RETRUNS from a Baby Shower

Thanks for this post. I registered at Target, my shower is next week
so its too late to change things. I will tell everyone about this, it
is completely infuriating. I, like you, thought it would be
convenient for people so I picked target over the babies r us and
other baby chain stores.

Maybe there is confusion here.

They would let you do a return but have no clue what a retrun is!

How about signing up your guests at your shower for some reading
lessons? Then they would have been able to read the signs about gift
receipts.

I just bought something last night at Target and happened to peak at
my reciept. On the reciept, there is now a "Reciept Expires On
XX/XX/XXXX" message.

I think this is a great idea - regardless if I agree or not with their
other policies.

Starting soon (I missed the date they cited), you'll need a receipt
for all returns of $20 or more (it's currently $40, and just a month
ago it was $100). Target cited "return fraud" and "return abuse" as
the motivation behind tightening its return policy.

So really, you have two groups of people to thank for the more
stringent return policy: People who fail to give gift receipts when
it makes sense to do so (showers, birthdays), and people who try to
return merchandise they didn't pay for.

Lol more complaints for Target...I always say I'll never shop there
just because of this website.

I hate Target. I always have. I probably always will. I step foot
in their store MAYBE 3 times a year and that is usually because
someone in my house received a gift certificate. The return policy
sucks. The department credit only sucks. Their whole policy isn't
consumer friendly if you ask me.

There was a time when I needed help. When I had my first child we
needed to have a baby shower. It wasn't a luxury, it was a necessity.
Shortly after I got pregnant, my husband's child support was doubled,
I was a newly enrolled college student and we couldn't afford to buy
baby necessities. If it weren't for my friends and family... I don't
know what my son would have worn, kept warm with or slept in. It is
hard being a new mom and we can all use all the help we can get. I
strongly believe that new moms should have baby showers and should
utilize registries. If someone doesn't like that you registered (like
many of the commenters on this letter), they are welcome to skip the
shower.

That said, before you register you should always know what the return
policies are before you make your registry. A registry isn't free
reign to break rules. You have only yourself to blame for you being
stuck with all those unusable clothes. My only clothing requirements
for my shower was gender non specific as we didn't know what gender
the baby was. A funny thing happened to my girlfriend... for months
she was told she was having a girl. The 1st and 2nd ultrasound showed
a little girl. So for her baby shower she received all girl things.
Little girl clothes, little girl decor for the little girl's room...
everything pink and purple... Imagine the surprise when she had a
boy. Before she even got out of the hospital her husband had to take
almost everything back to the store so that they would have clothes
for a little boy.

I agree that too many 0-3 month clothes are an inconvenience. My
first son was practically born in 3-6 month clothes. He was in 0-3
month clothes in the hospital only. Thankfully we received mostly
3-12 month clothes. The 0-3 month clothes my husband actually brought
up to the hospital so he'd get to wear them. I suggest that you
utilize Ebay to sell all the 0-3 month clothes that you feel you won't
use. NWT sell fast and high.

Good luck with your baby. I will be trying for our last child here
shortly. You would think after having 3 boys I would give up on that
girl but I have to give it one more shot... lol (NO Deb... not right
now!)

It sounds like because you had THREE baby showers, you are very
fortunate.

I would suggest donating the extra items to a women's shelter, or
Crisis pregnancy center for other mom's to use. Some parents only are
able to afford one blanket, and some women are never given a baby
shower.

I understand your frustration when the items are obviously from
Target. I think the recent crack-down stinks- but it's a necessary
measure to control loss-prevention.

Because your child is so blessed already, I hope you seriously
consider donating. (You could even 'adopt' a local family of your
choice, or a mom who really needs those items.) If you sell them, you
won't get nearly what they're worth, and think of the JOY they could
bring to someone else.

I'm sorry you're stuck in this unfortunate situation, but maybe it's a
good chance to help out where needed.

Good Luck!!

...people like him take stuff back without reciepts that they did not
buy there :)

Seriously though, and I am sure it has been mentioned, your friends
should have given you gift reciepts and that solves everything.

I can understand how it's frustrating when it happens to you, but I
can also understand stores getting less lenient on their return
policies.

What the heck is a 'RET-RUN' anyway?

this is the most ridiculous argument i've ever read. get a life.

