There’s nothing annoying than finding out that you purchased the wrong product. You would have to go to the store, return the product, find the right item, and process that with the cashier. That’s not all. What happens if you found out that you’ve got the wrong item a month or two from the day you bought it while Tampa shopping?
Generally, stores allow the return and exchange of items even after three to six months have already passed. Other stores would have a different policy, of course, but let’s stick to what is generally acceptable, shall we?
Keeping the receipt
If you are not sure about the size or the color or any element of the item that you purchased, you should definitely keep the receipt. Some stores like Macy’s, for example, has a dedicated barcode for the return of their items.
Having the receipt with you would allow the clerks over there to process the return or the exchange faster. All they would need to do is scan the related barcode and enter that into the system again. You’ll have your refund or a new item in no time!
Having the receipt proves that you bought the item in that store. The store could compare your receipt with the one they have on file, too. That makes it easier for the store to do inventory or return the item to their supplier.
Exchange or refund?
Most people would simply want to have the right size or the color of the item. That’s easier to process because the store knows you have just erroneously bought the item and it was not intentional on your part. Returning the item and asking for a refund is a bigger problem because you may have used the product without the store knowing.
Most stores would give you back your full payment within 60 days from the original transaction date while some stores would process the return merely as store credit or exchange if the item was received within 60 to 90 days.
Exceptions
There are exceptions, of course, and they mostly have to do with the product you bought. Food products cannot be returned (unless they’re stale) and gadgets such as iPhones, tablets, and laptops can only be returned within the next seven days from the transaction date.
In that short period of time, your gadget should have malfunctioned already if it ever will. The same goes for luxury items such as a Prada bag or a pair of calfskin boots. Most luxury stores would not allow the return of these items because they won’t be able to sell them for the same regular price.