It is nice of Kohl’s to sometimes give a discount without a coupon, but I don’t expect it and would not storm out of their store if it wasn’t offered. Kohl’s has had some of the most liberal coupon policies of any store I have shopped at, but I understand that to stay in business they have had to make some adjustments and tighten up their coupon policies.
Kohl’s also has some of the most liberal return policies. Without a receipt, the store has no idea how much you paid for the item. How much discount did you get using coupons when you bought it? How much Kohl’s cash did you earn when you bought it? If you have a receipt, then they can adjust the return to negate all the discounts. Without a receipt, well, you are subject to their policies. I once traded in a watch that had sat for an entire year (my sweet H didn’t notice that the watch didn’t work when he bought it!) and Kohl’s gave me a replacement watch without a receipt. I certainly didn’t expect that, but was super grateful. If they had not, it would have been my fault for procrastinating.
Timely returns, even without a receipt, are your best bet. It gives the store a chance to resell the item within the current season. And honestly, they have no clue if you just bought it on clearance the day before and are returning it trying to get full credit. So many dishonest folks out there ruin it for us honest ones.
Kohls has one of the best return policies for stores. They will take anything back, at any time with or without a receipt. If you don’t have a receipt they can only return it for the lowest price it’s been sold at in their database.
I shopped at Kohls for my son’s often. The best thing is they have a Young men’s departments. Most other stores just have a kid’s and then a men’s department. Which makes it hard to find the right clothes for teenagers. I never get why every department store has juniors department for women and nothing for young men.
I do find the endless sales ridiculous, same for Kohl’s cash.
While I can find some good things at Marshalls for a good price, our stores are always a mess. The racks are packed so you can hardly look through them. And filled with lots of junk that you can see why it was left over. If I have a couple of hours to spend I can go thru the racks and find a gem for a good price, but it’s an effort. And don;t even bother trying to return an item after two weeks or with no reciept.
I hardly ever find anything I want for myself at Kohl’s. When S2 still lived home, Kohl’s was good for him for jeans and casual pants, especially when I had a 30% off coupon.
I’ve never had an issue with returns, but I always keep receipts and try not to remove tags until I’m sure I’m keeping the item.
I don’t like when stores change policies. Glad you were able to find what you wanted for less at Marshalls, thumper.
Funny story about Kohl’s cash. I was in the check out line and there was a mother/daughter combo behind me and sadness in the mom’s voice as was explaining why they couldn’t afford the item the D wanted. I purchased enough for a $20 Kohl’s cash and gave it to the mom telling her would be out of town during those dates. About a month later I decided to return a couple of items. I didn’t get back what I paid for them since the Kohl’s cash had been redeemed and therefore deducted from my return.
I like Khol’s. It seems I always have a coupon in my email inbox so I have no problem getting some kind of discount. I never thought to ask without a coupon, but if I had I would never have dreamed to get upset if they were unable to give me one. (Though if they did, that would be great!).
Their return policy (https://cs.kohls.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/893/~/hassle-free-returns) is actually quite generous. I’ve never had a problem returning anything at any time (granted, I don’t return items often). With receipt their policy is to give you a full return, without they have to assume the lowest price (but even then, if you paid with credit card they can look it up for you!). I don’t know why the one post said they were told they couldn’t take an “out of season”, their policy clearly states “no time restrictions”.
I’ve never seen our Kohl’s in a mess.
The best thing for me about Kohl’s? ---- I don’t have to go to a mall!
For decades I was a loyal Kohl’s shopper, as probably most of you responding to this. Weddings, showers, back to school, summer clothes shopping and everything in between. Actually the last time I went to get a memory foam thing for my daughters college dorm bed and something else. My total was eligible for Kohl’s cash but I refused it because so many times with Kohl’s cash a return only causes less money, . Also, when I only have one its hard to find something for 10 dollars and end up not using it or buying something I didn’t need.Tthere have been so… many other issues, so I also try to shop somewhere else.
I have used my Kohl’s cash online when I won’t get to the store. I shop there enough to have MVC status and just got offered free shipping for any amount. I can usually find something for someone online.
I’ve liked Kohl’s for kitchen stuff and housewares, underwear and workout clothes, and things like basic cotton V-neck tees and leggings (stuff that doesn’t look good for more than a year or so no matter how expensive it is). I also occasionally find some reasonably priced attractive accessories (scarves, costume jewelry) there. Some of the Simply Vera stuff is cute. I used to like their Dana Buchman stuff but it’s looking cheap now. Kohl’s is on a bit of a slide. It seems to be suffering the same fate as JC Penney. What’s ironic is that so many people love the coupon/discount shopping model. When Penney’s stopped doing that, they faltered even more. Many people don’t want transparent consistent pricing; they want to feel that they are getting a deal even if it’s not really true.
