When you spend money on something that you can’t use then you might as well just throw your money away. Unfortunately, this can happen to almost everyone, whether you buy something for yourself or if you buy a gift for someone else.
Over the weekend, we tried to cram in a number of shopping stops in on one day. Combining errands like this can save money and time in the long run, but it can be tiring. Near the end of the day, I ran into a store to get something very specific and wound up with a couple of bargains, too. I spotted two lampshades that were only $3 a piece. I thought they could replace the two in our home that are broken, so I picked them up.
As I was checking out, I made sure to ask if the lampshades could be returned. This paid off for me, because it turned out that they were the wrong type (which I might have spotted had I not been tired). Making sure they could be returned was a good move after all.
Here are some of my other tips about returning merchandise.
First of all, when you bring something new in the house, make sure that it works, is the right fit, etc. If you wait too long before you actually use or check the item, it might be too late for a return. Most stores allow returns within 30 to 90 days, but many stores have been shortening this policy to as few as 10 days! So make sure you get to those items right away. Of course, note when the deadline for returns is. I usually write it on the receipt in the store, so I have an accurate account.
But what about gifts? If you are shopping early for Christmas presents, you or the person you are gifting may not have enough time for a return. I’ll talk about that and other return strategies in my next post later today!
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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