Venting about a store's return policy...

[SaraJayne]

Just want to add that there are threads about a gentleman with a terminal illness making his last WDW trip and a woman who found out her DH has liver cancer (among others) and how they really got things put in perspective. Then, I find this thread about someone mad they didn't get exactly what they wanted for Christmas and they couldn't return it without a receipt. Isn't it really that important.

I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[Missy1961]

Finally made it thru this thread...amazing to me. Have I ever gotten a gift that wasn't perfect? Of course, we all have. But I thanked the giver, and moved on. I either re-gifted, donated or threw it out. In this case, I'd stick in the cabinet & move on. Never know when you can use something like that.

As to store return/refund policies, as long as they are consistent, I have no problem with them. The store that the OP is dealing with sounds like it's something unique, something small. They need to stick with their policies, if they bend it for one, they would need to bend it for all. And I'm sorry OP, but that is their right. Returns are a courtesy, stores do not have to do that. I can only imagine how often people try to cheat stores with returns (not saying that's what you're doing OP).

I also find it interesting that the OP is spending all this time & energy on a $20 gift she didn't like. I hate when people use this in an arguement, but I can't help it: you must have a nice life OP if this is the sort of stuff you find to complain about.

One little irony for me: the OP is outraged that the gift giver didn't go by the rules, but she wants the store to bend their rules for her.

 

[MissyDVC]

Finally made it thru this thread...amazing to me. Have I ever gotten a gift that wasn't perfect? Of course, we all have. But I thanked the giver, and moved on. I either re-gifted, donated or threw it out. In this case, I'd stick in the cabinet & move on. Never know when you can use something like that.

As to store return/refund policies, as long as they are consistent, I have no problem with them. The store that the OP is dealing with sounds like it's something unique, something small. They need to stick with their policies, if they bend it for one, they would need to bend it for all. And I'm sorry OP, but that is their right. Returns are a courtesy, stores do not have to do that. I can only imagine how often people try to cheat stores with returns (not saying that's what you're doing OP).

I also find it interesting that the OP is spending all this time & energy on a $20 gift she didn't like. I hate when people use this in an arguement, but I can't help it: you must have a nice life OP if this is the sort of stuff you find to complain about.

One little irony for me: the OP is outraged that the gift giver didn't go by the rules, but she wants the store to bend their rules for her.

Good point

 

[kaytieeldr]

One little irony for me: the OP is outraged that the gift giver didn't go by the rules, but she wants the store to bend their rules for her.

Darn you, Missy1961, for always throwing common sense into a good vent!

 

[Suz D]

And I was trying to point out just how petty and small the OP's attitude is. Her joke simply highlights it.

Okay, thanks for clarifying.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Wow. All this energy over a mug. I have better things to spend my energy on. So much so that I won't even finish this

 

[dogluva]

I am baffled how some families handle Christmas. I don't get the list thing. To me, a gift is a gift. I don't feel the need, as an adult, to give someone a list of what I want. I am capable of going out and buying anything on a list myself. I guess I don't have a list of wants because as they come up, I buy them. List are for kids. My husband and I don't even exchange gifts. It makes no sense to me. We just buy something together if we want it. If he does give me something as a surprise, I think, oh, how nice-a gift! I keep it and remember him (or the person who gave it to me). It is the thought that counts!

We don't exchange in my family-only immediate and that is only for the kids. I buy for only my kids and my mother (someting small-just to show appreciation). I cannot imagine caring if someone got me something I could not use. I would just donate it! Problem solved. Are you really that upset over a coffee mug? You can't be serious.

I don't know what Christmas has come to. It seems it is just a gift grabbing fest and then complaints afterwards that the gift stunk. It is amazing and I am glad I wasn't brought up to be so unappreciative.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

One little irony for me: the OP is outraged that the gift giver didn't go by the rules, but she wants the store to bend their rules for her.

I feel like I just read this same thing somewhere else.

 

[dogluva]

Wow. Maybe the giver has a bad sense of smell???? Can we think up anymore completely ridiculous what if's and maybes???? Gift lists are NORMAL PEOPLE!!!! Let me see, uhm, WEDDING REGISTRIES, BABY REGISTRIES, HOUSE REMODELING REGISTRIES, AMAZON WISH LISTS, Toys R US has a list registry.

