Kohl‘s is a leading department store chain providing great deals on apparel, home goods, toys, beauty items and more to value-focused shoppers. They frequently offer enticing clearance sales both online and in stores which allow savvy shoppers to score discounts up to 70% off regular prices.
As a seasoned bargain hunter myself, I‘ve taken home quite a few clearance steals from Kohl‘s over the years. And yes, some of those impulse buys have inevitably led to buyer‘s remorse once I got them home!
So what can you do if you want to return a clearance purchase at Kohl‘s? As a retail analyst and consumer expert, I‘ve dug into the details of Kohl‘s clearance return policy so you know exactly what to expect. Here, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know before your next clearance haul.
Kohl’s Clearance Return Policy Overview
- Full-price and clearance merchandise can be returned within 180 days of purchase
- Returns allowed with or without a receipt
- Refund method varies based on receipt and current price
- Can exchange for different clearance item if there is proof of purchase
- Store credit typically issued for no-receipt returns
Let‘s explore the details around returning those tempting clearance deals. Having a grasp of Kohl‘s policy nuances can influence shopper strategies.
Navigating the Mindsets Around Clearance Purchases
When buying clearance, there‘s always a nagging thought – should I pull the trigger now or will this get marked down further? Will they even have my size if I wait?
The retail landscape is ultra-competitive. Brands are fighting harder than ever for market share. Clothing is particularly prone to overproduction – just think back to the short-lived aeriefloof craze. This results in excess inventory needing to be cleared out faster than ever via aggressive markdowns.
Savvy shoppers have caught on that the deepest discounts happen in clearance sales. In fact, 73% actively search for clearance merchandise versus 50% looking at full-price items.
Once those tantalizing red clearance stickers go up, it triggers a primal shopper instinct. "I better grab this now before it‘s gone!" After all, snagging a hot-ticket item for 80% can feel like winning a shopping lottery!
But that euphoria can fade once you‘re home and questioning whether you‘ll actually wear/use the item…or if you should have held out a few more weeks to see if it got marked down again.
This is where Kohl‘s generous return policy offers a nice safety net.
The Impact of Lenient Return Policies in Retail
Lenient return policies have been a key competitive advantage for big retailers like Kohl‘s, Target and Walmart. They encourage the ride-the-wave clearance shoppers to impulsively buy now, knowing they can easily return items later.
Retailers quantify expected markdowns and returns into business forecasts and financials. While too high of clearance return rates can negatively impact sales margins, retailers seem them as a necessary cost to keep customers coming back. Consider:
- Housewares see clearance return rates around 18%
- Apparel clearance return rates average 25-30%
To mitigate risks, retailers implement checkpoints like requiring receipts, tracking purchase histories, and monitoring for abuse.
Secondhand retailers and liquidators further support clearance models by buying up returns in bulk. This gives unwanted merchandise new life while helping retailers recoup losses.
Clearance Return Policy Specifics at Kohl’s
Now that we‘ve set the stage on the retail clearance game, let‘s get back to the specifics around returning clearance buys at Kohl‘s.
I‘ll walk through what to expect with or without a receipt, refund repayment methods, exchanges, plus other useful nuggets around their clearance return policy that I‘ve gathered first-hand.
180 Day Return Window
The standard return window for regular priced merchandise at Kohl‘s is 180 days. Clearance items are held to the same 180 day policy.
So if you make a clearance purchase at Kohl‘s with some uncertainty, you have a full 180 days from the original date of purchase to return it for an exchange or refund if you find it‘s not working out. This is much more generous than many other retailers that set final sale policies on clearance goods.
Returning Clearance Items With a Receipt
Having a receipt for your Kohl‘s clearance purchase makes returning or exchanging a non-issue. Simply bring the merchandise plus receipt back to any Kohl‘s store within 180 days for a no-questions-asked refund.
Kohl‘s will refund the exact amount you originally paid, regardless if the item was marked down further since your purchase date. And the refund will go right back to your original form of payment – whether that was cash, debit card, Kohl‘s card, etc.
Pro Tip: I like to pay for clearance items using a credit card when possible. This gives me peace of mind that I’ll be able to access my full original payment if needed down the road.
When making returns with a receipt, Kohl‘s sales associates can quickly scan the barcode to look up all your purchase details right at the register. This makes the return transaction very smooth and speedy – no hassle.
Returning Clearance Items Without a Receipt
We‘ve all been there…that clearance top seemed like an amazing fine in the moment! But after wearing it once, you discover an annoying flaw or just don‘t love it. You go back to return it months later only to realize you‘ve misplaced the receipt. Not to worry – you can still return Kohl‘s clearance items without a receipt, but there are some key impacts to note.
