Returning Shower Gifts

[Deleted User]

Just writing that title makes me sound bratty.

I've been stalking my registry (I CAN'T HELP IT), and I noticed someone bought us 4 of something we want 2 of (and it's not really like we need all 4).

So, I was talking to my mom today and mentioned it and said I wouldn't be using the gifts until after the wedding (and she said I should, because obviously we ARE getting married--we've been together going on 7 years, but I said you NEVER KNOW, and it was one tradition I wanted to keep just for the juju).

BUT, do I return things? If I did, I would return them for gift cards and use the gift card after. Right? Or do I wait to do that after the wedding, too?

And in my thank you, I'm obviously just going to say "thanks for the ___!" No mention of returning.

aurianna

Well from a pure juju standpoint I'd think you'd want to not return them until after the wedding, because then if the worst were to happen, you wouldn't be able to return the gift to the giver (or am I wrong and assuming that is not part of the reason for the superstition?)

From a pragmatic standpoint, I would think it would be ok... less stuff you have clogging up your house that you can't even use yet.

NYCMercedes

Don't use them until after the wedding. Return all, none, or two of them. Ask for a gift card and you can get something you want another time. You may end up with several returns/gift cards from that particular place. Btw, I just have to know two or four of what? Blenders, waffle makers, pillowcases?

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_returning-shower-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bef3429-8f29-4ae5-8e2d-c8423b6111b1Post:261f91ea-7809-410a-8cc5-f281edfabd47">Re: Returning Shower Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Don't use them until after the wedding. Return all, none, or two of them. Ask for a gift card and you can get something you want another time. You may end up with several returns/gift cards from that particular place. <strong>Btw, I just have to know two or four of what? Blenders, waffle makers, pillowcases?</strong>
Posted by NYCMercedes[/QUOTE]

Close! Pillows. Normally I wouldn't care, but we actually had 4 DIFFERENT kinds of pillows on there (soft, medium, hard, side-sleeper memory foam). Two of each. So, now, I have four side-sleeper pillows. It's not a huge deal, I suppose, except, I will HOPEFULLY have 8 OTHER pillows, you know?

So, it's cool to return the duplicates, get a gift card, and just spend the gift card AFTER the wedding? Or, should I, like the poster above you mentioned, wait to return it until AFTER the wedding?

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_returning-shower-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bef3429-8f29-4ae5-8e2d-c8423b6111b1Post:f87c702f-e104-440c-9ee5-b39d64085912">Re: Returning Shower Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Well from a pure juju standpoint I'd think you'd want to not return them until after the wedding, because then if the worst were to happen, you wouldn't be able to return the gift to the giver<strong> (or am I wrong and assuming that is not part of the reason for the superstition?)</strong> From a pragmatic standpoint, I would think it would be ok... less stuff you have clogging up your house that you can't even use yet.
Posted by aurianna[/QUOTE]

No, you're right, and you have a point, and it's why I posted--I can't decide what to do. On the one hand, if I return it, I'll have to rebuy that item with the gift card. On the other, if I DON'T return it, what if there's a 30-day policy or something?

Knottie_22382049

I would check on the return policy. If you do decide to return it and get a gift card before the wedding do not spend the gift card so that just in case you can re purchase the items later. I am also curious what item you would only need 2 of. 

Knottie_22382102

If you only registered for 2, wouldn't it have shown up as "fulfilled" when they tried to order it?'

I would open and use the pillows. I probably wouldn't return anything until after the wedding. Normally they give you a timeframe after the wedding that you can do it, right?

[Deleted User]

In Response to Re: Returning Shower Gifts:
[QUOTE]If you only registered for 2, wouldn't it have shown up as "fulfilled" when they tried to order it?' I would open and use the pillows. I probably wouldn't return anything until after the wedding. Normally they give you a timeframe after the wedding that you can do it, right?
Posted by MuppetFan[/QUOTE]

I guess they ignored it or did it in-store. No idea. My registry has plenty left on it. Like, only maybe 4 things are purchased, so they had plenty to choose from. I don't get it.

As for when you can return it, I really don't know, but I'd assume it's just the standard 30- or 60- or 90-day return policies, and it's not centered around the date.

aurianna

Depends on the policy, as others said. (though, if it's Bed, Bath and Beyond, if I recall their policy is very, very lax. I'm not even sure you need a receipt to return some things for store credit).

