By Rachel Coyne on December 26, 2011 in
As rewarding as the tradition of giving and receiving gifts at the holidays can be, there are those awkward moments when you unwrap something that you don't want. Whether it's clothing in the wrong size, an item you have no use for, or something you just absolutely dislike, you smile, genuinely thank the gift-giver, and start thinking of what to do with your new unwanted treasure.
Keep the receipt
Returning unwanted gifts is a lot easier if you have the receipt, and everyone has a different opinion on the best way to go about obtaining it. If you're lucky enough to have friends and relatives who are aware that not every gift they give is going to be a home run, getting the receipt should be simple. Most stores (both online and brick-and-mortar) will provide a gift receipt for any purchase, and a savvy gift-giver will attach it to the package in case the receiver wants to return it for any reason. If a gift receipt isn't available, many gift-givers will offer up the original receipt or be fine with being politely asked for it. If you plan to return the gift for rational reasons--like needing a different size or already owning the item--there's no shame in accepting an offered receipt or asking for it. Just always be sure to show gratitude for both the gift and their understanding on your need to exchange it, and never admit that you want to return something because you simply don't like it.
Receiving unwanted gifts from those you aren't close to makes things a bit trickier. These are often gifts from distant relatives, in-laws, or coworkers; people who were kind enough to include you in their thoughts, but don't really know you well enough to pick out a great gift. In cases like these, unless a receipt is offered, it's probably best not to ask for one and run the risk of hurting the feelings of someone who only had good intentions. There are always other options for gifts that you're unable to return (see below).
Returning gifts
If you have a receipt in hand for the gift you want to return, you shouldn't have any problems. Just be sure to keep an eye on the calendar; every store has a different return policy, and some windows of return from the time of purchase are longer than others. It's a good idea to find out the return policy of the store you need to go to and make sure that you make your return within that timeframe.
Making a return without a receipt can be possible, but it all depends on the store. Large retailers like Target and Wal-Mart will allow returns without receipt up to a certain amount, and many stores will allow a return for store credit if there is no receipt. Again, every store's return policy is different, so you may want to do some research before going in without a receipt.
One man's trash...
It's true that one man's trash is another man's treasure, so if you've been gifted something that you can't return, you can think about re-gifting it. Though getting something you have no use for shouldn't be an excuse to just foist it onto another unsuspecting person at the next occasion for giving gifts. You should always give gifts with the receiver in mind, but if you have an unopened, unused gift that you know someone else would love to have, there's nothing wrong with re-gifting it.
Another option is selling your unwanted gift on eBay. Just because you don't know of anyone who would like the item in question doesn't mean there isn't someone out there who would. Over the past few years, eBay has seen a big spike in new listings during the week between Christmas and New Year's, so there are plenty of people looking to give good homes to their perfectly usable, yet undesired gifts.
The art of gift-giving can be tricky at times, so you should always gauge your response with the gift-giver's feelings in mind. All gifts should be received happily and with sincere thanks, even the unwanted ones. If your gut instinct tells you that someone would be hurt or insulted by your desire to return or re-gift what they gave you, then it's best not to say anything. There's always a future move that it could be "lost" during.