What's the deal with Kohls??

[mhsjax]

I've always been happy with Kohls... you just have to know your products and prices before shopping and not be sucked into the 'deals'. For example, on Black Friday they had the ImagiNext BatCave on sale for $19.99. Everywhere else it was $29.99 or more. I combined that with a 15% off coupon and got a great deal.

For the Kohl's Cash, I keep my purchases using that separate from other items and buy things I know I will not return like socks, underwear and K-cups - making them truly free.

The KC is a coupon... if you bought a $20 sweater and used $15 in KC, you only spent $5 out of pocket. So that's all your entitled back if you return it.

The key to Kohl's is working it to your advantage by knowing your products and how to use their coupons to your benefit. It can really pay off in the end

yes, but as I understand the OP to be saying is that she returned something that she paid for with cash and then she received Kohls cash for future use, and then they made the Kohl's cash in valid. This is wrong, she got an in store credit so it will be used. Not the same thing as paying with KC and expecting the full amt back in actual cash.

If I purchased a $50.00 sweater and paid for it with my money or credit card, and I earn lets say $10.00 in KC, I then return sweater because it doesn't fit, I get store credit to spend another $50.00, why should my KC be invalid at this point. I didn't use it to pay for the sweater.

ETA, I just went back and reread the OP original post. Looks like some of the $50.00 was in KC, so I guess I don't have a real problem with what they are doing. I don't know, I really don't shop there. I very rarely find anything that I like or that holds up well.

 

[lisalis]

If by making that return you went under the amount needed to earn Kohls Cash, then of course you would lose it. You are not entitled to it anymore. And if you purchased an item and received 20% off of that item, of course they would consider that in the return. How does that not make sense?

The $10 thing is a bit crazy, but you have found the way around it. Always use your $10 off coupon in a separate transaction.

I also want to comment on the not getting 30% off thing. From what I have been told they only send that percent off to their card holders. Otherwise the amount you receive is either 15% or 20% and totally random. Just like some people get WDW pin codes and some don't.

Yes, I did not expect to keep the Kohl's cash and handed it back to the lady when I made the return. I also expected to have the 20% off deducted, as would be fair. Losing the $10 in addition is the part that was crazy in my opinion, as I also bought other items. I am not trying to short change them and do not expect them to short change me in return.

 

[Mel522]

If you didn't get cash back, you did in fact spend $50.00. A store credit ins't getting money back. If I purchase a sweater for $50.00 and I return it because it didn't fit, and I get a $50.00 store credit, I have still spent $50.00. I returned $50.00 worth of merchandise and I will pick out $50..00 worth of merchandise to replace that, how is that not spending $50.00.

Kohls Cash is a coupon. When stores offer coupons they often have prices higher than they would during a sale in which they do not offer the coupon. So, someone spends $50 during the time when a coupon is offered. They then return the item and receive store credit. They go back later during a sale that would not offer the coupon and purchase the exact same items for $40. So Kohls lost money.

 

[mhsjax]

Kohls Cash is a coupon. When stores offer coupons they often have prices higher than they would during a sale in which they do not offer the coupon. So, someone spends $50 during the time when a coupon is offered. They then return the item and receive store credit. They go back later during a sale that would not offer the coupon and purchase the exact same items for $40. So Kohls lost money.

Which is why I don't shop at Kohls. Sorry I still diagree, if I returen something for $50.00 I will get a $50.00 store credit, how am I not spending $50.00. All the price wrangling to make you think you are getting a deal is one of the many reasons I don't shop there. I don't like their stuff, it is sub par. I had been wearing the same brand and style of bra for 4 years. I was at Kohls one night and they were on sale, something told me to try it on, I had never purchased one from there. None of them fit, totally off. I believe that their stuff is flawed, they mark it up then mark it down to the price it should be so you think you are getting a deal. I don't see what people see in that store.

 

[Mel522]

Which is why I don't shop at Kohls. Sorry I still diagree, if I returen something for $50.00 I will get a $50.00 store credit, how am I not spending $50.00. All the price wrangling to make you think you are getting a deal is one of the many reasons I don't shop there. I don't like their stuff, it is sub par. I had been wearing the same brand and style of bra for 4 years. I was at Kohls one night and they were on sale, something told me to try it on, I had never purchased one from there. None of them fit, totally off. I believe that their stuff is flawed, they mark it up then mark it down to the price it should be so you think you are getting a deal. I don't see what people see in that store.

