Return Amazon Purchases Free of Charge at Kohl’s and UPS Stores

Amazon has been testing purchase returns at Kohl’s stores in select markets for a few months (maybe more) now. The trial run must have been a success since it has now been rolled out to all Kohl’s store locations (except Anchorage, Alaska).

Amazon Returns at Kohl’s

Returning an Amazon purchase at Kohl’s is fairly easy.

Begin your return at Amazon’s online return center.

• Select the Kohl’s Dropoff option
• Amazon will email you a QR code
• Bring the item or items you’re returning to a participating Kohl’s store and show the QR code on your smartphone to a Kohl’s customer service associate in-store
• Kohl’s will pack, label and ship your return for free

Not sure if this is a temporary benefit, but there are reports that Kohl’s is providing those dropping off returns with coupons (25% off?) for in-store purchases.

Why not try and grab some sales from individuals already in the store? Smart move on Kohl’s part and I’m sure a major reason why they began this partnership with Amazon. Only time will tell if it will boost Kohl’s sales at all.

Amazon Returns at UPS Stores

Amazon has had a relationship with UPS for a while. One option for Amazon returns includes a UPS return label which can be printed/attached by you, or in a UPS store by an associate for sending items back to Amazon.

You’ll want to start the return process at the Amazon online return center and look for the UPS store option.

Some items, it appears, can now be dropped off at UPS stores where they will be packed, labeled and shipped for free back to Amazon.

I mention “some items,” because there are reports indicating it can be hit or miss as to whether or not UPS stores will perform this service free of charge, and on which items the free return service will apply.

One recent report indicated while attempting to return two items to Amazon via a UPS store, one item was packed, labeled and shipped free of charge, while the other item needed to be packed by the individual returning the item.

So, Amazon returns can be hit or miss with regard to being completely free at UPS stores. On a positive note, if your item doesn’t qualify for the free service, you’ll have all the packing materials available to purchase without leaving the store.

Wrap Up

Amazon is now offering free returns at all Kohl’s stores.

You do need to start the return process online at Amazon’s online return center (link above), and, depending on the items being returned, it may not be accepted at Kohl’s locations. That should be noted during the initial online return process on the Amazon site.

UPS store locations are also an option for free returns. Although, some reports indicate the process of packing can be hit or miss depending on the items being returned and the individual UPS store.

And, as a side note, the packing/labeling/shipping for free, whether via Kohl’s or UPS, isn’t an individual item process. For stores accepting these free returns, your return will be processed/scanned, but the products will likely be lumped in with a number of other Amazon returns collected that day/week and shipped, en masse, backed to Amazon.

All-in-all, it’s a positive step with regard to returning Amazon purchases. When buying online, you never know what you’re actually getting until it arrives. Now that returning Amazon purchases is becoming a bit easier, the surprise aspect isn’t as much of a purchase deterrent as it may have been.

Have you used any of these free return options for your Amazon purchases? Let us know your experiences in the comment section below.