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NEW YORK (WABC) — We’ve all been there when Santa maybe had a swing and a miss, and there’s a bag or boxes sitting by the door waiting to go back. Just don’t procrastinate on making that return.

Before you head to the store, look at your receipt. The return window should be displayed, and there’s a short runway for going back on Santa’s sleigh. If that gift was bought on Black Friday, your time might be running out.

“A safe window to return will be through January 15th, you’re pretty much good there. But beyond that, you should definitely check,” said shopping expert Trae Bodge.

When you make returns, make sure you have the golden ticket, the receipt, the method of payment, and an ID. You’ll have better chances of getting the full value for the item in cash this way.

If you’re unsure about a gift, leave the tags on, and try not to damage the packaging to ensure you don’t get a reduced refund value.

Beware of the restocking fee when it comes to electronics. Many retailers will dock you for simply unboxing it.

It also may be cheaper to return in person. Some retailers are now charging fees for mail-in returns, but you can save by going to the brick-and-mortar store.

“And if you’re sending a return through the mail, don’t expect that you’re going to get free shipping to send that item back, because a lot of retailers are changing those policies. So make sure to check on the website so you know what to expect,” Bodge said.

Be careful of sneaky “final sale” items. While you can’t take the item back, there are other ways to still use it.

Finally, regifting is a great way to skip the lines and repurpose the gift for someone else. Just remember who gave it to you so you don’t give them the gift they gave you.

“I would store those items in a very safe place and maybe regift next year, or you can sell items on Facebook Marketplace or eBay and get a little money back for that,” Bodge said.

And did you know you can return a gift card? The most popular gift can be sold or traded, and there are a number of sites to do this safely, and you can even make some money!

Related: The Ins and Outs of Returns