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As retailers tighten return rules, more shoppers are stuck with unwanted items

• Stricter return policies mean more shoppers are stuck with items they dont want, making return-less purchases increasingly common.

• Unwanted items dont have to be a total loss reselling, gifting, or donating can help consumers recoup value or reduce clutter.

• Reading return policies before you buy can save time, money, and frustration, especially as fees and shorter windows become the norm.

Returning something you dont want used to be simple: print a label, drop it off, get your money back. But lately, that process feels anything but easy.

Between new return fees, shorter deadlines, and confusing fine print, many shoppers are finding that sending items back just isnt worth the hassle anymore especially for lower-priced purchases.

So what are consumers supposed to do with items they never planned to keep?

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Beth Klongpayabal, Business Analytics Manager at Savings.com, to learn about the impact of stricter return policies, and how they are quietly changing how shoppers behave and how much money they leave on the table.

How do you recoup the value of return-less items?

If youre stuck with gifts after the holidays that you have no real use for, it can be hard to know what the next steps are. Klongpayabal shared her best advice for things that you cant return.

When a retailer lets you keep the item and refunds you without a return, it can feel like youre holding something you never wanted, she said.

First, Id consider reselling the item through platforms that match the category. Facebook Marketplace and eBay give you access to a wide audience, while niche sites like Poshmark (for fashion) or Decluttr (for electronics) attract buyers who are specifically looking for what youre selling. Online garage sale groups are also surprisingly effective for larger or bulky items. People in my area love a good unboxed or new-with-tags deal and they go fast.

Plan before you buy

If you often find yourself stuck with things that you cant return, Klongpayabal says that planning out your purchases can help eliminate some clutter.

Take a moment to read the return policy before checkout, paying attention to deadlines, restocking fees, and whether they issue store credit instead of cash, she said.

If youre unsure about fit or quality, look for retailers with generous standard return windows or buy from stores where you can return in person. Some shoppers order items in two sizes or versions with the intention of returning one, but that only works if the policy supports easy returns. Being proactive saves time, money, and clutter down the road.

Different marketplaces for different things

Klongpayabal explained that shoppers can utilize different resale marketplaces depending on what it is theyre trying to get rid of.

Here are her recommendations:

• For general goods: eBay remains a go-to for me because I can usually find buyers quickly and Im not limited by local interest, she said.

• For clothing and accessories: Poshmark, ThredUp, and Depop are great choices and being new-with-tags can help your items stand out. Also, there are consignment or resale shops in most areas that are looking for inventory, and you get quick cash in return.

• For electronics and gadgets: List in local garage sale groups. Dont hassle with the risk of shipping.

• For furniture and bulky items: Facebook Marketplace or even Craigslist eliminate shipping even though the buyers on these platforms can be hit or miss.

Another piece of advice: If an item doesnt move on one of these sites, theres always the option of having a garage sale when the weather warms up.

Donations always help

When all else fails, donating is always a generous option that also helps you get rid of items that may be cluttering your home. Local charities, shelters, or community centers can always use items in good quality even if you dont have a use for them.

Gift items to friends or family who might use them, Klongpayabal suggested.

I sometimes have good intentions of donating to a charity, but procrastination leaves me with clutter. To avoid that, I post items for free in a Buy Nothing group online. They have groups like this all over the country. It lets the item find a home, and I like it because its helping someone in my own community.

Find real savings hiding in plain sight

• Dont be afraid to ask. At Lowes, damaged items, floor models, and canceled special orders can unlock 1060%+ off just by asking the right employee.

• Decode the price tags. Yellow clearance labels, price endings, and back-aisle items reveal when prices are truly bottomed out and when waiting can pay off.

• Shop the dead zones. The best deals show up after demand drops, not during holidays plus easy wins like mis-tint paint and hidden clearance sections.

Lowes has a great selection of home improvement products, and their pricing is pretty darn competitive. However, there exist some clever ways to save even more moneyif you know what youre doing.

From knowing when to ask for a discount, to how to read their price tags, to where in the store you canfind the best deals, these seven tips will hopefully change the way you shop at Lowes forever.

