KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Christmas holiday has come and gone — and now begins the season of returns.
Consumer experts say holiday sales were up this year, with the National Retail Federation estimating total holiday sales at $966 billion. However, with more buying comes more returns. The day after Christmas is traditionally a popular day for people to head back to stores with receipts in hand to exchange for something more preferable.
Sarah Holmwood had some exchanges to take care of at the King of Prussia Town Center.
“Returns for family members,” she explained. “Started at Nordstrom, made our way over here, grabbed some lunch while doing so. Exchanges, returns, what have you.”
Nancy and Caroline Welsh from Collegeville were also out and about in King of Prussia to make some necessary clothing exchanges. “She's tall,” said Nancy of Caroline. “We don't always have the right sizes for her.”
They’re certainly not alone. The National Retail Federation says it expects consumers to return $148 billion in presents for the 2023 holiday season. That’s according to a new report which also shows a total of $743 billion in returns for 2023.
Much like Holmwood and the Welshes, Adam Carbone from New Jersey had to deal with fixing some purchases with incorrect sizing.
“I mean, with online stuff you can always expect to have increased return volume, just cause people, I think, need to see, feel, touch, you know, whatever,” he said, “and sometimes it doesn't, like in this case, fit or work out the way you liked, I guess.”
Steve George from Malvern planned ahead, however, and bought coats in two sizes during a sale. “Bought a large and a medium. He kept the medium, I'm returning the large,” he said.