Gift Receipts - Beware!

[Soulsearching]

I received a gift this Christmas and the giver was kind enough to tape a gift receipt to the item. It was an item I would never use so I decided to return it to the store and exchange it for something else.

I gave the cashier the item and the gift receipt and asked what the gift amount was so that I could exchange it for something else. The cashier told me the amount and I found something else I could use and added money to the original price so that I can purchase it. I saw the cashier scan everything, receipt and item.

Well the item was from my sister and she came over the day I had exchanged the item. She saw the store bag sitting on my floor and asked what I bought, so I told her I exchange the item and bought this instead.

I must say thank goodness we have an open relationship, she asked me how much I got for the item, so I told her. Well, she starting flipping out. SHARPER IMAGE gave me the sale price back, half of what she paid! She had bought three of the same items and she was upset that if anyone else returned them, they would only get half of the amount back, when she paid the full amount!

The phone calling began, spoke to a manager, and all was resolved.

I just wonder with all those gift receipts on gifts, what is the recipient really getting back should they want to exchange the item?

Also, the purchaser never knows that her gift receipt did not reflect the price that was truly paid.

My advice, if you want to give a gift receipt, attach the real receipt to the item or write a little note that you have the receipt should they feel the present is not for them.

 

[mtblujeans]

That is interesting. I have never had that happen. I have always gotten the full value of what the gift giver has purchased the item for. That is really something to watch! Thanks for the heads up

 

[sticker231]

good advice, I thought a gift receipt was to help get the full price if a return was needed.

 

[Stacerita]

I always have wondered about that. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[TheRatPack]

Wow, it's a good thing she saw the bag and asked.....makes you wonder about Sharper Image. Great way for them to make their sales better for the year....sounds like something someone needs to investigate.

 

[Melissa_E]

Wow, it's a good thing she saw the bag and asked.....makes you wonder about Sharper Image. Great way for them to make their sales better for the year....sounds like something someone needs to investigate.

I agree. I think if more people have that happen I'm sure we'll hear about a class action lawsuit soon.

 

[Jubilee]

Good advice!

 

[Andrea]

i hate gift receipts.... i took two pair of sleep pants back to old navy today with a gift receipt and i just figured they would give me cash ( i was going to go buy a disney gift card with it haha) and now i have a crappy old navy gift card and i hate old navy

 

[spaceacewannabe]

I always have wondered about that. Thanks for the heads up.

I have too! We had an experience at Target that they claimed that it wasn't on that gift receipt. We've had major issues at our Target with returns---a lot of times they try to claim it's not on their or if you're doing a credit card look up claim they can't find it and then do find it when pressed further. We gave up and kept it, but now after a few more "it's not in the system" incidents we're thinking that it was the right receipt.

 

[Soccer Princess]

i hate gift receipts.... i took two pair of sleep pants back to old navy today with a gift receipt and i just figured they would give me cash ( i was going to go buy a disney gift card with it haha) and now i have a crappy old navy gift card and i hate old navy

You can send it my way. I love Old Navy! lol

Basically store credit/gift card is all you will get at most places if you do not have the original receipt. It stinks sometimes, but they have to protect against all of the scammers out there.

 

[LoriNSC]

Similiar experience here with Abercrombie & Fitch. Bought DS's girlfriend a hoodie for 69.50 & she returned it because the sleeves were too short. She only got 40.00 back. Of course she didn't know how much I paid 'til DS told her. I was ticked! That's 30.00 they pocketed. I'm going up there to complain as soon as I can. I'm going to see if she has some receipt showing how much she got when she returned it & I'll take the one w/ the amt. I paid for it. I guess retailers have found another way to rip us off!

 

[jessica52877]

Wow! Thanks for posting. I have never returned anything with a gift receipt but my mom gives me one all the time when she buys DS clothes at the gap. I'll ask her if I ever need to return, I know she doesn't usually pay too much so easily would have accepted $4.99 on pretty much any item.

 

[mrsklamc]

You can send it my way. I love Old Navy! lol

Basically store credit/gift card is all you will get at most places if you do not have the original receipt. It stinks sometimes, but they have to protect against all of the scammers out there.

A gift receipt should be treated identically to the original, though. Otherwise, what's the point?

 

[LSUDis]

My return story--

Office Depot--My husband bought an expensive printer with warranty, paper, extra inkjets on Oct. 30 (he shops early for Christmas).

On Dec. 26, I tried to return the unopened items WITH a receipt. They refused to credit my account and said that even giving me store credit would be "bending the rules." Seeing nothing else to be done, I took the store gift card--when I looked at it, it was over $30 LESS than the original receipt. I asked about it and the cashier (also the manager-on-duty) said that she could only give me the current prices on the items!!!!

BTW, I called the Office Depot customer service number and the customer service agent said that they could credit my account if it were an online transaction, but since it was bought at a store, the credit decision was solely at the discretion of the manager of the store.

