How to return or exchange holiday gifts that are just wrong

The holidays are a time of great fun and
generosity, but chances are, a lot of us are
getting gifts we don't really want. Usually, we
can return or exchange those items when
those gifts are from major retailers.
But what about those other times?
Whether your mother-in-law gives you an
itchy sweater you can barely touch or a friend
gives you a gift card to their favorite
steakhouse when you hate meat, here's how
to turn it into the gift of your dreams.
Exchange gift cards
One man's (or woman's) trash is another's
treasure. When you receive a gift card that
you know won’t use, it may just be a gift card
someone else will love.
Here's where gift card exchange sites — like
Raise.com or Cardpool.com — come in handy.
You can sell a pre-owned gift card for close
to face value and receive either cash or an
Amazon gift card.
If you prefer something more personal, you
can always exchange gift cards one-on-one
with friends, coworkers or family. Just be
careful.
"When it comes to trading gift cards
remember: It’s not dollar-for-dollar because
money is only worth what it can buy,” says
Brett Graff or The Home Economist and
author of "Not Buying It: Stop Overspending
And Start Raising Happier, Healthier, More
Successful Kids."
Other ideas for cards include donating them to
the school auction or another cause. Then
you get a far more valuable gift come April: a
tax deduction!
Or, Coinstar kiosks allow you to trade in
unwanted gifts cards in person.
"You can also donate your gift card to a good
cause at Plywood,” adds Jamie Novak, expert
organizer and author of multiple books
including "Keep This Toss That."
Donate
Rather than rolling your eyes at a sweater
you'll never wear, use an unwanted gift as an
opportunity to give to others by donating to
worthy causes, like Dress for Success.
“A huge way to deal with frustration is to
contribute, which may shift our perspective
and enhance our sense of gratitude. Plus,
constantly looking at the sweater bag will just
leave you with lots of opportunities to feel
annoyed,” says Jennifer L. Taitz , a clinical
psychologist.
Trade it in
Few people know that Amazon.com offers a
great trade-in program. You don't even need
to be a Prime member.
"Any account holder can trade an item into
Amazon for account credit on a future
purchase,” says Novak. Amazon even pays the
shipping fee!
Re-sell
What do you do with clothing you'll never use
or wear?
"Instead of burying gifts at the back of the
closet, be proactive and turn them into
something you'll use,” says Natasha Rachel
Smith, money-saving expert for shopping
website TopCashback.com . "If you can't
return them, sell them. There are plenty of
websites for this, eBay being one of the most
notorious. You'll likely pay less fees with
other sites like Bonanza and eBid ."
If have designer goods, it's worth checking
out Tradesy.com or Poshmark.com . For
electronics, BuyBackWorld.com and Raise.com
will, in many cases, actually pay you $1.50
per gift you list.
"For those who are less patient, pawn shops
or yard sales are a quicker cash-in-hand
option," Smith adds. "Although, you may not
make as much as selling online."
And there are plenty of places to find or sell
niche gifts. For example, Reverb.com has
made a name as a music gear marketplace.
But there are a few best practices:
1. Provide as much detail as possible.
"The more information you provide in
your listing, the more searchable your
item will be," suggests Dan Orkin,
director of content at Reverb.com.
2. Be professional. Excellent grammar and
error-free spelling can go a long way
when you list an item online. “Avoid
crazy claims, exclamation points and
all caps in your listing title — those can
come off as spammy,”

Re-gift
Re-gifting is a great option if you received a
lovely item that just isn't right for you. But
make sure that the item is right for its new
recipient and won't just be passed on again,
like that infamous Christmas candle . And, of
course, make sure you don't accidentally give
it back to the person who gave it to you.
Have a party
Host a re-gifting party where guests bring
gifts they'd otherwise return. Then each
person "shops" for a new gift. Whatever is
leftover can be donated to charity, says
Novak.
Give them a hint for next year
If you've received a gift from someone you
feel close to, you can gently acknowledge why
the gift wasn't a great fit.
“If you use humor and warmth and say
something that's an incentive to them, like, 'I
don't want you to rack your brain trying to
think of what to get me anymore,' you won't
have to run back and forth to do returns,”
suggests Taitz.