1. Ask for a discount on damaged items

Lowes employees are encouraged to mark stuff down forshoppers if there's damage, as those items are hard to sell at full-price.

The damage can be as simple as dented packaging, cosmetic flaws, sun fading, missing manuals, or even shelf wear.

Look for this most often on these items:

• Ceiling fans and lighting fixtures (fragile boxes).
• Grills and patio sets (warehouse handling damage).
• Power tools with beat-up packaging.
• Vanities, toilets, and sinks with damaged boxes from shipping.

The markdown depends on how badly Lowes wants the item gone. But Ill often start by asking for a 20% discount and settle for 10-15% off.

Also, keep in mind that bigger items = more flexibility, as Lowes hates storing bulky merchandise, especially at the end of the season when theyre trying to clear out merchandise to make room for new stuff.

Pro tip: Point out the flaw in a polite, conversational way. Dont exaggerate the damage. Ask an employee in that specific department for a discount. Dont wait until checkout as cashiers have limited authority.

2. The Lowes price tag decoder

Heres how to decode Lowes pricing signals like an insider and know when to buy and when to wait for a better deal.

Yellow Tags = Clearance (but not all clearance is equal)

While yellow price tags are the universal signal that an item is on clearance, there are a couple secrets to tell how good the deal is and if it might get better.

Take a close look at those yellow price stickers:

• N below the Barcode I was told by an employee that this means the item is discontinued and its up to the manager to lower the price further. The price is probably not the lowest its going to get, so if theres a lot of inventory, wait until the price goes down to buy it.
• No N below the Barcode This means the item is priced to sell and its at a rock-bottom price. The best advice is to buy it before its gone.
• .02 Liquidation The product has been liquidated and the vendor has typically already paid Lowes for it. If you find one of these on the sales floor by accident, you can try and buy it, but you probably wont be able to.

3. Always negotiate a deal on floor model appliances

Floor model appliances at Lowes are some of the better deals you can find on refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and washing machines.

Whether theyre a return or simply a display model that they need to sell, you can often get a better deal by doing the following:

Hunt for flaws

Dents, scratches, chipped paint, torn boxes, missing manuallook for any visible imperfection as it gives you a legitimate reason to ask for another 10% off.

Bundle to boost leverage

Negotiation works best when youre buying multiple items. Pair big purchases like a washer and dryer, or a refrigerator and microwave and ask an employee if a discount is available if you buy both now.

Pro tip: Lowes typically marks down already-reduced appliances every 710 days, especially floor models, damaged items, or repaired returns. So be sure to flip over the Reduced price tag and youll see the following information:

• The date the item first went on clearance.
• How many times its been marked down.

If youre near the seven-day mark, waiting another day or two can mean an extra 2025% off, assuming the item doesnt sell first.

4. Buy paint the frugal way and save big

Mis-tint and abandoned custom paint is one of the easiest wins in the store. This is especially true if youre simply looking for a neutral color and not super picky about brand.

Lowes is always mixing paint that customers either dont pick-up or reject. This happens literally every day. Those cans get marked down quickly because they cant be returned to normal inventory.

These paints are:

• Brand new
• Fully usable
• Often premium brands

You can find the oops paint rack right next to the paint mixing station. Just ask if you cant locate it.

Employees usually put a sample of the color on the lid so you know exactly what youre getting.

You can typically find gallons of premium paint for just $5-$10, and quarts for only $1-2.

Pro tip: These mis-tint paints are ideal for garages, basements, closets, fences, rentals, or accent walls. Contractors use mis-tints constantly for special projects and many homeowners just havent caught on yet.

5. Make The Back Aisle your first stop

At Lowes, one of the easiest ways to score deals is to head straight to the back of the store to the clearance section called The Back Aisle.

At most locations, this clearance section exists along the middle of the back wall.

This is where each department dumps its deep-discount leftovers, often marked down 5075% off.

You wont find big-ticket items here, but you will find lots of useful stuff for super cheap:

• Paint brushes and rollers
• Batteries and flashlights
• Garden tools and planters
• Cleaning supplies
• Lawn and seasonal items

None of it is glamorous, but its the kind of everyday stuff that adds up fast if you buy it at full price.

