Do you return things?

[MisaGoat]

I always feel guilty returning things. Especially if it is more like an "I changed my mind." or "this isn't something I need/is more than I should have spent" reason. If something doesn't fit or there is a problem I don't feel bad. But if I just changed my mind, I feel like I am abusing the return policy.

Obviously the best thing is to be careful with what I buy and not buy things I don't need, so I don't end up with things to return.

Thoughts?

[ChetMC]

I Do

I do. Not a lot, but I've bought things and taken them home to see if they match something else, or to try it on a kid that I didn't have with me when I was shopping. I'm not beyond buying two dresses, and taking them both home while I decide which one I want. Then I return the other one I didn't choose.

I once returned a story book because the ending was so horrible. I usually read through the whole book in the store, but on this particular occasion I only read the first three quarters, and it seemed great, so I assumed that the ending would be fine. it was awful, and the book went back.

[mamakaikai]

I do too. I'm SAHM and am never without 2 under 2 1/2 yrs, so sometimes I buy stuff and try it on at home. I've had clerks suggest this to me so although it is not ideal, it is acceptable.

I would NEVER wear the clothes and then return them. That is abuse of return policy.

[Vanessa]

Yes, I return things if I change my mind. I'd never use them and return them (gross!).

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Never feel guilty about returning items (unless you have deliberately broken, wore or altered said items). IMO: I paid for them because I wanted them... if I no longer want them, and haven't used them then I return them so someone else who does want them can purchase them. Hope this helps a little.

I do feel guilty about ordering food and then not eating it... But if I could send it back sometimes, or exchange it for something more edible...

[zebra15]

Yes I return things.... Its just one of those life things...
I change my mind, kid changes his mind, We need the money instead of the stuff.. any number of reasons. Lots of stuff goes back, or sometimes nothing goes back... we tend to run in cycles around here.

[lookatreestar]

i avoid returning things at all costs. maybe i am just lazy?

[frugalmama]

I do - especially when I'm broke.

[choli]

Rarely. I do return defective stuff, but in general I don't buy stuff I don't need. I can't imagine returning a book because I didn't like the ending, that would seem rather ridiculous.

[alicia622]

I return things I don't want, change my mind about and things that don't work properly. I wouldn't return something that I used (unless it didn't work or broke quickly). I actually returned a can of cocoa powder last winter because I didn't realize I had a mostly full can!

[Youngfrankenstein]

I do. It doesn't come up too often but it did yesterday. I bought, among many other things, a queen-sized aerobed yesterday. It was a really good price and we can use it in certain situations but the more I thought about it, now wasn't really the best time to spend the $100. We have a guest bed and if I knew I were hosting company next week, it would have been fine.

I will be returning it in it's completely unblemished, never-touched box and I don't feel bad.

Frankly, in 6 months I might go back to the same store and buy it again.

[GuildJenn]

Originally Posted by choli

Rarely. I do return defective stuff, but in general I don't buy stuff I don't need. I can't imagine returning a book because I didn't like the ending, that would seem rather ridiculous.

This. I will return things if the issue is that I didn't get what was promised, like it's broken or missing pieces. Very rarely I'll return something if it's something you can't really check out in advance very well and it's wrong.

But I don't return things if it's just my poor judgment. It costs the store money for all those transactions, which gets passed on to the customer. I'd rather slow down and not buy it in the first place.

[VisionaryMom]

It's rare that we return something. We did this weekend because we bought a mount for our TV that said "up to 42'." It didn't fit our TV, though it should have, so I returned it. I didn't feel badly because it should have been labeled better.

I'm surprised they accepted the book back. Most stores don't do that, and I don't think they should.

[sewaneecook]

I'm not a habitual returner, but on occasion I will return something that wasn't what I thought it would be. I always try to return something very soon after buying it so that the store can re-sell it at its original price.

[honeybunmom]

I return things, too. Generally because I've gotten it home and determined I really won't use it or have something similar I'd forgotten about. I haven't removed the tags, worn it, had the kids play with it, etc., so, I don't feel bad at all returning it.

I don't like to return food. That I won't do. My husband will, though. And my mom, too, just to Sam's though, I believe. They have a satisfaction guarantee regarding their meats. If she's not satisfied, she gets her money back. But, I guess that's not actually a return, though. And she spent her career in retail, so, she knows the ins and outs of running a retail business and the cost of returns. If she's ok with it, I'm ok with it - again, everything other than food, though, for me.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by lookatreestar

i avoid returning things at all costs. maybe i am just lazy?

same here. It's definitely because I am lazy. And I've never in my life returned food - if it was bad, or whatever, I would just throw it away. Not worth the hassle of taking in half a loaf of bread for a few bucks. Now, if it was say, a broken just-out-of-box $300 carpet shampooer, then yeah, I'd return it - or in that case, I made DH exchange it.

This reminds me, I have a couple items from Gymboree that I've been meaning to return for a long time (maybe too long for them to even take them back?) One was completely their fault for sending me a different size than I ordered... can't fit my five yr old in a 3-6 month outfit! The other was my fault in that I ordered two sizes of a blazer to see what would fit my 7 yo, and now have one to sell or return or donate.

[Ola_]

I do, regardless of reason, as long as the item is in sellable condition (not worn, tags on, all packaging intact). I try to only buy things that I will keep, but sometimes it doesn't work out for whatever reason and back it goes.

[enkmom]

Almost never. I have the luxury of shopping alone and can try everything on, so I make sure everything fits before I leave. I do return damaged/defective things.

Working in retail, I see HORRIBLE abuses of return policies. When I worked at a bookstore, the same people would regularly buy the newest hardcovers, then mysteriously get that same book as a "gift" a few days later and exchange their copy for 3 paperbacks. At Kohls, we have multiple recreational shoppers. Some of these women come every single day, buy $100's of dollars worth of stuff, then return it the next day and shop again. Sadder still, there is a woman who comes in shopping with her friends, and obviously can't afford it but feels that she needs to keep up. After every trip she makes with her friends, she is back the next day returning everything.

I think the occasional return is fine, and to be expected.

[feminist~mama]

I return stuff too- same as everyone else... new items, haven't been used, just no longer wanted for whatever reason. I'm headed to Costco today with 2 outfits for DD#2 that are going back. Somehow I wasn't really aware of how much 3-6 stuff she has!

[Drummer's Wife]

I think another personal problem I have with returning things is that if I drive down to Target to take back the $8 shoes I bought on clearance without realizing they were too small for my kid, I end up getting the cash or store credit and spending 10 times that amount after I leave customer service. If I would have just kept or donated the dang shoes, I would have only been out $8.