Shoe Shopping at Kohl's Updated with New Photos

[LBIJim]

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.

Nah, I just left the shoes sticking up out of the box on the endcap table where the "featured" shoes were displayed. Hopefully an employee will notice the soles and put them in the damaged bin in the backroom, not just replace them in the box and return them to the shelf where they were originally located.

If the shoes had fit, I MIGHT have considered bringing them to customer service and asking for a big discount. The upper parts of the shoes were still in decent condition.

 

[LBIJim]

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.

Usually I like Kohl's very much too. I buy at least half my clothes there.

I know their so-called regular prices are pretty much a joke, and the sales are a game, but I don't mind playing along. My daughter used to work there. The two or three times a week when sale circulars came in the mail or in the newspaper, we'd joke, "oh, look, Kohl's is having a SALE!!!"

But I should have known better not to look for shoes there. I rarely have any luck. They always seems to be out of stock in my size in the styles I like.

 

[Bluestars]

Usually I like Kohl's very much too. I buy at least half my clothes there.

I know their so-called regular prices are pretty much a joke, and the sales are a game, but I don't mind playing along. My daughter used to work there. The two or three times a week when sale circulars came in the mail or in the newspaper, we'd joke, "oh, look, Kohl's is having a SALE!!!"

But I should have known better not to look for shoes there. I rarely have any luck. They always seems to be out of stock in my size in the styles I like.

Yeah, I know their sales are a joke. I usually wait until I get the lucky flier in the mail with a 30% off coupon. Also, they offer discounts if you use the Kohl's charge. It is the only department store that I have a charge card. I pay it off online as soon as the balance hits my account.

I haven't had a problem with their shoes, but I usually go to DSW shoes because they have a much better selection.

 

[maleficent32]

It is possible it was an oversight, it does happen at any store. My friend bought a hand mixer at Kohls, got home went to use it and saw that it had been previously used. She contacted them and handled it great, IIRC they upgraded her to a nicer model since they didn't have any more of that one for the same price she paid. Great CS IMO.

Many years ago I worked in a shoe store. You would not believe the amount of used shoes we'd find in boxes because people just left with the new pair on.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

My mother and I do like Kohl's, but we only go when one of us has a 30% coupon.

We were just there today; she wanted the Shark Steam Mop. They had it "on sale" for $59.99, regular price $99.99. She did some looking around and found that most other stores had the same item at a regular price of $69.99. But she used her extra 30% on the $59.99, so she was happy.

Last year in the shoe department, I saw a pair of shoes with a "sale" tag attached, "20% off - originally $74.99; your price $59.99." But the actual boxes of shoes had Kohl's price tags that said $64.99

 

[lauradis]

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.

Yes they bought the shoes at khols orginally wanted a new pair. So they 5 toes took them.

 

[maxiesmom]

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.

Yep. And there is nothing illegal or immoral about a company pricing something high if they so choose. That is a very different thing than marking things up just to put them on sale. To me that sounds as if people spend their time marking things up before a flyer comes out, and then run around ripping the tags off once the sale is over. That would be very illegal!

It also makes me that someone would complain about nasty shoes in a box, yet think nothing of leaving them there for another customer to find. Heaven forbid they walk them up to a employee.

 

[Squirlz]

Yep. And there is nothing illegal or immoral about a company pricing something high if they so choose. That is a very different thing than marking things up just to put them on sale. To me that sounds as if people spend their time marking things up before a flyer comes out, and then run around ripping the tags off once the sale is over. That would be very illegal!

All I can tell you is there were higher price tags directly over a lower price tag on every towel that was on sale. Make of that whatever you want.

 

[maxiesmom]

All I can tell you is there were higher price tags directly over a lower price tag on every towel that was on sale. Make of that whatever you want.

As someone who has worked retail for over 20 years I know exactly what to make of it. They have marked their items up in price, which every store is allowed to do. It is only when a store markes an item up to run a sale, and then marks the item down again after the sale that it is wrong.

Kohls is not by any means the only retailer to raise the original price on items that they sell. I've done it at more than a few companies. Even grocery stores do it.

 

[LBIJim]

It also makes me that someone would complain about nasty shoes in a box, yet think nothing of leaving them there for another customer to find. Heaven forbid they walk them up to a employee.

I'm being generous by leaving the nasty shoes where I left them. Now it's easier to other customers to discover them, take photos, post them, and complain on social media.

 

[Squirlz]

As someone who has worked retail for over 20 years I know exactly what to make of it. They have marked their items up in price, which every store is allowed to do. It is only when a store markes an item up to run a sale, and then marks the item down again after the sale that it is wrong.

Kohls is not by any means the only retailer to raise the original price on items that they sell. I've done it at more than a few companies. Even grocery stores do it.

This part you made up. I stated that they were marked up before being put on sale. I won't speculate on what they did afterward if any items were still left.

 

[maxiesmom]

This part you made up. I stated that they were marked up before being put on sale. I won't speculate on what they did afterward if any items were still left.

I thought that is what you were complaining about. It is perfectly legal for any place of business to raise prices as they see fit. None of us like it, but every single place of business raises their prices at one point or another. Nothing fraudulent or illegal about it. Which is what it seemed you were implying.

