Many downtown businesses do not experience trouble with returns and gift certificates, despite a consumer warning this week from the state attorney general's office.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher's consumer advisory report cautions Pennsylvania residents to be aware of stores' return policies. Fisher wanted to make people aware of some risks because the major shopping season of the year is approaching, said Barbara Petito, spokeswoman for the attorney general.

The advisory also alerted consumers of more than $3 million in unredeemed gift certificates that residents can claim through an online procedure, said Kerry Royer, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury.

Customer pitfalls occur mostly in retail, and include customer confusion regarding stores' return policies, Petito said.

Shoppers often believe stores are required to refund cash if the return is made with a receipt, she said.

But this is not the law in the commonwealth, Petito said. Instead, stores are required to post their own return policies and to comply with them.

Despite the warning, many downtown businesses have not experienced any customer problems related to returning merchandise.

"We've never had a problem [with the return policy] in eight years of business," said Alaina Impellitteri, co-owner of Medusa's Boutique, 120 E. College Ave.

Impellitteri said most of the shoppers are local people who know the store's policies, and the store knows its shoppers.

The boutique offers gift certificates, but rarely has problems with customers not redeeming them since they never expire, she said.

Bob Steinbach, owner of Connections, 130 S. Allen St., said the store's return policy is clearly written on its receipts, and provides the customer with 10 days to make a return. The confusion comes during the holiday season, when the store allows for more time to make returns, he added.

Connections offers gift certificates, and though they expire after a year, customers can redeem them for face value after the time limit has expired, Steinbach said.

"Someone gave me their money; I'm not going to steal it," he said.

If consumers have trouble redeeming gift certificates at any business, they can go to www.patreasury.com and follow links to the unclaimed property site. After filling out verification information, their claims will be processed, Royer said. Consumers have to place claims in the state of a company's headquarters, if the state is not Pennsylvania, she said.

Harika Kahveci (graduate-aerospace engineering) said she usually has no trouble returning items since the store's return policy is usually on the receipt.

"It' a good idea for stores to put the time frame for returns on receipts," Kahveci said.

Shaz Khan (junior-finance) said local stores have always handled returns he has seen fairly, although he has not made any recently.

Christina Burns (junior-English) said she thinks downtown businesses accommodate students well.

"I've never had any problems [making a return]. I feel like all the stores around here have been supportive and helpful," she said.