Return policy secret: Some major retailers allow shoppers to keep items and refund

EVERY MEAL.

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>>> HERE IS A LITTLE-KNOWN

RETURN POLICY SECRET.

SOME MAJOR RETAILERS ALLOW

SHOPPERS TO KEEP ITEMS AND KEEP

THE REFUND.

>> AS THE SEASON OF GIVING

WINDS DOWN, THE SEASON OF

RETURNING IS JUST GETTING

STARTED.

>> I AM RETURNING A LOT.

>>Reporter: FOR MANY RETAILERS,

PROCESSING UNWANTED ITEMS CAN

COST TWO THIRDS OF THEIR

ORIGINAL PRICE DOCTORING LABOR,

TRANSPORTATION, WAREHOUSE SPACE

TO STASH ALL THAT STUFF

ESPECIALLY AS THE NATION FACES

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

EXPERTS SAY THAT IS WHY SOME

RETAILERS LIKE TARGET, AMAZON,

AND WALMART MIGHT OFFER LOYAL

CUSTOMERS A LITTLE-KNOWN

OPTION, GET A REFUND BUT KEEP

THE GOODS.

>> THE COST OF REVERSE SHIPPING

MERCHANDISE CUSTOMERS NO LONGER

WANT TO KEEP OFTEN FAR EXCEEDS

THE VALUE OF THAT MERCHANDISE

IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>>Reporter: EXPERTS SAY DON'T

COUNT ON KEEPING HIGH-PRICED

ITEMS, POLICIES APPLY ON A CASE-

BY-CASE BASIS TO SMALL, LOWER-

COST GOODS LIKE CLOTHES,

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND TOYS.

MUSIC LOVER EMILY DALE GROSSER

WAS SURPRISED SURPRISED TO GET

HER MONEY BACK ON AN ALBUM SHE

BOUGHT.

>> I HEARD TARGET HAD AN

EXCLUSIVE VINYL WITH SPECIFIC

SONGS AND ONCE IT FINALLY CAME

IN THERE WERE THE EXTRA SONGS ON

IT, SO IT WASN'T AS DESCRIBED.

>>Reporter: SHE SAYS TARGET

ISSUED HER A FULL REFUND,

ADVISING HER TO DONATE,

RECYCLE, OR KEEP THE ITEM.

>> IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD BUT I

WAS HAPPY WITH IT BECAUSE I GOT

MY MONEY AND THE PRODUCT.

>>Reporter: POLICIES LIKE THESE

ARE NOT GUARANTEED SO CHECK

STORE RETURN RULES ONLINE, AND

THE APP OR CALL CUSTOMER

SERVICE THAT THEY MIGHT TAKE IT

BACK, THEY MIGHT NOT BUT

CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT GO IN TO

THIS THINKING WE WILL BE ABLE

TO KEEP THIS BECAUSE IT COULD BE

CONSIDERED A SCAM.

>>Reporter: COMPANIES HOPING TO

SAVE MONEY AND KEEP CUSTOMERS

HAPPY AS RETURN SEASON KICKS