Gift receipt/return/exchange etiquette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can return or dispose of a gift however you want, discretely and after graciously receiving it.

You definitely can’t ask for a gift receipt. I mean maybe if it’s from immediate family and that works for your relationship.

Don’t tell. Don’t ask.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once returned a gift with the gift receipt and the clerk accidentally put it back on the card the giver paid with, rather than giving me store credit. I didn’t tell the giver but he knew and got upset. No one in my family has received gifts from him since. I returned it because I have a skin condition and can’t wear that kind of fabric. Now I regift.

Did he get upset because he thought that you didn’t want a gift from him, hence you put the money back on his card, or did he get upset because you didn’t like that particular gift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't try to return to Amazon. My SIL returned something I bought one of her kids. Something that was specifically on the wish list. I didn't realize for awhile then saw a credit in my account from that return. She returned it, I got the credit, and found out. She never mentioned it at all.

She may have returned it because her child received the same item from someone else. Not everyone checks the gift off the wishlist when they purchase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do always try to provide a gift receipt.. Don't like it? Can't use it? Please get something you will use! That is my goal.

Same here! I don't want to spend money on a gift that someone just tosses into the closet. I do provide a gift receipt for that reason. Wouldn't bother me at all if someone returns a gift I give.

[Anonymous]

Any updates after Christmas gifts?

[Anonymous]

Gift receipts are typically at point of sale. If there isn't one included you are essentially asking giver to fish around for a sales slip or order record. They may have bought it a while in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once returned a gift with the gift receipt and the clerk accidentally put it back on the card the giver paid with, rather than giving me store credit. I didn’t tell the giver but he knew and got upset. No one in my family has received gifts from him since. I returned it because I have a skin condition and can’t wear that kind of fabric. Now I regift.

So what do you do when the recipient of your "generous" and thoughtful regift doesn't like it either and asks YOU for a receipt? Do you come clean and tell them it's something you got and didn't want?

[Anonymous]

If you are going to repurpose an unwanted gift, don't try to pass it off as a new gift. Either donate or just give to someone casually, not as a gift. Like, hey I've got an extra set of cute coasters, would you be interested in it?

[Anonymous]

No
No
No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't try to return to Amazon. My SIL returned something I bought one of her kids. Something that was specifically on the wish list. I didn't realize for awhile then saw a credit in my account from that return. She returned it, I got the credit, and found out. She never mentioned it at all.

Maybe it was a duplicate. Please don't be offended.

I bought my best friend a baby item off her store registry and drove with it to an out of state shower. Had it properly removed from the registry.

Only to watch the present unwrap and see someone else (the mom's cousin) give her the same exact thing first.

So I called over a helper and had her pull my present to the side so it wouldn't get unwrapped and then told my friend afterwards to go ahead and return it with the enclosed gift receipt. But I was mad at the other guest. My time was wasted.

We also once asked for a green item as a gift, it was properly ordered, and we received a brown one. The company agreed to an even exchange. So we sent back the wrong one. Then the company rang it through the donor's cc as a return and new purchase. Very annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't try to return to Amazon. My SIL returned something I bought one of her kids. Something that was specifically on the wish list. I didn't realize for awhile then saw a credit in my account from that return. She returned it, I got the credit, and found out. She never mentioned it at all.

If you had indicated it was a gift that wouldn't happen. My pita sil insisted on buying a specific poorly designed and built trike for my kids. The Amazon reviews were clear that kids got hurt on this trike and it was discontinued within a few months. I pointed out cheaper trikes that were better. She sent the crap trikes because it was all about her and reminded her of her beloved trike when she was a kid. We returned them and she got the credit because she didn't indicate they were gifts.

Also you sound as if you are saying your sil did something wrong in returning your gift. That's completely up to the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do always try to provide a gift receipt.. Don't like it? Can't use it? Please get something you will use! That is my goal.

Same here! I don't want to spend money on a gift that someone just tosses into the closet. I do provide a gift receipt for that reason. Wouldn't bother me at all if someone returns a gift I give.

+100 It's obnoxious to think people have to keep/like whatever gift you send.

[Anonymous]

I try to always include a gift receipt, especially for gift cards.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a rich vs poor argument. Only well off people are going to talk about gift etiquette and how you just accept a gift and then give it away if you don’t like it.

People who are struggling financially are going to exchange an unneeded item for something that will get used. Sometimes that means they have to ask for a receipt, sometimes it doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but only if a gift receipt was provided…

No

No

Lately it seems like companies systems are more “leaky” and it’s much easier for the gift giver to fine out if something was returned. So I return less often now.