Registry-the good and the bad

[akw94]

Hi ladies,
I''ve been registering all over the place lately and just heard a horror story about Target and their return policy. I don''t know any specifics and have yet to look into but wondered
1- where have you/are you registering?
2- if you''re already married, did you have any great or terrible experiences w/particular stores
or for those not married (yet) have you heard any stories?
and 3- any other registry related info. you''d like to share?

Thanks!

 

[Blenheim]

I was actually reading about Target last night and I don''t want to shop there anymore. Apparently you can only make two returns a year without a receipt, and they both have to be under some dollar amount. They track this using your driver license or something like that, which means if kids try to make returns and are clearly not old enough to have a drivers license, they''ll ask them to come back with a passport. (Or at least, I''ve read one story of this.) I think that you must exchange from the same department that the original item came from and on the same day, although I was also reading one woman''s experience trying to exchange an item of clothing given to her daughter for the same item, one size larger, and they wouldn''t do it. Other people were complaining that the returns people called them criminals when they tried to exchange things, and kept asking if they were sure they hadn''t stolen it.

(This was all on a consumer affairs site.) I''m not sure that I can continue to patronize a store whose default is to treat customers as criminals.

Anyway, onto your actual questions:

1) Crate and Barrel, BB&B, and we had a registry at Macy''s that we deactivated.

2) Crate and Barrel has been wonderful. We had a couple of people helping us to choose cookware that''s appropriate for the way we cook, and they were able to give us really good advice. They were also great about letting us know what was more likely to be discontinued before our wedding. I also hear that their registry events (when they open the store early for engaged couples and give them champagne) are great, but they booked up before we were able to make a reservation.

Bed, Bath and Beyond was initially frustrating but has been good since. We were getting frustrated with Macy''s and decided to transfer our registry there to BB&B. They looked up what was on our Macy''s registry and added it to the BB&B registry we were starting. I didn''t realize this until I looked at our registry online later, but they also looked up our C&B registry and added everything on that one (if they didn''t have the same thing, they would add something similar that I just didn''t like as much) plus some (like, we had some OXO products on our C&B registry so they added every single OXO product in BB&B to our BB&B registry, including a ton that I did not want and would never use). I spent about an hour deleting things, and FI was pretty disgruntled. Their advice about cookware also wasn''t as helpful -- I''d ask what the difference between a 5 qt saute pan and a 5 qt sauteuse pan was and which was better given the way I cook, and they''d tell me just to add both on and that guests like to have a lot of options, even though I kept mentioning limited storage space. In fact, all of their advice seemed to center around how we should register for as much as possible, rather than helping us figure out what we actually wanted. However, they''ve been great about returns so far, and I know that one of our guests was happy about being able to use a bunch of 20% off coupons when buying a gift for us.

By the way, both of these experiences were probably pretty dependent on the staff in the stores that we went to. I''ve gotten good advice from people at the C&Bs in both Tyson''s Corner, VA and in Troy, MI.

Also, both are great at packing breakables. Everything has been majorly padded and protected and has gotten safely through the mail. Additionally, both have websites that are easy to shop from.

We transfered our registry from Macy''s because we don''t agree with their pricing structure and the way that prices jump around so much day to day was annoying. Also, we had a really hard time registering for anything in the store, because they were having a big sale and the scanner gun wouldn''t let us register for anything that was on sale. I can see not wanting us to put something on our registry if it''s on major clearance because it''s discontinued, but this included things like a Kitchen Aid mixer that I know wasn''t going away.

3) Can''t think of anything else!

 

[E B]

We've registered at Pottery Barn and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Since Pottery Barn is a bit pricey, we only have a few things listed: casual china, flatware, serving pieces, wool floor rug, etc. All of the other stuff (toaster, kitchen accessories, etc.) is on our BB&B registry.

We've had no problems with either website so far, but we haven't had to return anything. Friends of ours who recently married said that they noticed Crate and Barrel used an EXCESSIVE amount of packaging for their items, though. A plate would be wrapped in tons of bubble wrap, surrounded by tons of peanuts, in a huge box.