A PERFECT example of STICK TO THE LIST happened to my best friend at her baby shower. She created a registry at Target, DID NOT register for a crib, because she already had one. Her Aunt, bought her a crib-from Target who's return policy was at the time no receipt, no return-no store credit-NADA! She lived 400 miles away from where the baby shower took place and was not about to drag an unnecessary, unwanted,unregistered for crib. Donate it away-as many many many of you told the OP to do-NO, it was a gift to her why should she give that away? She ended up asking her Aunt for the receipt so she could return it. Her Aunt said "Oh I didn't know you had a registry at Target, I just ran in and grabbed the crib cause it was the first thing I saw" (It was on the Shower invitation that she was registered at Target)

Gift lists are made for ease of shopping. To take guess work and leg work out of the equation. IF you are given a list for an exchange-STICK TO IT-don't be lazy and run out and grab something mindlessly and thoughtlessly, and throw a gift card in. Gift Exchanges are voluntary, if you don't like it, don't do it. I was once given a mini pencil with a little puffy dangle thing hanging off the end at a family Christmas gift exchange. I was a kid so I thought I was bad and I cried. The following year, my parents were given 1 little chocolate truffle to share between both of them. The following Christmas, we banned extended family gift exchanges.

In closing, OP, I agree with ALL of your posts-welcome to the flamed family

Wow-the aunt gets the girl a CRIB and she complains. I don't get it. I didn't even have a shower with my first. The crib we got was used by about six kids before my son slept in it. Talk about ungrateful. I am, again, horrified by some of these post. I hope I never have to give a gift again.

 

[ilovemk76]

Here is an idea. Don't join in and you can then ***** that nobody got you anything. Then use your $20 to buy that thing you so coveted.

 

[LilyWDW]

I think that is pretty standard practice at alot of retailers so if you don't want to buy gifts at certain ones because of that, you might want to call them first. Also if you use your card as debit, Target will give cash back, is it possible your dh used the card as credit at Yankee? Anyway I don't care where you choose to shop and for what reason, just wanted to say that the policy of not giving cash back on a purchase made with someone else's debit/credit card isn't unheard of.

I am pretty sure my Yankee Candle does not have the ability to run as "debit". Instead, their machines run it as "credit". As such, like any retailer I have worked for, it must be returned as "credit" or as a store credit. No where I have worked would allow a "credit" to be returned as cash.

 

[shaylahc1]

This has got to be one of the most bizarre threads I have ever read. First off, the person OP should be irritated with is the gift giver---they are the one who chose to buy an item that was not on the "approved" list of options. The store's return policy is irrelevant---they don't HAVE to take anything back if they don't want to. Secondly, I would be MORTIFIED, HORRIFIED, to ask for a receipt for a gift someone gave me. It is one thing to ask for a receipt because something doesn't fit/is defective, but to tell someone "I just didn't like your gift, can I have the receipt?" is just---tacky. Especially considering the gift is a low dollar item ($20). DONATE IT. Really it's that simple. The whole point of a gift is to give something to someone with no strings attached. To throw back that gift in someone's face by saying it's not good enough, not the right one you wanted, etc, is just offensive. Then to shift the blame onto the store for not being willing to bend the rules for you, just shameful. The whole situation could have been avoided if OP just donated the mug.

You know, life is short. I have been through a lot of strife in my life---and the thought of people getting their panties in a wad over a coffee mug makes me cry. When there are so many other greater problems in this world--be grateful that you haven't had to deal with any real problems that are more worthy of your time and efforts. Life is short---don't waste time getting emotionally distressed over stuff that in the grand scheme of things is irrelevant. And be grateful that someone cared enough to buy you a gift, any gift, even if it's something you didn't want.

 

[RRL38]

I'm very concerned about the travel mug that I bought someone for Christmas with their initials on it from Hallmark. I certainly hope that mug isn't causing her as much grief as yours is causing you. I bought it because I thought it was pretty and I would like it. I LOVE travel mugs and I have never once drank coffee in my life. I buy the refillable mugs at Disney to put SODA in them. I guess I have the mindset that to live we must drink and everyone needs a cup.

I think I will go read other threads as I sit here at home and drink ice tea from a travel coffee mug with my initial on it.

 

[MissManda]

Wow-the aunt gets the girl a CRIB and she complains. I don't get it. I didn't even have a shower with my first. The crib we got was used by about six kids before my son slept in it. Talk about ungrateful. I am, again, horrified by some of these post. I hope I never have to give a gift again.

