If youre going to game the returns system, do it right.
Sometimes evil is justified, and other times, knowing evil means knowing how to beat it.
Check out our evil week tag page.
Generally, buying an item you intend to return is kind of a dick move.
However, there are occasions where it could come in handy.
Maybe youneed clothes for a job interview but cant afford them until you get the job.
Maybe you forgot your nice camera when you went on vacation.
Or maybe you just dont know which router will work best in your home.
You dont want to waste all your time standing in line, and you dont want unnecessary attention.
Always keep receipts.Some stores will allow you toreturn an item without a receipt, but dont count on it.
Keep your receipts and verify you have them when you do a return.
Learn each stores return policy.Not every stores policy is the same.
Most companies have a return policy you’re able to read online.
If they dont, you’ve got the option to ask someone at customer service.
Find out the details ahead of time so youre prepared.
When youre buying stuff, see to it you take care to keep everything thats included.
Knowing what youre doing ahead of time helps double-check that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
Keep in mind that stores dont reallylikereturns.
There are generally a dozen or so ways you could give someone a headache by returning something.
Policies That Could Ruin Your Plan
Not all store return policies are equal.
Some may have short return time frames, or only provide store credit in return.
Knowing store policies helps.
Others may have exceptions for certain categories of items.
ensure you know how much time youll have for each item before you buy.
Restocking fees.A restocking fee is usually charged to ensure that exactly this pop in of thing doesnt happen.
Exceptions for certain items.Not all items can be returned, or may have certain conditions.
see to it you know about these exceptions before buying.
You might also find that major retailers have more accommodating return policies than smaller mom-and-pop shops.
This is precisely because they can afford to do it.
take a stab at keep that in mind as you look for a store to rent from.
Even if they technically allow it, its kind of dickish to take advantage of a smaller store.
you’ve got the option to even return things youve purchased from Walmart.com in a store.
Unofficially, most stores tend to make pretty generous exceptions, rather than deal with upset customers.
Costco:On paper, Costcos return policy is even better than Walmarts.
For those who are already in, however, its great.
Lowes:For a hardware store, Lowes handles returns pretty well, too.
you could return nearly anything within 90 days (or 30 days for major appliances).
However, dont wait longer than a year.
For super old items, Kohls may issue a corporate refund which involves mailing a check to you.
Better to just skip the hassle and return early.
These are the general policies, but again, there are always exceptions.
Be sure to check for your specific item before hitting up a store.
However, these are a few of the best.
Keep in mind that youre still dealing with real people and real businesses.
By definition, the businesses youre dealing with do not want to be rental stores.
Here are a few golden rules to pull this off without being a jerk.
Be efficient.At the checkout counter, dont waste time.
Have your receipts out and ready to go.
Dont bring a shopping cart full of stuff to return.
Dont make several trips to a store each week.
Keep the number of times you do this to a minimum.
The less time you might spend in the returns line, the better for everyone involved.
Dont yell at clerks to get your way.
Dont fight with a manager if they turn down your return.
Dont get impatient if a returns line is long.
You chose to buy something you didnt plan to keep.
Its up to you to deal with the fallout.
You misread the return policy.
You waited too long to bring it back.
Youve done this five times in a week and its getting to be too much.
Whatever the reason, a store can choose not to honor your return.
Be prepared for that.
And theres always a slight chance.
If the worst happens,know how to sell your stuff.
If you do nothing else in this guide, but follow these rules, youll probably be okay.
Most major retailers dont want to spend a ton of time fighting over returns.
Small stores have more to lose, but big box retailers dont care about that one lost sale.
They care about the customer.
Photos byBen_OsteenandClemens v. Vogelsang.
