Thrifty Thinking: What to do with Unwanted Gifts

Did you know that 33% of people return at least one gift after the holidays? It’s true; you don’t need to feel bad about getting rid of that unwanted item from your well-meaning loved ones! Shopping and Trends Expert Sara Skirboll has great advice for navigating the hassle of post-holiday returns.

I’ve included a few of her tips below – let me know if you’re interested in speaking with her for anything related to shopping & savings: additional return ideas, financial new year’s resolutions, best items to buy in January, etc.

Check the store’s return policy.

Since it’s a gift, you may not have (or feel comfortable asking for) the receipt, which is totally understandable! Whether you have the receipt or not, check about their return policy to gather all the basic information: what’s their general return policy (i.e. cash back, store credit, any sale prices affecting how much you get back, etc.)? By what deadline do you need to return your item? Pro tip: if you don’t have the receipt and don’t know where the item came from, research stores with the best return policies to see where you can turn your item in for credit, or better yet, cash!

If possible, wait!

If you’re not crunched for time to return the item by a specific time, wait until after January 1^st, when store traffic dies down, to handle your return. You’ll save yourself the stress of traffic, finding a parking space, dealing with crowds, etc. If you’re running against the clock and need to make your return before the 1^st, hit the stores first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Prioritize Your Returns

Always return high ticket items and anything with a strict return policy first: this way, you avoid any restocking fees.

Consider Selling Online

If the store doesn’t have a great return policy, consider trying eBay or another online retailer to unload your unwanted gifts! You’ll get cash for your item instead of credit at a store that you’ll never use.

Sara Skirboll, Shopping & Trends Expert

Sara Skirboll is the resident Shopping & Trends expert for savings destination RetailMeNot. Based in-house at the RetailMeNot headquarters in Austin, Texas, Sara also splits her time between NYC and Los Angeles on a monthly basis. With more than a decade of experience working within the retail, fashion and beauty arenas, Sara often speaks to shopping habits, trends, statistics and spending habits in both the online and brick & mortar landscapes. She has her finger on the pulse of the latest trends in retail, pop culture and consumer behavior and is passionate about what’s new now and how to shop to get the best deals possible on everything from apparel and food to electronics and travel.