Gael Bustos is a lucky boy. He opened birthday gifts on Tuesday when he turned seven, and he got to tear open his Christmas presents the very next day.
He just had one problem: the Pokemon figure he got as a gift was already in his collection.
So on Thursday, Gael and his mom, Yessenia Bustos, walked into the Target at 6525 W. Diversey in Belmont Cragin to return the gift. And Gael knows exactly what he’s going to do with his refund.
“I want a case for my Nintendo Switch,” he said.
The Bustos are among many Americans heading to stores the day after Christmas to return gifts. It’s expected to be the biggest day for returns. The National Retail Federation estimated that 17% of items purchased for the holidays will be returned this year.
But consumer advocates warn shoppers to heed store’s return policies, noting that many enacted changes this year.
“Many major retailers continue to recognize the value of an easy return policy and therefore give customers more time to make returns, and don’t charge for return shipping,” said Edgar Dworksy, founder of Consumer World. “At the same time, others are taking steps to combat return fraud by restricting certain returns, or imposing shipping fees to discourage online returns and offset return processing costs.”
Target shortened its extended holiday return policy by five weeks, now starting November 7 instead of October 1, according to a statement from Consumer World. Walmart no longer provides cash back for returns without a receipt under $10, and managers can accept or reject any item for return.
But Walmart, like most stores, still offers extended holiday return periods where gifts purchased as early as October first can be returned until mid- to late-January, said the consumer group. And Amazon has also begun allowing some return-less returns where customers can keep some less expensive items in some cases rather than return them to avoid the costs of shipping and inspection.
Dworsky advised shoppers to read a store’s return policy before heading out the door.
Small stores are also seeing returns, though not at the scale of the major retailers.
Stella Kukadia, manager at Timeless Toys in Lincoln Square, says the day after Christmas isn’t too busy with returns at the store. They usually get more returns in January from people who live further away from the city.
The store, which specializes in retro toys, has a 30 day return policy for items in new condition but that can be flexible, Kukadia said. Shoppers will get store credit that doesn’t expire.
Kukadia recommends anyone looking to return an item to the store to hold off a few days because their stock is usually limited after the Christmas shopping season.
“There might not be as much stuff for you to choose from as there normally might be throughout the year,” Kukadia said.
Consumer World also advised shoppers to avoid making returns the day after Christmas in order to miss the crowds and to instead go a few days after the holiday.
That might not work for shoppers who want to get their returns out of the way. Tamika Tolar, 40, said she headed to the Northwest Side Target Thursday because she was concerned that if she waited, the store would hold her responsible for the issue with her item, a three piece Tupperware set.
Tolar bought the gift for her food-loving mom on Black Friday, but when the gift was finally opened on Christmas, the family realized two of the three pieces were missing.
“I figured if I came the day after Christmas I wouldn’t have that issue,” Tolar said, thankful that it didn’t ruin her holiday. “It’s just a Tupperware set.”