Starting in July, All Kohl's Stores Will Accept Amazon Returns

The only thing that can dilute the excitement of receiving a package from Amazon is the realization that you ordered the wrong item. Maybe it’s a shirt that doesn’t fit, or a gadget that didn’t meet expectations. Now it has to go back, which means printing out a return slip, boxing it back up, and either making a trip to the post office or waiting for a postal carrier to take it away.

Amazon's return policy is now getting a makeover. Beginning in July, all 1150 Kohl’s locations will be accepting returns for the online giant. The program is called Amazon Returns, and it’s free for the consumer. Items don’t need to be packaged. All you have to do is bring in your unwanted Amazon order and let them box it up. While it would seem like a massive inconvenience for Kohl’s, it’s actually part of a mutually beneficial strategy.

By inviting Amazon customers to walk into their stores, Kohl’s is increasing their foot traffic and setting themselves up for an opportunity to capture some additional revenue from people who might not have stopped in otherwise. It’s a smart approach for a brick-and-mortar retailer, a segment of commerce that has been dramatically impacted by the rise of online shopping and Amazon’s dominance in particular.

For Amazon, it likely means consolidating their shipping costs. Instead of retrieving returns from a number of addresses or drop-off locations, they’re able to bundle shipments from Kohl’s.

There are some caveats. If you bought a product from a third-party Amazon seller, it’s not eligible to be processed at a Kohl’s location. And you’ll still have to log on to your Amazon account to notify them you’ll be returning an item via a Kohl’s store.

Accepting Amazon returns may not be the only change you see in Kohl’s in the coming years. Some locations have partnered with Aldi and Planet Fitness to offer a more diverse array of services.

[h/t Gizmodo]