Across Canada, parents are hitting malls, shoe stores, and office supply depots looking for school supplies now that classes have resumed, and if their children aren’t along for the trip they may be making purchases intending to return some items later. The Better Business Bureau is reminding shoppers to ask about return and exchange policies before handing over the cash to avoid frustration and disappointment later.
In Alberta, nearly all purchases can be treated as a final sale, a fact that may come as a surprise to those used to the generous policies practiced by some large retailers. BBB frequently fields calls from consumers angry that they are unable to return a purchase, contending that they were not made aware of the store’s policy at the point of sale and therefore the business should be forced to take the item back. Our response is always similar: a business is not compelled to explain or post their refund/exchange policy, and it is the buyer’s responsibility to know what he or she is getting into. We can certainly sympathize with unhappy callers, many of whom have perfectly valid reasons for wanting to return goods, but a business unwilling or unable to accept a return is not doing anything wrong.
While many businesses choose to indicate their policy in signage or on receipts, there is no obligation for you to be actively informed of that policy. There are many good reasons why a business may or may not allow returns, reasons each business must weigh for itself.
So if you’re not sure your child will fit into – or like – what your buying, don’t assume that you can just take it back. Look for signs in the store indicating a policy, and if there’s any doubt, ask. A little bit of inquiry can save a lot of frustration later.