Four hours later, the manager came in. I told him that I was, in effect, being penalized for frequenting Office Depot; I could have bought the item at Target and had 90 days. This expert in customer service replied, "Well, this is not Target." In fact, when I told him that, with all of the other stores available (and a Circuit City opening in this city in a month), that customer service is what makes a difference to shoppers. He said that he'd been in customer service for 31 years. .....oh, that must be why he was SOOO good at it

When I repeated that other stores routinely give 90 days (and not just for Christmas present returns), he replied that he really didn't shop at other stores. To which I replied, "Wouldn't it be good for a business to be aware of what your competitors are offering?" At this point, the conversation ended. He was going to consult with a manager at another store to make sure that he was being "compliant" and was going to call me. He hasn't.

 

[MerryPoppins]

This is not a return horror story, but instead a rebate one.

Thanksgiving we ordered a camera and a photo printer for our DD for Christmas from Circuit City. The deal was buy the camera, get the printer free. Online they had the camera but no printer. In the local store they had the printer but no camera. So we ordered them both at the same time, but agreed to drive to the city and pick up the printer. No problem, right? Wrong.

When we picked up the printer they weren't going to give us the rebate to fill out and turn in. The reason, we didn't have the camera and the printer on the same receipt. Never mind that we BOUGHT them both at the same time. They both had to be on the same receipt to get the money back. So we were in a bad spot. If we bought the printer and couldn't work it out...we pay for the printer. It'd be too late to return it. If we didn't buy the printer there was no way to TRY to get the rebate.

After several LONG phone calls, customer service assured me that it should go through if I sent in the email confirming my order (showing both purchased at the same time) with a letter of explanation. I'm still waiting to hear.

 

[kaytieeldr]

LSUDis: It's too bad Office Depot's return policy is what it is, but it is what it is. Retail return policies - at least up here - need to be displayed clearly in the appropriate area. This means there need to be permanent signs posted where customers would be likely to see them; not just a half-sheet of paper taped to the service desk counter. The return policy should also be on any receipt. You can always take up the issue with your state's Attorney General or Department of Consumer Affairs (keep any letters unemotional, brief, and to the point).

MerryPoppins: Too late now, but could you have returned (let me see if I have the order right) the camera at the second store, and then immediately repurchased it along with your initial purchase of the printer? I loathe rebate forms... Staples (easy button) and Walgreen's (monthly rebate booklet/form) are much easier...

Speaking of Walgreen's, my non-horror story: I got something in our office gift swap that I just don't need. Nice gift, but pointless. I was positive it came from Walgreen's, what with one of the two items being in a sealed, store-brand package. I stopped at a Walgreen's on my way home one day last week, returned the items for a gift card - and turned around and spent that, and more, on other items (they have the Clappers and some Chia planters discounted 50%!).

 

[MerryPoppins]

MerryPoppins: Too late now, but could you have returned (let me see if I have the order right) the camera at the second store, and then immediately repurchased it along with your initial purchase of the printer?

We thought about that. But it's quite a drive to the store where we had to go to get the printer, and we didn't have the camera yet when we went to pick it up. Sigh. After being assured that this would work, I just crossed my fingers. Besides the printer had a restocking fee, and we may have had to pay that. We'll see if I made the correct decision.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ahhhh. Okay.

To everybody here who's had problems: I read recently (here? on another forum?) a suggestion that if you're not getting a positive response to a consumer issue - contact investor relations at the company with which you're having the problem. This is different from and, according to the person who mentioned it, more effective than customer service (well, except when the companies have good - i.e. cooperative - customer service employees )

 

[LilyWDW]

A gift receipt should be treated identically to the original, though. Otherwise, what's the point?

The gift receipt is treated as any other receipt, however the way the return is processed is a bit different. For example, where I work a return must be done in the same way it was paid, ex. cash for cash, card for card, gift card for gift card, check for cash. We do NOT give cash for a credit card transaction, but must credit the account. Usually with gift receipts either it doesn't state the payment method or the person wanting the return doesn't have the method of payment with them (someone else's Visa for example). As such, the return is processed to be done onto a gift card. No where I have worked have we ever just handed over cash with a gift receipt (been working retail for 11 years now).

LSUdis: When your husband decided to purchase the item at the store he did, he agreed to all the terms and conditions that come with that, including the return policy. I could try to find an old office depot receipt, but I am pretty sure the return policy is stated on them. As such, I would say you were given notice of the terms and conditions. Since it was past the return date, they processed it as if you didn't have the receipt which some stores would not have even done.

 

[Gillian]

I have too! We had an experience at Target that they claimed that it wasn't on that gift receipt. We've had major issues at our Target with returns---a lot of times they try to claim it's not on their or if you're doing a credit card look up claim they can't find it and then do find it when pressed further. We gave up and kept it, but now after a few more "it's not in the system" incidents we're thinking that it was the right receipt.

The day before Christmas I bought 2 gifts for my nephews and asked for a gift receipt for both. Only one showed up on it! They were the only things I bought, so I gave the original receipt to my SIL, knowing how much of a pain Target is. This was in Sarasota FL, if it matters to anyone. Check your receipts!