can track things that I’ve purchased from places where they have price protection policies so I can get the difference refunded. This definitely helps my wallet!
Jessi says
I was at Menards the other day (a midwest version of Home Depot) and was so impressed with their new return process. They have a kiosk at the front of the store that allows you to swipe your credit card, then your last 2 years of purchases appear on the screen! You can select the item you want to return, and the original receipt prints out. Perfect for rebates, returns, etc. Awesome way to make it easier on the customers. Love it!
Mindy says
Okay, I know this is WAY long after the blog was written.. but hey, I’m a fairly new reader still!! (BTW, I heart your blog so, so much!)
I have been the queen of returns ever since I can remember. My friends in college in the early 2000’s can vouch for this one! They were constantly asking me “What this time?!” I just think if you don’t need it, why waste the room/money on it? That’s MY heard-earned cash! :)
(so funny.. I’m in central IL along with Peoria! What a quinkidink!!)
Lisa says
Any ideas on what to do with the very unwanted gifts from the mother n law that buys everything discount and never gives a reciept. I have sold one thing on ebay and donated the rest . I cant give this stuff away . My husband and I joke everytime a package arrives … Oh look another goodwill tax write off .. HELP
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man. At least you and the husband have figured out a way to laugh at it!
-John