That is in general. I too would have been miffed if something had 2 separate tickets (not one ticket covering the other) and they charged me the more expensive price. Sounds like they had a corporate price hike and someone forgot to pull the manufacturers tags off. Again, they can decide to have a higher price than the manufacturer suggests.

 

[Pigeon]

While Kohls has a few more gimmics than some other stores, they all do the same thing. I never pay sticker price at Macy's, Boscovs, Talbot's or any other retailer. When I checked out of ShopRite this morning, the clerk told me I'd saved $175 on my $150 order.

 

[Squirlz]

I thought that is what you were complaining about. It is perfectly legal for any place of business to raise prices as they see fit. None of us like it, but every single place of business raises their prices at one point or another. Nothing fraudulent or illegal about it. Which is what it seemed you were implying.

That is in general. I too would have been miffed if something had 2 separate tickets (not one ticket covering the other) and they charged me the more expensive price. Sounds like they had a corporate price hike and someone forgot to pull the manufacturers tags off. Again, they can decide to have a higher price than the manufacturer suggests.

Yup. And they raised their prices before they put them on sale. Never said it was fraudulent or illegal, just stated that that is what they do. They cover their Kohls price tag with a higher priced Kohls price tag.

 

[nkereina]

I loathe clothes shopping at Kohl's - it's always a mess! I half blame the managers for not staffing enough people to keep the floor tidy and I half blame the customers for being rude slobs. But I must admit, its very frustrating clothes shopping - anywhere - and sifting through piles of mismatched items and sizes. Kohl's is the worst for this, IMO.

With regard to the shoes in the OP, I'd be willing to bet the return associate did nothing more than glance in the box, if that even, and then put them back on the shelf. I'd suspect the person returning them didn't bother to say they've been worn (for fear of not being able to return them) and that's how they ended up on the shelf.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yup. And they raised their prices before they put them on sale. Never said it was fraudulent or illegal, just stated that that is what they do. They cover their Kohls price tag with a higher priced Kohls price tag.

As pointed out, Kohls almost always has most of their items on sale. The prices being raised are not done in conjunction with the merchandise going on sale. If they want to raise their prices, the items will go on sale at some point.

To the poster who blames the managers for the lack of staff, don't. You have obviously never worked for a major retailer. They have little control over staffing levels, it is all done by the home office. Each store can only use the money they are given, and some hardly even touch the schedules. They are set for them.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Yep. And there is nothing illegal or immoral about a company pricing something high if they so choose. That is a very different thing than marking things up just to put them on sale. To me that sounds as if people spend their time marking things up before a flyer comes out, and then run around ripping the tags off once the sale is over. That would be very illegal!

It also makes me that someone would complain about nasty shoes in a box, yet think nothing of leaving them there for another customer to find. Heaven forbid they walk them up to a employee.

Exactly. My father is fond of saying that if you go to Kohl's and buy something that's NOT on sale, you've been had. But then again, buying something that's not on sale at Kohl's is like an encounter with a unicorn.

Because really, $20 regular price for kids' leggings that you can get anywhere for $5? It's the perception, though, when you get a receipt that says you saved $300 and your total spent was $100, that you got a good deal.

I only shop there when I have the 30% off.

 

[dsneprincess]

I loathe clothes shopping at Kohl's - it's always a mess! I half blame the managers for not staffing enough people to keep the floor tidy and I half blame the customers for being rude slobs. But I must admit, its very frustrating clothes shopping - anywhere - and sifting through piles of mismatched items and sizes. Kohl's is the worst for this, IMO.

With regard to the shoes in the OP, I'd be willing to bet the return associate did nothing more than glance in the box, if that even, and then put them back on the shelf. I'd suspect the person returning them didn't bother to say they've been worn (for fear of not being able to return them) and that's how they ended up on the shelf.

This must depend on your store. I have NEVER encountered anything close to this in any of the 3 Kohl's I shop regularly.

 

[LBIJim]

To the poster who blames the managers for the lack of staff, don't. You have obviously never worked for a major retailer. They have little control over staffing levels, it is all done by the home office. Each store can only use the money they are given, and some hardly even touch the schedules. They are set for them.

Very true. In many large chains, the budget for labor hours is rarely set at store level. In almost all cases, labor hours are set at the district, regional, or even national level.

 

[daisyx3]

I like Kohl's and almost every sweater and pair of dress pants I own is from there. If Gloria Vanderbilt every stops making dress pants I'm going to have to retire.
We got our Dyson on sale and with a 30& off for about $340. I was happy with that one.
That said, it can be a big mess. I went to buy my teenage son a coat on veteran's day in the evening. They had a lot of nice men's coats and I'd been wanting a jacket, so after he picked one out we went to the women's section. The coats were all over the place, mixed up, on the wrong wracks, etc. The shoes are also always a mess. Invariably when I see a cute pair they never have my size (8.5). They will have 5,6, or 10, but nothing in between. Maybe I'm just too picky, but I've given up on ever finding shoes in that store.
Daisyx3