Shoe Shopping at Kohl's Updated with New Photos

[LBIJim]

I went to try on shoes at Kohl's and noticed this.







Crap on the soles and a faded tag inside. These shoes were obviously worn more than a few times and then returned. Fine, Kohl's has a generous return policy, but don't put them back on the shelf and sell them as new. Write them off as damaged, donate them, or sell them as "worn" for really cheap, not the every-day fake "sale" price.

 

[Bluestars]

Maybe somebody went inside the store wearing those old shoes, took them off and put them on the shelf, then put on the new shoes and left the store.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

Maybe somebody went inside the store wearing those old shoes, took them off and put them on the shelf, then put on the new shoes and left the store.

My thought as well.

 

[Squirlz]

I'm not a big fan of Kohl's. There are always clothes laying on the floor around the racks. We went to get a Cuisinart Griddler that was on sale and they had none in stock. We returned to check for it several times over about 10 days and noticed the same fast food cup sitting on a shelf for the whole time!

They also mark up prices before they put things up "on sale".

 

[LBIJim]

The shoes were inside a box. They were the correct style and size for the code number on the box, and in the proper location under the display shoe.

That's why I believed it was a screw-up on Kohl's part. I suppose it's possible that someone bought these, wore them for a week or two, decided they were too big or small, then returned them in the box and made their own exchange.

Daughter used to work for Kohl's, and she said customer service was supposed to "damage out" obviously worn things, not replace them for sale. But she admits some associates were careless or really didn't care.

Once years ago at another self-serve shoe place, I opened a box and an old ratty pair of sneakers were in it. Obviously someone helped themselves to a new pair.

 

[willowsnn3]

Reminds me of the time I bought a car seat (WalMart) for my dd for my first grandchild. Still in box, all taped up. At the baby shower she unwraps it, opens the box and then pushes it aside. I'm trying to get her to take it out of the box so everyone can see it and shes like no we have to open the other gifts. What I didn't know but she saw as soon as she opened the box was that it was filthy, with food crumbs and everything. Then when I took it back to the store, they didn't want to believe that it was that way when I bought it. But I did convince them by getting a little loud, lol.

 

[maxiesmom]

They also mark up prices before they put things up "on sale".

Umm not they don't. That is totally false. An Urban Myth. I've worked retail for many years too.. They, and any other retailer, don't have enough staff to run around marking things up just to put them on sale. Plus it would be very illegal.


The shoes were probably a return from someone who didn't fess up to the fact that they were used. Still the employee at the courtesy desk should have checked them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Reminds me of the time I bought a car seat (WalMart) for my dd for my first grandchild. Still in box, all taped up. At the baby shower she unwraps it, opens the box and then pushes it aside. I'm trying to get her to take it out of the box so everyone can see it and shes like no we have to open the other gifts. What I didn't know but she saw as soon as she opened the box was that it was filthy, with food crumbs and everything. Then when I took it back to the store, they didn't want to believe that it was that way when I bought it. But I did convince them by getting a little loud, lol.

My dad worked at Kmart many moons ago. He once told me of a customer trying to return some kitchen item--a blender or something, and when they looked inside the box had a bunch of rocks in it.

 

[stitch'sgirl]

Yup, I've seen sandals in the correct box as well with nasty dirty foot stains on the sole.

And as far as them not marking up prices, how about this for an "Urban Myth"? My admin assistant went to Kohls and found a $19.99 basket with a 50% off sign. She took it to the register expecting it to ring up at $10. It rang up as $20.00. She showed the cashier the $19.99 tag hanging on the basket, and the cashier told her that that was the manufacturer's suggested price, not Kohl's price, and showed her the Kohl's sticker on the bottom of the basket marked $40.00. So yes, Kohl's does inflate their prices just to mark them down. And of course if it had been me, I would have fought it!

 

[North of Mouse]

Umm not they don't. That is totally false. An Urban Myth. I've worked retail for many years too.. They, and any other retailer, don't have enough staff to run around marking things up just to put them on sale. Plus it would be very illegal.


The shoes were probably a return from someone who didn't fess up to the fact that they were used. Still the employee at the courtesy desk should have checked them.

They don't 'have' to mark up things before a sale - there regular prices are already 'double' what you can buy them anywhere else (most items - are a few exceptions) so that's why they 'love' to have 'half' price sales for the gullible!
The only way I have purchased a few things at a great price are when I get the 30% off coupon linked with another discount + 'half off' !!

I, too, do not believe for a minute that they 'intentionally' put 'used' shoes back in the regular stock. They're not that stupid. Sometimes things do 'slip through the cracks'.

 

[Happy Snowman]

Yup, I've seen sandals in the correct box as well with nasty dirty foot stains on the sole.

And as far as them not marking up prices, how about this for an "Urban Myth"? My admin assistant went to Kohls and found a $19.99 basket with a 50% off sign. She took it to the register expecting it to ring up at $10. It rang up as $20.00. She showed the cashier the $19.99 tag hanging on the basket, and the cashier told her that that was the manufacturer's suggested price, not Kohl's price, and showed her the Kohl's sticker on the bottom of the basket marked $40.00. So yes, Kohl's does inflate their prices just to mark them down. And of course if it had been me, I would have fought it!

