Would You Return to the Store to Save $10?

This morning on our way back from art class I decided to stop by Target. I bought a really great storage box for toys a few days ago and I was hoping to pick up another one. For the record I now know that I am better off buying items in advance and then returning them if I don’t like them. Target’s clearance section sells out quickly and returning to the store with a toddler in tow is never easy. My little guy prefers walking to riding these days, which means it can take us quite awhile to walk through the store. Target is certainly not small and the baby section is always inconveniently located at the farthest point from the entrance. Sure enough after walking and waiting and waiting and walking we arrived only to find that the boxes I previously bought were no longer available.

While I was in the store it dawned on me that I had coupons in my binder that I didn’t use for my previous purchase. I have no idea why this thought popped into my head on my way out the door, but it did. I thought I would return to the store to explain my quandary, but I could not find my receipt anywhere. “No big deal,” I thought. Target has a great system for checking credit cards for previous transactions. So off we go to the store with the items, coupons and credit card.

Once again I drag my son through the parking lot. With lots of walking, waiting, waiting and walking. He patiently waits in line and when I reach the register the cashier informs me that I must have used a different credit card. “No problem,” I thought, “I’ll just pull that one out of my wallet,” but when I reach inside it is no where to be found. This sets my heart into a bit of a pitter-patter as I cannot remember where I last put my credit card.

Knowing that the cashier cannot help me. I decide to see if this store has storage boxes for sale in the clearance section. My little guy is smiling and happy but taking ever so long to reach the far end of the store. We arrive only to find the clearance section completely cleaned out. Ugh.

Back to the car so we can race home and look for my credit card. Two seconds after walking in the door it dawns on me that I pulled everything but my ID, primary credit card and insurance cards before heading out to a basketball game. I tend to keep my wallet in my back pocket and lighten the load if I know I won’t be shopping.

I grab the credit card. The receipt happens to be tucked right beneath it and gather my son, get back in the car and head back to the store. So here I go unloading my son for the third time, walking back through the parking lot, waiting in line behind a row of people and returning the items with coupons in hand to save $10.

Just two days ago I told my husband I didn’t want to complete an Amazon return because it wasn’t worth the time and effort to write to Amazon, dig up a cardboard box, pack the item and drop it off at UPS. Compared to today’s trips back and forth it would have been a breeze.

So what do you think? Would you have returned to the store to save $10? When you failed to return the items the first time would you have made a second attempt? I’m not sure I would do that again.

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