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I work as a Returns Cashier at The Home Depot. While I understand the customers' frustrations when their returns are denied, we have to be firm about our return policy. We do have many people who abuse our return policy, either by stealing expensive items and returning them for store credit, or by using items and bringing them back for a full refund, basically getting a free rental. <br /> <br /> As for the General Contractors who buy more items than they need, in the hopes of returning the items without a receipt, well now they have the thieves (who ruined it for everyone else) to thank if their returns get denied. Fortunately, there are solutions for contractors to make returns easier and less likely to be denied.<br /> <br /> The simplest solution for contractors is: don't lose your receipts! I understand accidents happen, receipts get misplaced, or receipts start piling up and you're having trouble keeping track of which receipts are for which items. I understand you may have to give the receipt to customers and you don't get the receipt back. It's still your responsibility to be accountable for your receipts. <br /> <br /> Most stores need proof of purchase for several reasons. The store needs proof that the item was actually purchased through their company and not some other company. Believe it or not, barcodes on items are universal and you can have the same barcodes on the same items at different stores from different companies. But if The Home Depot becomes the dumping ground for all these other store's products, the Home Depot isn't making any profit returning an item at full retail price that they didn't sell to you in the first place. <br /> <br /> Another reason stores need proof of purchase, is they need to know how much YOU actually paid for the item. Sometimes items go on sale, or maybe you got a special discount because the item was damaged or on clearance, or maybe you got a military discount. Whatever the reason, if you don't provide proof of how much you paid for the item, the store can only assume that you may have possibly paid the lowest selling price for the item. Is it fair? Maybe not. But it's definitely not fair for a customer to buy one, get one free and then return the free one without a receipt for a full refund onto a store credit. This is another example of people abusing return policies and then ruining it for everyone else.<br /> <br /> Which leads me to the most important reason stores require proof of purchase. You need to prove it wasn't stolen. I know it's not fair if you didn't steal it, but this is why we give you receipts. This is why the DMV requires your vehicle to have a title, registration and license plate. It's all to prove that you own the item legally. It's a shame that so many criminals have caused the world to be like this, but this is the world we live in, and everyone has to follow the same rules. There are no exceptions to the rules.<br /> <br /> So if you're a contractor and it's become a burden to provide proof of purchase for all of your items, here are a few simple solutions:<br /> <br /> 1. Use your phone to take pictures of your receipts as soon as you get them. Now you have a copy of your receipt that you can take with you anywhere and access any time you want. Most stores will accept photos of receipts, as long as the receipt is valid.<br /> <br /> 2. Stay organized. Keep your receipts somewhere safe and file them in a filing cabinet that's organized by date.<br /> <br /> 3. Don't pay cash for something you know you might return. This may not be the most practical option for those who prefer to pay with cash, but this can make things easier in the long run. Pay with a debit card or credit card, and The Home Depot will keep the transaction in their database for 3 to 6 months. If you lose the original receipt, it's not a problem. The Home Depot can quickly and easily access your receipt based on your card info and you can make the return with no hassle. For debit cards, The Home Depot can refund the money to your debit card, give you cash, or give you store credit. It's your choice. For credit cards, The Home Depot can refund the money to your credit card or give you store credit. It's up to you. If you make a purchase on a card and we are able to find your receipt with your card info, but the receipt is older than 3 months, we can give you store credit with guaranteed approval.<br /> <br /> 4. Sign up for Pro Xtra, which is a rewards program designed for contractors who spend a lot of money at The Home Depot. Pro Xtra offers many benefits, such as everyday discounts on paint products, mega discount coupons received in the mail, and purchase tracking. The purchase tracking is the best part of Pro Xtra when it comes time to make returns. If you're paying with cash, and you're worried you might lose your receipt, tell the cashier your phone number at the time of purchase, and we will add your receipt to your Pro Xtra account where it can be tracked for up to two years. If you forget to tell the cashier your phone number at the time of purchase, but you still have the receipt, a customer service associate can still add the receipt to your Pro Xtra account for you. If you would prefer to add the receipt to your account on your own, you can do so by using your smartphone to snap a pic of the receipt and it will upload to your Pro Xtra account via the Pro Xtra App, or you can go online and type in your receipt info and add it to your account. Even if you lose the receipt, you can still have a manager find the receipt in the system as long as you remember the time, date, and location of your purchase, and the manager can add the receipt to your Pro Xtra account. A new benefit that has recently been rolled out is we now give customers the ability to link their credit/debit cards to their Pro Xrra account. Customers who pay with a card that is linked to their Pro Xtra account no longer have to tell the cashier their phone number for every purchase. The Home Depot is always finding ways to make shopping easier for contractors.<br /> <br /> 5. Apply for a Home Depot Credit Card, and all purchases made with a Home Depot Card have a one-year return policy, no receipt needed. Don't have your Home Depot card with you? No problem. Whether you're making a purchase or a return, we can look up your account with your ID and SSN. We can return most new, unopened, defective, or unsatisfactory items within a year of purchase if it was made with a Home Depot card. We can process the return three ways. We can scan your receipt, look up the transaction by sliding your Home Depot card, or use your ID and SSN to look up the transaction on your Home Depot Card. Purchases made with The Home Depot card can only be returned to The Home Depot card. This means we cannot give you cash or store credit for purchases made with The Home Depot card. This is to prevent people from using The Home Depot card for unauthorized cash advances and gift card fraud.<br /> <br /> In conclusion, The Home Depot actually has a more lenient return policy than some other places, and there are many ways to prevent your returns from being denied. We want our customers to be happy, but we also have to protect our assets, and we strive to create a balance between customer service and loss prevention.