returns

Poll

Do You Bother With Supermarket Food Returns?

In developing a recipe for halloumi tacos, Whole Foods has been my go-to grocer; it's one of the few places where I can track down the specialty cheese.

In developing a recipe for halloumi tacos, Whole Foods has been my go-to grocer; it's one of the few places where I can track down the specialty cheese. But I recently opened a package to discover it was spoiled, even though the cheese hadn't yet passed its expiration date. At $9 a package, halloumi doesn't come cheap, so I called Whole Foods, who told me to bring in the receipt for a return.

However, with the store a 15-minute drive away, and the hassle of digging through old receipts to find the appropriate documentation, I don't know if I'll be bothered. Although most supermarkets have return policies for their items, when it comes to perishable food items, there's potential for a "he said, she said" scenario. What do you do when you discover supermarket spoils?

consumerism

Cyber Monday Mania: Sales Raked In $1 Billion

Seems like shoppers let loose on Cyber Monday sales!

Seems like shoppers let loose on Cyber Monday sales! Many of you took advantage of the Thanksgiving web discounts, and the sales figures were telling — Americans spent a record of over $1 billion, which is now considered to be the biggest online shopping day of all time, according to Internet researcher comScore. An interesting fact: 48.9 percent of the orders were from work computers. I guess many of you did a good job of juggling work with online shopping!

It's so convenient to shop on the web, but a big drawback is that you don't get to see or try out the product in person. When the real thing arrives, it's not always what you expected. It's hard to return a sales item, but here are some tips and tricks to dealing with buys you’re disappointed with:

Read the Fine Print: Check out the company's return policy to see if you're eligible for exchanges or returns. You usually can't return a sales item, but you might be able to if the item arrives damaged. It doesn't hurt to call up customer service to try your luck. Sometimes the reps can be very accommodating if you explain your situation nicely.

For more tips, read after the jump.