 

[Gypsy]

I've mail ordered things from C&B before... their packaging is great. That's really all I've got to add.

Macy's general customer service blows, so I wouldn't register with them myself.

Target has recently changed their policy regarding returns. It's a 40 dollar max without receipt. On the plus side, if you have paid with a card or a check... they can track it. But yes, they've gotten hostile. Seriously hostile about receipts.

 

[surfgirl]

Anyone have any experiences with registry at Bloomingdales?

 

[Gypsy]

I registered there for our canceled wedding. They were very nice and helpful. But I didn''t need a lot of help, I had already researched and picked out what I wanted.

They offer the largest registry completion discount 15% that I''ve seen. Which is nice. But we canceled the wedding before anyone bought us anything.

Their prices were pretty comparable to Macy''s without the wacky sales and price fluctuations.

 

[surfgirl]

Thanks for the feedback Gypsy. I''m sorry about your engagement. I didn''t realize that. Are you okay?

I didn''t even think about a "completion" discount..cool. They had a huge selection. We went in today and just fell into the housewares dept and found a china pattern that was very affordable and I think even though we''re eloping, people will want to give us something so better to register than get 20 ugly fruit bowls!

 

[Gypsy]

Oh honey. The engagement is still on... and on and on... it''s just the wedding that''s been canceled/postponed a couple of times.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

We registered at Crate and Barrel & BB&B (and a tiny one at pottery barn b/c I liked their bedding). All were very easy and BB&B was the only one I actually set up in store (the others online). SO easy to return at BB&B and since it was our main one we did a lot of that (store credit was given everytime). Pottery barn was the negative since they seemed to change stuff all the time. I would do that one closer to the wedding. Most gifts were mailed from the store and everything got to us in one piece.

 

[jaz464]

I registerd at BB&B and at Kohls.

I see nothing wrong with Target's new return policy. Why should companys take back expensive items w/o a reciept? Of course, SAs should not be implying or stating outright that customers are criminals. I am sure that is a case of a few very, very bad employees. However, I wouldn't think that this policy would affect registries. Do you need a reciept to return an item someone got you on a registry?

 

[neatfreak]

We registered at Crate and Barrel and Williams-Sonoma and they've both treated us very well so far. Haven't received anything yet, so I can't speak to their packing or returns, but just in terms of setting up the registries, they have both been really helpful (in-store) and have easy to use online systems.

 

[sumbride]

We''re registered at BB&B, C&B and Dillard''s (a southern store) with a small china registry at Macy''s for those that don''t have Dillard''s. Thus far we''ve received gifts from C&B and Dillard''s and both have been outstanding!

C&B does use a lot of packing material, but ours was textured paper instead of peanuts, which felt a little better. I actually used it to wrap up my Christmas ornaments so it has been recycled. Dillards, however, uses excessive amounts of styrofoam peanuts! We''ve recived a few shipments of Waterford and it has been packed to throw off a building! We donated the first gigantic garbage bag full of peanuts to a shipping store, but they were a little leary about it. We need to find somebody willing to take them though because we''ll be getting most of our china and crystal from Dillards and it is all shipped from a warehouse. I like Dillards the best though because they send you a little note ahead of time that says the gift was purchased by this person, with address, and when it will arrive! With C&B, the gift just showed up. It was exciting, but I was standing there thinking "I didn''t order anything..." (first gift!)

BB&B also told me to register for almost everything in the store, which was just annoying. He literally said "pick towels in every color". We only have 2 bathrooms... we picked the colors we WANTED. I think they feel they will get more sales if your registry is larger, but in the end it merely confuses guests. Don''t listen to them.

I''m really unhappy with the Macy''s pricing as well and I made a note about that on our website''s registry page. When it isn''t on sale, our china is $25 higher per place setting than Dillards for the SAME china! Ridiculous. I may just dump that registry because if they want to buy online, they can ship to us from Dillards with no sales tax because they don''t have a store here in Maryland.

