With holiday shopping wrapped up, here are a few tricks to ease the task of returning an item. Or two.

1. Know the retailer's return policy before you buy. Most retailers have their policies prominently displayed, especially at this time of year. If you don't understand the policy or have questions, ask a manager to explain them to you.
2. Save and file all receipts. Some retailers will allow customers to exchange merchandise without a receipt, but oftentimes will only provide credit for the lowest price at which the item was sold during the holiday season.
3. Provide all packaging and tags when giving a gift. Most stores won't accept returns unless the item is in its original package.
4. Know the process of online returns. Who pays for shipping? Can returns be taken to a store? Make sure you have the correct address if you need to mail returns back to the company. Some merchants have off-site service centers to handle returns that may be in a different location.