“I got a bunch of gift cards for Christmas, and my shoes were the wrong size so I have to return them,” she said.
On the day after Christmas, Gerber was just one of many shoppers who flocked to the mall. More than 70 percent of consumers will exchange or return at least one gift after the holidays, experts say.
Some shoppers at the mall, like Corrine Parici and Kelly Rozanitas, took advantage of a few post-Christmas sales, too.
“I usually come shopping after Christmas because it's way cheaper than before Christmas, and if you forgot the gift to begin with then it doesn't really matter,” she said.
Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumer World, said shoppers can find major markdowns on certain items.
“Look for sharper deals. Fifty percent off is average right after Christmas, so if you can see 75 or 90 percent — particularly at Target, for example — that's really where you can save some big deals,” he explained.
If you need to make an exchange, do it sooner rather than later — and check the store’s return policy.
“I would expect to see some of the spring merchandise already hitting stores,” he said. “That's why if you really need to make an even exchange, probably of a winter item, you really have to do that relatively quickly, or the choices are really just not going to be in store anymore.”