I''ve heard horrible things about Target and their shiping as well as return policies so we avoided them like the plague. We are thinking about starting one at Pottery Barn just because we want two pieces of furniture... got my eye on the completion discount.

 

[basil]

Not related to registries, but an example of Target''s non-user-friendly return policy.

I purchased a rug from them a while back (it was wrapped in a plastic sleeve, and I never unwrapped it). I saved the receipt. I took it back to the same store, admittedly about 2 days after the official 30-day return policy was up, with the original receipt. I was fine with a general store credit since I can always buy cereal, shampoo, etc. But they insisted that I purchase another item from the same department, on the same day I returned it.

Yes, they are within their rights to have a policy, but it certainly does not encourage me to shop there if they make it difficult to return an item in new condition with a receipt. Nevermind register there.

 

[robbie3982]

I read that the way to get around their policy is that you can print out your registry and if it shows that the item has been bought off of the registry, you can use it as a receipt. So even if you got something that wasn''t on your registry, you can add it on, mark it as bought and then just wait for it to show up online and print it out.

I think I saw this on the knot. Wherever it was though it was posted by someone who works at Target.

 

[Blenheim]

Date: 5/5/2007 10:31:35 AM
Author: robbie3982
I read that the way to get around their policy is that you can print out your registry and if it shows that the item has been bought off of the registry, you can use it as a receipt. So even if you got something that wasn''t on your registry, you can add it on, mark it as bought and then just wait for it to show up online and print it out.


I think I saw this on the knot. Wherever it was though it was posted by someone who works at Target.

Can you mark something as bought if the store didn''t already do it? I''ve looked on both my C&B and BB&B registries and can''t do it on those, although I don''t have any experience with Target''s registry.

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 5/5/2007 6:34:44 PM
Author: Blenheim

Date: 5/5/2007 10:31:35 AM
Author: robbie3982
I read that the way to get around their policy is that you can print out your registry and if it shows that the item has been bought off of the registry, you can use it as a receipt. So even if you got something that wasn''t on your registry, you can add it on, mark it as bought and then just wait for it to show up online and print it out.


I think I saw this on the knot. Wherever it was though it was posted by someone who works at Target.

Can you mark something as bought if the store didn''t already do it? I''ve looked on both my C&B and BB&B registries and can''t do it on those, although I don''t have any experience with Target''s registry.

Yes, with Target you have the ability to mark things as bought on your own.

 

[Fancy605]

You know, I have heard horrid things about Target too, and I didnt innitially want to register there, but it is the only thing close to my co-workers who are throwing me a shower, so I thought, "well, whatever," and only picked things that I know I wouldn''t need to return like placemats, 2 frames I like for wedding photos, some cute lamps, coathangers, and stuff.

1- Bed Bath and Beyond (The experience with them was great. They were SOOOO attentive and helpful!) Macy''s (They were a lil too busy when we went, BUT I like that we get 5% back on everything guests buy us in gift cards through the rewards program.) Belk (Basically a duplicate of my Macy''s Registry--but it is more convinient for the groom''s family), and a few target things.


2- I''ve heard about Target''s return policy, which is why we only went for a few things there.

 

[griffitk]

Date: 5/5/2007 10:31:35 AM
Author: robbie3982
I read that the way to get around their policy is that you can print out your registry and if it shows that the item has been bought off of the registry, you can use it as a receipt. So even if you got something that wasn''t on your registry, you can add it on, mark it as bought and then just wait for it to show up online and print it out.

I think I saw this on the knot. Wherever it was though it was posted by someone who works at Target.

This actually isn''t true anymore. This policy was changed within the last couple of months. There are no exceptions to the Target return policy. Basically, what ever you receive from Target is what you get. Don''t plan on returning or exchanging unless your guests know to mail you the receipt and even then don''t count on it. (30-day window) We didn''t register at Target and I won''t ever buy anyone a gift from there. It''s not worth the risk that they''ll be stuck with it.

We registered at BB&B and C&B.

