After the decorations come down and the cookies are finished, the real nightmare of the holidays comes alive in the aftermath: returns.
For college students, families may stick with cash or gift cards, choosing a safe route to save themselves and the receivers time. However, there are still those that give gifts that are appreciated, but just don’t make the cut. These unwanted gifts leave the recipients stuck between a rock and a hard place. How do you tell someone that you like their gift, but not enough to keep it?
“There is nothing wrong with wanting to get rid of a gift that no longer brings you joy,” gift and etiquette expert Leah Ingram said on her website. “With anything in your home, if you don’t love it and use it, get rid of it. This includes gifts you’ve received over time.”
Many people struggle with the guilt or uncomfortable feeling of returning gifts, but it is something that can be done with a little care and planning.
If you’re lucky, there will be a gift receipt included in the package. This allows an easy, guilt-free exchange; however, if there is a price difference between the original gift and what you want to exchange it for, you will have to pay, which isn’t necessarily ideal. Keep in mind that you may not get as much as you expect for a gift, or you may not necessarily like the store where you receive store credit. Ingram advised that “it really is unfair to judge someone by where they buy your gift,” especially those that bargain hunt on a limited income.
In some cases, you can request a receipt, such as if you’re looking to exchange a shirt for the correct size. This is basically the end of the acceptability of requesting a receipt. Asking for a receipt without proper justification is a giveaway that you don’t actually like the gift, and you are likely to offend the giver.
“Sometimes you just have to accept that you’re going to get gifts that you don’t like, but that’s what eBay or re-gifting is for,” Ingram said.
If you’re dead-set on returning an item but don’t have a receipt, many stores will accept items for store credit, but some stores have set limits. For example, Target limits customers to $100 worth of returns without a receipt in a single year.
Although secretly returning items can be enticing, you run the risk of the giver finding out, especially if it is an unusual item.
Sometimes you can get rid of a gift without having to worry about receipts or store credit. The first option is to resell it somewhere, such as eBay or a consignment shop. This option allows you to pass the item along to someone who truly wants it, as well as making a few bucks. Another option is re-gifting, which can be handy if done properly. Keeping track of who gave you something can help you to avoid the awkward situation of trying to gift something to the person that originally gave it to you.
Although dealing with unwanted gifts can be a hassle or even a daunting task, if carefully handled, it can be a breeze and possibly help you to be a better gift giver in the future.