You know, if you're going to bump your letter by using a bunch of
pseudonyms to "fake post", you could AT LEAST try to come up with
something more clever to open with other than UMMMMMMM.

But again, look what we're working with here. . . .

Oh, you'll be able to use them. It's so funny when people have their
first child and they think "Oh, I'll never need all this clothing! Do
I really need more than a couple blankets?" You will go through
clothing like crazy. You may very well need to change you baby's
entire outfit several times a day. And since the clothes are so small,
you can get away without doing laundry for a long time IF you have
dozens of outfits. Trust me.

If you really, really want to return the outfits, why not just ask
your guests for a gift receipt?

Maybe it's just me but I always buy things off the registry and on the
rare occasions I did something else I always put the gift receipt in
the card.

I registered at Target and Penneys and Babies R Us with our first and
didn't have a problem. I registered at Target, Penneys, Crate and
Barrell and MArshall Field's for our wedding and no problem.

BECAUSE people either bought off our registry or put in gift
receipts.

It's been my experience with these registries that people tend to
regeister the most "expensive" items that they want (not NEED but
WANT), along with a "few" of the least expensive. Once those least
expensive items have been bought guests are left with the choice of
spending more than they really can or, purchasing something else not
included in the registry.

You are not entitled to shower gifts because you are having a baby.
These were gifts from people who obviously care about you and want to
share in your upcoming miracle in some small way. Please don't let
your resent for not getting what you wanted spoil that. Shopping for
baby gifts is enjoyable and your guests put much thought in to their
choices.

If you can't use them and choose not to donate or resell them,
consider storing them away to regift at showers that you will be
invited to.

Good luck with your new bundle of joy!

I registered at Target for both my wedding and baby shower, did not
have any problems. Why should Target have to return them with out a
receipt, especially since the register automatically prints gift
receipts? Unfortunately after working retail for 15yrs I have seen
people who made careers out of stealing stuff form stores and
returning it without a receipt for store credit/cash. Not to say your
stuff was stolen but people who were dishonest have ruined it for
everyone else. And our Walmarts return policy is not any less strict.
I accidently grabbed a package of diapers that were the wrong size,
they were in the wrong spot on the shelf and the baby was crying so I
didn't notice right away. I tried to return the UNOPENED package with
the receipt and they refused. So now I have a package of size 5
huggies my daughter may be able to wear in a year or two.

They have a return policy. You should have checked what it was when
you registered, knowing that you may indeed receive things you don't
need.

It is really a simple concept: if you want to take something back, get
a receipt. If you might want to take something back, get a receipt.

It may well be tacky to ask for receipts if gifters don't supply them.
It seems like it is us up the gifter to watch your back on this one.
If they don't give you a receipt, or keep one to exchange and give you
something else (I don't know the etiquette on this), you pretty much
have a new item you can give/sell to someone else or give to charity.

I just read Jeffrey's response. It says something very well that was
running around in the back of my mind - why did these friends of yours
buy a bunch of stuff that wasn't on your list?

Like many of the others, I don't see where it is a store's
responsibility to allow returns or exchanges from a baby shower just
because you suspect the merchandise was purchased there.

I think someone else gave a really good suggestion. Donate the
unneeded items to a local shelter. What a wonderful alternative.

Like many of the others, I don't see where it is a store's
responsibility to allow returns or exchanges from a baby shower just
because you suspect the merchandise was purchased there.

I think someone else gave a really good suggestion. Donate the
unneeded items to a local shelter. What a wonderful alternative.

wow had the same thing happen but for walmart, with a wedding. funny
thing is they took it all back no problems.

Someone else complained about the Target return policy and while I
understand it it sure seems like Target would allow a different return
policy for someone that was registered there. Seems like they could
set a 6 month, $1000 policy for people that have been registered for a
while.
I would question why anyone would register there knowing that they
cannot really return anything.

Anyone else have that Deja Vu feeling while reading this? I vaguely
recall reading a letter with three registries and the same issues.
Maybe it's just me...

Anyway, I guess it's become common practice. There's some excellent
responses and great advice in this thread. I don't have an issue with
Target or their return policy at all. It's something that works for
them and me. Perhaps send a request for all gifts from target come
with a gift receipt in the invitation would have been a good idea.

