Dec 26, 2014 By Rick Shrumbusiness Writerrshrum@observer-Reporter.Com 3 min read

The return game extends beyond football. It’s a post-Christmas crush at malls, big-box stores and specialty shops, where well-intentioned but ill-advised – and ill-fitting – gifts are taken back.

Yes, in some instances, it is better to give than to receive.

There are many happy returns, and even more unhappy ones, between the ho-ho-ho-holiday and Jan. 1. Retailers, of course, established policies on this necessary evil.

And it is necessary, for return fraud is a growing and costly issue for companies.

Some return policies are multi-tiered, but many are consumer-friendly, including a no-receipt, no-sweat stipulation, according to a sampling of department stores in the region.

Neither Kohl’s nor Wal-Mart requires a sales slip.

Kohl’s, located locally at Strabane Square, has a policy of “No receipt? No problem,” Jackie Judkins, public relations representative, said in an email to the Observer-Reporter.

Corporate calls it a “hassle-free return policy” in which “customers can return any item, anytime, for any reason.” Items purchased online likewise may be returned to a Kohl’s store.

For those returning gifts through Wal-Mart, the company says on its website it “has accepted returns without a receipt” for several years, and will do so for most items within 90 days of purchase.

Exceptions include merchandise with a limited return/exchange period of 14, 15 or 30 days. Wal-Mart adjusted that in favor of the consumer, stating the countdown on limited-return items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 begins today – meaning those with a 14-day limit have through Jan. 9 to bring them in; Jan. 10 for a 15-day limit; and Jan. 25 for the 30-day policy.

K-Mart, conversely, says “an original receipt or email confirmation is required for all returns and exchanges.”

“Returns and exchanges must be in the original packaging and contain all the original accessories. (Identification) may be required. Where appropriate, refunds will be issued in the original method of payment, with the exception of purchases made by check, where refunds will be given as cash.”

Sears stores likewise require original receipts and packaging for refund or exchange of merchandise. And, depending on the item, customers have 30, 60 or 90 days from purchase to bring them in.

Like Walmart, Sears is giving “holiday” shoppers more time for returns. For all items bought Nov. 9 through Dec. 24, those with a 30-day limit may be returned through Jan. 24; those with a 60-day limit either have until Jan. 24 (generally November purchases) or 60 days after a December purchase date.

Return policies are retailers’ way of protecting themselves. The National Retail Federation did a return fraud survey this year, and it was rather revealing.

Loss prevention executives of 60 retail companies were surveyed, and they determined that the industry will lose about $3.8 billion to return fraud this holiday season – and $10.9 billion in 2014.

Those retailers estimated that 14.1 percent of returns made without a receipt have been fraudulent this year. Nearly 71 percent of retailers now ask consumers without a receipt to show ID, and 25.5 percent request a receipt and ID – nearly twice the percentage as last year.