The mail center is where orders placed online or via phone originate. It can take 2 billing cycles before you see a credit appear. Over the Xmas holidays, it can take even longer.
Now, when ordering from a store and then returning it, the refund is not done at the counter. The package is handled by the Receiving Dept. THEY do the return. The bag may or may NOT return to the floor for sale. Depending on the person, it may go back to Chanel for their outlet (and a credit issued to the store) or it may go to NM outlets. Just enclose a copy or the orginal sales slip (but keep a copy for yourself). Call Shipping for a FedEx pickup (they'll be there in 2 days) and then follow up in 4 days. FedEx does NOT leave a ticket, so I make sure to hand it myself to the FedEx guy. They also don't require a signature for delivery. I think not leaving a slip is dumb, but that is the contract they have w/NM. Once the package is back at the store, it SHOULD credit within 48 hours.
Can you tell I've done this a few times, lol.