If it's too late to return them after the wedding, then I say laugh in the face of juju and return them (but I'd definitely wait to spend the extra store credit).

If the return can wait, I'd wait. But again, that's really just supersition talking (which I'm not sure how to spell...)

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_returning-shower-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bef3429-8f29-4ae5-8e2d-c8423b6111b1Post:feb29736-e671-40fd-b5b4-3a6324431615">Re: Returning Shower Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Depends on the policy, as others said. (though, if it's Bed, Bath and Beyond, if I recall their policy is very, very lax. I'm not even sure you need a receipt to return some things for store credit). If it's too late to return them after the wedding, then I say laugh in the face of juju and return them (but I'd definitely wait to spend the extra store credit). If the return can wait, I'd wait. But again, that's really just <strong>superstition</strong> talking (which I'm not sure how to spell...)
Posted by aurianna[/QUOTE]

Fixed it. :)

Yeah, I'm going to have to look up the policies. I have small registries at Macy's, Target, and Kohl's. This specific thing is from Kohl's.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_returning-shower-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bef3429-8f29-4ae5-8e2d-c8423b6111b1Post:1479a5f7-0f1d-425c-969f-47380c4092ad">Re:Returning Shower Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Are you sure they are all for you?</strong> It's possible the person bought the two on your registry and two more for themselves or someone else. However, unless the return policy will expire beforehand, if you do get 4 I would wait to return them. If nothing else, it is possible you may get other things you want to return from that store later, so why make multiple trips?
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

I thought about that, but they came off at separate times. Two were purchased last week and two were purchased yesterday. So, I dunno, maybe.

You have a valid point about waiting, though. I just checked, and it seems like Kohl's is a "return any time, for any reason, even without a receipt, no questions asked" kind of place.

stumpie3

I worked at Kohl's all through college... You could keep those pillows in a closet for 5 years bring them in yellow looking not even sure where you got them and they would take them back! They have amazing I don't know how return policies with most of their vendors and then just to have great customer service they take everything back. 

I also thought they might not all be for you! Or their dog got the first set??!!

aurianna

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_returning-shower-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bef3429-8f29-4ae5-8e2d-c8423b6111b1Post:0bd946ee-f5ab-4528-b687-9690ce00ac79">Re:Returning Shower Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Although, honestly, if it were me, I'd keep all 4 and put two up in a closet. Extra pillows always come in handy, and we have to replace ours every year or so, so it would be nice to have a second set.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

Very true.
We have four memory foam pillows and three not great pillows. We had three house guests stay for an extended four day weekend just last week and I had to go to my mom's house to steal one of her extra memory foam pillows so that all five of us would have not-crappy pillows.
So... I know I'm going to buy at least one more. The more the merrier!

OwningAHome1981

I'd keep them. You can always use extra pillows... Especially if you have guests sleep over or something. If it was like 3 toasters or something then yeah I'd say return them. Personally though returning things always makes me feel so guilty.

hoffse

OP, you can return them.  We have a few items purchased that we will be returning because they are duplicates or else items we simply don't need (ie: a utensil crock - it was a cute gift, but we have a very nice crock already).  If you can wait until after the wedding I would do that.  Kohl's has a very generous return policy, but double check their registry returns just in case.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_returning-shower-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bef3429-8f29-4ae5-8e2d-c8423b6111b1Post:b8c084b7-93ec-49a6-8bb6-3d9ab81e4257">Re:Returning Shower Gifts</a>:
[QUOTE]Did anything else come off the registry on either of those days? Could be a coincidence. We thought we were getting two sets of the same towels from BBB, but it turned out another wedding guest just happened to buy the exact same towels for her daughter when she bought a completely different item for us. Since she had them swipe our registry code after her purchase, it automatically put the towels as "purchased" too, just because it recognized the barcode.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>No, nothing else came off of the registry.</div><div>
</div><div>Your other point about just keeping them makes sense, too. I mean, it's a pillow, not a 7 foot statue of Jesus.</div><div>
</div><div>BUT, it's good to know opinions on this should I get two of thsoe 7 foot statues.

</div>

Peledreamsofrain

Stage has possession of my brain for the day.  What she said about them possibly not being for you.

You could also always donate them to a women's shelter or homeless shelter.  They always need pillows.