The Independent-News, Volume 111, Number 30, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 26 December 1985 — Page 7

Exchanges And Refunds A Privilege The shirt you received for Christmas doen't fit and you really didn’t need a third pair of slippers. Can you return those Christmas gifts and get a refund or exchange? Refunds and exchanges of merchandise are really changes in the contract, or agreement, between the buyer and seller, says Attorney General Linley Pearson. And returning the merchandise for exchange, credit or refund is generally a privilege rather than a right, he said. An exception is when you have purchased an item that is defective or was misrepresented. In either case you are entitled to a suitable substitute or a refund. While return policies vary from store to store, they come in three basic forms, Pearson said. Those are: 1. Exchange. Merchandise may be returned and another item

• •b* • ********•*****•••*•••••••••• •f x a " I I w I W/’Jp I W • X JX? : Just arrived... 1986! Hope it is filled with every joy. I Orie’s Garage I • U. S. 6 West Walkerton • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••• • " a—- — TO-Aa ' May each hour in the days ahead be happy and cheerful! American Roller Co. Industrial Park - Walkerton - -fl

of the same kind may be taken in its place. This privilege is offered when the buyer, for example has made a mistake in the choice of size or color of the item. 2. Return for credit. When merchandise is returned, the customer is given a credit slip or his account is credited with the amount paid. The customer may then apply that amount to the purchase of any item in the store. 3. Refund. Under this policy, the customer gets his money back. Retailers who use and advertise this policy effectively guarantee satisfaction with whatever merchandise they sell. If the returned item had been charged to a credit card initially, the refund may take the form of a credit charged to the same credit card number. In every case these policies are voluntarily adopted by retailers who wish to provide a high standard of service to their customers. They are not required to do so by law, Pearson said. Pearson said customers could avoid problems when it comes to

returning items by making it a rule to check the store’s return policy before you buy. Some stores have “no return" or “final sale” policies. If you are in doubt about the policy, have your sales slip marked “on approval”, Pearson suggested. Honest mistakes over items that don't fit, don't serve the purpose for which they were bought or turn out to be inappropriate gifts from a well-meaning spouse or friend entitle you to use a store's refund policy, providing they have one, Pearson said. Return privileges are usually extended with the requirement that merchandise be returned within a specified time period and be in new condition. Pearson said. Stores often require a sales slip or other evidence that the item was actually bought there and not at some other store, the attorney general added. For some items, such as sales merchandise, the policv may be that all sales are final, he noted. While retailers have the right to adopt such a policy, “final-sale” items should be clearly identified or so advertised, he said. Consumers should be careful not to abuse return privileges, Pearson said. Some shoppers buy casually and return merchandise purchased on impulse, causing an unnecessary amount of sales time and paperwork. That costs the store money, and ultimately increases the cost of all merchandise in the store to all customers. It also causes some retailers to adopt less liberal return policies than they might otherwise use, Pearson said. Be A Good Host And d Friend! No host wants to hear that a guest was involved in an accident after leaving a holiday party. The AAA-Chicago Motor Club suggests you be “first a friend, then a host”. Here are some ways to influence how much people are drinking: Control the supply. Putting all of the liquor out tends to encourage people to drink everything at once. Provide a shot glass < 1 ‘/a oz.) to measure out standard amounts of liquor. Use small 5 oz. wine glasses. Let guests mix their own drinks, because they tend to mix them weaker. Serve rich starchy foods throughout the evening to slow the ab sorption of alcohol into the blood stream. Serve non-alcoholic beverages. Avoid carbonated mixers because they tend to increase the absorption rate of alcohol. Stop serving about IVi hours before the party is supposed to end. Wind down with coffee and dessert. Remember that all the age-old remedies for drunkenness, such as black coffee, cold showers, fresh air and exercise are useless. Only time will sober you up. Also, consider that when a guest leaves a party drunk, he is seven times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than if he is sober. MARTHA CIRCLE MEETS The Martha Circle of the Presbyertian Church met in the living room of the Church on Tuesday evening, December 17, with 13 members present. The meeting was opened with roll call “What would you wish for Christmas?” Mrs. Ruby Snyder, secretary, read the minutes. Mrs. Elizabeth Martin gave the meditation of the Lease Coin Mrs. Allan Eddinger was in charge of our question of the month for our “Hunger Project”. Mrs. Richard Shaffer, leader, read an article from Ideals on

DECEMBER 26, 1985 - THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

Christmas in Germany. She also read an article entitled “The Joys Os Christmas Past” from the South Bend Tribune section “Michiana”. She closed the meeting by reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s Christmas Prayer. The meeting was then turned over to Mrs. Allan Eddinger. Several games were played and a time of fun and fellowship was enjoyed by all. Delicious refreshments were served by the hostess, Mrs. Shaffer. Our Happy Ads onlv $1.50'

CITIZENS OF TOMORROW

¥ ■ ... Michael, one year old son of Tom and Dena Griffin, Walkerton. Eric, 5; Cory, 2; and Jason, children of Mark and Lynn Rush, Walkerton. ■ * Adam Richard, 16 month old son of Rich and Tammy Ridnguez, Walketon. Andrew, 4; and Anthony, 1. sons of Roger and Lisa Holston. Walk erton.

A racetrack in Venezuela has a swimming pool for horses. CHILD-SIZE Pored RELIEF pwaj the dorcoc PEDIATRIC H FORMULAS CX*<A’ t ,• , • 4 M

* f m A* JI Torey, 2'/i year old son of Shirley Lute, Walkerton. Samantha, 5 months old; and Aaron, 4, children of Doug and Chris Keeling, Walkerton. « ■> m vT"®! Michelle, 3 month old daughter of Charles and Diana Hostetler. Walkerton. J Sara Beth. 20 months old, daughter of Kathy Neiswender. North Liberty.

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