SIKESTON -- The presents are unwrapped, and now it's time to exchange the shirt that's a size too big or bring back an item that was duplicated this Christmas.
But retailers caution there are some things consumers can do to help smooth the return/exchange process.
Tami Heavener of the management team at JC Penney in Sikeston described the returns and exchanges department as chaotic, not only the day after Christmas, but throughout January.
"Just please don't tear off the tags," Heavener requested. "If people would just leave the tag on there with a UPC bar code, that would be wonderful."
Having the UPC bar code on the item is important because it can determine which store the item came from, Heavener said.
"There are a lot of other name brands other stores carry, and if we don't have that bar code, it's very hard to recognize the item as ours," Heavener explained.
Sikeston Goody's Family Clothing manager Gina Alexander noted days following Christmas, the store is full-staffed.
"We have extra coverage the week after Christmas -- probably more than we do before Christmas," Alexander said. "If those who are returning or exchanging things would just be prepared when they come in, that will help a lot."
Martha Cox, owner of Accent Shop in Sikeston, noted store employees are always happy to exchange or credit merchandise.
"Of course it always helps for them to have their receipt," Cox said. "They should just have their receipt and be open-minded to look for anything else."
Generally for cash returns, customers definitely need a receipt, and without a receipt, a retailer may only provide merchandise credit for the lowest markdown price at which the item was sold in the past 30 days.
But according to a National Retail Federation survey, it appears most consumers are taking advantage of gift receipts. The second annual survey, conducted for NRF by BIGresearch, reports 47.6 percent of gift givers enclose either a gift receipt or the original receipt with a gift most or some of the time, up from 41.7 percent last year.
"Gift receipts are a win-win situation for retailers and their customers," said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin in a recent release. "Retailers can verify that merchandise was purchased at their store and consumers can be refunded for the actual purchase price of an item."
In fact most store policies can be found at the bottom or back of store receipts or on their store Web sites.
According to the survey, 91.2 percent of consumers find stores' return policies to be fair, up from 90.1 percent last year.
"Customers understand that retailers have policies in place to make returns easy for their honest shoppers, but more difficult for those few who are trying to cheat the system," Mullin said. "The last thing a retailer wants to do is alienate their customers, especially at this time of year."
The National Retail Federation recommends consumers plan to make returns as soon as possible after the holidays to take advantage of extended hours and extra help and to get the best selection of merchandise for an alternate gift.
But Micah Hodges, floor supervisor for Van Heusen at the Sikeston Factory Outlet Stores, isn't so sure.
"Everybody comes first thing in the morning. It might be better if they come in the afternoon when we can actually make more cash and it's not as busy," Hodges recommended.
Other tips by the National Retail Federation include providing all original packing and parts when returning a gift. If a gift was purchased online, check to see if the retailer has a physical store and see if the returns or exchanges can be made there.
In addition, make sure addresses are correct and know who pays for shipping when exchanging or returning an online gift through mail.
And Heavener expressed a final reminder for consumers this post-holiday season: "We just ask that they be patient with us. We've been working long days and our clerks are tired, but we will do the darnedest to please them."