Big Lots Informative - Refund policy - returns without a receipt

Posted by raven2010 on 2011-02-03:

I agreed until your last statement. many large chain stores give git receipts for this exact reason.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a receipt for a gift, IMHO.

Posted by Justice-4-All on 2011-02-03:

Raven> I too was on board until the last condescending and judgemental comment. Everything else is pretty spot-on though.

Posted by littleshorty on 2011-02-03:

Customers tend to think that the sales associate is just being mean by saying 'no' and exceptions can always be made. They don't realize that the associates are not allowed to make exceptions and can risk losing their job. Either that or they don't care because they think they are more important than the employee

Posted by throwback on 2011-02-04:

I agree 100%. everyone should work retail just once in their lives to see how vile, petty, and truly mean a lot of people are. A lot of people with the empowerment of being a customer show their true colors thinking the customer is always right. They think it's their right to treat the employee as their serf. I understand the feelings of the OP.

Posted by Ytropious on 2011-02-04:

The thing is, I believe it's not the stores job to ask if you want a gift receipt, it's the gift givers problem. If you didn't get a gift receipt blame the person who gave you the gift.

Posted by heard it all on 2011-02-04:

Hello all, I have been a retail manager for over 20 years and I have heard it all.It is my job to make the customer happy and I always try my best BUT that invisible line exists between your satisfaction and my employment.I cannot afford to lose sight of that line.

Posted by Skye on 2011-02-04:

It's not wrong to want to return a gift you received. Once you receive it, it's yours to do with as you like. Receipts are just a fact of life these days, and a good one.

We all have heard stories of people who walk into stores, pick merchandise right up off the floor, to return it to customer service for a cash refund. Stores have every right to request a receipt.

I agree 100% with Yt's comment. The purchaser of the item is responsible for asking for a gift receipt. But Target rocks, because they always ask if we would like a gift receipt.

Posted by Starlord on 2011-02-04:

Crystal and I have both worked Loss Prevention, and she had a good case once. A gentleman brought a piece of merchandise to the customer service, stating he had bought it a couple of days before, and wanting a refund. Crystal sensed something not quite right and called the department manager where the merchandise came from. He told her to stall the guy until the police got there. Between her and the officer, they got the guy back to the security office. It seems the merchandise was brand new and had just been put on the shelf that morning. Slam dunk case, perp arrested and convicted.

Posted by heard it all on 2011-02-05:

I'll be saying this until the I turn blue in the face but in order to avoid all this trouble,keep your receipt.There were over $3 MILLION in fraudulent refunds in one year at my company.What if your company lost $3 million to fraud in one year,you would demand a receipt as well.

Posted by abaddon on 2013-01-06:

The middle ground is an exchange, but no refund.

@sStarlord - your scenario is full of holes. if you did't see someone steal something or cannot correlate them to the theft there is no case. sorry to burst your bubble but they let that guy go. nice try

Posted by Lou on 2013-01-30:

Clearly it is not the employee making the rules only following them. I do, however, think that Big Lots can identify there own products and see no reason not to issue a store credit. You get your merchandise back -- especially if it is unopened and can resell it, and you give a store credit and have a returning customer. Therefor I don't see you loosing anything. Am I right?