Returning Christmas decorations for refund

[CanadianCountry]

I am appalled to hear this and I have to ask this somewhere.

Can people return for refund their Christmas decorations, because as I hear people are doing this.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I would imagine it depends on the policy of the specific store. most stores require the item to be in the original packaging, the original receipt must be presented, and most have a time limit on how long you can return items for a refund (ie: 14, 30, 60 or 90 days). there are also stores that won't take Christmas items back if they are sold as "final sale" items.

 

[CanadianCountry]

It is related to settling if you consider that other countries don't have such generous return policies, because in other countries only a fool will return your money for goods which have lost their utility ( as is the case with Christmas goods, no use after Christmas)

I would imagine it depends on the policy of the specific store. most stores require the item to be in the original packaging, the original receipt must be presented, and most have a time limit on how long you can return items for a refund (ie: 14, 30, 60 or 90 days). there are also stores that won't take Christmas items back if they are sold as "final sale" items.

 

[steaky]

It is related to settling if you consider that other countries don't have such generous return policies, because in other countries only a fool will return your money for goods which have lost their utility ( as is the case with Christmas goods, no use after Christmas)

No, most stores I went in the United States have similar refund & exchange policies.

 

[rhcohen2014]

welcome to North American capitalism and consumerism!

if the Christmas goods are not used the store can either return to their supplier or resell it next year. for most stores, if the person does not have a receipt or it's out of the specified return policy date, then they would not get a full refund. more likely than not, they would get store credit for whatever the item is priced at the day they return it, which for Christmas items is usually dramatically reduced prices.

 

[CanadianCountry]

Not comparing US and Canada. Both are first world countries that to some extent believe that people act ethically in work and common life.

By other countries I mean third world countries.

No, most stores I went in the United States have similar refund & exchange policies.

 

[david1697]

This is the matter of economic expediency.

The full refund policy is usually offered by large chain stores. I haven't seen many small retailers offering the same. Have too many people take advantage of policy and you may be out of business before you know it.

Large chains have dedicated teams that use statistical data and measure the projected cost and benefit of one or another action.

Everything in such operations is thoroughly calculated, ahead of the time (and they make appropriate adjustments if circumstances change. For instance, Barnes and Noble has 30 days limit on returns now, as opposed to indefinite/limitless return policy they had in place years back and etc.).

The loss incurred is considered a "cost of doing the business" and often factored into retail price that everyone pays.

The benefit of the policy is the Marketing tool, which allows to instill high degree of confidence in mass buyer which results in greater volume of purchases (to the point that costs are justified).

Also, due to economic reasons, fewer people take advantage of the policy than you may think. Even if you buy it and later feel remorse, you may discover it's not worth your time and effort to go back to store and return it, or ship it, but better to just forget about it.

It's purely business related and justified policy, not so much about perceived ethics of mass buyers.

 

[CanadianCountry]

Thanks for clearing that.

Now I can clear my conscience and take advantage of these return policies to buy things which normally I wouldn't buy in the first place, but since I can return them after using them, who cares. Buy, use and return!!

Cheers to Consumerism!

This is the matter of economic expediency.

The full refund policy is usually offered by large chain stores. I haven't seen many small retailers offering the same. Have too many people take advantage of policy and you may be out of business before you know it.

Large chains have dedicated teams that use statistical data and measure the projected cost and benefit of one or another action.

Everything in such operations is thoroughly calculated, ahead of the time (and they make appropriate adjustments if circumstances change. For instance, Barnes and Noble has 30 days limit on returns now, as opposed to indefinite/limitless return policy they had in place years back and etc.).

The loss incurred is considered a "cost of doing the business" and often factored into retail price that everyone pays.

The benefit of the policy is the Marketing tool, which allows to instill high degree of confidence in mass buyer which results in greater volume of purchases (to the point that costs are justified).

Also, due to economic reasons, fewer people take advantage of the policy than you may think. Even if you buy it and later feel remorse, you may discover it's not worth your time and effort to go back to store and return it, or ship it, but better to just forget about it.

It's purely business related and justified policy, not so much about perceived ethics of mass buyers.

 

[david1697]

Thanks for clearing that.

Now I can clear my conscience and take advantage of these return policies to buy things which normally I wouldn't buy in the first place, but since I can return them after using them, who cares. Buy, use and return!!

Cheers to Consumerism!

Make no mistake, your behavior has already been factored into cost of doing a business and the day it outweighs the benefit (too many people do what you plan to do) they will cancel existing refund policy.

 

[CanadianCountry]

My up-righteous behaviour is certainly not an influencing factor on behaviour of others, as others around do it without any remorse (people who I know very well).

Either I can hold on to my conscience and be left holding the bag, OR, I can be remorseless buyer and take advantage of the current policies to provide enriched life experience to my family.

Believe me when I say that the place I come from, people wait and buy only when they have the money. But it seems why wait when you can have goods for free.

And as I see it, these refund policy window is going to shrink way further, if not cancelled altogether. IMHO.

Make no mistake, your behavior has already been factored into cost of doing a business and the day it outweighs the benefit (too many people do what you plan to do) they will cancel existing refund policy.

 

[Leon]

I had a coworker who boasted that he returned all items for cash at Walmart. He always kept the receipts and would return even worn items that had been washed. He said the staff at Walmart simply don't care.

 

[CanadianCountry]

Yeah, abuse the system till it gets broken.

That's the attitude we see everywhere, whether it's buying&returning goods, or, immigration.

I had a coworker who boasted that he returned all items for cash at Walmart. He always kept the receipts and would return even worn items that had been washed. He said the staff at Walmart simply don't care.

 

[Leon]

Yeah, abuse the system till it gets broken.

That's the attitude we see everywhere, whether it's buying&returning goods, or, immigration.

It's true. Some people will always stretch and bend the rules if possible and this results in new rules at some point that are stricter.

 

[david1697]

Immigration is not a Walmart though and right to live and work in any country is not a Christmas decoration.

 

[newtone]

Welcome to North American culture where consumer is King, Lights are nothing I've heard people returning blankets, half eaten frozen pizza, half bag of wings, electronic items and the list goes on