BB&B was great for us. However, we opted not to use their scanner gun. We went to the store and made a list of things that we liked and then went home and created a registry. It was easy and we liked being able to see everything on the list in front of us. We used the Cooking Illustrated website to read product reviews as we added stuff to the registry to make sure we were getting the best stuff. After the wedding, we went to the store with our giftcards and 20% off coupons and they let us use as many coupons as we wanted. They also ordered us anything off our registry which they didn''t have in the store with free shipping. It was great. Two thumbs up.

C&B was great. We just went to use all of our giftcards and 10% off completion discount today and it was easy! We had a print out of the registry with everything marked that we wanted and they walk around the store and collected it for us. They even carried everything to the car for us. They do us a lot of wrapping, but it''s all from recycled paper. We used the gift boxes from there (super nice) to store all of our china until we get a house. We did have one thing break in the mail and I sent back the "breakage postcard" that came in the box and I got a replacement within a week. No problems what so ever. Two thumbs up!

Have fun registering. It''s a blast!

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 5/6/2007 8:26:54 PM
Author: griffitk

Date: 5/5/2007 10:31:35 AM
Author: robbie3982
I read that the way to get around their policy is that you can print out your registry and if it shows that the item has been bought off of the registry, you can use it as a receipt. So even if you got something that wasn't on your registry, you can add it on, mark it as bought and then just wait for it to show up online and print it out.

I think I saw this on the knot. Wherever it was though it was posted by someone who works at Target.

This actually isn't true anymore. This policy was changed within the last couple of months. There are no exceptions to the Target return policy. Basically, what ever you receive from Target is what you get. Don't plan on returning or exchanging unless your guests know to mail you the receipt and even then don't count on it. (30-day window) We didn't register at Target and I won't ever buy anyone a gift from there. It's not worth the risk that they'll be stuck with it.

We registered at BB&B and C&B.

BB&B was great for us. However, we opted not to use their scanner gun. We went to the store and made a list of things that we liked and then went home and created a registry. It was easy and we liked being able to see everything on the list in front of us. We used the Cooking Illustrated website to read product reviews as we added stuff to the registry to make sure we were getting the best stuff. After the wedding, we went to the store with our giftcards and 20% off coupons and they let us use as many coupons as we wanted. They also ordered us anything off our registry which they didn't have in the store with free shipping. It was great. Two thumbs up.

C&B was great. We just went to use all of our giftcards and 10% off completion discount today and it was easy! We had a print out of the registry with everything marked that we wanted and they walk around the store and collected it for us. They even carried everything to the car for us. They do us a lot of wrapping, but it's all from recycled paper. We used the gift boxes from there (super nice) to store all of our china until we get a house. We did have one thing break in the mail and I sent back the 'breakage postcard' that came in the box and I got a replacement within a week. No problems what so ever. Two thumbs up!

Have fun registering. It's a blast!

If you look on their website, it has this to say about returns:

Q: How long can I return gifts after my event date?
A: You have up to 90 days after your event date to return your items using a valid receipt, gift receipt or Gift Purchase Log.

ETA:

Q: How can I use my Gift Purchase Log for returns?
A: Your Gift Purchase Log is a list of all the gifts your friends and family told us about at the time of purchase. You can print your Gift Purchase Log anytime at the store kiosk and use it just like a receipt - all you need is your password!

 

[tanyak]

Date: 5/5/2007 10:17:33 AM
Author: basil
Not related to registries, but an example of Target's non-user-friendly return policy.

I purchased a rug from them a while back (it was wrapped in a plastic sleeve, and I never unwrapped it). I saved the receipt. I took it back to the same store, admittedly about 2 days after the official 30-day return policy was up, with the original receipt. I was fine with a general store credit since I can always buy cereal, shampoo, etc. But they insisted that I purchase another item from the same department, on the same day I returned it.

Yes, they are within their rights to have a policy, but it certainly does not encourage me to shop there if they make it difficult to return an item in new condition with a receipt. Nevermind register there.

That's weird. You should have had 90 days for your return, unless it was something electronic or a DVD or something.

