My husband and kids got me several maternity dresses from Kohls for Mother's Day 2025. Because I…read moream eleventy-million weeks pregnant, the dresses were all about a size too small to accommodate my growing belly--so I took all three dresses back to Kohls just a couple of days later in hopes to exchange them for store credit so that I could size up. As they were a gift, I did not have the card that was used to purchase the items, nor did I have a receipt. I figured it would be ok because the dresses still had all their tags on, they were purchased mere days prior, clearly had never been worn, and I was simply requesting store credit (not cash or anything).
So, I hauled my giant, tired, pregnant self over to Kohls with my toddler in tow just to exchange these damn dresses. I was asked to give a phone number, email, and my state-issued drivers license. I freely gave this information. Then, the woman working there told me that without a receipt, they could only issue half-store credit. So, if I wanted to return the dresses, valued at around $100 for all three, for store credit, I would only get $50 store credit.
Engage internal Karen mode.
I ended up calmly and quietly just saying, " ok, I'll go home and find the receipt and bring them back for a full refund"...which I fully intend to do, this evening. And then, instead of keeping my money within that same store via store credit/exchange as I initially intended, I will walk out, spend the entire amount elsewhere, and probably never go to Kohl's again, as the vibe, price point, and shockingly worsening customer service leave so much to be desired.
I understand that there could be a situation in which someone steals clothing, leaves the tags on, and then tries to return the items for cash....that probably happens all the time. I am sure this policy is an attempt to address that. However, it seems misapplied and misguided to use this policy against someone who is trying to exchange recently purchased, brand new, items for store credit. (Especially when the customer doing so gladly presents their government-issued photo ID and it is a couple of days after a national gift-giving holiday)
Now though, I have to go through the hassle of going to Kohls all over again, taking another hour out of my day, in order to rectify something that should already have been fixed in like 5 minutes. And now, instead of just keeping my money within the store, I am taking it all elsewhere. Seems like a really stupid policy. I get that we live in a low-trust society, where theft is rampant. Despite this, I still don't have to patronize businesses that default treat all their customers with suspicion.
For years, the selection and prices at Kohls had been mid, at best. The main reason to go to Kohls was always that they had great customer service and a stellar return policy. If that's no longer the case, and it seems to be, then I have no reason to go. Also, Kohls cash is now excluded for any sort of "premium" brands that they carry (Nike, Sephora, etc) so that sucks too.
I see Kohls going the way of Sears...once they piss off the Midwestern moms and grandmas, their core clientele, the end is near.