From the small store perspective, returns are tricky. Obviously, if you are a regular customer, the store should work with you. But, when the packaging has been opened, no one is going to buy it for full price. The profit margin is so tight for small shop owners, this can really hurt. And, unfortunately there are a whole lot of customers who take advantage of stores with returns. But, again, let me say that if you are a regular, please speak to the owner. They understand that things happen, duplicates are purchased, wrong sizes are grabbed, etc. and they will probably work with you.

Privately owned stores can't return defective items back to the manufacturer?

They can, but don't want to because the manufacturer makes them pay the freight for returns, so if they lost money on it already, they are just costing way more to ship it.

Thanks. I had no idea that was the case. That's not fair to the store owner if the item is truly defective.

This is a tough situation. Even Walmart had a sign posted NO RETURN ON FABRIC.

It's been called the "Walmarting of America" and it drives smaller mom and pops out of business. This idea that all items can be returned at anytime is a big problem. The trouble is not created by the innocent returns but by the dishonest returns. Example, purchasing a Fiskars ruler at 60% off at a certain store and returning it to a small shop for full price. I know this is not what you did but, small shops have to set policies to protect themselves.

I just want to say that being in retail, and now at the cutting counter at Joann's, I absolutely do not understand how/why some buy and return willy nilly. Isn't that a waste of time? Of course mistakes and other stuff happens sometimes, but still it just makes me shake my head. BTW, this is in no way in response to the OP question, just a random thought.

Even big box store don't return merchandise to mfg..be it defective or not....knew someone who worked at two different big box hardware/everything type store warehouses where these things are brought....all gets crunched, baled or whatever and sent to recyclers, dumps, who knows, but not back to mfg for credit to company.....guess the original cost is low enough to balance the loss....don't understand it, but that's big business......and if employee takes anything...and is caught...instant dismissal.......some stuff is still good, customer just decided not wanted........go figure.....just like restuarants, donut shops, all chain foods, etc., leftovers are tossed into dumpsters...and we have poor, hungry people in this country....too bad, so sad..

Same here, Lowes and Home Depot will issue store credit if you don't have the receipt. It cuts down on loses due to some people wandering the store and "taking stuff" to the return counter for cash.

I think it is reasonable for a store to require seeing a receipt before giving a refund.

I also think it is reasonable to have a time limit on some items.

One of my granddaughters worked atVictoria's Secret and she was appalled at the amount of theft.

I know some stores would/ could issue a " gift receipt" which had enough info on it so returning or exchsnging the item was easy to do.