Tips on successfully returning presents

DReaders: Hopefully, you’ll love all the gifts you receive this time of year, but odds are that you’ll get one you will need to return. According to the Federal Trade Commission (www.consumer.ftc.gov), what steps should you take?

Ideally, the giver included a gift receipt, which verifies purchase of the item without revealing the price, but if they didn’t, it’s OK.

Read the store’s return policies on its website. Usually around this time of year, the policies are relaxed a little bit.

Always take your valid ID with you. Try not to open items until you’re sure you will keep them. For electronic and big-ticket items, there may be a restocking fee of up to 15%. Digital items (e-books, downloadable games, digital music, etc.)? Return policies can vary by seller.

Some online retailers may provide a free shipping label to return a gift item. Ask.

Finally, if you’re not happy, speak to store management — they should be able to help.

— Heloise

Tech Tuesday

Dear Heloise: Does turning my cellphone off allow it to charge faster?

— Emily T. in Kentucky

Emily, yes, most phones will charge faster if the phone is powered off. When the phone is on, it’s using power, so the battery is receiving less of the charge.

— Heloise

The Christmas pickle

Dear Readers: Ahh, tradition. We love it this time of year. Who has a Christmas pickle? This is an ornament (doesn’t have to be a pickle) hidden deep in the tree, and the first child to find it gets an extra gift from Santa or is surely guaranteed good luck for the upcoming year.

This is a fun tradition; why not give it a whirl?

— Heloise

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.