Remind me never to buy a gift from Barnes and Noble.

[daughtersrus]

My DD got some games from a relative for Christmas. One she already has and the other is a game that she'll never play. The price tags from Barnes and Noble are still on so we tried to return them without a receipt for a gift/store card. The games were still shrink-wrapped in plastic and have never been open. The girl said that games are "non-returnable items". She said that without a receipt, there is nothing that they can do. However, if we get the receipt, they will issue a refund but only if the receipt is dated within the last 10 days! Of course that's not possible since they were Christmas gifts. GGRRR!

 

[happygirl]

My DD got some games from a relative for Christmas. One she already has and the other is a game that she'll never play. The price tags from Barnes and Noble are still on so we tried to return them without a receipt for a gift/store card. The games were still shrink-wrapped in plastic and have never been open. The girl said that games are "non-returnable items". She said that without a receipt, there is nothing that they can do. However, if we get the receipt, they will issue a refund but only if the receipt is dated within the last 10 days! Of course that's not possible since they were Christmas gifts. GGRRR!

I'm sorry that has happened to you. I can understand why return policies are getting more and more strict.

 

[BelleWDW]

I'd save them and use as gifts for birthday parties she goes to!

 

[Ceila]

I've found that a lot of B&N's don't seem to care about customer service. I stick to Borders whenever I can.

 

[MIGrandma]

This is exactly the reason why I either include a gift receipt right inside the box with the gift, or I tell the recipients that I have the receipt in case they want to return/exchange the gift.

I don't blame stores for not wanting to accept returns without receipts.

 

[OceanAnnie]

That is really strange. I had a much different experience with B & N. I love them! I bought two CDs for Christmas gifts. Ended up being the same CDs with different jackets. (Rushing buying presents.) I returned one of them without a receipt. I had taken the bar code/price sticker off of the CD too. No receipt, no bar code sticker, still no problem. They called a manager over to do the transaction, but she was very nice. No hassles. I just exchanged a CD for a different one. They would've done a refund, but I wanted an exchange.

There was a bar code on the jacket, beneath the cellophane wrap. They scanned that in. I asked if they could look it up with my credit card, and I was told no, but they didn't need to.

Anyway, I bought some more items in the store before I left. I was very pleased with the customer service. Rare to make a return without a receipt these days.

ETA- I'd call or go to a different B & N. Sometimes it's all in who you deal with.

 

[kidzmom3]

It used to be that Barnes & Noble would take back just about any item at any time with or without a receipt. That won't be the case for much longer, a flyer at Barnes & Noble bookstores announces that the store is downgrading its super-friendly return policy on March 3rd to the following: "All returns must be made within 14 days of purchase and accompanied with an original sales receipt. After 14 days or without an original sales receipt, returns will not be permitted (nor permitted to exchange).

 

[clovergirl5]

I'd save them and use as gifts for birthday parties she goes to!

Thats a good idea.
Op, did you speak with a manager? They couldn't even give you a store credit to spend the money back in the store?

 

[shortbun]

I never have trouble exchanging or returning things at Barnes and Noble. That's why I shop there. Of course, we buy a lot and have a discount card that shows our spending so maybe that's why.

 

[TiggerCat]

I can understand why return policies are getting more and more strict.

Why?

 

[daughtersrus]

This is exactly the reason why I either include a gift receipt right inside the box with the gift, or I tell the recipients that I have the receipt in case they want to return/exchange the gift.

I don't blame stores for not wanting to accept returns without receipts.

They told me that even if we have the receipt, returns have to be made within 10 days of the purchase. That means that for Christmas gifts the purchase had to be made after Dec 16th. So unless you're a last minute shopper, don't buy gifts at Barnes and Noble if you're not 100% sure that it won't be returned.

 

[TheZue]

Why?

