Returning Gifts

Updated on July 26, 2010
S.C. asks from Bowling Green, OH
17 answers

My daughter recently turned 1 and got a lot of clothes. None of them fit. People clearly either didn't listen or didn't care when I told them what size clothes she wears. I almost never return gifts. I think it's tacky, just the way I was raised. It seems silly to hang on to all these clothes that don't fit though. I was planning on exchanging them for some fall/winter clothes. Is that ok? Do I have to tell the people that I'm doing it? What if someone asks if she liked the outfit or if it fit her? I had thought about exchanging them for the same outfit, just in a smaller size but most of them are summer clothes and she doesn't need anymore of them. She NEEDS fall/winter clothes. I know this is kind of a dumb question, I've just never exchanged or returned any gifts before and I'm unsure of the etiquette.

Also, no one gave us gift receipts. I'm sure most of the stuff came from WalMart. They'll do exchanges for me with out receipts right?

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone! I plan on trying to return them this week, so I hope I can get full credit for them.

I should have specified. The clothes are too big, but the time she grows into them it will be the wrong season. She's in 3-6 month stuff now, but most of the stuff was 6-9 summer. She'll probably be in at least 12 months by the time next summer comes. She did get some cute 12 month summer stuff that I'm planning on hanging on to in the hopes that she'll wear it next summer.

It's just very frustrating that people called and/or texted me and asked me sizes and seasons and then got the exact opposite. Oh well..not much I can do about it now. I'll just remember that next time they ask me :)

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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

you told them her size and they didnt listen, so i think you have every right to exchange it for what she really needs. If they ask you about the oufit i think its ok to lie a little to spare their feelings. say you really liked the outfit but unfortunatly it didnt fit, you went to exchange it but they didnt have the correct size so you had to get another outfit instead. oh and walmart will do an exchange without a receipt ,or even put it on a giftcard for you if it is under a certain amount. that is there policy and they have to stick with it

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C.D.

answers from St. Louis on

my mil buys stuff for my dd a year before she needs it. She is 2yo. She has stayed right on track size wise with her age but my mil buys too small. Because she got it sooo long ago I can't get a receipt from her or the gift receipt she sends every blue moon is out dated and no good. Don't get me wrong I love that she thinks of my dd and gets stuff for her but please ask me what size to get. If I make the mistake on sizes then it's my fault and I pay the price.
I can no longer take back anything to walmart without a receipt because I have taken too many baby items back without one. Can't even get store credit. I was warned about a year ago by the walmart employee that I was on some list that shop lifters go on all because my mil won't ask me about sizes.
I have had to take clothes to resale shops with the tags still on them because of this. My dd gets maybe 2 outfits if I'm lucky for every 6 or 7 my mil buys. I have talked to her and she doesn't listen.
hope you don't have to go on the list too. I also hope that people will listen to you when you let them know a size or season to buy.
When people ask about the outfit they gave tell them the truth or you are going to have the same proble net year and every christmas.

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R.A.

answers from Dallas on

I don't think you need to tell anyone that you are returning their item. If anyone asks you can be honest and polite and just say it didn't fit so I exchanged for the correct size and it looks great! Or, when I went to exchange it they were out of her size so I had to get something else. I would not be offended if someone returned my gift. They bought you the gift for a reason and I am sure they would want you to be able to use it. I am sure they will all understand. Plus-maybe then next time they will truly listen to the correct size.

I just had to exchange an outfit at Walmart for the exact same reasons. It was very easy to do and they gave me a credit on a gift card. I just used it for something else.

Goodluck!

4 moms found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

In your Thank You note, I's say "We LOVED the outfit you got her and were so sad it was too small/big. I'm hoping I can find the same one or something similar in the next size." Though if they are too big, can't you just save them for her to grow into?

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Walmart will exchange gifts without a receipt up to a certain amount, but I believe that the tags have to be on them. Don't feel bad about having to return things. Its better to return them for something you can use then to have them just sit in the closet.

2 moms found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I wouldn't worry about anyone being offended. If the size/season is wrong, then return it for something she will actually get use out of. Most people are just guessing when buying clothes... or trying to buy something larger that will be "grown into"... and may not think about the season.

I wouldn't feel badly at all. In fact, I HATE buying clothing for infants, because it is so hard to judge sizes. One 9 month old might be wearing 6 month sizes, and another might be wearing 12 month sizes.... and different brands shrink more/less than others... If someone asks you later "did the outfit fit?"... just tell the truth... "no, it was a little big/small, and by the time she would've grown into it the season was too cold, so I took it back and got her a cute ___". They'll be glad you got something you could use and enjoy.
hugs!