A quick walk through the back aisle can easily knock $20$40 off your total without changing what you planned to buy.

6. Shop seasonal dead zones, not holidays

Holiday sales at Lowes are designed to move lots of stuff quickly, while clearance deals are designed to eliminate all the leftovers.

This means that Lowes starts to discount seasonal items when customers interest drops, not necessarily when the season officially ends.

Here are the best seasonal dead zones to target:

• Patio furniture: Late AugustSeptember When back-to-school season rolls around it kills the demand, and Lowes wants the floor space back.
• Lawn equipment: October The grass stops growing and interest drops fast.
• Space heaters: February - Cold fatigue sets in even though winter isnt over.
• Snow blowers: March - One warm week and stores often start toclear them out.

These markdowns often happen fairly quietly, without any banners or ads.

So, if youre in the market for any of these items, visit regularly and snatch the deal when it inevitably pops up.

7. Special order cancellations are gold mines

When shopping for appliances, doors, windows, or flooring, always ask if there are any canceled or returned special orders.

These are often instant write-offs for the store, which means managers are far more flexible on price. If youre renovating and not picky about exact styles or brands, this can save you some serious money.

Theyll often sell them at a big discount, typically 30-60% off the retail price, to get rid of them quickly.

This includes:

• Custom doors and windows
• Vanities and cabinets
• Flooring and tile
• Countertops and fixtures

Ask an employee about any abandoned special-orders and they can point you in the right direction. Its important to ask, as many never hit the main sales floor so you wouldnt know otherwise.

Pro tip: Dont be afraid to also ask at the Pro Desk or customer service directly. If youre flexible on size, color, and finish, you can score some great deals on other peoples cancellations.

What shoppers should know about loyalty program risks

• Points arent cash. Dunkin added a one-year expiration rule, costing a loyal customer $260 proof rewards can disappear when terms change.

• Free rewards arent free. You pay with your data, which companies use to market harder and quietly tighten programs later.

• This happens everywhere. Airlines, credit cards, and retailers do the same, so redeem early and dont hoard points.

For years, Dunkin rewards points felt like found money. Something loyal customers could stash and use later for free coffee, breakfast sandwiches, or an occasional family treat.

But a recent policy change shows how quickly that value can disappear.

According to reporting by CBS Boston, Dunkin quietly updated its rewards program last fall, adding an expiration rule that limits points to one year from the end of the month theyre earned.

The change caught many customers off guard, including one Massachusetts man who lost the equivalent of $260 in rewards overnight.

Why loyalty points arent really 'yours'

While cases like this might feel unfair, especially if you had your points stripped from you, theyre rarely illegal.

Companies generally have the right to change loyalty programs at any time. For example, Chipotle recently won a court ruling allowing them to expire reward points after 180 days.

The fine print most people skip over usually spells it out. Specifically, rewards have no cash value, expiration rules can change, and programs can be modified or canceled entirely.

The one thing that rubs some loyal customers the wrong way is that even long-time customers dont get grandfathered protection.

So, the biggest takeaway here is that reward points arent actually yours until you redeem them for something tangible. In other words, use them before you lose them.

The hidden cost of 'free'rewards

Customers dont just pay with via their purchases; they pay with their data.

Every scan of your rewards app feeds companies detailed information about your buying habits, timing, locations, and preferences.

Information theyll use to send you targeted promotions, potentially adjust prices, and push higher-margin items on you.

So always keep in mind that youre trading your information for possible future discounts that can disappear overnight.

This isnt just a Dunkin issue

Dunkin isnt alone in this. Airlines have quietly raised award ticket prices. Credit card issuers have trimmed benefits and boosted redemption thresholds. Retailers have even added expiration dates on rewards where none existed before.

The pattern is usually the same: loyalty programs hand out cool freebies to attract users, then tighten once customers are hooked.

When backlash hits social media, companies often ride it out, knowing most customers wont walk away entirely.

