Posted on 12/25/2025 5:16:20 AM PST by Libloather
Hassle-free returns might be a thing of the past.
You might want to reconsider returning that pile of unwanted gifts sitting under your tree because major retailers, like Macy’s and Zara, are charging fees for holiday gift returns.
Which means that the hideous, itchy sweater Aunt Suzy excitedly gifted you this year may actually cost you more to give back than to keep.
The good news is that in-store returns remain free — but if you plan to take the lazy way out by mailing something back, even if it’s unopened and in perfect condition, it’ll cost you.
Macy’s is charging displeased customers a $9.99 fee if they’re not a Stars Rewards Member, and sister stores T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are hitting their customers with an $11.99 return charge.
JCPenney, J. Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, Zara, American Eagle Outfitters, UNIQLO and Urban Outfitters are being less Scrooge-like with their return fees, with a more nominal range from $3.99 to $8.
Large online retailers like Amazon are even toughening up by charging a fee — which can vary depending on the returned item — if you don’t use their box-free, label-free, in-person drop-off option.
Even if you use a gift receipt to rid an unwanted gift, you’re not safe from the wrath of return fees: retailers will simply deduct them from your store credit.
So what’s causing this tightwad behavior from stores?
“This [return fees] started happening a couple of years ago, I think, because people were taking advantage. We saw a big lift in online shopping throughout the pandemic, and retailers who initially said, ‘Oh, we’ll pay for the shipping back,’ all of a sudden, it started becoming egregious,” smart-shopping expert Trae Bodge told The Post.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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return shipping is the biggest deterrent to returning stuff. i donate stuff...
You people who return gifts don’t have the courage to tell the giver, “You know, I’d rather have the money.”
On a slightly different note, Wal-Mart sells lots of big-screen TVs just before the Super Bowl.
Many are returned the week after.
Or just be appreciative and give away something you can’t well use.
“Large online retailers like Amazon are even toughening up by charging a fee — which can vary depending on the returned item — if you don’t use their box-free, label-free, in-person drop-off option.”
Why would anyone NOT want to do it that way?
I’ve done it plenty of times and never had an issue.
Large online retailers like Amazon are even toughening up by charging a fee — which can vary depending on the returned item — if you don’t use their box-free, label-free, in-person drop-off option.
Okay- why wouldn’t you go through their process if you return an item?? I do often and its no problem.
I'm 82...Danny Thomas is a fond memory...and he left us a spectacular legacy.
You learn something new and vitally important every day on FR. For instance, today I learned there is a “smart-shopping expert Trae Bodge.”
Who is she? What is she famous for?
I have my ideas.
Never mind. I see she is the writer.
She doesn’t really dress like a writer. though.
One day as I was having lunch in the mall Chick Filet, the woman at the next table told her friend she had to go to Sears to return a bunch of stuff.
She said she went shopping with her sister-in-law and bought the stuff at Sears just to be buying something. She was returning it all.
i just like her name. Buontempo = good time
This is why retail stores are facing extinction.
My wife is a writer. Honestly, that is closer to what they wear than Harris tweed with patches on the elbow. Usually it’s sweat pants, slippers, and a robe. This chicks hair looks better.
It is a great opportunity to give donations—several local charities here will gladly take anything you can give them—no matter how weird it is...
Lol.
A well-functioning society (let’s just measure that by the ability to return gifts for free for a moment...) requires that its members agree to abide by certain rules of conduct. That’s just not in style anymore.
I’m sure you are right. I’m probably just used to seeing writing when they appear on a podcast talking about their book or sitting at a table in a book store, signing new copies.
The Amazon in person drop off nearest me is at Whole Foods. So those trips usually cost me more than the return. I mean maybe if I stopped showing up hungry...
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