Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Ron Santangelo of Youngstown, right, returns a Christmas gift at Boscov’s in the Eastwood Mall as Diane Faith takes care of the transaction.

NILES — Santa may know if you’ve been naughty or nice, but he apparently needs a refresher course on shoe sizes and computer specs.

At the Eastwood Mall on Wednesday, shoppers clutching gift receipts formed lines at customer service counters, armed with well-intentioned presents that didn’t quite hit the mark. The occasion drew people from Mahoning County and beyond.

For some shoppers, post-Christmas returns reflected the complexities of women’s clothing sizes. “Clothes are hit and miss, especially for women,” said Delaney Wyant of Mineral Ridge. “It might be a medium in one size or one brand, and then a large in another.”

Ron Santangelo of Youngstown’s South Side came to return a sweater that was too similar to another. “They’re almost the same color,” he said.

Among the returns and exchanges, shoppers shared their holiday memories and traditions.

Though his family’s Christmas celebration has downsized over the years, they maintained some traditions. “We used to do all the traditional with the seven fish, because I’m Italian,” he said. “We had fish and shrimp. That’s it. That was our two-fish version this year.”

“I wanted Uggs, and he got me a pair of Ugg slippers,” said Adriana Herrondine, 31, of Orwell, describing her boyfriend’s well-meaning but misguided footwear choice. She was at the mall to exchange them for the specific style she had in mind.

For Dawn DiVieste, 50, of Howland, the day’s mission included exchanging shoes for her son. “His feet are too wide, so I’ve got to go up another size,” she said, hoping the right size would still be in stock. While at the mall, she and her son also picked up supplies for his Christmas fish tank from Sam’s Club, and DiVieste planned some post-holiday shopping for herself.

“We’re out spending more money,” she said with a laugh. “I have some Christmas money to spend on myself.”

For the Byard family, a malfunctioning remote-control car brought them out for exchanges, though they quickly pivoted to deal-hunting. “We got some really good deals at Foot Locker and Shoe Department,” said Lacey Byard, who navigated the crowds with her husband Austin and their three children, including one she described as prone to “wandering off.”

Some shoppers came with specific strategies. Suzanne Conrad, visiting from North Carolina, made her annual pilgrimage to an ornament store, where she stocks up on half-price ornaments for next year’s gifts. “I buy them now and hoard them until next year,” she said, shopping alongside her father David.

Not everyone was focused on just returns. Scott Fatten of Warren celebrated the season by helping others, having participated in a toy drive that served 400 families through the Warren Family Mission. His Christmas gift? “Peace and serenity, and I got to help out people,” he said.

The mall saw steady traffic, though several shoppers noted it was less crowded than anticipated. Only Bath & Body Works drew complaints about congestion, with Conrad declaring it made her “insane” before seeking refuge in quieter stores.

For many families navigating split holiday schedules, the day after Christmas offered a chance to extend the celebration.

Jeanette Thomas, 41, of Cortland, brought her daughter Emma Mika, 17, not just for exchanges but to continue their holiday traditions despite having spent Christmas Day apart due to shared custody arrangements.

Some, like Wyatt, were already planning for next Christmas. “We start Nov. 1,” she said, noting the 75% off deals on pajamas, and plans to hit Target’s Christmas clearance sale. “Be ready for next year.”

The most common exchange items? Shoes that didn’t fit and electronics that didn’t meet expectations — proving that even in an age of wish lists and direct links, holiday shopping remains an imperfect science.