The week after the holidays, lines at customer service counters stretch to the doors. People stand, some patient, some not, clinging to the not-so-great gifts, clutching packages that should've been under someone else's Christmas tree.

At the head of the line is a sales representative, repeating the store's return policy for what probably will be the 156th time that day.

Don't be that person, retailers say: Keep your receipts.

Because inevitably, you'll get a gift that may not have been worth giving. Like the two-sizes-too-big sweater from Grandma, or the bowling ball from the husband.

In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, more than one in three customers will return at least some part of their gifts this holiday season.

"Retailers are constantly doing their best to make sure that the return process is as streamlined as possible," said Tracy Mullin, National Retail Federation president and CEO, in a news release.

A lot of retailers, such as Home Depot and Barnes & Noble, have moved to return-tracking systems, which log customer data to protect against return fraud.

"While I think our stores are fair to our consumers, they are going to take precautions to be sure that their polices are not abused for a variety of reasons," said Parrell Grossman, director for the attorney general's consumer protection division.

Those reasons include fraud or theft, he said.

So return tracking really shouldn't be much of a problem for the honest returner, experts say. Ultimately, though, there are no state laws in North Dakota that regulate store return polices, Grossman said.

"It's fair to say stores are going to take security measures to protect themselves," Grossman said.

To make holiday shopping easier, and to inevitably make returning easier for all those involved, including retailers, here are a few tips from retailers, Grossman and NRF for this holiday season:

3 Keep the receipt. Every retailer said the same thing. Without a receipt, gift receivers may only get a fraction of what the giver paid for it, and most often that will be in the form of a store gift card. But, without a receipt, many retailers will exchange the item for its lowest retail value.

3 Get a gift receipt. A lot of retailers are moving to offering the gift receipt before the consumer asks, in case the consumer forgets. It may be prudent to ask if the store provides gift receipts before buying, too. A gift receipt is normally a receipt that contains all of the item's information, without the price, for gift-giving discretion.

3 Know the return policy before buying from a store. Return policies can be found anywhere from the top of counters and near registers, to the backs of receipts, or on signs posted above customer service kiosks. If you can't find one, ask a customer service representative.

3 Keep it closed. Many retailers prefer items be kept together with original parts, packaging and tags, because selling previously opened goods may mean a serious markdown for the store.

3 Be careful with custom orders. Grossman said many retailers don't allow returns or adjustments on custom orders, or that many retailers charge a percentage of the cost for an adjustment.

3 Know the online return policy. Because online shopping has become a regular part of the holiday gift-giving experience, online return policies are becoming more user-friendly, according to NRF. Some merchants will pay delivery charges for exchanges, but not returns. Often, returned delivery costs rest on the consumer. And return policies for retailers may vary from actual stores to online stores, Grossman said.

3 Return it quickly. A lot of stores have time limits on returns, and if a gift-giver shopped early, the gift may be in its last days of return-eligibility. Barnes & Noble, for example, has a 30-day policy. Target's is 90 days. Others fall within a year. It varies, so knowing the time restraints and the policies will save everyone in the long run, experts say.

According to a recent survey, the National Retail Federation says 88.2 percent of consumers polled say they find stores' return policies to be fair.

While stores are looking out for their interests, they want to make sure the consumer has the best experience possible, too.

The week after Christmas is a notoriously popular time for returns, said Doug Kautzman, manager of Target. And following the guidelines above make the experience that much better for every consumer.

"Keep your receipt," Kautzman said. "I tell you, without a receipt, it just makes it more difficult."

(Reach reporter Crystal Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@bismarcktribune.com.)