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V.M.

answers from Erie on

I never really exchanged stuff until i had kids either. I think instead of you being the tacky one, the person that ignores your size suggestions and doesnt' give a gift receipt is the tacky one. If they ask about it and i hardly ever had anyone do that, just thank them so much and say how cute it was. If they specifically ask if it fit her, you could say "she is just growng so fast" and change the subject to talk about her crawlign or what ever.

Here is some advice though, i found that people would buy clothes on clearance and that when i tried to return it i would NOT get enough back to go buy fall clothes, Especially at Kohls. I had someone buy a sweet little white sweater from Carters and when i tried to return it with no reciept they wanted togive me 98 cents. So it was a better value to save the larger size summer clothes until next year. You could try to consign/resale some stuff if you have a place close to you As a place to get rid of what you don't want and a place to pick up what you need for fall.

People just don't think sometimes, and they really don't care about what she needs its their right when giving a gift to just pick out what they think is cute.

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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

I don't find it tacky to return items that are duplicates or just don't fit the bill. Most people are good about providing gift receipts these days, and many stores will accept returns without receipts, but you'll receive the current value vs. what the value they paid for it was. For example: if they bought a shirt @ $10 but it's now clearanced at $5, you'll get the $5 back.

If people ask, I'd be honest and say the item didn't fit, you were disappointed and had to exchange it. Most of the time, people won't even ask.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Wal-Mart will take anything back just about without a receipt. If the total amount of the return is over a certain amount they give you a gift card rather than cash. But there is always something i'm going to have to buy at wal-mart so it's never a loss. But if they are summer clothes return them as quick as possible as they start marking things down and will only give you the current price.

One thing you can do is check out the store before you return. Some wal-marts will have things on clearance where another wal-mart(in the same town) will have the same thing for full price so it might be worth checking before you return to get the most out of returning the clothes to get her fall/winter clothes when the time comes!

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C.M.

answers from Austin on

No. They won't do exchanges without a receipt. At least, that has been my experience. You could try calling and explaining what your situation is to them.
It's not tacky to exchange kids clothes for the right size. I'm sure your friends would rather you do that than hang onto useless clothing that doesn't fit. If they ask, just tell them that the stuff didn't fit, but you went ahead and got some winter stuff for her.

1 mom found this helpful

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

It's not tacky to return or exchange. It's a gift meant for you and if doesn't fit in my mind it would just be silly not to return it, even if you decided to buy a toy instead. It's about your needs and wants.

If there is any type of tag on the clothing then I think there is a good chance you can return. I am betting you could even get all your money put on a walmart card so that you can use it as needed.

Please don't hesitate to return these items. I think when it comes to clothing people almost expect you to.

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I hate exhanges, but when I had kids and I got ugly clothing or clothing that did not fit or snaps on the back of clothing (my pet peeve since it's right on their spine), I found that I returned a LOT of clothing.

The other thing I do with clothing that is barely used or still has tags on it, is to do a consignment type deal with a local chidlren's store called Children's Orchard. I get credit there and can get whatever I need.

I don't know if this is anywhere near you, but I find LOTS of new cothing with the tags still on it from Gap and local botiques that have gone out of business.

http://www.childrensorchard.com/component/option,com_stor...

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T.L.

answers from Denver on

No, you don't have to tell the people you are exchaging or returning their gift. If they ask you if she liked the outfit just say, "The outfit was so cute". This way you aren't saying specifically if she liked it, you are just saying 'it' was cute. Walmart will exchange/return without receipts and most often will just give you a gift card to do with what you want. Some mentioned they are on some list at Walmart and can no longer exchange things.....I have never heard of this and if my Walmart has that policy I'm surprised I'm not on "the list". I exchange and return items several times a month and I don't even bother keeping my Walmart receiptsanymore because they always take it back without a hassle. If the item is under $5 they will give me cash back even without a receipt.

K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Are the sizes bigger then your child is in?
-- If yes then I would hang onto them if you think she will fit in them next year. I always ask for sizes bigger then is needed because I usually have enough of the size my daughter is in but love having a few outfits for when is has grown so I have something that will fit her.
-- If they are smaller then she needs I would return them, or at least try to return them. I have always had issues with returning items without a receipt so hopefully you are more successful then I.

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L.

answers from Cleveland on

summer stuff is on sale right now! The same thing used to happen to us as I have two kids with late summer birthdays.
I would surely try and return them for what you actually need.
Once a gift is given, it is yours to do what you please with.
In the future I would ask for gift cards or cash if anyone wants to know what I need.
My kids can count on ten dollars from each of three aunts/ Uncles, the 4th one never buys gifts although I always do for his kids.

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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

Absolutely exhange them! People would much rather you exchanged than wasted their gift.

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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

someone mentioned the dreaded walmart list. Actually most stores have them, and they expire every year. It is to prevent stealing and then returning items for cash, but they understand that people buy things and lose receipts ect. so the lists aren't forever.

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