Strategies for Returning Gifts
May 5, 2008 2:37 PM   Subscribe

What's the likelihood that I can return a gift to me purchased from Tiffany's (with receipt) and get cash back?

I received a gift from Tiffany's at my baby shower. It's a $225 sterling silver rattle and, while lovely, completely NOT what this baby needs. The return policy on the website says:

Articles are accepted for credit or exchange in the U.S. if returned in saleable condition within 30 days, accompanied by a sales receipt. Returns may be sent to our Customer Service Center, or you may take your return to any of our retail stores in the U.S.

A refund will be made to the purchaser upon request if payment has been received. Gift recipients are entitled to a nonrefundable merchandise credit.


Yes, I can read and that seems pretty definitively to say that I can only get a merchandise credit but is there any wiggle room on these sorts of things? Has anyone every had luck getting around these policies? I have the gift receipt, it has my name and the gift giver's name on it, it's within 30 days and there's pretty much NOTHING at Tiffany's that I can justify as a higher priority over the diapers that this kid is going to need. I really don't want to get the gift-giver involved. I guess other options are to sell the rattle thing on Craigslist or get the merchandise credit and try to sell that but I'd really just like to get the cash from Tiffany's and put it towards something I really need. Ideas?
posted by otherwordlyglow to Shopping (14 answers total)
 
I doubt it. But if the store credit is in the form of a gift card, you could probably sell it on one of the gift card sales sites.
posted by boomchicka at 2:41 PM on May 5, 2008


Oops - reading to the very very end of your post would have helped. :)
posted by boomchicka at 2:41 PM on May 5, 2008


Try asking the manager very nicely? Or maybe the customer services department?
posted by Solomon at 2:44 PM on May 5, 2008


I highly doubt you're going to get cash from them. They wrote their policy like that for a reason and while it doesn't hurt to ask, Tiffany's would lose a lot of money if they allowed returns on gifts (I'm sure you are not alone in getting an overpriced nick nack you would much rather like to cash in). I would take the store credit (make sure it doesn't expire) and then use it to buy christmas presents when that time of year comes around. I wouldn't sell it on craigslist, I highly doubt there are lot of people who are in the market for a silver rattle or if there are they aren't the kind of people who shop on craigslist, you'll probably have to settle for well under $100, so might as well just save it until you need to buy someone a nice gift.
posted by whoaali at 2:51 PM on May 5, 2008 [1 favorite]


Yeah, not Craiglist. But eBay should do nicely. Getting back 80-90% of the gift card's value through there is a reasonable expectation. Assuming that Tiffany's gives you a generic gift card, not as credit slip written out to you personally.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 2:58 PM on May 5, 2008


I tried getting such a refund recently. I was as sweet as can be, and even talked with the manager, but had no luck. Maybe one of your friends will get married soon or have a special birthday, and you can use your credit then. Now I'm wondering if the gift I received was purchased with a store credit that's been circulating for years! :-)
posted by wryly at 3:18 PM on May 5, 2008


Do you know anyone who is going to be shopping at Tiffany's soon? If so, take the store credit, give it to your friend, and have them cut you a check for the $225.

If not, you're going to have to get the gift-giver involved.

Gift receipts, in my opinion, are the most annoying things, ever.
posted by Verdandi at 3:36 PM on May 5, 2008


I think you can. My husband bought his mom a necklace there as a gift, then realized she wouldn't be able to wear it to work (it was a cross and she's a teacher) so he exchanged it for a starfish, I think. When she got it she didn't even really like it, so he did return it, and bought her some jewelry she requested from elsewhere.
posted by LolaGeek at 3:37 PM on May 5, 2008


use the store credit for holiday gifts.
posted by thinkingwoman at 4:23 PM on May 5, 2008


Get the credit and then Ebay it. You will get almost its full value. I just took a look on Ebay to confirm this, and saw other people selling credits that were clearly the result of returns in situations like yours. It's kind of a pain in the ass, but you will get the money - I'm always amazed how people on Ebay will pay $499 for a $500 gift certificate.
posted by crabintheocean at 5:36 PM on May 5, 2008


Not to be non-helpful... however, if it is not a situation where you NEED the money for other baby things, I would recommend perhaps keeping the rattle as somewhat of an heirloom to be passed down from your child to thier own children... having something like that with all the teeth marks and such from previous generations strikes me as potentially cool...
At least that's the justification I had when we were presented with the same thing, and I had the same reaction as you...

Also... those silver rattles? WONDERFUL for a teething baby once popped into the fridge for a few mins to get them cold...
posted by niteHawk at 7:08 PM on May 5, 2008 [3 favorites]


I agree with nitehawk, this is your little one's first valuable possession, so why not keep it? It's also a perfect hook for a "born with a silver ----- in his/her mouth" gag.

Alternately, cash it in on eBay and start the college fund with the proceeds. The giver wanted the babe to have something more permanent than diapers.
posted by Scram at 8:06 PM on May 5, 2008


NotwhatyouaskedFilter: Nthing considering keeping the rattle. I really regret losing the silver rattle I had as a baby, now that I have a baby of my own. He would have loved to shake it around and mouth it. It's not a major life loss, but it does make me a little sad.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 5:43 AM on May 6, 2008


Response by poster: Okay so as a follow-up: I returned the rattle (not sure why y'all kept telling me to keep it - that wasn't ever an option) and got store credit for a total of $243. I listed the gift card on my local Craigslist and sold it within 3 days to someone for $200.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:54 AM on May 16, 2008


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