Everyone returns one great gifts or purchases now and then. Maybe it’s not suitable. Maybe it doesn’t suit your taste. Maybe you ordered something to your liking (or you won a great deal) and now you have buyer regret. Or maybe you just read a book that celebrates the virtues of minimalism and want to change that lifestyle. Whether it’s well-meaning gifts from a loved one or your impulsive Amazon Prime order, the good news is that you can easily return the item.
Regardless of your logic about returning an item, you’re not alone. The Estimates by the National Retail Federation that approximately $428 billion of US goods were returned in 2020, representing about 10% of total sales. Around the holiday season, an estimated two-thirds of supporters return an item.
“Consumers have really gotten used to being able to return their goods,” said Larisa Summers, senior vice president of marketing and e-commerce at Optoro. “I think a lot of consumers aren’t aware of how complicated that is for retailers.”
You might think that returned goods are stowed back on the shelves where they came from, but Summers says this only happens about half the time. Other times, returned merchandise is sold to other retailers — or worse, discarded. Optoro estimates that 5 billion pounds of returned items end up in landfills each year.
So if you’re going to return a gift or holiday purchase, do it smartly and sustainably. Profit intelligence offers the greatest gift: a house and planet with less clutter.
Update December 2021: Much of our advice on how to rollback is still valid; We have added several retailers and updated the return policy.
Basic things
First things first: You have more time than you think. While “30 days after purchase” is the usual policy year-round, most retailers adjust their return dates around shopping holidays to accommodate returns. We’ve also seen regular return policies expanded due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Be sure to pack your item with all tags, accessories and original packaging where possible. Unless you are exchanging a defective product, make sure your item is in good condition. Merchandise returned in its original condition, and in its original condition, is much easier to resold, says Summers. Without the original packaging, there is a high chance that the items will be thrown out.
You should also bring a receipt, especially if it’s a gift receipt. All in all, having one will make it easier and more likely to get cash or credit to return the item. Some stores will work with you to collect order information if you lose your receipt. At other retailers, you’re in luck. Some shops require you to show identification, so be sure to bring identification.
Summers encourages you to share why you are returning a product. Retailers take this type of feedback seriously, as it potentially reduces profits for the following year.
