Beware of shrieks and tearing gifts

ALL over the country kids of all ages will be in a frenzy of excitement tearing into their presents on Tuesday.

And while I don’t want to sound like The Grinch, I’d like to strike a note of caution.

In most instances, frantically ripping open gifts is fine.

But if you damage the packaging you may be stuck with a present that is faulty, the wrong size or simply not liked.

Here are some stories I heard about after last Christmas, which may change your frantic approach to opening your gifts and persuade you to exercise a little restraint.

Excited

Ruth, from Swindon, Wiltshire, tore into a present from her husband and was excited to see that he had given her the swimming costume she had wanted for their upcoming holiday.

She quickly tried it on only to find that it was the wrong size – which she could have seen had she checked the label.

When she tried to exchange it the retailer refused as the costume had been worn.

This is also common in relation to underwear, so it’s important not to try it on unless you are sure that it’s the correct size and that you like it.

Meanwhile Josh, aged ten, from Nottingham, was so excited to see what his parents had bought for him that he tore a big hole in the box of his new Xbox when ripping off the wrapping paper.

It then turned out that Josh had actually wanted a Playstation.

His mum tried to exchange it for a Playstation but the retailer refused as the Xbox packaging had been damaged.

This is very common and retailers are perfectly entitled to refuse an exchange on this basis.

Emma, from Winchester, Hampshire, unwrapped a new coat which her sister had bought for her. A few days later she discovered there was a hole where the security tag had been.

She asked her sister if she had the receipt.

The sister explained she had put the gift receipt in with the coat.

Emma had not spotted this and had thrown out the receipt with the wrapping paper.

Fortunately, I was able to advise her that her sister’s credit card statement would be good enough to prove that the purchase had been made.