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It’s the return of the exchange season

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

A variety of returned items including a toy dinosaur that couldn't stand up and walk fill a box at the special holiday exchange department set up at Kohl's on Saturday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Shelley Montero, left, gets help from sales associates Mary Reinke and Denise Lothe, right, while returning an infrared cooking system at Kohl's on Saturday. Montero ended up exchanging it for one that had instuctions in the box.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Kohl's sales associate Mary Reinke helps Bud West who returned a pair of slippers on Saturday.

JANESVILLE — The dinosaur roared, but then just fell over.

Really, what’s the point of a dinosaur if it can’t roar and lumber around?

Saturday morning was the second day of the Christmas returns season at Kohl’s in Janesville.

A dense fog meant the line for returns was non-existent first thing in the morning, but store manager Randy Anderson expected things to pick up later.

“The volume is heaviest between the two holidays,” Anderson said. “And it’s busy right up through Martin Luther King Day.

Staff looked surprisingly rested even though they had just passed through one of the busiest retail days the year: Dec. 26.

Most people have the day off, and they use it to return gifts that are too small, too large, too ugly for words, almost—but not quite—right, missing a part or, alas, inoperable.

Scott Schleis waited until Saturday morning to return the Imaginext Frilled Raptor he bought for his 4-year-old son, who is all about dinosaurs. According to the Fisher Price Web site, “Running on two legs, this carnivore can quickly catch up with his prey.”

Press a button and his head moves, ear-like structures flap around, his tail swings and he lets out a series of hideous roars.

Yet when the raptor was placed on the returns counter, all the prehistoric beast could do was roar, flap and fall over.

Decidedly uninspiring, especially for today’s sophisticated youngster.

Shawn Whaley was returning a hat that grandma bought for Whaley’s 14-year-old son.

“The hat was too small for his head,” Whaley said.

And Shelley Montero was returning a complicated appliance called an “infrared oven” that cooks, dehydrates and does about 17 other things.

She loved it—but somebody at the Complicated Appliance Company forgot to include an instruction book.

For the busy, post-Christmas returns days, Anderson sets up a single line that goes to four registers set up for returns.

At the head of the line, a customer service rep such as Mary Reinke greets customers and sends the easy returns straight to a register. Others, she might need to look up on the store’s computer.

The key to a speedy return is to have your receipt or a gift receipt—everybody knows that. Last year, somebody returned a gift from 2003. But they had the receipt and Reinke was able to refund their money.

Next best? If you bought the item with the store’s credit card. For example, if you bought something at Kohl’s with your Kohl’s card, you don’t need a receipt.

Often, stores can also look up other charge card purchases, as well.

Finally, stores can scan a bar code on the package. However, you’ll probably only get store credit—and will be refunded the current or lowest sale price of the item.

The National Retail Federation offered additional tips for “stress-free” returns after the holidays:

-- Know the retailer’s return policy before you buy.

-- Always get a gift receipt and attach it firmly to the present.

-- Be patient. Remember, the week after Christmas is one of the busiest weeks of the retail year.

-- Provide all original packaging and all parts, including tags, when giving a gift. Some retailers won’t accept returns unless the item is in its original package. If you plan to take back a gift after unwrapping it, resist the urge to open it or play with it.