FORT MYERS, Fla-- The holiday season is supposed to be about giving from the heart. But if you use your head and check out return policies before you check out, you may make the season a little more merry for the people who receive your gifts.
  
Also, make sure you always get a gift receipt. If you return the item you'll get the full price back. Keep in mind some stores like Walmart and Target have limits on how many items you can return without a receipt in a month. If you go over that amount they either won't let you return the item.

If you get an electronics gift you don't want, don't open it. Some stores have restocking fees if the packaging is opened. Some of those will cost you as much as 15 percent of the cost of the item.

Make sure you check out how long you have to return the item. Electronic items may have shorter return periods. Some are as short as 15 days.

Always always read the store's return policy before you purchase--especially on those big items.

BEST BUY

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?contentId=1117177044087&id=cat12098&type=page

COSTCO

http://www.costco.com/service/featurepageleftnav.aspx?productno=11204333

KOHLS

http://www.kohlscorporation.com/customer_service/customer_service/ReturnsExchange/ReturnsExchanges.html

MACY'S

http://customerservice.macys.com/app/answers/list/c/4

TARGET

http://www.target.com/Returning-Purchase-Store-Return-Refund/b?ie=UTF8&node=10665391

TOYS R US

http://www.toysrus.com/helpdesk/index.jsp?display=returns&subdisplay=returns

WALMART

http://walmartstores.com/7658.aspx