- Kohl's has expanded its program that allows shoppers to return Amazon orders in-store. The service will soon be available at all of Kohl's more than 1,150 locations, it announced on Tuesday.
- The returns are free, but your items must be eligible under Amazon's guidelines, which you should check before you go.
- The partnership began with a select group of stores in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas, but now it's available in all of its US locations.
In 2017, Kohl's and Amazon announced a partnership that would make returning items bought on Amazon more convenient.
Beginning with a select group of stores in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas, Kohl's set up pop-up stores where customers could shop from a selection of Amazon devices and return any Amazon orders for free. These return centers accept any merchandise that's eligible under Amazon's guidelines, which you can check on your Amazon account.
On Tuesday, Kohl's announced that it would be expanding the returns program to all of its more than 1,150 locations in the US.
"We are thrilled to bring Amazon Returns at Kohl's to all of our stores across the country," Kohl's CEO Michelle Gass said in a statement on Tuesday. "Amazon and Kohl's have a shared passion in providing outstanding customer service, and this unique partnership combines Kohl's strong nationwide store footprint and omnichannel capabilities with Amazon's reach and customer loyalty. This new service is another example of how Kohl's is delivering innovation to drive traffic to our stores and bring more relevance to our customers."
We tested the service at a Kohl's store in Torrance, California, when the program first launched. Here's how it worked:
For the sake of the experiment, I ordered a $9.99 clip for a Fitbit One. I had several options for shipping it, or I could pick it up at the Amazon@Westwood location. Short on time, I opted for the $3.99 one-day shipping.
When I was ready to return it, I had a few different options. Dropping it off at Kohl's for shipping is free, but you must designate this type of return on your account before heading to the store.
After I selected "Kohl's Dropoff," the screen showed me a Kohl's store about 10 miles away from my location.
The screen then showed me what I would need to do to complete my return. Notably, the instructions included a note that I would need to package my return prior to bringing it in. Kohl's said in its Tuesday press release that it would now accept returns without a box or label.
Source: Kohl's
I decided to send it back in the same package that it had arrived in.
I printed out the shipping label, cutting it out from this page, which noted that I wouldn't need to return my items until February 1, 2018.
This slip also needed to be included inside the package.
Then, I drove over to the Kohl's store in Torrance. When the news about the returns program first came out, it was said that Kohl's stores would have a designated parking area for people making Amazon returns. I didn't see any of these parking spots, though it's possible they weren't immediately obvious.
When I walked inside the store, I saw an Amazon pop-up store immediately to the right of the doors. This was the first indication that I was in the right place.
There were all types of devices on display.
Signs advertised Amazon's tech installations.
I went up to the desk to the right of that to drop off my package. With scanning and taping the package closed, the whole process took less than a minute.
The cashier gave me a 25%-off coupon when my return was complete. It was valid for seven days. If you're a frequent Kohl's shopper, this would be a valuable perk. I got the refund when my return was received a few days later.
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