Many Tulsans Spend Day After Christmas Returning, Exchanging Gifts

Thousands of Oklahomans spent their day at the customer service counter, returning and exchanging gifts.

Some store return policies are getting stricter, while others allow unopened gifts to be returned any time over the next year.

People at Best Buy were anxious to get their gifts returned and exchanged, which is a good thing, because the store won't accept most Christmas returns past January 15th.

Busy doesn't begin to describe customer service counters across Green Country the day after Christmas.

"This is our second most favorite day of the year because we get to try our Christmas gifts, and if we don't like it, we get to return," said Tulsan Shoumen Bardhan.

Bardhan got a Bose Bluetooth speaker for Christmas, but wanted the upgraded model.

"Today I don't have the receipt. We lost the receipt. So I'm waiting eagerly to see if they will entertain our return and swap," he said.

To get a full refund at Best Buy, the item has to be re-packaged, with all contents inside, along with a receipt and an I.D.

The store said without the receipt it goes back to a gift card or store credit.

Liz Jones tried to return DVDs.

"I normally bring my receipt, but mom didn't have it, she couldn't find it, but luckily Best Buy has their rewards program that's logged on there so they can look it up in their computer," she said.

Walmart, Target and Toys R Us accept most returns made within 90 days. Walmart and Target don't always require a receipt, but Toys R Us does.

Kohl's customers have a full year to return items and Amazon purchases can be returned through Amazon's Online Returns Center, but you'll need help from the gift-giver.

"Stores have given us much more leeway in returning stuff, even without receipts," Shoumen said.

Both Jones and Bardhan were able to make their returns and exchanges; small wins for them this holiday season.

Electronics are often the exception return policies. The sooner you can return electronics, the better.

At Walmart, TVs, cameras, computers, DVDs and music players must be returned within 15 to 30 days.

Stores also have policies regarding return fraud.

Return fraud is expected to cost retailers $3.6 billion this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. It's estimated that one in every 20 returns is dubious.