Comments on: Return Those Gifts! (and anything else you bought by mistake)

By: Jenna

Jenna — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:41:32 +0000

I could not agree more, in fact I had a box year round in the back of my van for this very thing.
Last week money was extremely tight so I went thru the house and since I had one return to Walmart I checked to see if I had a few others stored away. All the tiny hose nozzle type added up to $28.98 I added $20.00 I had made in babysitting money and we managed to get groceries for yet one more week. If the economy does not let up, next week I might have to go to the food pantry. Which I hear does not offer fruits and veggies so I hope we can get some money in soon. In the mean time I praise God for what he does provide.

By: Hot Deals

Hot Deals — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:38:09 +0000

Yeah, i agree with Brandi that it might very simply by saying gift doesn’t fit, i already have one, it isn’t my style. If you are going to stuff it in a closet or sell it in a garage sale you might as well and exchange it and get some enjoyment out of it.

By: Christi {Jealous Hands}

Christi {Jealous Hands} — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:14:38 +0000

I do return gifts, if possible – or eBay them, if it makes more sense. I also – GASP – save it to regift if I know someone it will work for.

By: Forest

Forest — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:20:10 +0000

Of course, always get your money back! Better than wasted goods , but it’s easy for me to say that. I have forgotten to take lots of things back in the past and it eventually gets too late…

Also I work online for my job and purchase e-products a few times a year. Sometimes they are just really not worth the cash but most people don’t bother returning them…. The people who create these over-hyped products often bank on this!

By: Tracey

Tracey — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:27:32 +0000

I was a re-gifter before there was a name for it and I am also a returner. I just don’t need things cluttering my house that I don’t love or aren’t useful.

By: MomLiggett

MomLiggett — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:41:38 +0000

We have a family “rule” that anything given to you is for your pleasure, so we don’t ask/expect to see it again. The receiver is free to do whatever they want to with it. (That includes selling it in a garage sale.)

We do regift, and sometimes check to see if another family member can use it to regift (so as to get it farther away from the gift giver).

By: Meghan

Meghan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:39:03 +0000

Great reminder! I try to return things that I don’t like/want/need, but sometimes things fall through the cracks and get shoved in the back of the closet for months or years. I’m not above regifting either, though I try to do it discretely.

Not using/displaying gifts offends my family, especially my in-laws, but like you said, my home doesn’t have space for clutter.

By: bjk

bjk — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:24:04 +0000

I never thought of that, returning other things in the house that need to be returned at the same time. Great idea. thanks!

By: Brandi

Brandi — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:18:05 +0000

we keep a return bucket here and gather excess home improvement items, defective items and general returns in it and take everything back in just a few trips a year vs. several times a month (be sure to read the retun policy on the receipt). As far as Christmas presents go I beleive most people want you to have a gift you will use and enjoy- otherwise they should probably skip the gift giving because they are missing the point. I don’t have a problem taking back items and we have taught our children the same. It isn’t about saying you don’t appreciate the gift, but rather it might simply be saying it doesn’t fit, i already have one, it isn’t my style. If you are goning to stuff it in a closet or sell it in a garage sale you might as well and exchange it and get some enjoyment out of it.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:25:11 +0000

We live so far away from all the stores (at least 45 minutes) that this can become a real problem for me. Sometimes I am tempted to just skip returning some items because it is so much hassle, but I rarely give in to that temptation. Sometimes I will do what Meredith does and go through and gather up every single little thing that I can that needs returned, and then spend a day doing returns. I am always amazed at the money I get back, even when I didn’t think that I had too much invested in things that were being returned. Plus, I think it’s a good idea to practice good stewardship and make sure we’re not wasting the abundance God gives to us. It’s worth the effort!