We registered at Target, too, because I LOVE that store but I will admit they have a very strict return policy. That said, I always, always give gift receipts with a gift, no matter what I buy or where I buy it from. We got stuck with a couple of gifts that I would have liked to return, but we didn't get the gift receipts. I honestly think a lot of it comes down to people who don't really pay attention when they buy gifts - folks who don't give the registry to the cashier to scan, folks who don't ask for/send gift receipts, folks who don't read the rather large sign in customer service explaining the return policy/time window. I've changed my mind of several things I've bought recently (shower curtain, dress, handbag) and I've never had a problem returning, but I keep my receipts and go within 90 days.

All that said, we also registered at BB&B and had a wonderful experience there.

 

[cara]

Date: 5/5/2007 8:29:46 AM
Author: jazmine
I see nothing wrong with Target''s new return policy. Why should companys take back expensive items w/o a reciept? Of course, SAs should not be implying or stating outright that customers are criminals. I am sure that is a case of a few very, very bad employees. However, I wouldn''t think that this policy would affect registries. Do you need a reciept to return an item someone got you on a registry?

Well, what if someone buys you a gift off your Target registry but they (or the store) fails to properly mark it on your gift log? You are stuck. Many people will also pick up a few other things not on your registry and send them to you as gifts - no luck returning those either, even if you know who bought them for you and that they are from Target. While this might not be so horrible as general non-registry related service, I would rather select a store with a more generous return policy for a gift registry to avoid these problems.

Target''s return policy used to be quite generous, and now I think they have swung too far the other direction. The example of the woman wanting to exchange a brand new shirt with tags for an identical shirt in a different size I think is a great example. Yes its possible that the shirt didn''t come from Target so Target is providing a ''service'' from which they did not get any revenue. But its highly unlikely that most people attempting such an exchange are actually trying to rip off Target. While Target may need to clamp down on cash returns without receipt, some of these more draconian policies are just not customer-friendly.

 

[Gwyn]

I think people are missing some points in the Target return policy. Now, I am in no way trying to encourage people to register at Target or promoting them. I have, however, worked there and several other retail stores over the years so I’ve got a lot of experience with return policies.

1. The policy is posted on signs in the store (usually in more then one place, but always at the customer service desk)

2. The policy is written on the receipt.

3. As long as you have the receipt (or a check from the checkbook it was bought with or the credit card it was bought with) they can look up the receipt for you. And you can return practically anything (new or not) within 30 days, 90 for registered items. This is plenty of time to decide whether or not you want an item.

4. When you buy something from targetonline, unless is it specifically an online only item, you can go to any store and return the item (you don’t have to worry about shipping it back)

5. If you have your gift log, you can use that as a receipt. If, the log does not show the item, it was most likely because the purchaser did not bring the log up to the counter when buying your gift. Granted errors can happen, as we are all human, but, having worked in retail for many years, it is usually the purchasers not the clerks.

6. If what you are returning is a Target Branded item (items only target sells) like archer farms or mossimo clothing many stores are more laxed with the receipt policy as it is a guarantee that the item came from them.

7. Receipts are not required for broken or defective merchandise. If you are told differently, you should ask to speak to a manager or GSTL

6. I know that it is hard for people to make sense to the receipt needed, Especially when someone is returning brand new merchandise, with tags that target is selling an exact match to. Inventory is a huge cost to retailers. Why Walmart became so great was their ability to manage this. A lot of time and money is put into making sure that a certain quantity in certain sizes are stocked. If someone buys a small shirt at a store like JC Pennys, and then returns it at target for a Large. Target gets stuck with an extra size small shirt on top of the smalls they have already ordered and project to sell and loses a size large that may have been a better seller. They also get no money on this service since it is an even exchange, if anything they lose money because they have to pay people to process the exchange and retag and stock inventory that isn't even theirs.

