Depending on what and where, and how many other people are lined up...

really hate to do this so maybe that is why it is very rare when I do. usually if I do not like the gift I smile and say thank you.take it home. maybe on rare occasions I may re-gift the unwanted present. I really do not want to hurt someone's feelings. besides it is a pain in the neck. most stores will not give money in return only in store credit. well what if you did not like that store in the first place?  I would not want to ask for a receipt and most stores insist on one if you are returning so forget it!

CS loves returning your below-average gifts!  I've ripped open the paper and said "HEY!  I CAN BRING THIS BACK!"  [The lady slaps the back of my head.]   I go back during the winter vacation time and enjoy getting stuff I like. . .hey, these days you get whatever pleasure you can find in capitalism!

As I once said, I don't return gifts...I just recycle them. When you have just spent 40 minutes waiting in line to return something and you can feel the line rage boiling in your blood and you want to kill everyone in front of you and that when you finally make it to the front and you're going to interact with a Customer Service person who has just spent the last few hours dealing with Livia Soprano on caffeine, remember this: It's not their fault.

When I worked in retail all through high school and college..I learned to hate the 2 weeks after Christmas,it was even worse than before...mass confusion on the parts of the workers and the consumers alike.

i hate doing this unless it just doesn't fit. whether i like something or not it was a gift. if they wanted me to get something i wanted they would have gave me a gift card.

I don't do it. If I don't like it, I give it to someone else, throw it out, or donate it to goodwill.

Besides, most of the people who are likely to give me gifts know me well enough to give me booze or books.

I have never returned or exchanged a gift in my life...not worth the hassle.