Yes, because hearsay is so accurate. Kohls does not mark up items before they put it on sale. You can do your own research if you don't believe anyone else--track online if you need to

 

[Patch'sD]

At Kohls a few years ago, went to purchase a pair of sneakers, opened up the box and found an old pair of sneakers in the box. Switch and wear out, I guess.

The worst was buying a cordless phone at target. Got home opened it up and the handset had ear wax caked on the earpiece. Seems that someone used it for many months and returned it. Target just took the unit and placed it back on the shelf. I make it a point to inspect packaging to insure that it was never opened. If it was opened and I really need the product, I take the whole thing out of the box to make sure all parts are their and all Hardware is included.

 

[LBIJim]

Umm not they don't. That is totally false. An Urban Myth. I've worked retail for many years too.. They, and any other retailer, don't have enough staff to run around marking things up just to put them on sale. Plus it would be very illegal.


The shoes were probably a return from someone who didn't fess up to the fact that they were used. Still the employee at the courtesy desk should have checked them.

Nah, I don't believe Kohl's or any other retailer marks up prices before they put them on sale. Many places, particularly Kohl's, seem to have artificially high "regular" prices, and the "sale" prices are pretty much the every day price. Practically everything at Kohl's is always on "sale," with the prices varying slightly according to the promotion. When they have the 15, 20, or 30% off coupons or codes, the sale prices are a bit higher than when there's a run-of-the mill regular sale.

Kohl's, Macy's, and others are successful when they sell Docker's pants "on sale" at $35.99. Yet when JC Penney tried the every day price of $35.99, they failed.

The shoes in the photos had a regular price of $70.00. Nobody in their right mind would pay that price. The tag attached to the display show stated "Sale $39.99", which is reasonable for the quality, and then I had a 30% off coupon.

In any event, the worn shoes didn't even fit. They were size 11. I normally take 11.5 or 12, but Kohl's didn't have any, so I figured I'd try the 11 just to see.

P.S. I always get a kick at Kohl's when my total comes to like $75, then the cashier says I "saved" $138.

 

[Patch'sD]

I think smart shopping at Kohl's can yield the best results. Last year, My wife was shopping for a coat after Christmas. We had the 30% off Kohls Coupon for use with the Kohls Store Card. I found a Ralph Lauren Chaps Leather Jacket on the 60% off Clearance Rack for myself. When I took it to a price scanner the price came up $450.00. I took it to the check out counter and the price came up the same as the scanner. I explained where I found out the jacket, the checkout person applied a 50% discount and I said it was to high still but thank you very much. She took another 20% off and asked if that price was Ok, I said sure. With the 30% off Coupon and $ 20 in Kohls bucks, I was able to get the Jacket for under $80.00. For Kohls it's Sale Price + 30% off Coupon + Pay Charge at Customer Service for the best price.

 

[Christine]

Kohl's has exorbitant "regular" prices and then puts 95% of their stuff on sale all the time. Occasionally, I will run into items that are never on sale. Usually these are items that aren't allowed to be on sale. For instance, I think over the holidays I saw some Dr. Dre Beats headphones and they were regular price. You could still use your coupons and Kohl's cash on them, though.

I've gotten a few Keurig machines there much cheaper than I could get them anywhere else by taking advantage of an instore bonus buy/early bird, using a 30% off coupon, an any Kohl's cash I had on hand. The last one I bought cost me $66.00.

I don't believe they reduce discounts when coupons are out. Those coupons vary person. For instance, one week I might get a 30% of coupon and my friend would only get the 15% one. I don't shop at Kohl's often so I feel that I often get 30% coupons to lure me in. I just got a new coupon in the mail yesterday. It was 15% and it's been a long time since I got one that low. I figure that it's because I did a lot of shopping there over the holidays. If I don't go for a few more weeks, I'll get a 30%.

Now, they are offering Kohl's rewards on top of everything else (if you sign up) and I'm getting $10 "rewards" on that. Putting all that together, if you have something you want there, you can get a very good price but you need to be savvy about it.

 

[Bluestars]

Kohl's is one of my favorite stores. I take advantage of their discounts and sales, so I am happy with the prices. The store near my house is always clean and organized.

 

[bellebud]

I've always thought what Kohl's lists as its "regular price" is absolutely laughable, and the 'sale' prices are what you'd pay anywhere for the same item. I do occasionally shop there, but of course know I'm paying a normal price for their 'on sale' item.

 

[Squirlz]

Umm not they don't. That is totally false. An Urban Myth. I've worked retail for many years too.. They, and any other retailer, don't have enough staff to run around marking things up just to put them on sale. Plus it would be very illegal.

Then explain the tag with the lower price underneath the price tag.

 

[sam_gordon]

Back on topic...

OP, did you say anything to a Kohl's employee? What answer did they give?

It takes a while to wear down the label. You're not going to see that in a couple weeks.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Kohl's is one of my favorite stores. I take advantage of their discounts and sales, so I am happy with the prices. The store near my house is always clean and organized.

Same here. I've never found them to be overpriced and usually get sale stuff for what I'd pay at Walmart...except it's much nicer stuff.