You are spending $50, but you are getting more merchandise and you are not paying the price Kohls wants you to pay to make the coupon worth it for them. When you purchase during a coupon earning event, you are paying for that coupon through the higher prices. If you have store credit, they have no control over when you buy, so the prices of your future purchase may not pay for the coupon.

Besides, if you get store credit, then Kohls already has your money, so what do they care if you are happy? I think the whole practice is manipulative and bad costumer service.

 

[jessica52877]

If the OP took a store credit then she should get to keep her kohl's cash, she still spent $50! Maybe I am totally misunderstanding something here! I had planned on hitting kohl's up for some spring clothes but now rethinking it. I don't care for stores that do shady things like this.

 

[DinahInWonderland]

I used to work for Kohl's and the policy on Kohl's cash was that if you took a store credit you would get to keep your Kohl's cash. They changed this due to the large amount of people who buy small items with $5 or $10 in Kohl's cash then return them, get a store credit for the coupon they used, use that credit combined with another coupon to buy something for $20, return that for more credit, etc. up until they were earning more Kohl's cash on purchases they were making with what was essentially store credit built for other Kohl's cash without investing very little, if any, of there own money.

We had several customers at my store who would buy dyson vacuums or diamond jewelry with store credits they earned from returning things bought with their coupons. They would earn $200 in Kohl's cash, pay with their store credit, return their items for a store credit and get to keep the additional $200 without having paid for anything.... literally FREE money. Yes, it sucks for the honest people out there but I can definitely see why they changed this.

 

[mhsjax]

You are spending $50, but you are getting more merchandise and you are not paying the price Kohls wants you to pay to make the coupon worth it for them. When you purchase during a coupon earning event, you are paying for that coupon through the higher prices. If you have store credit, they have no control over when you buy, so the prices of your future purchase may not pay for the coupon.

Besides, if you get store credit, then Kohls already has your money, so what do they care if you are happy? I think the whole practice is manipulative and bad costumer service.

Wow, I guess that makes sense. I just don't think that way, but obviously people do this.

I agree with you, I didn't like Kohls before, and I like them even less now. I will not shop there for anything. They are shady as far as I am concerned, and they are shady with subpar merchandise.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I don't think Kohls is shady. People tried to scam the Kohls cash system and so they cracked down, maybe went to far the other way. They will get it straightened out. As for prices being higher than other places, yes if you buy something they aren't a mass retailer of, like toys. They offer them as convenience to customers who want to get everything there regardless of price. I've bought tons of clothes from there and they have lasted for years because I carefully wash and dry them. If you do your research you can get quality merchandise for great prices.

 

[daughtersrus]

I returned 3 items today that I purchased earlier this week using KC. No problems at all. They gave me a mdse card for the full value on the receipt.

 

[mhsjax]

I don't think Kohls is shady. People tried to scam the Kohls cash system and so they cracked down, maybe went to far the other way. They will get it straightened out. As for prices being higher than other places, yes if you buy something they aren't a mass retailer of, like toys. They offer them as convenience to customers who want to get everything there regardless of price. I've bought tons of clothes from there and they have lasted for years because I carefully wash and dry them. If you do your research you can get quality merchandise for great prices.

I do think that their pricing is shady, more so than most. I am also happy for you that your clothes have lasted. I have been doing laundry for 29 years and I have never had a problem with anything that I wash shrinking and not holding up until Kohls. So yes I am careful, it isn't my laundry skills. Also as I stated earlier, the same brand of bra I had been wearing for years, purchased time and time again from another dept store, wouldn't fit me at Kohls. this started my belief that their products are flawed in some way.

I have a very good friend that loves the store, I hate it. We don't all like the same thing. I have no use for this store.

