Consumers are adapting to return policies by taking advantage of gift receipts, according to a NRF survey. According to the second annual Returns survey, conducted for NRF by BIGresearch, 47.6 percent of gift givers enclose either a gift receipt or an original receipt with a gift most or some of the time, up from 41.7 percent last year.

"Gift receipts are a win-win situation for retailers and their customers," said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin. "Retailers can verify that merchandise was purchased at their store and consumers can be refunded for the actual purchase price of an item."

It appears that retailers have found a good balance in their return policies. According to the survey, 91.2 percent of consumers find stores' return policies to be fair, up from 90.1 percent last year.

"Customers understand that retailers have policies in place to make returns easy for their honest shoppers, but more difficult for those few who are trying to cheat the system," said Mullin. "The last thing a retailer wants to do is alienate their customers, especially at this time of year."

Here are a few tips for worry-free returns after the holidays:

Know the retailer's return policy before you buy. Most retailers have return policies prominently displayed, especially at this time of year. Gift-givers should read and remember them.

Keep all receipts! Receipts are still the key to hassle-free returns. Many retailers will allow consumers to exchange merchandise without a receipt. However, without a receipt, a retailer may only provide merchandise credit for the lowest markdown-price at which the item was sold in the past 30 days.

Provide all original packaging and all parts (including all tags) when giving a gift. Some retailers won't accept returns unless the item is in its original package. If you plan to take back a gift when it is unwrapped, resist the urge to open it or play with it. No one wants to buy someone else's merchandise.

Ask for a gift receipt to make gift returns easier. Ask the retailer if they issue gift receipts. These receipts contain all the necessary information to prove the items were purchased, minus the price.

Make your online returns easy! Returns are a part of shopping, no matter where you choose to shop. In addition to the other common sense rules of returns, here are a few things to find out before you purchase a gift online:

• Know the process – Who pays for shipping the return, you or the merchant? Some merchants will pick up the delivery charges for exchanges, but not for returns.

• Where to make returns – Does the retailer have a physical store, and can returns or exchanges be made there? Make sure you have the correct address if you need to mail returns back to the company. Some merchants have off-site service centers that handle returns that may be in a different location from where the merchandise is sent.

Don't delay! Consumers should plan to make returns as soon as possible after the holidays to take advantage of extended hours and extra help, and to get the best selection of merchandise for an alternate gift.

Remember, the week after Christmas is one of the busiest weeks of the retail year. The frustration level is high and tolerance is low, so be patient when returning merchandise.

Source:. www.nrf.com