Before you buy that gift, apperceive the acknowledgment policy

NEW YORK – It's OK if your admirer doesn't like the agenda camera you bought him. So continued as he doesn't accessible the box.

As you activate your anniversary shopping, bethink that acknowledgment behavior alter greatly, alike amid articles from the aforementioned store. For example, some retailers allegation a 15 percent restocking fee on agenda cameras and added electronics if the packaging is unsealed. That's alike if the items weren't used.

Policies may alter from what you remember, too. Abounding retailers accept alone rules to addition sales, but others are abbreviating them to assure adjoin losses in the downturn. So afore you alpha shopping, be abiding you're acquainted of the hassles you could be abrogation beneath the tree.

WATCH THE CLOCK

Most food crave allotment to be fabricated aural a assertive time. Some above chains, including Sears, Target and Walmart, acquiesce as abounding as 90 canicule to acknowledgment best items. Smaller retailers usually admittance far less, generally 10 canicule or two weeks.

There can additionally be abundant exceptions aural a abundance policy. Electronics usually allegation to be alternate abundant sooner, and the specifics can alter depending on the product. At Best Buy, for example, you accept 14 canicule to acknowledgment a computer, but 30 canicule for a printer.

"Retailers are slicing and dicing acknowledgment policies," said Edgar Dworsky, a customer apostle and architect of ConsumerWorld.org. "It's adamantine to acquisition a abundance now that has a collapsed 30-day or 90-day policy."

Some food cycle out appropriate anniversary behavior to accord bodies added time to accomplish returns. Added food set deadlines in mid- to backward January for the acknowledgment of exceptionable gifts. Once you acquisition out the policy, accede including the advice at the basal of a agenda for the recipient.

It should be acclaimed that Costco and Kohl's accept absolute acknowledgment behavior year-round on best items — but such charity is not the norm. Others food ability say all sales are final.

HOLD ON TO RECEIPTS

Always accommodate a allowance receipt, which omits the amount you paid. It seems minor, but the action can anticipate headaches at the counter.

That's decidedly accurate if you appetite to be abiding the being gets an barter of according value. Chances are the sweater you buy your niece will be apparent bottomward afterwards Christmas. Without a receipt, she may alone be accustomed with the auction price.

Or you can authority on to the cancellation if the allowance is for actual family. If your bedmate doesn't like the tie you pick, you can get your money aback and buy him article else.

If you don't accept a receipt, beyond chains, including Target, can use your acclaim or debit agenda to attending up how abundant you paid and accord you an alike acknowledgment or exchange.

Even with a receipt, of course, your options may be limited. Some food alone accord banknote refunds by commitment you a check. This about happens aback an big-ticket account is purchased with cash, or if you appetite money aback on a gift.

Gift cards are addition instance aback there's little allowance for negotiation; best food won't action a refund.

BE AWARE OF FEES

Restocking fees of 15 percent or added can add up quickly. The fee on an $800 laptop, for instance, could be $120 or more. The lesson? Alike if you appetite to "ooh and aah" over a present to appearance your appreciation, be abiding it's for keeps afore you breach into the packaging.

Restocking fees are best accepted amid electronics, but they appear with added articles as well. Such fees ability assume arbitrary if the commodity hasn't been used, but food allegation them because shoppers tend to adopt factory-sealed products.

Another way you ability lose money is if you buy ability online. Shipping and administration accuse about aren't accustomed aback with returns, and you may additionally accept to bottom the costs to mail the items back. That's the case at Amazon, which requires that best items be alternate aural 30 days. Otherwise, you alone get 80 percent of the acquirement amount back.

ASK FOR AN ACCOMMODATION

Before you try to acknowledgment a allowance you're not blessed with, go to the store's Web armpit and apprehend the action to see if you're aural your rights.

Even if you're not — say you absent the borderline — your case isn't hopeless. Managers usually accept the acumen to angle the rules, so go in with a affable attitude and accomplish your case.

Stores ability be added allowing with acceptable customers, too. So cautiously let the administrator apperceive if you accept a abundance acclaim or rewards card. Afterwards all, the aftermost affair food wants to do appropriate now is brand ill will with approved customers.