Returns + Store Credits: How to Remember
I’ve made plenty of shopping mistakes. Shopping mistakes are simply errors in human judgment. It’s when you either overbuy, buy the wrong item, or change your mind and want to return the item for credit. I’ve ordered tops that were too small, pants that were way too long for my petite frame (and not worth hemming), and shoes that turn out to be uncomfortable. I’ve also invested in an item thinking I’ll use it later only to have it languish in my apartment well past its return date as clutter. Over the last handful of years, however, I’ve streamlined my decision making when buying so that I don’t need to remember to make returns or keep track of store credits as frequently. Being more aware as you shop is one way to lessen the mental load of making returns.
Conception + Planning
The mental load for returns and store credits starts with noticing that an item doesn’t fit or doesn’t suit the needs of the family. When possible, I encourage my kids to try items on at the store or view them in person when shopping. Online shopping is amazingly convenient, but shipping items back creates an added layer of work. (Retailers bet on you not returning items, and if you do, the items often go straight to the landfill rather than getting resold or re-shelved.)
Quickly make your decision to keep or return, then make your plan.
If remembering to ship items back is a challenge for you or others, make it a priority to turn items right back around when they arrive - placing them back in the packaging, printing out the label, sealing up the package, and placing it by the front door - if an item doesn’t meet your needs. The longer it sits on your countertop, on your bedroom floor, or gets lost in the rooms beyond, the less likely they’ll notice that it needs to be returned. Teaching others to notice when returns need to be made and how to follow the process is the quickest path to lightening your mental load.
Select a destination for the physical or digital receipt.
When shopping, most retailers default to placing your receipt in the shopping bag. If this works for you, great. For me, I find that the receipt often gets lost or floats away when items are removed from the bag. For digital receipts, create an email folder labeled with the month, year, and word ‘receipt,’ so that you can drag, drop, and easily retrieve when needed.
An alternative approach is to place the receipt in your wallet or in a designated file or envelope for receipts. For many years, I kept receipts in an envelope in the console of my car so that when I was ready to make a return, I’d have the receipt with me. If the thought of a mishmash of receipts in an envelope sounds like an extra layer of effort, stick with keeping the receipt directly with the item purchased.
For gift cards or merchandise credits, I keep them either in my wallet or in a tray with the car keys by the door. This creates a visual reminder for me each time I gather my keys to leave the house, and it’s a central place where other family members can grab them too.
Execution: What Works + What Doesn’t
Again, retailers bet on you missing the return window or not reading the policy. Decide what’s more important to you across all purchases: getting the cash back in your account or receiving a store credit. Making a clear distinction for yourself will lessen the headache and mental load of trying to know + learn each business’s policy. I prefer to shop at retailers that are generous with their customer service, and I’m willing to pay a slightly higher premium knowing that I’ll be able to make a return with ease or will in turn spend the credit.
The sticking point in our household for many years was my son’s soccer footwear. My husband was (and still is) responsible for my son’s cleats and flats, and I gladly supported him owning this task. The sticking point was returns and store credits. He’s overbought in a size or style that my son couldn’t use by the time his feet changed size.
My husband chooses not to spend his time and mental energy making returns.
He accepts that he’s made a shopping mistake and moves on. He doesn’t dwell on the hundreds of dollars (probably thousands over the last decade) as “lost.” Instead, the unused item - in this case, the wrong sized soccer cleats - go straight into the donation pile for another child to benefit from. The cleats aren’t clutter, nor are they money down the drain… they’re classified as “donations.”
Because I’d developed a process for returning unworn items for credit, I thought we should ship the cleats back for a credit or exchange. This is where the idea of shifting the mental load “one conversation at a time” happens. Just because I had a process (and had taught others to notice) doesn’t mean that my way was the one and only “right way.” When we were able to make explicit our reasons for wanting to (or NOT wanting to) make returns, we were able to find common ground. (And yes, I recognize the level of ‘privilege’ in being able to make these decisions.)
Be careful not to get stuck thinking your story is the right story.
My husband values his time and mental energy more than the dollar value of the store credit. I respect his position. I often agree that my time and mental energy are more valuable, however, I don’t think of making a return as a time suck. I blend it in with my other weekly activities, and I use the error in judgment as important feedback for future purchases. Because my husband owns the task of securing my son’s soccer footwear, I readily accept his approach to returns (or lack thereof). It took some time for me to see things from his perspective, however once I did, I was able to stop worrying about returns that were ultimately his responsibility.
Once I gained a clear understanding of his why, returns and store credits became explicit between us. He chooses not to have to remember at all, and I can execute returning my shopping mistakes with intention.
Have the “returns + store credits” conversation this week, and let me know how it lands in the comments below.
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