Stores register post-Christmas returns
The day after Christmas is the beginning of the end for frenzied holiday bargain shoppers.
After a day's break, retail clerks were back behind the cash register Tuesday to process returns and the popular gift card.
Peebles in Mt. Pleasant opened an hour early to accommodate customers with ill-fitting or unwanted items. Others were taking advantage of sales in department store.
"They want to hit the after-Christmas sales," said Carolyn Funk, assistant manager.
Adam Berry, executive team leader for Target in South Union Township, said he expects a large amount of returns during the next couple of weeks.
Berry said Target extended hours by opening an hour early and closing an hour late to accommodate returns and purchases. Christmas items were half off.
"There's been quite a bit of foot traffic," Berry said.
Marty Savanick, owner of Collections by Marty in Scottdale, doesn't get as many returns as chain retail stores, but is having similar post-Christmas sales.
"There are more people looking for sales today," Savanick said.
Savanick sent an e-mail to customers telling them she extended business hours Tuesday, which was busier than average.
But none of the retailers compare yesterday with the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.
"It's heavy, but not in the amount of Black Friday," Berry said.
Berry and Funk said the item returned most after Christmas is clothing.
Because there are some who just can't be shopped for, Savanick has started a gift registry so wives or girlfriends can list exactly what they want. She plans on getting the word out about the list early next year to help men who tend to enter her store on Christmas Eve in desperate search of a gift.
Kelly Shaffer and her daughter, Cara Shaffer, both of Hunker, started their day-after-Christmas tradition at Peebles, returning clothing and looking out for deals.
"I probably won't leave here without spending money," Kelly Shaffer said.
She and her daughter are returning about 15 percent of their gifts, which is less than previous years.
One reason for the lower number of returns is gift cards.
Retailers agree the rise in the popularity of gift cards throughout the years has helped with a decline in returned Christmas gifts.
Funk said Peebles sold out of Christmas-themed gift cards and resorted to selling the everyday versions.
"The gift cards have helped," Berry said. "It has made it easy on our guests."
The National Retail Federation found gift card sales will total $24.81 billion this holiday season, which is a $6 billion increase from 2005.
Consumers spent more on gift cards than they did last year, as well, an average of $116 this year versus $88 in 2005.
"The popularity of gift cards has increased at a remarkable rate," said Tracy Mullin, president and CEO. "Consumers love gift cards because they take the guessing out of holiday shopping and retailers love them because they are easy to stock and take up minimum shelf space."