Personally, If any one tells me where not to register, I'd pick one
whammy of a gift from an expensive store and send them only that
registry with the words "No Substitutions, Please".

I have one word for you. eBay. If you are so worried about money (and
as a relatively new parent with one on the way I can surely relate).
25-30 brand new (presumably with tags) would probably fetch a pretty
penny. You could then use the proceeds to buy the things that you
need.
I hate to say it, though, without a receipt or gift receipt, Target is
under no obligation to return anything for you. Ask the givers to
provide you with the paperwork, or chalk it up to lesson learned.
Also, IMHO, your comment (in all caps no less) about telling all your
friends not to register at Target makes you sound like a very
vindictive, immature person. I'm sure you're not, so please revise
and re-send your letter as a suggestion.

I wonder...what will you do when your baby is too small for the
clothes given? Try and return them again to Target?

Someone below had a great idea to eBay the clothes. Or even donate
them to Goodwill. Or, you can save them for your next child!

I can only shake my head.Why can't you use these items? If they are
too big, you know babies grow right? I think registries are rude
anyway but that's just my opinion.Maybe that will get deleted to since
the truth hurts here apparently.


Here's what you do.Return the stuff to the people who were dumb enough
to get you a gift so that they can get thier money back.And then, go
buy your own stuff instead of giving your students and family a list
of stuff they HAVE to get you.

You should be "telling as many people as possible" not to buy such an
ungrateful person gifts and put their money to better use next time.

And furthermore I would like to add, I am entitled to my own opinons.I
am not here to start thread wars.There is a reply button.I choose to
REPLY with my opinion just like everyone else.

sorry, couldn't help it, it's Friday afternoon and work is a drag.

Just one thing to say on this

EBAY

NWT (new with tags)

Its a feeding frenzy on ebay for baby clothing with tags.

After some thought, I realized what the OP is saying.

The OP is saying "I send business your way (by having a registry at
your store), so you need to do me a favor by allowing unlimited
returns without a receipt."

Apparently anyone that gets a few of their friends and relatives to
shop at Target, instead of elsewhere, is entitled to returns without
receipts. I guess. Or so Duke's logic goes.

This is the corollary to "if you don't give me my way, I'm going to
tell everyone I know." Personally, I call that blackmail.

Maybe I should go into Target and demand a 50% discount on everything
because, gosh, all my friends shop there. Or maybe I should just hold
my breath until I turn blue.

Yeah, that'll show 'em.

So you're stuck with 25-30 items that you will never be able to use in
the 0-3 month range - - items that were GIFTS that you never paid for
in the first place. Your firends and family and students bought you
GIFTS that you didn't include on your registry and you are complaining
to Target that they need to be more lenient with their return policy
for people that want to make unlimited returns without a receipt
simply because they used the registry?

Isn't going to happen - - Target doesn't need to do squat.

You know who you need to be bitching at? The people who spent their
hard earned money on your baby GIFTS but were thoughtless and didn't
follow your encouragement to select items from your Target registry
and didn't include gift receipts so you could return the GIFTS they
selected for something else or cash. Shameful.

I, too, am reminded of the woman who posted a heartbreaking letter not
too long ago about her problems returning baby gifts without a receipt
and her reason for the returns is because her baby died. If an
exception should have been made for anyone it should have been for
her. You have absolutely nothing to complain about and I hope that
everyone who bought you gifts are PFB members and can read about the
fact you're upset because you can't return what they bought you.

Can someone PLEASE show me where in the literature for Target's baby
registry that it states that EVERY item purchased from Target for the
intended registry recipient will be completely exempt from all our
posted conditions for return?

(fyi: I worked in Guest Services, the aforementioned verbiage DOESN'T
EXIST!)

OK, here's the thing folks, a registry is nothing more than a
CONVENIENCE for your SHOWER GUESTS. It is not a contract, not a
guarantee, not an insurance policy that you won't get duplicates,
wrong sizes, whatever.

Target doesn't need a more lenient policy, it needs registrants to
have a better understanding of how a registry works!

Why, just because you created a registry and your friends completely
ignored it does that entitle you to some sort of preferential returns
treatment any more than those of us WITHOUT a registry?

The short answer - IT DOESN'T.

What would happen if you registered for an item that is also sold at
WalMart, KMart and Babies R Us? Does that mean that any duplicates
purchased should have to be Target's responsibility to take back? Why
is that their problem?