How to protect yourself from losing rewards

If you participate in loyalty programs, here are a few habits that can limit your risk:

• Redeem early and often. Hoarding points for years is risky. If you see usable value now, take it.
• Track expiration dates manually. Dont rely on app notifications alone. Get in the habit of setting calendar reminders for large balances.
• Avoid savings account thinking. Points arent money, and theyre definitely not protected like a bank account is.
• Read update emails. Policy changes are often buried in routine app messages and emails.

What to check now so a flat doesnt leave you stranded

• Many new cars no longer include a spare tire automakers are cutting them to save weight and boost fuel economy, leaving many drivers without a true backup.

• Fix-a-flat kits have serious limits they wont work for blowouts, sidewall damage, or large punctures, which are some of the most common flat-tire scenarios.

• Check your car now, not later lift the trunk floor, confirm what your trim level includes, and decide if buying a spare is worth it before youre stuck waiting for a tow.

Drivers across the country are discovering that many new cars no longer come with a spare tire. The issue was highlighted in a recent report by WCPO-9 News, after multiple drivers opened their trunks expecting to find a spare and found nothing.

In one case, a new Toyota Prius owner discovered her trunk only contained Styrofoam and a tire inflation kit. Another driver learned her Jeep didnt even include a temporary donut tire, just a small air compressor that was useless for a sidewall puncture.

And these arent rare exceptions anymore.

Why spare tires are disappearing

According to Consumer Reports, automakers have been removing spare tires to remove some weight from the car which improves the overall fuel economy.

Their testing found that since 2020:

• Only 9% of cars come with a full-size spare.
• 46% include a space-saver or donut tire.
• 34% come with only a compressor and sealant kit.
• About 4% come with nothing at all.

That means many drivers are one pothole away from being completely reliant on a tow truck.

Why the 'fix-a-flat'kit often isnt enough

The small tire repair kits included in many vehicles sound somewhat reassuring, but they have some serious limits.

For example, they do not work if:

• The hole is in the sidewall
• The tire is blown out
• The damage is too large
• The tire pressure dropped too low before you noticed

In other words, theyre not a universal fix. Several drivers in the WCPO report said the kits included in their vehicles failed completely.

What to do right now:

With a little bit of forethought, you can avoid an expensive tow or repair down the road. Here are some things to consider.

Check your car first (dont assume anything)

Look under your vehicle, in the rear, for a hidden spare tire. If a spare isnt under your car, then open the trunk, lift up the cargo floor mat, and look underneath.

If you see molded foam, a small air compressor, or a sealant bottle, you dont have a spare.

Pro tip: Check again after dealer-installed accessories. Some dealers remove spares to make room for subwoofers or storage trays.

Confirm what your exact trim level includes

Two versions of the same car can be completely different.

Lower trims are far more likely to skip a spare, while higher trims may include a donut or full-size spare. The smart thing to do is check out the vehicles window sticker (if you still have it) or owners manual by VIN to see what was supposed to be included.

If youre buying used, dont trust the listing. Sellers often assume theres a spare when there isnt, so visually inspect to see whats included.

Ask the dealer to physically show you

If youre shopping for a new or used car, dont ask if it has a spare. Instead, ask them to open the trunk and show it to you.

If it doesnt have one, do the following:

• Ask if a spare is available as an add-on. Better yet, often times you can get them to throw a spare tire into the deal for free.
• Ask whether the vehicle is pre-wired or fitted to store one safely.
• Ask if adding one affects cargo space or fuel economy.

Getting this answered before you sign any paperwork can save you hundreds later.

Decide whether a spare is worth buying separately

Buying a spare or donut tire isnt cheap, but neither is being stranded, especially if you dont have roadside assistance that includes free towing.

Before buying a spare:

• Confirm the correct wheel size and bolt pattern of your vehicle.
• Make sure it clears the brake calipers (especially important on hybrids and EVs).
• Check whether your vehicle has a jack and lug wrench(many dont).

Reality check: A spare often costs way less than a single tow, especially if you need a tow after-hours or if your car is stuck in a garage where flatbeds cant fit.