Rubbish presents? Can you take them back?

A study has revealed that one in four presents given every Christmas end up being left to languish in the back of cupboards or thrown out. The study, by voucher resale marketplace Zeek, also found that the average person will get £44 worth of presents that they don't want or like.

What to do?

The country is divided on their approach to unwanted presents. There are those who have no qualms about showing their true feelings, telling the gift-giver that they hate the present, and asking for the receipt. There are others, meanwhile, who would rather eat a plate of overcooked sprouts than admit how unimpressed they are with their scented drawer liners and ill-fitting pyjamas.

There are pros and cons with both approaches. The former are far more likely to get a replacement present, but will upset their friends and family, and may find themselves receiving far less impressive gifts the following year. The latter, meanwhile, risk getting presents along the same lines for every other year of their life.

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Both, however, need to know where they stand if they want to take the items back to the shop.

The rules

Technically, the stores aren't obliged to accept returns - even if you have the receipt. If there's nothing wrong with the item in question, they can refuse to take it back.

In some cases, they will rigidly stick to the rules - particularly if the item is perishable, has been used, or was personalised in the first place.

However, for other items, many shops will accept returns as a goodwill gesture, and over the Christmas period many of them will even extend their usual deadlines for bringing items back, so that things that were bought in November can be returned. To get a full refund, however, you will usually need a receipt or a gift receipt.

This is where the shamelessly ungrateful will prosper, as they can just ask for the receipt, get the cash, and buy something they prefer.

No receipt?

If you don't have the receipt, then make sure you keep the item in its original packaging. You will be on the back foot when you are asking a shop to take something back, so try to have as much in your favour as possible. If you are trying to return a CD, DVD or software, you stand very little chance at all of getting a refund if the seal has been broken or the cellophane unwrapped.

You are unlikely to get the cash either, as most stores will either offer an exchange or a gift voucher. They will only offer the price it is currently selling for too - so if the item has been heavily discounted, you'll get a tiny fraction of its full price.

If the item was bought online, things are even trickier for anyone who doesn't want to admit they don't like the gift. Usually the person who bought it will have to arrange the refund or exchange, so again it's only those with no fear of upsetting friends and relations who will be able to arrange this.

Of course, taking the item back isn't your only option, because you can regift it instead. It's worth knowing the rules on this too if you don't want to end up offending anyone. You can also sell the items on, and you can check out some of the most lucrative options here.

But what do you think? What approach do you use? And do you ever ask for the receipts? Let us know in the comments.