Returning gifts? Here's what you need to know!

It is December 26th, which means a majority of people are returning gifts they either bought or received.

But wait - do you have everything you are going to need?

If you are returning a gift, here is what you might need:

• Receipt (Ask the giver for one. If they bought it from a store, they should still have it. If they bought it online, they will have to print it out.)
• Your ID (Most stores will ask to see your ID to make sure you aren't constantly returning things.)
• The item(s) (Well, how else are you going to return it?)
• Anything else according to the store's return policy.

Okay, now you have everything you need. What else do you need to know?

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• Be sure to check out the store's return policy. Most stores have a 30-day limit. So unless the giver bought the gift within the month of December, you may be out of luck. Also, make sure you know the store's return policy inside and out. It's probably a better idea to print it and take it with you.  If the giver bought it online (and it hasn't been 30 days), you may be able to return it via mail, at the cost of shipping. 
• Some stores may only allow exchanges or the refund on a gift card. Speaking of gift cards, stores may not allow refunds or exchanges on gift cards. 
• Be ready for lines or delayed returns. As the month goes on, more and more people will be returning items (at the store or online) so customer service may be slow.
• Most stores will ask for a reason for the return. A thought-out reason (wrong size, didn't work, etc.) will get you through a store's line a lot faster. Make sure you have almost all of the paper, plastic, tags, and doohickeys the item came with. This will allow for a faster return.
• Make sure the store doesn't have a restocking fee, which you will have to pay. It may say in the store's refund policy, but if you're still unsure, ask.

I really don't like returning things. It's not too terrible, but if you have a busy day, it can be a pain in the you-know-what! But luckily, I don't have anything to return this year. But I think my worst return was when I received a Walmart gift card from a family member and when I went to buy something online, I realized that it wasn't working. So I asked for the receipt and tried to see what can be done, we realized that the gift card number wasn't even on the receipt! Luckily, we got everything under the control. But oh boy, that customer service person wasn't too happy with me.

Do you have any scary return stories?