The California Civil Code provides that retail merchants must conspicuously display their refund and exchange policies in certain circumstances. These are the law’s basic provisions:~~Retail sellers must display their policy if they will not give a full cash or credit refund or allow an equal exchange or any combination of these to a customer who returns goods within seven days of purchase with proof of purchase. The policy statement must include whether cash refunds store credit or exchanges will be given for the full amount of the purchase price; the applicable time period; types of merchandise covered by the policy; and any other conditions that govern the refund credit or exchange of merchandise.~~The seller’s policy if required to be displayed must be displayed either on signs posted at each register and sales counter at each public entrance on tags attached to each item sold under that policy or on the seller’s order forms if any.~~What are the exceptions to this law? The law does not apply to food plants flowers or perishable goods or goods marked “as is†“no returns†“all sales final†or with similar language.~~Of course if you use or damage the goods after your purchase them the merchant would not be obligated to exchange them or issue a refund either. Nor would the merchant have to make an exchange or refund for customized items you order and receive just as they were ordered goods not returned with their original package and goods that cannot be resold because of health considerations.~~If a merchant violates this law by not complying with is posting provisions the store is liable to the buyer for the amount of the purchase if the buyer returns or attempts to return the purchases goods on or before the 30th day after purchase. This penalty is in addition to any other remedies provided by law such as filing suite for damages you suffered as a result of the violation. If you do file suit and win you will be awarded your actual damages but at least $1 000. (Senior citizens 65 years or older and disabled person may be awarded up to an additional $5 000.00 in certain circumstances.) You could be awarded punitive damages as well.~~If an establishment should deny you a refund or exchange because they feel you’ve made too many exchanges or returns at that or other establishments and you request for a refund or exchange otherwise complies wit this law’s requirements (it is within the required time period unused etc.) you may be able to seek damages in court. Merchants are required to post or otherwise notify you of any conditions that govern the refund credit or exchange and they violate the law if they don’t notify you at the time of your purchase that they will not make any refund or exchange of your merchandise. ~~Remember that if the store will allow refunds credit or even exchanges within seven days or longer after your purchase they do not have to post a return policy. But note that the law allows them to require that you present proof of purchase. Thus if you lost your sales slop you may not be eligible for any exchange or refund within the store’s refund and exchange period. ~~You should also be ware that a store’s refund policy posted or not applies to merchandise that is not defective. You may be able to return an item that you believe was defective within a reasonable time even if outside the limit of the store’s policy. However you may also have to show that the item is in fact defective.