Kohl‘s is a bonafide paradise for bargain hunters thanks to their frequent sales, generous coupon offers, and abundant clearance racks. It‘s not uncommon to find name-brand apparel, accessories, home goods and more discounted up to 80% off the original price during a Kohl‘s clearance event.
To put this into perspective, let‘s look at some real numbers. In 2019, Kohl‘s reported annual sales revenue of $19.97 billion. While the company doesn‘t break out specifics on clearance vs. full-price sales, retail industry analysts estimate that clearance and other promotions account for roughly 20-25% of department store receipts. That means clearance likely drives nearly $4-5 billion of Kohl‘s total yearly revenue.
Clearance is hugely important to Kohl‘s bottom line. Savvy shoppers know that clearance offers some of the deepest discounts available, especially when combined with Kohl‘s Cash coupons, rewards points, and other money-saving promo codes. It‘s not unusual for persistent deal seekers to stack multiple offers to score 90% off or more on clearance buys.
But we‘ve all been there – you get home from an adrenaline-pumping clearance shopping spree, only to realize that some of the items you bought in the heat of the moment aren‘t going to work out after all. Maybe you found a better deal elsewhere, maybe the size was off, or maybe you just had buyer‘s remorse. So what happens if you need to return a clearance item to Kohl‘s?
Many retailers place extremely strict limitations on clearance returns to discourage shoppers from "renting" or "wardrobing" items. For instance, clearance may be deemed "final sale" with no returns allowed under any circumstances. Other stores may only offer store credit on a clearance return, or implement a very short 7-14 day return window.
Luckily, Kohl‘s is the major exception to restrictive clearance return policies. In fact, Kohl‘s boasts one of the most generous and customer-friendly return policies in the retail industry, even on clearance purchases. Here‘s what you need to know to make the most of Kohl‘s clearance return policy as a shrewd shopper:
Kohl‘s Grants 180 Days for Most Returns
While most stores give shoppers 30-90 days at most to bring items back, Kohl‘s allows a full 180 days to return or exchange merchandise bought in-store or online. Yes, that‘s a whopping 6 months to make a return, even on clearance! This is extremely rare in the retail world.
For comparison, here‘s a sampling of return windows at other well-known retailers:
| Store | Standard Return Policy |
|---|---|
| Target | 90 days (30 days for clearance) |
| Macy‘s | 90 days (30 days for clearance) |
| JCPenney | 90 days |
| Nordstrom | No time limit (except for clearance which is often final sale) |
| Walmart | 90 days (clearance can be returned but with a 15% restocking fee) |
As you can see, Kohl‘s 180-day policy for both regular and clearance price items is unmatched. This extended timeline really comes in handy if you like to shop end-of-season clearance sales long before you actually need the items.
You can stock up on dirt cheap winter coats in March or swimsuits in September without worrying if you‘ll still want the items months later. If your preferences or needs change, you have the peace of mind that Kohl‘s will take the items back with minimal hassle.
Receipts Aren‘t Required (With a Caveat)
Another great feature of Kohl‘s return policy is that you don‘t always need a receipt to bring merchandise back. For purchases under $100, Kohl‘s can look up the transaction if you paid with a credit or debit card. If you paid cash or the item was more than $100, you may need to show a valid photo ID to process the non-receipted return.
Without a receipt, you‘ll typically receive a refund on a Kohl‘s store credit card. You also may not get back the full amount you originally paid, since non-receipted returns are refunded at the item‘s lowest selling price over the past 13 weeks. For clearance, this likely won‘t make a huge difference since the prices are already rock bottom. But it‘s something to keep in mind.
PRO TIP: Always keep your receipts for high-value clearance purchases until you‘re 100% sure you want to keep the item. While Kohl‘s is generous in offering refunds without a receipt, having that paper trail ensures you‘ll get back every penny you paid.
Hassle-Free Exchanges
If you need a different size or color in something you bought on clearance, Kohl‘s will happily do an even exchange within the 180-day window. Just bring the item back to any Kohl‘s store with your receipt and they‘ll swap it out for the same item in your preferred size/color if they have it in stock.
Technically Kohl‘s policy is that clearance items can only be directly exchanged for other clearance-price goods. However, many store managers have the discretion to bend this rule and allow a clearance item to be exchanged for a full-price equivalent if you have the original receipt.
Your odds of a successful exchange are best if you bought the clearance item very recently and the price difference between clearance and regular price isn‘t too significant. It never hurts to ask nicely and plead your case!
One thing to note – Kohl‘s system won‘t be able to look up a purchase if you‘re trying to exchange it at a different location than where you originally bought it. Kohl‘s stores don‘t share inventory data in real-time, so your best bet is to revisit the same store. If that‘s not possible, just return the item and repurchase the new size/color in a separate transaction.