If you have the stores local…TJMaxx/Marshall/HomeGoods/Sierra Trading Post - we have two stores of TJMaxx and Marshalls nearby, one store of HomeGoods and do not have the STPost; I have their credit card for rewards. Hit or miss with them, but they have some decent buys and sometimes you hit an extremely good buy.
I bounce between JCP and Kohl’s lately and have both their credit cards, so get extra mailings besides newspaper ads/coupons. I use a clear zip bag for each store. JCP has been having a lot of $10 off spending $25; some clerks will allow you to use more than once if it is a newspaper coupon. In the mail I will get $10 off spending $10 and additional $10 off $25. Even if it is used for H’s t-shirts/underwear. Yesterday I used it on getting vanity fair briefs (special priced and then got $10 off) and well constructed/comfortable flirtitude thongs for DDs (original price $9 each; with special and coupon I paid about $3 each).
When JCP tried the new merchandising/low price (that almost brought the company down) we actually continued buying there when we found good things at a decent price.
If we need something at Kohl’s and they don’t have it in the store, we go to the kiosk and order for free shipping, and apply any specials/coupons. The kiosk is a bit of a hassle, but worth the savings. H wanted some outdoor thin running style full length leggings (to use in the north for camping/canoeing/fishing - wanted stuff that dries easily), and with none in our store, I ordered a bunch on sale in addition to two long sleeve athletic matching running shirts - one didn’t work, but I was able to return that one easily (I got like 7 pieces for what one or two would cost at full price).
Once when the girls were young and Target opened nearby, I got them two matching shirts. I later realized they had something very similar and I went back with the receipt and the shirts with tags still on - they have 90 day return, and it was day 91! I ended up donating them. I didn’t buy anything in Target for a long, long time after that debacle.
So I can understand frustration and consumer feelings!
I have two items to return to Kohl’s and one to JCP - but I have to identify the receipts to return. I have been procrastinating going through receipts…now that I am buying less for DDs, shouldn’t have this problem again (now I only buy with them with me and they have to try on).
For whatever reason, Kohl’s mails us a few $10 off $10 coupons every couple months. Guess it does the trick, because it does get us in the store. Unfortunately (or fortunately!), we rarely find anything totalling more than $10, so we end up with our purchase free, usually just clothing essentials which seems to be their only decent merch.
I dont go to the mall, just U village, and that is usually just to access the geniuses at the Apple store.
I think Kohls moved in when another discount dept store, Lamonts, went bankrupt.
I didn’t shop at Lamonts, and I don’t shop at Kohls.
We mostly shop at a local superstore similar to but nicer than Target, about .5 mile away, that has " membership" discounts, and one day a month where everything you get an additional 10% off if you are over 55. Discounts on gas also, as does the Safeway.
I don’t buy clothes there, but we did find H a couple pair of shorts & swim trunks, for less than I could have gotten them online.
I dont generally use coupons, unless it is something that I usually buy anyway. I find that by only shopping when I need something, I save more money than looking for deals that might have quotas or other requirements for savings.
I will buy online when there is a big discount. On Levis for example, I get notified when the classic 501’s go from $68 to $30 & we stock up, as that is what H wears to work.
Among the many reasons Why I’ll Never be Rich is that if I need something I don’t care if there’s a discount or a coupon or if it’s on sale. If it’s worth it to me for the price it’s selling for I get it and never give the price another thought. Ilf I buy something at Kohl’s and they give me Kohl’s cash I give it to my daughter and I don’t care if she uses it or not.
Time is money too. And aggravation - we all have different trigger points.
I tell H I don’t like to buy things twice - so will save maybe more things at home than I should, but once DDs are out of school and settled in their places, we can get rid of stuff beyond what will will want at two smaller places.
I agree with OP. I get tired of the confusion. I posted earlier that I had a receipt for a baby gift that my niece didn’t know where to return, so she gave it back to me to exchange or return. I had no idea it was seasonal. There were no “seasonal indicators”; it was a baby outfit. I had the receipt, so why wouldn’t they exchange it?
And Levi’s 501s are common, so with a Kohls tag on it and Levi’s price tag, why would they only offer me $4? Yes I hadn’t returned them right away and part of that was my son’s fault for not telling me the length didn’t fit and stuffing them in his closet. Levi’s, I guess, are seasonal and not returnable.
I won’t go back and Costco is right down the street.
Used to shop at Kohls a lot for clothes - primarily those on sale. Still go there, but not as often - not finding stuff there to my liking. I recently had some Kohls cash expire (didn’t think S was going to keep the suit I bought for him, but he ended up keeping it!) - and I lost the Kohls cash. And then this past week, S went down to pick up some underwear. I had a 20% off coupon, but apparently, that didn’t start until next week. I asked if they had any other coupons they could offer and the kid said that this was one of their rare no coupon days! Ugh. S needed the underwear that day - so went ahead and bought it, but was not a happy camper…
Back to post #17, LLBean has calculated the cost of returns and how much more customers spend when they make a return. I read a report once and they actually have an optimum/goal percentage of returns.
