Want to return a hideous Christmas sweater or a ton of Tupperware you don't need? This holiday season, consumers will have an easier time returning unwanted gifts.
Many retailers, in a bid to win shoppers' good will during a dismal holiday shopping season, are making their return policies more flexible and extending the amount of time consumers have to bring merchandise back.
About 52 percent of retailers surveyed said their holiday return policies would be more lenient, according to Washington, D.C.-based trade group National Retail Federation. That reverses a trend of stricter policies in recent years to thwart bogus returns.
This year, Sears extended its holiday gift return policy to 120 days after purchase for most sales between Nov. 16 and Dec. 23. That's 30 days more than last year's policy.
Other stores have decided to reward their most frequent shoppers.
Best Buy will allow holiday returns from its "Premier Silver" shoppers, those who buy at least $2,500 worth of goods in a year, until Feb. 7. That's two weeks longer than the return window for others who buy at the chain electronics store this Christmas.
"What we're trying to do is make sure we have long-term relationships with our customers," spokesman Brian Lucas said.
Some stores tighten rulesSome analysts said the change of heart reflects retailers' fear of weaker holiday sales. Last month, the number of customers shopping fell 16.7 percent and sales declined 0.7 percent compared with a year ago, according to ShopperTrak RCT Corp.
Retailers have dramatically slashed prices to spur more customers to buy.
"When it comes to competing on price this year, all retailers are obviously in the same playing field," said Kathy Grannis, a National Retail Federation spokeswoman. "By offering more lenient return policies, retailers are attracting some shoppers that others may not."
Holiday returns are expected to increase to about $47.1 billion this year, up from about $40.4 billion in 2007, the retail federation said.
Not all stores are loosening return rules.
Some local retailers, struggling with weak sales, said they plan to keep their return policies just as they are or even get a little tighter.
Barnes & Noble said it changed its policy in September to accept returns within 14 days with a receipt compared with 30 days before to be in line with other major stores.
Some local shoppers said a bigger concern is whether they have money to spend on gifts.
Real Estate Outlook: Sales Jump in Ailing Markets
Plunging sales push KB Toys into bankruptcy
