It’s the day after Christmas, and the reject gifts are piled in your living room.

A too-large sweater. Three copies of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” DVD. Orange shoes that you simply refuse to wear, even if they are comfortable.

‘Tis the season for returns.

“Be upfront and honest (with the salesperson). Just say ‘Look, my wife bought it, and it’s an ugly necktie,'” said John Marden, president of the Maine Merchants Association and co-owner of Marden’s.

Nearly 9 percent of holiday gifts are expected to be returned this season, according to the National Retail Federation. While 70 percent of retailers said they wouldn’t change the way they handle returns in 2006, 25 percent planned to tighten their policies. Only 5 percent said they’d be more lenient. So what do you do when the thought counts but the present isn’t right? Retailers have suggestions.

Stay within the time limit

Most stores set a time limit on returns. Fourteen days after purchase. Thirty days. Two or three months. Sometimes it varies by merchandise.

Wal-Mart, for example, accepts most returns within 90 days of purchase. That new iPod or portable DVD player? Just 15 days.

At other stores it varies by season. Staples usually accepts returns up to 14 days after their purchase. But for items bought between Nov. 22 and Dec. 24, that 14-day clock doesn’t start ticking until today.

For customers who need to return something but the window of opportunity has closed, retailers suggest explaining to the sales clerk or manager – honestly and politely – why extra time is warranted. Some stores, particularly small and locally owned ones, are flexible.

Bull Moose Music’s 10 Maine stores bent the rules so much they gave up and changed their return policy entirely in 2003. Their 30-day rule expanded to 100 days. Once in a while they give even more time. “I think it’s an opportunity to show people our best, and it matters more when they’re expecting a hard time,” said Chris Brown, vice president of operations.

L.L. Bean doesn’t stick to a time limit at all. Instead it offers a satisfaction guarantee, even years after purchase.

The Freeport-based retailer has built a reputation on it.

“It gives a lot of people a lot of security and a lot of assurance that if they make the wrong purchase for whatever reason they can change it,” said spokesman Rich Donaldson.

Save the receipt

Many stores offer two return policies: one with a receipt and one without. It’s always better with a receipt.

At Mr. Paperback, World Over Imports and Marden’s, for example, a receipt earns the customer a full refund. No receipt earns store credit, usually for the current sale price.

“We may have sold it, but we can’t prove we did or didn’t,” said John Marden.

At Bull Moose, a price tag is nearly as good as a receipt. But no receipt and no tags?

“I guess you’d be out of luck,” Brown said.

Although gift receipts have become popular in recent years, some stores still don’t offer them. Some gift-givers don’t include them. Some customers simply lose them. So, like the time limit, some stores are lenient.

Wal-Mart accepts returns without a receipt. Customers get the current sales price, but if it’s under $25 they can receive cash.

Lamey Wellehan’s seven shoe stores don’t care about receipts at all. For the last few years, they’ve taken the name and address of every customer who makes a purchase, recording the sale in their computer system. That’s all they need.

“That has been an advantage to both us and the customer,” said Don Stowell, operations manager. “How many people save all their receipts?”

Don’t open, wear or use it

Lamey Wellehan stores do have another requirement: Returned items must still be new.

“We try to be as flexible as we can,” Stowell said. “But sometimes that’s the most challenging.”

Many stores won’t take back shoes or clothes that have been worn. Likewise, stores typically won’t take back CDs, movies or computer software that has been opened.

The exception: anything defective. Even then, however, most stores will only offer an exchange. A scratched “Pirates of the Caribbean” DVD will get you … an unscratched “Pirates of the Caribbean” DVD.

“If something’s remastered and you think they’ve done a lousy job of remastering it, that’s not defective,” said Brown at Bull Moose.

The advice? If you know you don’t want it, don’t open it, wear it or use it before you bring it back.

Tell the truth

Above all, retailers say, customers should be honest.

Stores expect to lose $3.5 billion from return fraud this season, according to the retail federation. So retailers bristle if someone seems to be lying about their return.

Don’t have a receipt for that too-big sweater? The orange shoes just aren’t your style? Haven’t been able to return that unopened movie sooner? Say so.

Many local retailers have bent the rules for people who have a good reason. And a little politeness goes a long way.

“Sometimes there are reasons you have to go outside your policy,” said Brown at Bull Moose.