Returned items without exchanging is even worst. If you got a radio from KMART and go to return it at Target since they sell that same radio. Target gives out money that they never received and they get nothing back. At least when the above exchange was made, Target was getting back the money they gave out. Granted, now they have merchandise which they can sell for the money they lost, but, you have to remember, they already bought their quota of radios. Extra inventory is not a plus. Who knows if they will sell it or not. And taking up room on their shelves costs them money.

I don’t mean to sound like I am sticking up for them but, I have worked retail on the other side of those desks, I just think that people need to see both sides. If you want target to be able to offer lower cost nice items and compete with stores like Kmart and Walmart, I think people need to be a little more understanding. It is not their fault that you or your guests didn’t bother to read the policy or get a gift receipt. I don’t think that they should be the ones to suffer because of that; they are just trying to make it out there too.

One thing I can say is, if you are having trouble with returning something, ask to speak to a manager. Almost no store wants to waste time haggling over things with customers, especially in front of other customers. Unless it is a huge ticket item, you will probably get someone to cave and return/exchange it for you. You won’t be thought of as the best customer but, hey, at least you will get your item exchanged...
____________________________________
My boyfriend, being unhappy with my mood swings,
bought me a mood ring the other day so he would be
able to monitor my moods.
We've discovered that when I'm in a good mood, it
turns green and when I'm in a bad mood, it leaves a
big red mark on his forehead.
Maybe next time he'll buy me a diamond.

 

[dtnyc]

Date: 5/5/2007 2:35:15 AM
Author: surfgirl
Anyone have any experiences with registry at Bloomingdales?

I registered at Bloomingdale''s as well as 2 comprarable local stores, 1 for my family and 1 for my IL''s since 2 different states/areas and Bloomingdale''s was the best of the 3. I never had an issue returning anything (for credit of course) discount is/was great (they let you use it for more than 6 months,) their website is top notch w/ a great thank-you note manager. They also can print off reports for you keeping track of who gave you what etc. I got e-mails when someone bought something off the registry that was on back order, which was so handy.

I also registered at C&B- no complaints- very basic- wish they were easier going about the completion discount because we lost our slip (wedding, moving, job changes, grad school- it happens)

And I registered at Target and have a non-return related gripe. They turn the registry off after 3 months? WTH? after 3 months we had gotten maybe 65% of our gifts... also I have no record of the registry at all I can''t even see what I did/did not get.

 

[tanyak]

Returned items without exchanging is even worst. If you got a radio from KMART and go to return it at Target since they sell that same radio. Target gives out money that they never received and they get nothing back. At least when the above exchange was made, Target was getting back the money they gave out. Granted, now they have merchandise which they can sell for the money they lost, but, you have to remember, they already bought their quota of radios. Extra inventory is not a plus. Who knows if they will sell it or not. And taking up room on their shelves costs them money.

Not to stray too far off-topic, but I''m amazed at the number of times people have suggested this very thing on various message boards I visit. It usually has to do with unwanted toys given as gifts and sometimes wedding presents. People say "See if Walmart carries it. If they do, take it there and try to get a refund." I don''t know if that''s illegal or not, but it sure as heck is shady.

 

[firstbase32]

My mom works for wal-mart and pretty much she has seen first hand that wal-mart will take back ANYTHING even if it''s from a long time ago.

Two examples:

Example #1:
She was checking in some of the items that had been returned and one item was a crockpot that she had never remembered seeing before in their store. She did some looking around on the box and it clearly said another store on the front of the box. She even admits that most of the time the people at the service desks could careless at Wal-mart, but that just may be around here and not everywhere.

Example #2
She saw some placemats that had very odd writing on them. It ended up being Chinese writing and stapled to the placemats was a note that said the individual bought them at the Wal-mart in China. It was very doubtful that someone who purchased an item in China would return it in Illinois...but however it worked haha.

As for being legal...I''m not sure how legal it is but I''m sure if you just said that you were told they bought it from there if they have it the same product they would definitely return it. I can''t remember a time where I''ve had trouble returning anything to Wal-mart except ink for a printer and then I just gave it to my parents and they returned it for me lol. I guess if you''re friendly to the people at the desk you can get about anything done though.