Gift Giving and Return Tips For the Holiday
Computers and electronics of all kinds are the hottest gifts this season. Everyone loves to get them, but what happens when that coveted, must have gadget doesn’t work? Here are some tips to make returns and exchanges easy and hassle free.
First, always always keep the receipt in a safe place and give the recipient a gift receipt. If you are the recipient, keep all the original packaging until you know for sure the device is working as it should. To do a return or exchange you’ll need to have it all, plus all accessories.
When you’re buying, make sure to check out the store’s (or website’s) return policy. Often times they have different policies for different items. For example, software and DVD’s usually can not be returned at all if opened, although they usually will let you do an exchange for the exact same item. Hopefully if you bought online, especially from Ebay, you used your credit card. This will allow you to dispute the charges if a merchant refuses to honor their return policy. Using Paypal offers similar protections provided you don’t use an existing Paypal balance or e-check.
If you don’t have a receipt, don’t expect to get any help. Because of high fraud, most stores have new, stricter policies in place that do not allow returns or exchanges without receipts. This is why it is extremely important to always keep track of them.
Finally, a word about extended warranties. While they can sometimes be helpful on big ticket items like computers, avoid them otherwise as they are generally a waste of money. These days, once the 1 year manufacturers warranty is up, the device is obsolete and ready to be replaced anyway. Sad, but true!
holiday gift giving, computers, electronics, gift returns, making gift returns easy
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