I renamed/rebranded the blog to allude to my time in retail because well, it’s paying the bills for now. By “paying the bills,” I mean supporting a steady diet of cappuccinos from the Barnes and Noble Cafe, $10/day parking garage fees, and 100-calorie packs of brown sugar and cinnamon Blue Diamond almonds. Lately however, I’m already nostalgic for the holiday season – you know the time where everyone’s excited for Hanukkah and Christmas (no, I never had a customer purchasing a Kwanzaa gift) and buys everything ($80 tops, $170 jeans, $350 Marc by Marcs) and really appreciates that you’re voluntarily giving them a gift box and some ribbon (“It’s pre-cut to the size of the box!”).
The holiday season is sharply contrasted by the last two weeks: thousands of dollars in returns, hundreds of items to markdown (and re-mark the following Thursday), and customers who have left their receipts, original method of tender, and manners at home. In fairness, a good many of my customers are 100% polite, agreeable, and understanding of our return policies (that are shockingly similar to those of most other stores in the universe and are clearly printed along the back of each and every receipt). Others, however, seem a little lost as to the standard protocol involved when they would like to make a return, so on behalf of sales associates everywhere, here are some points to remember:
- Before you leave your house: Locate your receipt. Try to ensure that the item you want to return is actually listed on that receipt (match the item number on tag to the one on your receipt). Skim the store’s return policy on the back so you know what to expect at the store.
- Note how you paid for your items. If you paid with a credit card, note which card it was and ensure that you have it with you. More than likely, the store CANNOT “look up” the card you used in order to credit that card. To credit an amount back to a card requires the FULL card number and expiration date. Stores do not save this information in order to prevent unauthorized use of your card.
- If you are returning an item you received as a gift accompanied by a gift receipt, you may notice a code in place of a dollar amount for the item (e.g. “1 @ IBEP”). These letters are entered into the computer to reveal the amount paid for the item at the time it was purchased. You will receive store credit for this value or any remaining value if you make an exchange.
- Without a receipt of any kind, store credit will be issued for the current price of the item so long as the tag is with the item.
- In order to return an item, it must not be altered in any way. For example, the straps sewn into the shoulder that keep the item on the hanger cannot be cut off, the item cannot be smeared with deodorant and/or makeup, and the item cannot be saturated with the scent of your perfume.
Hopefully none of this comes as a shock? If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that the customer might always be right, but businesses still have to protect themselves from fraud. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there looking for free money (or free product) and will do what they can to get it – thus the advent of the Return Policy. If the associates at your store are worth their salt, they will understand the policies, too, and should be happy to accommodate anyone who meets them halfway and respects a store’s policies.
Now go forth and shop (and quit returning stuff! Pre-spring merch is coming out!)!
