The Christ child did not always meet the taste of the recipient and sometimes misjudged the size of the clothes. “Around one in ten exchanges a gift in brick-and-mortar stores. The exchange rate is highest in fashion stores, home furnishings, decorative items, books and household or electrical appliances,” says Vienna trade chair Margarete Gumprecht.
There is no legal right to exchange. However, many retailers grant this to customers – voluntarily, mind you. If this is the case, it is usually on the invoice. Anyone who has bought gifts online is better off in this regard: There is generally a 14-day right of withdrawal for online purchases, says the Chamber of Labor. Exceptions are individually designed gifts such as mugs with a personal print or concert tickets. If you are not properly informed regarding your right of withdrawal, the deadline will be extended by twelve months.
Of course, the legal situation is different if the gift has defects. The warranty applies here, according to which the dealer must repair or replace the goods free of charge up to two years following purchase if the defect was already there when it was handed over at the time of purchase. If the gift cannot be repaired, a price reduction can be requested and, in the event of serious defects, the money can be requested back.
Vouchers are valid for 30 years
An envelope with a cash voucher was often found under the Christmas tree. Always with an expiry date. However, a time limit for vouchers is often not permitted, as vouchers are generally valid for 30 years.
A shortening is possible – but only with a valid justification from the issuing company. The problem is that if the company goes bankrupt, vouchers are de facto worthless. If you have a bankruptcy claim, it is often not worth filing the claim. Therefore, if you have concerns regarding this, vouchers should be redeemed sooner rather than later.
Video: Once Christmas is over, the first shopping day following the holidays is often used to exchange gifts and redeem vouchers. Retail makes up a significant part of the Christmas business during this time – a report from Linz
