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We tried making Amazon returns at Kohlโ€™s (yes, Kohlโ€™s) and hereโ€™s how it works.

Returning items purchased from Amazon has never been all that hard, so when I heard you can now make Amazon returns at Kohlโ€™s I was kind of thinking, Why? But then I realized, getting to the post office or repackaging a return if you donโ€™t have supplies on hand can beโ€ฆ

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We tried making Amazon returns at Kohl's. Here's how it works.

Returning items purchased from Amazon has never been all that hard, so when I heard you can now make Amazon returns at Kohlโ€™s I was kind of thinking, Why? But then I realized, getting to the post office or repackaging a return if you donโ€™t have supplies on hand can be a hassle for a lot of parents.

So,  I wanted to try it out the new Amazon returns at Kohlโ€™s service to see how it worked and let you all know, in case it might make your life easier.

So, I ordered a book on Amazon โ€” just the first one I saw โ€” knowing full well it would be returned at Kohlโ€™s. Hereโ€™s how it went.

Related: We tried the top-rated pillow on Amazon to see if it was all that. And whoa, it is.

Make Amazon returns at Kohl's: How to start the return

How a typical Amazon return works, which you probably already know.

First, letโ€™s talk about how an Amazon product return would typically work if I were sending it straight back to Amazon the conventional way: Iโ€™d log into my recent orders, choose the item I was returning, and provide a reason for the return.

If the return is my โ€œfaultโ€โ€” I just didnโ€™t want it anymore, or ordered it by mistake โ€”  then Iโ€™d pay the shipping. If the problem was Amazonโ€™s responsibility, say, it was damaged in shipping or wasnโ€™t what I originally ordered, then theyโ€™d pay for the return shipping.

Next, I can either take it to UPS and have them print a label, or print a shipping label myself at home and leave it for pickup, or drop it off at the post office.

Related: 10 simple ways to find more time in a busy day. No magic required.

Making Amazon returns at Kohl's: Just follow the signage inside the main door

How an Amazon return at Kohlโ€™s works

If youโ€™re going to return your product through Kohโ€™ls, the first step is the same; you still have to log into your Amazon account and choose an item to return and give a reason.

But now, when you choose โ€œHow you will mail your return?โ€ the first option that shows up isโ€ฆdrop it off at Kohlโ€™s.

Now, just show up at Kohlโ€™s with the item (it doesnโ€™t even need to be packed, which is fantastic) and head straight to the  customer service desk. The signage for Amazon returns is very well-marked.

Show them the return shipping code via your Amazon app on your phone, and theyโ€™ll scan the code, take the item, pack it, and ship it for you.

Easy!

Related: Our 2019 Back to School Guide! The coolest gear to make September more practical and more fun

When to use Amazon returns at Kohlโ€™s

For me, getting to Kohlโ€™s isnโ€™t exactly convenient. So, Iโ€™d use this service only if I had an Amazon return that required me to pay shipping.

However if youโ€™re really close to a Kohlโ€™s, or you live in a city where getting there is on your way to/from work or school, this could be a great alternative for you.

The process is incredibly easy; you literally just have to walk in and drop it off. In fact, if I had a Kohlโ€™s nearer to my house Iโ€™d use it more often.

In my experience, it was 100% hassle-free.

Tip: Just be sure to check in your item at home before you go. I arrived at Kohlโ€™s without having checked in my return at home first, and I learned that Amazon was going to refund my purchase without requiring me to send it back to them. I am guessing the product wasnโ€™t worth the cost of return shipping for them.

Why is Kohlโ€™s even doing this?

I really never shop at Kohlโ€™s. It just isnโ€™t on my radar or that convenient to where I live. But when I went in to make my return, I did notice some cute tops that I thought my daughter might like for back to school season. We came back to Kohlโ€™s later with Grandma, and ended up spending $200 on new clothes for school.

So, yeah, this is working for Kohlโ€™s.


23 responses to โ€œWe tried making Amazon returns at Kohlโ€™s (yes, Kohlโ€™s) and hereโ€™s how it works.โ€

  1. Amazon does not give me the option to return an item through my local Kohlโ€™s store (less than 10 minutes away). My local Kohlโ€™s has and Amazon return desk, so Iโ€™m not sure why my Amazon account wonโ€™t let me use the Kohlโ€™s option.

    Iโ€™m a Prime member, if that makes any difference.

    Very frustrating that Kohlโ€™s and Amazon are advertising this when the option is not available.

    1. The Kohlโ€™s site states that it is available โ€œat all Kohlโ€™s store locations excluding Anchorage, Alaska.โ€

      If you arenโ€™t in Anchorage, have you called the manager of your local store?

      1. I took an Amazon return to Kohls store Feb 3. I am still trying to track the package. It is impossible to do so, even checking every web site I am directed to. I will never do that again.

        1. I had the same problem with 3 items, worth over $200, none made it back to Amazon. Iโ€™ll let you know if I make any progress and would appreciate any more help.

