by KYW's Amy Feldman
There’s really no end to the list of truly useless holiday gifts, from the outlandish Fish n Flush toilet with the 2 gallon aquarium that doubles as a fully functional toilet tank to the mundane Chia Pet. So with the holidays over, you really want to know: notwithstanding the moral imperative, do you have a legal right to return merchandise?
There are a few types of retail contracts that by law you have a right to rescind. If a salesperson comes to your door to sell you a product for more than $25, you automatically can return it for up to 3 days after purchase. You also have 3 days to rescind a health club membership when you realize there's no way you're hauling tail to that gym. And you have 5 days by law to cancel the purchase of a timeshare.
But other than these specific rights, there is no legal obligation for a store to take back items you purchased except pursuant to the return policy it has created. And if you don't ask about the return policy before you buy, that money may as well have been flushed down the fish-filled toilet.
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