I have recently become rather annoyed by extremely restrictive return policies. Target, for example, won't take anything back without a receipt (the exception being that if you yourself bought it there, used a credit card, and have the credit card you used, they can look up your receipt in the system). Even if the item has the original tags on it and the store still carries it, they won't take it back without a receipt.
Because of this, fellow moms have advised me not to do a baby registry at Target. Apparently their registry system is completely unreliable in updating its system, and if you get a duplicate item, they won't take it back without a receipt or gift receipt. Since many people don't get a gift receipt or, like myself, simply forget to enclose it with the gift, you could be stuck with multiple duplicate items. What a pain in the butt.
It was recommended that we head over to Babies R Us, as their return policy is a little more reasonable. That is, until next month, as it turns out. BRU is also moving to a no receipt = no return policy, even if the product you are returning is on your registry. Frankly I think this sucks. If someone brings back a product that they can put back on their shelves and sell again, why not give the person their money back, or at least store credit?
Obviously people are taking advantage of store return policies. I don't see this getting any better. I think we can pretty much guarantee that more and more stores are going to go the way of Target and BRU. So my advice is for any purchase you make that's a gift, get a gift receipt and enclose it with the gift. I think from now on we can assume that no store will accept a return without a receipt.
Posted by Shelby at June 22, 2008 02:34 PMThat DOES suck! Target used to be very liberal with their return policy -- IF you still had the tags w/the SKU# on them.
Also, what happened to me when I registered at Target is like you said, their systems don't update often enough OR simply don't "talk to each other" between stores, and you will end up with duplicate items. Also, the person may forget to ask the cashier to remove the item from the registry once purchased (I've done that!)
Oh well, if you do end up with unreturnable duplicate--there's always eBay!
Posted by: Katrina R. at June 22, 2008 03:56 PMNot this this was a baby registry - and it won't help you, but one store that has an excellent return policy is Bed Bath and Beyond (where we registered for our wedding). They'll take pretty much anything back - with or without a receipt - and if it was a gift, they'll give you cash if you want instead of store credit!
Posted by: Mary at June 23, 2008 04:18 AMThe stores do that because shoplifting has gotten so out of hand that they really do lose money by giving store credit for items without receipts. When I worked in retail it was insane how many items were "returned" when we had no record of them being purchased in the first place. Still, it's not really good customer service, especially if you are registered for the item!
Posted by: Sherri at June 23, 2008 10:03 AM