 

[delilah]

My husband and I have different opinions when it comes to the entire Kohls cash deal. Before Christmas, they were offering Kohls cash. We had two different transactions, and were a bit short to qualify for an additional $10. He then returned later, and made an additional purchase, and wanted me to go back and get the Kohls cash, and I refused to do it. Over the years, I have had as much Kohls cash expire as I have used, and that is the reason I will not go out of my way to get more Kohls cash.

That said, I generally like Kohls, but, I would never buy anything there for the full, undiscounted price. As a matter of fact, I won't even go into the store unless I have a 30% coupon. And that is why the Kohls cash is irrelevant to me, because it usually can only be redeemed when there aren't any other discounts occurring. If I want something, and I have Kohls cash, I will buy it, otherwise, I won't make a special trip to get or use Kohls cash.

Now, I also have a Black Friday story which is still in progress. We were shopping at Kohls in Cincinnati, because we were going to see an exhibit at the museum center in Cincinnati. I bought a quesadilla maker, which had a mail in rebate. The line to check out that day wrapped all around the store, and we actually were checked out at the customer service counter. I didn't notice on my receipt that we had been charged for two quesadilla makers until we had returned to Indianapolis the next day. I was thinking that we had actually purchased a very expensive tortilla maker, because I wasn't going to drive back to Cincinnati to get a credit. But, they were able to credit my account in Indianapolis. But, I haven't yet received my rebate, so, it is still an expensive tortilla maker.

 

[maxiesmom]

If the OP took a store credit then she should get to keep her kohl's cash, she still spent $50! Maybe I am totally misunderstanding something here! I had planned on hitting kohl's up for some spring clothes but now rethinking it. I don't care for stores that do shady things like this.

If you are returning something and getting a store credit you are still making a return. You are not still spending that money, they just gave it back to you.

No one is forced to take an in store credit unless that is how the purchase was originally made. You always have the option of getting your return back the same way the purchase was made--cash or credit card.

The OP made a return that took her under the $50 needed to earn her Kohls Cash. Which is why she lost it. It makes no difference that she chose to take that return as an in store credit.

 

[vacationer1954]

If you go back to Kohls on a day when they're running another Kohls cash event, and use the store credit to put you over the limit to earn Kohls cash, you'll earn the Kohls cash back, right?

 

[leahjade]

yes, but as I understand the OP to be saying is that she returned something that she paid for with cash and then she received Kohls cash for future use, and then they made the Kohl's cash in valid. This is wrong, she got an in store credit so it will be used. Not the same thing as paying with KC and expecting the full amt back in actual cash.

Correct! And last time I checked online at Kohl's return policy, there is nothing listed about taking your Kohls cash away if you have to exchange an item for another size (or get store credit if they no longer have the same item).

 

[vacationer1954]

"Can I return an item that earned Kohl's Cash and/or was purchased with Kohl's Cash?
Yes, however, this may result in a Merchandise Credit, an adjusted refund amount and/or decreased coupon value."

 

[tasha99]

If you are returning something and getting a store credit you are still making a return. You are not still spending that money, they just gave it back to you.

No one is forced to take an in store credit unless that is how the purchase was originally made. You always have the option of getting your return back the same way the purchase was made--cash or credit card.

The OP made a return that took her under the $50 needed to earn her Kohls Cash. Which is why she lost it. It makes no difference that she chose to take that return as an in store credit.

That is a strange way of looking at it. If Kohls gives you a merchandise credit, they have your money, but you have no merchandise. Kohls is out nothing--they actually got $50 for free. If and when you do get around to using your credit, Kohls is back where they were when you originally purchased the item.

 

[vacationer1954]

Not if you get credit for using that credit to qualify for more Kohls cash.

 

[maxiesmom]

That is a strange way of looking at it. If Kohls gives you a merchandise credit, they have your money, but you have no merchandise. Kohls is out nothing--they actually got $50 for free. If and when you do get around to using your credit, Kohls is back where they were when you originally purchased the item.

You have no merchandise, but you have the ability to go pick out anything from the store that equals the amount on your card, and not have to pay anything out of pocket for it. The merchandise credit has value.

 

[tasha99]

Not if you get credit for using that credit to qualify for more Kohls cash.

Agreed, but it would be easy enough to make Kohls cash not earnable on kohls cash or merchandise credit.