Retailers often play by different rules when it comes to taking back purchases of electronics.

Maybe it is an unwanted gift, or a gadget that does not perform as advertised. Whatever the reason, almost everyone eventually runs into a tech product they want to return. But retailers consistently maintain returns policies for electronics that are different from those for, say, sweaters. “We are talking (About) some higher-end items that retailers want to move quickly” explains Better Business bureau spokesperson Steve Cox. To avoid headaches and high blood pressure at the customer service counter, here are few suggestions and guidelines.

Must it go back?

Consider why you are returning an item. If you are thinking of doing so because it is not working the way you believe it should, perhaps professional services such as Bet Buy Geek Squad or Circuit City’s firedog can get your gizmo working to your satisfaction.

You may not even have to pay for a house call: Geek squad, for example, provides online video tutorials for do-it-yourselfers that demonstrate how to set up an assortment of shiny new toys.

Act Fast!

If you realy have no need for an item –May be it is a duplicate of one you already have– don’t dawdle. Stores generally give you less time, and make you jump through more hoops, for returns of electronics than for other items.

Circuit City gives you 14 days for returns. Costco, one famous for alloweing no-questions, full-refund returns on anything with no time lmit, now takes back electronics only up to three months after the date of purchase — Still generous return window compared with those of its competitors.

Don’t Open Anything

Among several common conditions for a full refund, the first, and most important, is that the box be sealed. If it is not, the retailer will need to make sure the gadget is in full working order –which means that accepting your return will cost the company time and money. Typically the store passes those costs on you, often in the form of restocking fees. Best Buy and Circuit City both charge a 15% restocking fee on all opened electronics. Amazon.com charges a 15% restocking fee on opened laptops and desktops.

Some Things To Do

Bring Back Everything

If you have opened the box, be certain that it is full before heading out to the store. Circuit City will deduct the cost of each missing item from your refund. For exchanges, the retailer will simply replace what you have bought (a manual for a manual, a cable for a cable), so you are on your own for dealing with whatever pieces you have left behind.

Save Your Receipt

Yes, this one is a big “DUH!!” but as the BBB’s cox observers, remembering to keep that slip of paper is always a problem: “It is astounding how many folks don’t do that”. However, if you are returning a gift, or you accidentally misplaced the receipt, you may not be completely out of luck.

If the device you are returning is a gift, Amazon.com, for example, will issue a gift certificate rather than a refund if you can help a customer service representative properly identify the original sender. (Amazon promises not to tattle on you for the return.) And if you bought the product for yourself, Best Buy, according to spokesperson Jeff Dudash, may be able to look up the trasaction using your credit card number, and thereby facilitate a return.

Check For Returns Policies

Some retailers treat online returns the same as in-store returns; others don’t. Many retailers require that you obtain a return authorization (Many merchants call this a return merchandise authorization or RMA) by filling out a Web form before you can mail back a product purchased online. Many stores also require you to pay return shipping and insurance, though for some merchants with brick-and-mortar operations, you can bypass those charges by hand-delivering the product, if that’s feasible.

Don’t be a Regular Returner

A company called The Return Exchange helps most retailers track shoppers’ return habits in order to reduce fraud –But even if you are an honest person who happens to return products frequently, retailers may simply refuse to accept your return or permit an exchange. If you get such a refusal, you can file a protest at The Return Exchange Website.