It’s fun to add items to your wedding registry or baby registry and even more fun when the packages start arriving at your door.
But eventually, after the wedding or new baby’s arrival, the stream of gifts slows to a trickle, then ends altogether. Fortunately, if you still want the unsold items on your registry, some stores will let you buy them at a discount.
Registry-completion discounts reduce the price of registry items by a certain percentage for a window of time after your event.
Here are the ins and outs of registry-completion discounts — and which stores have the best deals.
[Read: Wedding Guests, Learn the Answers to These Money Etiquette FAQs.]
How to get the most out of registry-completion discounts
Registry-completion rules vary by retailer, but in general, keep the following tips in mind:
Know how you’ll receive your discount. Some retailers will send you an email with a discount code. Others will send a paper coupon to your mailbox. Know your store’s policy, so you can watch your inbox and mailbox after your event.
Know your deadline. Some stores give you as many as six months to claim your registry-completion discount. Others give only a few weeks. There are also deadlines to add items. Some stores will allow you to claim your discount only on items added before your event date. Others will let you pad your registry with new items after the event. Know all the deadlines associated with your registry to avoid missing out.
Understand the restrictions. Some stores will allow you to claim the discount on multiple purchases, as long as you make them before the deadline. Some let you use it only on a single item or transaction. Know the policy to maximize your discount on large orders or big-ticket items.
Think about the registry-completion discount while you register. You may be certain nobody will buy you the $700 robotic vacuum or top-of-the-line jogging stroller. Add them to your registry anyway to snag that discount. And who knows — your loved ones may surprise you.
[Read: Can Lying to Vendors Help You Avoid the ‘Wedding Markup’?.]
Retailers with the best registry-completion discounts
Consider registering with these retailers to maximize the discounts on wedding gift items your guests don’t buy.
Amazon
Deadline: 90 days after event
Amount: 10 percent or 20 percent
Amazon has one of the biggest registry completion discounts, but also the most restrictions. Amazon Prime members can get a 20 percent completion discount of up to $200 or $300 in value (but only if at least $500 worth of items from the registry is purchased). If you’ve received $500 to $999.99 worth of gifts, your discount value maxes out at $200. If your generous loved ones get you $1,000 or more worth of gifts, your discount value maxes out at $300.
Those who don’t have Prime can get a 10 percent completion discount up to a maximum of $100, if at least $500 worth of gifts are purchased.
Crate & Barrel
Deadline: Six months after event
Amount: 10 percent
While 10 percent isn’t the highest discount percentage on this list, the Crate & Barrel completion discount can pay off big time when you consider that it’s good for all full-priced items, including the store’s pricey furniture. Plus, you can use it multiple times before the deadline.
Kohl’s
Deadline: 90 days after event
Amount: 15 percent
You must have at least one item purchased from your registry to get this discount. You will receive an email with a coupon that you can present in store and a code you can use online. The coupon and code can be used on multiple items.
[See: 7 Signs Your Romantic Partner Is Financially Unstable.]
Macy’s
Deadline: Six months after your event
Amount: 20 percent, plus an extra 10 percent off furniture, mattresses and rugs
Macy’s registry-completion discount is extra generous, not only because of the amount. You can use the discount as many times as you want before the deadline, and you can add new items to your registry after your event.
Target
Deadline: Six months after event
Amount: 15 percent (one transaction only)
Target requires that your registry be live for at least 14 days before you get the registry-completion discount coupon. It’s valid on one transaction only, so load up your cart. Note that certain items are not eligible for the discount, including some electronics.
Companies and products mentioned in this article may be promoted on www.offers.com.
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Everything You Need to Know About Registry-Completion Discounts originally appeared on usnews.com
