As the warm weather moves in and schools let out for the summer, May is the time to buy household goods and entertaining essentials.
Return Policies and Price Matching
In this review:
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Holiday Gift Returns
Here, Walmart holds the edge with its straightforward return policy: Items must be in the original package with the tags attached, accompanied by a receipt or gift receipt, and returned within 90 days of purchase. If you don't have the receipt, Walmart can look up the purchase if you know the exact sales date. Failing that, you'll get a cash refund for items costing less than $25 and a gift card for items costing more. The refund on anything returned without a receipt will be equivalent to the price of the item the day it's returned. (For example, if you don't have a receipt and the item has been put on clearance, the refund will be the clearance price.) Some items bought on Walmart.com can be returned to a Walmart store, but check the return guidelines for each item; shipping costs on items sent back are deducted from the refund unless Walmart.com initially made an error. Shopper reviews posted on SiteJabber say returns are really easy at Walmart and its online operation.
Making returns at Amazon isn't quite as simple. The return policy depends on the item, so you need to check the guidelines at the site's Returns Center. Most items have a 30-day return window, with leeway for holiday gifts purchased through Amazon proper, not the Marketplace; items shipped in November and December can be returned until January 31. With no store to visit, you must send the item back to Amazon and processing takes 10 to 15 business days once the item is received. The refund is credited to the account used for payment (e.g., credit, debit, or Amazon gift card) with a deduction for return shipping costs -- unless an Amazon error is the reason for the return. If a gift is returned, the recipient needs the order number on the packing slip and receives an Amazon gift card, via email, in the amount of the gift. If there's no packing slip, the gift recipient must contact Amazon customer service. Despite the seeming hassle of sending something back, many Amazon shoppers posting at SheSpeaks say the process is easy, whether you're dealing with a return, refund, or exchange. One reviewer had very kind words for customer service, noting she received a free upgrade on a Kindle cover in exchange for the malfunctioning one she had purchased.
Digital photo frames on sale at Walmart.
Price Matching.
Discount-savvy shoppers are probably familiar with the price-matching concept, which can yield huge rewards during the holiday shopping season. On this issue, the Amazon-or-Walmart quandary is resolved in favor of the latter. At Amazon, price matching is limited to TVs. If you find the same exact TV on a website that qualifies (e.g., Walmart.com) or Amazon lowers its price within 14 days of shipping, Amazon will post a credit to the account used to make the purchase. Walmart, by contrast, is an aggressive price matcher. The new Christmas Price Guarantee matches a lower price for the exact same item advertised by an area retailer even after you've bought the item at a Walmart store; bring in the ad and you'll get a gift card for the difference. Walmart's long-standing Ad Match Guarantee program also matches lower prices on in-store items. If you've seen an ad for an identical product selling for a lower price elsewhere, just tell the cashier and the price is discounted on the spot -- you don't even have to show the ad. Several shoppers commenting on SheSpeaks are big fans of Ad Match Guarantee; one says the program saves her a ton of money. The moral: Scour those ads before (and after) shopping at Walmart.
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Amazon
Amazon scores with a huge selection of items and brands and a positive overall user experience. Frugal shoppers appreciate the 24/7 stay-at-home convenience of shopping at Amazon, the low prices, and the free shipping options. The scale of the site makes navigating unwieldy for some, and others may have qualms about ordering items without first looking them over.Amazon or Walmart Deals
Walmart
Walmart shines in several areas, offering a return policy that's easy to understand and use, price-matching programs, and low prices. The in-store selections are somewhat limited, but Walmart.com expands shopping options. Some shoppers are put off by crowds and slow checkouts and the need to leave home to make a purchase.Amazon or Walmart Deals
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