I have to disagree here about the crib. Apparently this girl already had a crib and did not need one and did not register for one. I don't know too many people that need an extra crib or two laying around. That was a high dollar item and the money could have been used for items that the she really did need (examples- car seat, high chair, tub, clothing, etc). Who goes out and buys a baby crib without first checking that its needed? That doesn't make any sense to me.

Its sort of like when I got married and got 3 blenders as gifts....when I didn't even register for one. I had one already that I really liked Guess what, not one blender came with a receipt. I was stuck with them. So, I gave them away to friends and family memebers that needed them. If given the option, of course, I would have exchanged them and gotten something that I really did need that was on my registry. I figured the time and hassle wasn't worth trying to get the receipts and I didn't want to hurt anyones feelings.

With that being said, as a gift giver, I would hate to think that my gift wasn't wanted or appreciated. That is why if I am given a list or have registry to go buy, I stick to it. Even without those parameters, I still try and make sure that the gift I'm givig is appropriate for the person receiving it (ie, its something they would like to have rather than something that I personally like and think everyone else would like too!).

In regards to the OP, keep the travel mug and you may be able to regift it later. Unless you have a really strange initial, you can give it to someone whose first or last name begins with that initial. Regifting really isn't that bad of a "thing". One year, several of my family memebers went on Yankee Candle buying gift. I swear I ended up with 5 or 6 of the large jar candles. Well, my DH gets terrible headaches when burning Yankee Candles so I couldn't use them. I noticed that my BIL and his new wife at that time had a house full of Yankee Candles, guess what they got the next year for Christmas? Also, I have a co-worker that loves candles, so guess what she got at our office christmas exhcange? Worked out great. They were thrilled with their gifts, I got rid of unwanted items in my house (and I saved some money on Christmas shopping that year!). It was a win-win situation.

All in all- I hate that Christmas and other gift giving has turned into nothing more than an exchange of money. That is why I just loathe gift cards. Its basically swapping the same amount of cash but you are now forced to go to one particular place to spend that money. (I have regifted gift cards as well!!). Unless someone specifically asks for one, I try to avoid them. I prefer to put a little bit of thought into my gifts and I hope that they are received the same way.

 

[ccgirl]

This has got to be one of the most bizarre threads I have ever read. First off, the person OP should be irritated with is the gift giver---they are the one who chose to buy an item that was not on the "approved" list of options. The store's return policy is irrelevant---they don't HAVE to take anything back if they don't want to. Secondly, I would be MORTIFIED, HORRIFIED, to ask for a receipt for a gift someone gave me. It is one thing to ask for a receipt because something doesn't fit/is defective, but to tell someone "I just didn't like your gift, can I have the receipt?" is just---tacky. Especially considering the gift is a low dollar item ($20). DONATE IT. Really it's that simple. The whole point of a gift is to give something to someone with no strings attached. To throw back that gift in someone's face by saying it's not good enough, not the right one you wanted, etc, is just offensive. Then to shift the blame onto the store for not being willing to bend the rules for you, just shameful. The whole situation could have been avoided if OP just donated the mug.

You know, life is short. I have been through a lot of strife in my life---and the thought of people getting their panties in a wad over a coffee mug makes me cry. When there are so many other greater problems in this world--be grateful that you haven't had to deal with any real problems that are more worthy of your time and efforts. Life is short---don't waste time getting emotionally distressed over stuff that in the grand scheme of things is irrelevant. And be grateful that someone cared enough to buy you a gift, any gift, even if it's something you didn't want.

And we have a winner!

I just don't get the people that are upset when stores won't take back a gift they received. They are not the ones that are out anything. The person giving the gift is the one "out" the money; if at all. I just know if my children were so unappreciative they would be punished. If someone gave my parents one truffle to share, I would assume they had a reason for it, be appreciative and move on. Perhaps, they couldn't afford more. I do not give gifts and expect to get others in return. I give gifts well....to give gifts and to make the other people happy!

If my Aunt gave me a crib I did not register for, I would be very happy. Even if I didn't need it. Perhaps the Aunt didn't see the part of the registry on the invitation. Or...if it is an older Aunt perhaps did not know the concept of a registry. This whole...expecting gifts thing seems to be a fairly new concept. I knew a coworker that was disappointed she did not get a baby shower for her second child even though her first was under 2. People have such a sense of entitlement these days I find it quite sickening!

