Return Fraud Earns Retailers' Wrath

So how can you keep from having a return rejected? Here's how:

· Before you buy, check the store's written return policy. And don't just rely on the cashier or a clerk. Look for the written policy that should be posted in the store.

· Don't assume that a store's Internet retail operation has the same return policy as its bricks-and-mortar operation. Before you buy, remember to ask who pays the shipping costs for an exchange or return. Some merchants will pick up the delivery charges for exchanges, but not for returns.

· Ask for a gift receipt. Only about 49 percent of people giving gifts during the holidays include a gift receipt, according to the federation.

· Keep all your receipts. Many retailers still allow you to exchange merchandise without a receipt. However, without a receipt, the retailer may only provide store credit for the lowest price the item has sold for in recent weeks. And please, people, if you don't need your receipt, then destroy it to keep someone from fraudulently using it.

· Keep all the original packaging, including tags, rebate material and the instruction manual. Some retailers won't accept returns unless the item is in its original package. In addition, many stores now impose a restocking fee if an item has been opened. The fee can cost from 5 to 25 percent of the item's price tag, according to Newgistics, which provides retailers with return tracking technology. Typically, retailers charge a restocking fee on electronic equipment. But increasingly, you may see restocking fees on other items.

Although return policies have toughened, 89 percent of consumers still find stores' policies fair, according to the federation. So it seems if armed with the right information, you can have a happy return.