Again, the short answer - IT ISN'T.

You can go scream it from the mountaintop, email the Pope and stick
out your tongue every time you drive past a Target. I can assure you
their policy won't change and they don't care.

You gotta wonder about these friends of yours that go to Target
(because you registered there), read your registry, and then decide to
ignore your wishes and buy you other stuff.

I'm all for buying someone something that's not on the registry. But
that's stuff that's unique or special. But I'd never buy random stuff
from Target (where the person had registered) that wasn't on the
registry.

And if I did, I'd include the gift receipt. Shame on these people for
not giving you a gift receipt.

You know why they didn't? Because they actually wanted you to keep
the stuff. They were under the delusion that their choice was better
than the stuff on the registry and that you'd like it better.

You didn't. Or at least you didn't like the fact that you go too much
of it.

You have a choice. Ask the gift givers for the receipts. Say "I love
it, but as you can see, I got way too many onsies. I need to return a
few of them to buy some diapers, which I desperately need."

Or, realize that there are parents out there that need these items and
donate them.

Need the money, yourself? OK, then sell 'em. Surely there must be a
consignment shop in your area. Craig's list? Something.

I'm a parent of 2. I know, for well, that you'll get a ton of stuff
over your kids life that you cannot use. What do I do? I give the
extras to my sister, to friends. I sell them at consignment sales.
And I donate them to organizations that help parents who are not
nearly as fortune as I. Some people don't have friends that can buy
them a ton of stuff. And, yet, kids needs clothes.

Before you go to return an item to Target, add it to your registry.
It should still be open, and they don't check when the item was added.
That's how I did it with my wedding registry. It works.

Let's keep that a secret between us and, well, the entire internet.

Duke, there was a similar letter here a few months ago from a woman
who also was unable to return many of the baby items that she had
registered for at Target, but did not receive a receipt. However, the
reason she needed to return her items was that her baby passed away.

Yes, it's annoying that you received too much, but the bottom line is
that you have (or will have) your baby. You can donate the items, as
many have suggested, put them away for another baby of your own or
someone else, or take them to a consignment shop or sell them on
eBay.

There are always going to be bumps on the road of life - if you just
learn to steer around them you'll be much happier.

This has been Target's policy for a long time. How do you know that
these items were purchased from Target when they were not on your
registry? Why can't you simply ask the people who gave you the gifts
for the receipt or the gift receipt? Target always prints a gift
receipt. I love that about them. I just tape it to the gift or the
back of the card so the person can return it if necessary.

How many of these do we see? I mean really? Everyone of these says
the same thing, I am special and you should make an exception for me.


I think that it is a very strict policy and do not necessarily
completely agree with it, but I understand why it is in place, and I
appreciate Targets right to enforce it any way they see fit.

Target gives gift receipt with every purchase over 1.00 I believe, so
there really is not any reason to not have the receipt.

Unfortuantely there are a lot of scam artists out there who have made
this kind of policy necessary. If your gift givers had asked to have
the item removed from the registry when they purchased you would not
have had duplicates.

I understand your frustration, I really do, but Target puts this
policy on the back of their receipts and also bill board size at Guest
Services. Policies like this keep prices down. Just because you
where not aware of the policy is not a reason for them to make an
exception, also please remeber that returns are a courtesy, a
COURTESY, no retailer is required to take anything back that is not
defective. So cut down on the sense of entitlement and donate the
items to the homeless shelter or womans shelter. At least that way it
will do someone some good.

Yeah but will they all listen.

The problem isn't Target's return policy. The problem is people who
fail to give gift receipts with their presents to others.

I never buy newborn-sized clothes. I buy things for 9 or 12 months
(estimating the appropriate time of year). Many mom friends have
thanked me. And I include the gift receipt in with the card.

That is frustrating, but Sioux Fan is right. I'm not sure how making
allowances for people who had registries would make any difference
either, since you wouldn't be returning the items if the gift giver
had followed the registry in the first place.

Bottom line to me is, you got all this stuff for free. Use what you
can and give the rest to a good charity. There are plenty of mothers
out there that need this stuff, and you have an opportunity to help
them out without spending a dime.

A receipt dated within 90 days is required for all returns and
exchanges.

Blame the gift givers for not including gift receipts, not Target.