I’m surprised by everyone’s reports of how much the stores vary by location. In my area the Kohl’s are dark, dreary, cluttered messes. The Marshalls and TJMaxx stores are bright, clean, and easy to shop at.
^And in my area of Los Angeles it is the exact opposite. Marshalls and TJMaxx are cluttered and messy; Kohls is clean and organized. It may be because the Kohls stores are fairly new, they all used to be the old Meryns stores that were remodeled after Kohls took them over. That being said, Kohls isn’t my favorite and I probably only go a few times a year, mainly for gifts. And I really don’t care for Kohls cash…
I just don’t shop that often for clothes any more, but when I do Kohl’s is the one I turn to because they have a pretty nice petite section and they are my closest store that has clothes that fit. I don’t have a Marshalls, Penneys or Macy’s nearby. So, it’s not like I love them, but if they have the clothes I like and fit, I’ll look there first. I also only go if I have a 30% coupon.
Wow there’s a name I haven’t thought about in a long time! ours went out, became an Uptons, which also went out. As for Kohls, I only shop if I need something that is on sale, and I have a 30% off coupon. I used to get coffee kcups but they dont allow the discount any more. And occasionally things my boys easily lost (gloves) or went through fast (flip flops). I currently have a #$5 off and a 20% of and have no desire to go to kohls to use them. Also once had a hassle returning something THEY had me order from their stupid kiosk. Then when it was wrong they made me call someplace to handle the return/credit. Never again.
BIL is a store manager for TJMaxx in TN and another BIL returned to retail and is an Asst Store Manager of a HomeGoods in MN - he started as a seasonal stocker and worked his way into FT job with better pay and benefits - however BIL1 says he doesn’t have the personality to be a store manager (people can walk all over him).
BIL in TN has people that come in every day they have a truck delivery and restocking the shelves.
It may all be due to the region of the store, the store manager, the store’s team.
We had one area TJMaxx store, and then they opened another in our growing suburb town (N AL) - BIL said our store opening had the biggest first day sales of any TJMaxx (I was in the store that day, and stood in the quickly moving but very long line - the line literally went to the back of the store). Friendly store manager.
When they open a new store, they make sure they have really desirable merchandise. They want new visitors to come back.
Lately the only reason I have gone in some stores has been DD1 or 2 needing something.
Marshalls by us is a cluttered mess. I can never find anything there. Kohls is well organized and I never have any trouble with returns or coupons. I am often offered coupons at the register. If you have their credit card, you don’t even need to keep the receipt to return anything. I find Kohls to be a good store for everyday clothes. I just wore a dress to a wedding that I bought for a whopping $5.
Kohl’s is awesome. I bought a suit jacket and backpack for a little under $100 today and received a $10 off coupon. Only thing that sucks is that they give you a ~5-day window to use it or lose it.
^^One can never have too many pairs of socks… 
Our TJMaxxes used to be a bloody mess, but I was always able to fish out some good stuff. Nowadays, the stores are shiny and well-organized, but the quality of the clothing brands they stock went down. Still, the stores are very accessible, and there are usually some real gems in the home goods isles, like All Clad pots.
I agree with BB. TJMaxx has good pans and baking, cupcake sheets.
I have also found some gym clothes there, New Balance.
I have never been to Kohls, so may try that this week. I’m curious.
The current 30% off coupon code at Kohl’s is SLUSHIE.
IMO, a TJ that is too clean and organized is a sub-par TJ’s - we have one that does this - goes for that streamlined look - and it kind of stinks! - not as much merchandise to look through!!!
I think there are Kohls shoppers and there are not. All are ok if it suits your fancy. My clothing/shopping style is not well suited to Kohl’s or a big department store - to each his own!!
LOL, around here, TJ’s is Trader Joe’s. I was confused for a minute there!
Two tips for Kohls. One. Always use your Kohls card and you don’t need to keep the receipt. You will need the receipt if you use Kohls cash or a gift card or something like that. If the whole transaction was on the Kohls card they can look it up. The second tip is that if you don’t have your coupon, but it is valid on that day, you can usually bring back your receipt and your coupon and customer service will refund the difference. I don’t think they have to, but they always have for me as long I was in the proper time. Last month I bought something on Monday, not realizing the 30% didn’t start until Thursday, but I took the items home anyway and on Thursday I went back with my coupon and my receipt and she did what I would call a virtual refund and I repurchase the items with the coupon applied to the price on Thursday. I made out better on Thursday, I didn’t even bring the actual items with me, she did it all from my receipt.
I hate Kohls too with its crazy pricing games. They even have the prices on the top of the clothes rack done in electronics so that they can constantly change the prices. I avoid these stores with all the price changing and couponing.
Well this is timely: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2015/08/04/kohls-tjmaxx-honest-about-pricing/
I never really care about the comparative price (sells originally for $xx). I look at what I am going to pay today. I don’t really think that anyone is paying $40 for a simple shirt. At least, I never would.
As much as I love Kohls, I always laugh when the cashier tells me “You’ve saved $83.”
Nope, I didn’t. Because I would never have paid the ticket price for those items.
You know the line from the old TV commercial: “An educated consumer is our best customer.”
I don’t get the suing over the actual “savings.” You know the price when you buy it. If you’re satisfied with that price, why sue later? And if you’re not, why are you buying it? I don’t get what’s deceptive.
I agree with #76, #77 and #78 above…