Because some people are shockingly abusive about it. I work in a clothing chain that has very liberal return policies and people return worn clothes...sometimes not worn once or twice but to the point there is pilling. They aren't returning them because they are defective but just because they can. Then you get the clothes that they wore to an event and are returning, some of them smell so badly of smoke it's shocking. A good chunk of those clothes just get written off. I'm sure with Barnes and Noble people were probably returning read books and such. Add that to a bad economy where the stores aren't doing well and the returns are a good place to stop some of the losses. Personally I don't mind returns without the reciept if we can find the item in the system and it's in resellable condition (has tags, the box is intact and unopened etc), but there should be some limits.

 

[OceanAnnie]

They told me that even if we have the receipt, returns have to be made within 10 days of the purchase. That means that for Christmas gifts the purchase had to be made after Dec 16th. So unless you're a last minute shopper, don't buy gifts at Barnes and Noble if you're not 100% sure that it won't be returned.

Man, what a difference! I wasn't asked when my gift was purchased. I'd check another Barnes and Noble. Strange.

 

[happygirl]

Why?

Not saying this about the OP, but I have seen numerous post on here about people returning things they have bought on Ebay Amazon or got at a child Christmas party taking them back to store wanting cash back, knowing full well that they didn't buy it there. Why should they get money from there

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

They told me that even if we have the receipt, returns have to be made within 10 days of the purchase. That means that for Christmas gifts the purchase had to be made after Dec 16th. So unless you're a last minute shopper, don't buy gifts at Barnes and Noble if you're not 100% sure that it won't be returned.

whoever told you that is wrong, anything bought between thanksgiving and christmas can come back until jan 31st. if they question you, tell them you'd like to speak to district manager who should darn well know what the company policy is.

 

[Stacerita]

Not saying this about the OP, but I have seen numerous post on here about people returning things they have bought on Ebay Amazon or got at a child Christmas party taking them back to store wanting cash back, knowing full well that they didn't buy it there. Why should they get money from there

I saw that thread. I was shocked that they did that.

 

[MM27]

Because some people are shockingly abusive about it. I work in a clothing chain that has very liberal return policies and people return worn clothes...sometimes not worn once or twice but to the point there is pilling. They aren't returning them because they are defective but just because they can. Then you get the clothes that they wore to an event and are returning, some of them smell so badly of smoke it's shocking. A good chunk of those clothes just get written off. I'm sure with Barnes and Noble people were probably returning read books and such. Add that to a bad economy where the stores aren't doing well and the returns are a good place to stop some of the losses. Personally I don't mind returns without the reciept if we can find the item in the system and it's in resellable condition (has tags, the box is intact and unopened etc), but there should be some limits.

Exactly! I worked at Old Navy during high school and college and people returned things that I would be embarrassed to even attempt to bring back to a store. I had someone return a used, wet bathing suit once. We're at the shore and apparently their vacation was over and they were done using the suit for the season. The lady returning it got nasty with me because I wouldn't touch it. She was actually offended that I didn't want to put my hands on the bathing suit that just came off her body

 

[Planogirl]

I'm wondering how many people buy books at places like B&N and then return them when they're done reading them. Strict policies are a shame but I can't say that I blame the stores either.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Why?

Just go to the budget board - there is always a thread about how to return something when you do not know where it is purchased from. Then there is endless discussion on what stores have liberal return policies.

It is sick really.

 

[daughtersrus]

whoever told you that is wrong, anything bought between thanksgiving and christmas can come back until jan 31st. if they question you, tell them you'd like to speak to district manager who should darn well know what the company policy is.

Thanks for the info. I just called the person that gave the gift and they said that they'll look for the receipt.

I can understand stores not taking back used items but these games are still shrink wrapped with the Barnes and Noble stickers still on. My DD is too old to be invited to birthday parties and I'd hate to re-gift something and have that person stuck with the gift if they didn't want it.

Just to clarify, we weren't asking for a refund just an exchange or merchandise credit to buy something else in the store.