Let the holiday gift return-a-thon begin

Knowing the policies will make the process easier

Don’t settle for another copy of your favorite DVD or the umpteenth ugly Christmas sweater.

Return, exchange or even sell your unwanted holiday gifts.

The annual return-a-thon kicked off early Tuesday as retailers start after Christmas sales aiming to unload more merchandise. Shoppers are usually pretty wise when it comes to knowing what they can return. Three out of four holiday shoppers checked return policies before making a purchase, according to the National Retail Federation.

“We do see that about 27% of holiday shoppers say they’ll usually include a gift receipt,” said Katherine Cullen, the federation’s director of retail and consumer insights.

Gift receipts can make the returns process much easier but many retailers have relaxed their regular return policies for the holiday season.

Cullen said the retail group’s survey showed consumers on average returned only 4% of their gifts. The percent was slightly higher among Millennials, who returned 7% of their gifts.

Although you can ship some unwanted gifts back to retailers, when possible go to the stores to do returns, said Lindsay Sakraida, director of content marketing for DealNews.com. She said this is helpful especially if you don’t have a receipt or are looking for flexibility.

If you can’t return or exchange gifts, consider selling them on eBay or similar apps and websites.

Return tips

Follow these tips and skip the postholiday gift-return headache:

❚ Know the policies, deadlines: Read policies at store websites, on store signs or on the back of receipts.

❚ Avoid the crowds: Early mornings and late evenings can be less chaotic times to make a return, but immediately after Christmas, you should expect long lines. It might be best to wait a few days.

❚ Receipts: Having an original receipt or gift receipt usually makes the return process go more smoothly and improves your chances of getting a full refund. At Target, a gift receipt will get you a merchandise return card, which unlike a regular gift card only can be used in-store.

❚ No receipt: Returns without a receipt usually result in a merchandise credit for the lowest recent sale price or possibly no refund or exchange at all, depending on the store’s policy.

❚ Exchange it: Like the gift but want it in another color or size? This is a possibility. Look for the item or ask for assistance, and if it’s not in stock, ask a store associate if it’s available online or at another store location.

❚ Mystery gift: Not sure where a gift came from? If it has a barcode, try scanning it with a smartphone app such as ShopSavvy, which is available for Apple and Android.

❚ Bring your ID: Even if you have a receipt, some stores require a government-issued ID.

❚ Extra fees: If you are returning any electronics or an item that has been opened, be prepared to pay a restocking fee of up to 15%.

❚ Talk to a manager: If you have a problem returning a gift, contact the store manager or the retailer’s customer service department.

❚ Be nice: Some returns are granted on a case-by-case basis, so patience and kindness may go a long way.

Tips for using gift cards

For the 11th year in a row, gift cards were the most requested gift. If you received one, here are some tips to get the most out of them:

❚ The fine print: Read the card’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to whether the card is redeemable only at a certain store or location.

❚ Fees: Some state laws, including Florida, bar service fees and expiration dates on store gift cards, but the rules on cards branded with the name of a credit card company are stricter. These cards cannot expire for at least five years and cannot have a service fee deducted unless it has not been used in 12 months.

❚ Bonus cards: If you received a bonus gift card, sometimes called bonus bucks, most of these expire. Some stores and restaurants treat these as coupons and have restrictions on how they can be used.

❚ Protect your card: Some gift cards can be registered as credit cards on websites listed on the card, which can protect them against theft or loss. Also take photos of the front and back of the card or write down card details as some companies will replace lost or stolen cards if you can provide specifics.

❚ Use it: You never know when a retailer may close — think of Sports Authority — so use the cards as soon as possible.

❚ Trade it: If you get an unwanted card, you can sell it or trade it for another card at sites such as CardPool.com, Raise.com and CardCash.com. At most Target stores, you can trade almost any gift card for a Target gift card. Learn more at Targettrade-in.com. Just know you won’t get the full value of the cards.