AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Thursday, it was a busy Boxing Day across our area, because let's face it, not everyone gives the perfect gift.

That means you're likely looking to return a few things.

Whether it's the gift you give or the gift you get, sometimes it can be a hit or miss.

According to the Better Business Bureau, the day after Christmas is often a busy time for stores due to the amount of people returning gifts or using gift cards.

We checked in with some local shops that agreed.

The gifts have been purchased, exchanged and in some cases, back where they came from.

"There have been some people bringing back, you know, just some gift returns from the holidays and shopping for Christmas decorations and stuff that might be going on sale soon," said Keylee Foreman, High Cotton Downtown.

According to the National Retail Federation, shoppers will have returned nearly $900 billion in goods before the end of 2024.

"We've had some pretty long days and some pretty busy days with a bunch of people coming in shopping for the holidays," said Foreman.

Not every gift is perfect, but returning the gift can be tricky.

A report from the Better Business Bureau says that it's always best to double-check policies before making a return.

For some of our local shops, this is the time to plan ahead.

At Fresh Water Design Company, they say they are already preparing for a busy spring.

Across the river at High Cotton Downtown, Foreman says, "We do start planning for things like Valentine's Day and stuff like that with the spring coming up. We kind of get ahead of that so that we can put it out in the store for people to get."

If you are planning to head out to return or exchange a gift, experts say it's super important to check the store's policy and come prepared.