 

[maggiew]

I'm very concerned about the travel mug that I bought someone for Christmas with their initials on it from Hallmark. I certainly hope that mug isn't causing her as much grief as yours is causing you. I bought it because I thought it was pretty and I would like it. I LOVE travel mugs and I have never once drank coffee in my life. I buy the refillable mugs at Disney to put SODA in them. I guess I have the mindset that to live we must drink and everyone needs a cup.

I think I will go read other threads as I sit here at home and drink ice tea from a travel coffee mug with my initial on it.

I would love to have received one! I drink my HOT tea in the car in one of our glass kitchen cups. It is cold before I am halfway to work! I wish I had a travel mug.

OP is your cup an "M" or a "W"??

Maggie

 

[ZehnJahren]

OP, I come from a family who is very "YOU GET WHAT YOU GET FOR CHRISTMAS AND THAT'S IT AND DON'T COMPLAIN AND DEFINITELY DON'T EVER ASK FOR A RECEIPT EVER BECAUSE YOU GOT WHAT YOU'RE GETTING" and it was always very very stressful. DBFs family, however, leaves the tags on everything they gift and are very serious about having you return something if you don't like it.

Maybe a mug is not something to get worked up about, but I see no issue in asking for a receipt so that you can take advantage of returning the mug. If it were me, I'd think I gave my family member a gift they I want them to like and use, and if they could do neither then I would really, really want them to have something they DID want and could use, especially for Christmas. I definitely wouldn't want my money to go to waste by them either never using it, or donating it and getting no gift from me. That happened so many times in my family that it was very upsetting, and it's so carefree to give gifts in DBF's family that I'll never go back to being uptight and worried about gifts.

And for those who are interested in anthropology, gift culture in the world is VERY VERY interesting. There are some cultures that are completely dependent on the way gifts are given and received on a daily basis, and it defines the way the culture arranges itself. The Trobianders come to mind, and their yam exchanges - the culture would break down without the complexities of giving in that culture. Gift giving is extremely complex and varies greatly across the globe, but it all comes down to the sense of obligation and requirement. That is not the same for everyone in America.

So, bad business to not accept returns without receipts, but not entirely surprising. Not all stores do it, and each business can create their own rules, but they could have been a lot nicer about it. Once you get that receipt, I hope you get cash back so that you can spend your money elsewhere. Otherwise, get yourself something with your initial on it and chalk this one up to a family member who doesn't follow family rules!

 

[momxx5]

Could OP please share the initial on the mug???

I bet she could turn this all around and give it to someone on the Disboards who would really appreciate it.

Now that would be a "gift of kindness".....whatcha think?


OR even better.....drop it off at a school or nursing home....I bet someone there would be thrilled over the top to recieve a surprise gift.

Turn that frown upside down and make someone else's day......then on the way home stop and treat yourself to something you wanted and did not get.

Just sayin'

 

[Grendalynn]

It's too bad that the boutique did not consider you to be special enough to bend their rules for. I guess they just bought themselves a lot of bad PR.

I guess it will be a real bummer if you get the receipt and find out that they do not offer cash for returns. You're liable to only get a store credit anyway. Then you'll be forced to choose something from their stock.

And I always thought that the wish lists were just for suggestions. It's unfortunate that the gift is not of your choosing. When I get something that is unreturnable and not my taste, I just donate it so that the Salvation Army can sell it to someone who will appreciate it.

To a PP - not young, but I have a master's degree in public relations and mass communication, and have studied many, many examples of outstanding customer service, so it probably tweaks me more than most people to see wasted opportunities to 'wow' a customer.

Also - I wasn't aware that writing a post on the internet is "all worked up". I was killing time before my DH got home, and figured, what the heck, why not see if anyone else has had similar experiences. I type 100 WPM, so it's not like I'm penning a magnum opus, here.

"Education without character is nothing" - Dr. Mart Luther King....
'Good manners will take you further in life than any degree you earned."

OP - i hope you dont have fluff in your ears and some of this is sinking in?? (notice Princescas signature:
“If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” - Winnie the Pooh)

 

[DianeV]

I dont understand how so many cannot understand the situation. They make lists and it is understood that you will get something on that list for the person you draw. I wouldnt be too happy either