Without a receipt, there will be some drawbacks:
- Your refund amount will reflect the current selling price, which may be lower than what you originally paid if there were further markdowns.
- Refunds will be issued as Kohl‘s store credit rather than back to the original payment
The store credit comes in the form of a printed voucher that can be used for future Kohl‘s purchases, both online and in-store. Note that it does expire 60 days after issuance.
Even without a paper receipt, Kohl‘s sales associates search prior transactions via your Kohl‘s card number or credit/debit card used for purchase. Having this back-up electronic record of your transaction may allow them to still reference original pricing details for a more accurate refund amount.
Clearance Exchanges
Exchanging clearance items is certainly possible at Kohl‘s, provided that…
- It is within the 180 day window
- You have your original receipt
If swapping for the identical item in a different size or color, it is straight forward. But exchanges across clearance items with varying prices brings additional complexity. Since clearance merchandise fluctuates so regularly, an even exchange isn‘t guaranteed. There are a few potential scenarios:
| Exchanging for less expensive clearance item | Exchanging for more expensive clearance item | |
|---|---|---|
| Kohl‘s policy | You‘ll be refunded the original amount paid. Pay the lower current price for the new item. | You pay the price difference between original amount and higher current price out of pocket. |
So if want to exchange your clearance skinny jeans for a new pair of flare jeans now marked at an even deeper discount – score! You benefit from snagging the hot new trend at an extra bargain.
But if you have eyes on a replacement item now retailing higher than your original clearance price, just know you‘ll have to cover that incremental cost. Kohl‘s does not price match or adjust across clearance merchandise.
Repayment Methods for Clearance Returns
As highlighted already, the type of refund issued by Kohl‘s depends chiefly on whether the customer has the original receipt. Here is a more detailed overview:
| With Receipt | Without Receipt | |
|---|---|---|
| Refund form | Original tender type (cash, card, etc.) | Kohl‘s merchandise credit |
| Refund amount | Full original purchase price | Lowest marked price in past 45 days |
If you paid for a clearance item using Kohl’s Cash, refunds will go back to Kohl’s Cash so long as it hasn‘t expired. If outside that validity period, it will default to a merch credit instead.
And if you‘re thinking to "buy now, return later" with the intention of repurchasing for lower price…don‘t count on it! Kohl‘s system will show maximum refund already issued if you try this clearance price arbitrage tactic.
Pro Tip: If making a big clearance purchase, ask for gift receipts upfront! This makes it easier for recipients to return/exchange items if needed down the road.
How Kohl‘s Policy Compares to Other Retailers
To highlight the consumer-friendly nature of Kohl‘s clearance return policy, let‘s examine how they differ from key competitors:
| Kohl‘s | Target | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard return period | 180 days | 90 days | 90 days |
| Clearance return period | 180 days | 14-30 days | 90 days |
| Return without receipt? | Yes | Yes | Varies by store |
Analysis reveals:
- Kohl‘s offers exceptional return coverage for clearance items, while Target and Walmart impose tighter limits
- Returning without a receipt is consistently more restrictive across the board
The bottom line difference comes down to Kohl‘s providing that full 180 day warranty window on all clearance goods, which offers shoppers significant flexibility and reduced risk.
Tips for Smooth Clearance Returns at Kohl‘s
While Kohl‘s clearance return process is generally quite flexible for shoppers, here are some expert tips I‘ve gathered to make exchanges and refunds even easier:
- Save your receipts! This remains the golden ticket for securing your original purchase price.
- Take a photo of your register receipt so you have back-up if original is misplaced
- Opt for credit card payments when possible – provides an additional record that associates can reference
- For pricey items, ask for gift receipt just in case
- Note exact clearance price and date purchased inside your items
- Bring returns back early within window for highest refund value
- If re-purchasing a returned clearance item, allow at least 5 days between transactions
Following these simple clearance return best practices will make your next Kohl‘s bargain haul less stressful!
The Bottom Line
Kohl‘s offers customers an exceptionally consumer-friendly clearance return policy. Shoppers have 180 days for returns with or without receipt – much longer than many competing stores.
That said, having original receipts and proofs of purchase on clearance items makes a big difference for securing full refund values back to original payment tender. Without receipts, shoppers will typically receive lower store credit amounts based on current clearance prices.
But the bottom line is – Kohl‘s offers ample time and flexibility for shoppers to return those tempting clearance purchases if they turn out to be not-quite-right once you get them home. No more buyer‘s regret keeping you up at night on those red-sticker steals!
