Retailers: Nordstrom, Costco, Bloomingdale’s, Best Buy, Macy’s, Menard’s, Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Circuit City, American Express, Bed Bath & Beyond
TRENDS
- Restocking Fees
- Gift Card Time Limit: and Retail Store Gift Card vs. Bank Card
- Return Time Limit shortened (electronics/appliances)
- Online vs. In-Store Gift Cards/Returns
- Restocking fees: Subjective: What stores charge the customer to return goods…a booming trend in the retail industry. Between 5-25%. Charged on electronics, appliances and other popularly returned items during the holiday season. * No opened boxes, everything intact, not used. Target, Circuit City, Best Buy: 15% Crate & Barrel and Furniture Retailers: Depends Costco: Best ~ for electronics. Most of the electronics stores are extending returns for the holidays until mid-January.
- Gift card time limits ($18 b): Until a few months ago large retailers were trying to shorten the time limit of the gift card. Cards lose value over time…it was a balance sheet decision. Beginning in the Spring of ’06 several states began to incorporate a policy which has made it impossible for retailers to shorten the limit of gift cards less than 2 years. (Bloomingdale’s-2 years) Most retailers have no time limits. Transferring gift cards to cash…a thing of the past (Exception: Menards)
- Retail cards: No fee charged to process the card and no fee charged monthly for unused balances
- Bank cards (Visa, Mastercard or American Express): Charge upfront fee of around $3-4 to process fee and then a monthly service charge on unused balance.
- Return time limit on purchases shortened: Most stores have a 3-6 month return policy, but Penney’s, Kohl’s, B&N, and BB & B have no return limit. 2 weeks or less for electronics stores….best to buy around December 15 or later. Walmart has a red flag for more than 3 returns in 45 days.
- Online vs. in-store gift cards/ returns: Most online gift cards (ecards) can only be used to shop online. (Target, Toys R Us). When returning online purchases, can only get in store credit at Toys R Us stores. Refund only through Return Centers. *keep packaging, especially with electronics, CD’s.
Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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