Get Money Back on Price Adjustments
A little-known "loophole" in Kohl‘s return policy is that you can actually get a price adjustment if something you bought goes on sale for a lower price within 14 days of purchase. This includes clearance items!
Here‘s how it works: Let‘s say you paid $15 for a shirt on clearance. 10 days later, you notice the same shirt is now on clearance for only $10. You can bring the shirt and your receipt back to Kohl‘s and they‘ll refund you the $5 difference, no questions asked. You don‘t have to return and re-buy the item.
Price adjustments are a great way to stack savings on top of clearance prices. One Kohl‘s super shopper shared her experience on the popular deal-seeking site Slickdeals:
"I always make a mental note to check back on clearance prices for big ticket items I‘ve purchased. I once got an extra $40 back on a clearance KitchenAid stand mixer because it went on a super low 1-day sale a week after I bought it. It‘s like getting paid to shop!"
To make the most of price adjustments, keep an eye on Kohl‘s ads, emails and social media for special flash sales and clearance events. There are also third party price tracking sites like CamelCamelCamel that can alert you if a Kohl‘s item you bought suddenly drops below what you paid.
"Kohl‘s Cash" Details to Know
During promotional events, Kohl‘s rewards shoppers with "Kohl‘s Cash" – basically free money you can spend on future purchases. The typical earn rate is $10 Kohl‘s Cash for every $50 spent, regardless of whether you buy clearance or regular price items.
If you return something you bought with Kohl‘s Cash, you‘ll get refunded in Kohl‘s Cash as long as the coupon hasn‘t expired yet. Kohl‘s Cash is only valid for a very short window, usually 7-10 days after it‘s earned. So if you used Kohl‘s Cash on a clearance item, be sure to return it ASAP to have the best shot at getting that coupon value back.
Conversely, if you earned Kohl‘s Cash on a purchase but later returned some of the items, thus dropping your total below the $50 threshold, you‘ll forfeit the Kohl‘s Cash you earned on that transaction. Kohl‘s registers are programmed to account for this automatically. The lesson? Be mindful of where your total lands after returns if you want to hang onto your Kohl‘s Cash.
Return Without Leaving Home
If you‘re too busy to trek back to your local Kohl‘s, most clearance items can be returned by mail for free within the 180-day window. Just use the self-service Returns tool on Kohl‘s website to generate a pre-paid UPS or USPS shipping label. Then drop your return package off at your nearest UPS store, Staples office supply shop, or USPS location to send it back at no cost.
Refunds on mail returns are processed within 30 days. You‘ll get an email confirmation once your refund is complete. Keep in mind that shipping time doesn‘t count toward the 180-day return window. Your return just needs to be postmarked by the deadline.
One important caveat: Certain high-value clearance items like electronics, jewelry and watches must be returned in-store and aren‘t eligible for mail returns. Review the full policy on Kohl‘s website for these exclusions.
Clearance Return FAQs
Still have questions about how Kohl‘s clearance return policy works? Check out these common queries:
Q: Do I need my original packaging to make a clearance return?
A: Nope! As long as you have the item, tags attached, and your receipt, Kohl‘s will take it back without packaging within 180 days.
Q: What if I lost my receipt? Can I still return a clearance item?
A: Yes, if your purchase was under $100 and you used a credit card, debit card or Kohl‘s Charge. The store can look up your order and process the return. You‘ll likely get a merchandise credit for the lowest 13-week sale price of the item.
Q: Why do some Kohl‘s clearance items ring up cheaper in store than online?
A: Each Kohl‘s store has leeway to set its own clearance pricing based on inventory levels. An item that‘s 60% off online may be 75% off in-store if your local Kohl‘s is overstocked on it and trying to clear space. Always price check in person if you spot a killer deal!
Q: I got a clearance item as a gift. Can I return it without a gift receipt?
A: Yes. Kohl‘s allows returns on clearance gifts as long as you have the receipt or original account lookups. You‘ll get a merchandise credit for the item‘s 13-week low price if you don‘t have a receipt.
Summary
Kohl‘s clearance return policy is a unicorn among major retailers. Having a full 180 days to bring items back with or without a receipt offers unparalleled flexibility and peace of mind. Even the most selective clearance shoppers can buy with confidence knowing Kohl‘s will take things back if they don‘t work out.
But Kohl‘s return policy isn‘t just great for customers. It‘s a smart business move that helps the store move clearance inventory faster, building loyalty and driving repeat visits in the process. "Our 180-day return policy is one of the most competitive in retail," said Kohl‘s chief merchandising officer Doug Howe in a 2019 interview with CNBC. "It eliminates the risk and encourages people to try new things. We think that‘s a real differentiator for us."
So go ahead and load up that cart with clearance deals – with Kohl‘s as your shopping buddy, you really can‘t go wrong! Just keep those receipts handy and make your returns before the 180 day window closes. Your wallet will thank you.