    2. I know from an Amazon books employee that sometimes return locations are โ€œover capacity,โ€ so Amazon wonโ€™t offer you the option to return there. The employee recommended trying to initiate the return again to see if I could get the drop off location I wanted (I was literally in Amazon books trying to return something, and had a different product that Amazon did allow me to return there that day) and if still didnโ€™t show my preferred location, choose a different return drop off location and then contact Amazon customer service (which I do by chat) โ€” customer service will arrange for a UPS label and pick up (like normal Amazon returns) but you donโ€™t have to pay for the return shipping. This was all before Kohlโ€™s was a return option, but returns at Amazon books locations work as described for Kohlโ€™s, so Iโ€™m assuming itโ€™s all the same system.

    3. Im frustrated because Kohls was not an option for my return

    4. I am having the same issue.

    5. Same here, Kohlโ€™s just isnโ€™t a return option for no apparent reason.

    6. I donโ€™t have a kohlโ€™s option either. This is the first time this has happened.

  2. Iโ€™ve tried the Kohlโ€™s return system twice. Both times it seemed like all was well; my refund came through just fine. Then much laterโ€”maybe a monthโ€”I got an email from Amazon saying my return wasnโ€™t received and my credit card was being charged again. Both times I was able to get the charged refunded after an online chat with customer service, but Iโ€™m not sure the convenience of Kohlโ€™s makes up for glitches in their system that I have to spend time resolving. Iโ€™ll probably do future returns in the traditional way.

    1. Wow, thanks for that feedback!

  3. I was told today that I didnโ€™t see the option because my home address is more than 8 miles from the store. I got a distgusted look and told to go to nearest UPS location. So not an oprion, even though drive by one on the way to work.

  4. I live less than 5 miles from a Kohlโ€™s and it will not give me the option to return it there. Had to drive further to a UPS facility.

    1. Feels like we should start making a crowdsourced map of Kohlโ€™s that will/wonโ€™t accept returns!

    2. Margaret Colborn

      I live 3 1/3 miles from my nearest Kohls. It has been an option for Kohls in the past. Iโ€™ve had no problem for returns. Now when I want to do a return the Kohls 3.5 miles from does not show an option just to return to UPS. I talked to a Kohls employee and I was told they are an Amazon drop off for returns. How can I get that option again. Remember the store is 3.5 miles from my home.

  5. I just had something similar happen as well. I returned two items within a day of each other and neither of them showed up as โ€œshippedโ€ for 6 days after. I had to call customer service and they had to look them up on their end. Looks like BOTH items were โ€œlost in transitโ€, unbelievable..

  6. I used Kohlโ€™s to return two identical items that were purchased together because I assumed UPS would be swamped with pre-Christmas shipping. Itโ€™s now almost a month later and one of the items is showing โ€œin transitโ€ but not yet received and the other is apparently โ€œwaitingโ€ to be returned. The Kohlโ€™s employees donโ€™t seem too thrilled with the new practice and I canโ€™t blame them one bit. Makes me wonder if thatโ€™s the cause of all the โ€œglitchesโ€ or whether there are just too many cooks in the kitchen now. Either way, Iโ€™m using UPS only from now on. Since shipping is their thing, I feel like I can count on them to actually DO that over Kohlโ€™s who did I-donโ€™t-know-what with my return.

  7. Examazon Customer

    I did this on a broken heater. $90. They lost it. NEVER AGAIN

  8. I returned 6 CDs that arrived damaged. This was in late November. Amazon still doesnโ€™t have items and emailed me that they will be charging me. Of course I ASSUMED that since I dropped them at Kohls the returns would make it to Amazon, and I threw my receipt out in January. NEVER AGAIN.

    1. I always get a receipt from Kohlโ€™s or UPS so that if the item does not get to Amazon I have proof that it was returned. And a tracking number is on the receipt.
      The closest UPS store is located 60 miles from us and a Kohlโ€™s is only 20, so it is disappointing that Amazon will not let us leave the return item there

  9. Donna L Sawarynski

    The closest Kohlโ€™s store is a 45 minute drive and yet this is the ony choice Amazon offered me to return a pair of shoes that were too big! I would like to mail it through my local post office instead. Does anyone know how I can do that.

  10. Vallerie Strother

    The Kohls option doesnโ€™t come up for a return. Does that mean I canโ€™t use Kohls as an option

  11. Be very careful returning Amazon items at Kohlโ€™s. I recently returned 3 items. The clerk scanned all 3, and I was given 1 return receipt. I thought nothing of it at the time. Well, the first item showed up in my account info. as returned, the other 2 did not. Now Iโ€™ve been billed over $80.00 for items I donโ€™t have. Word of advice: stand at the return counter, and make the associate return each item separately (multiple receipts). This was an expensive and infuriating lesson about the incompetence of Kohlโ€™s employees.

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