high above my head like it was a gold medal.
thony, were all one or two sizes too small.
Turns out JCPenney has one of the best return
policies in the clothing industry. Items with a
receipt can be returned at any time for full refund
or exchange. Customers without a receipt for the
item, but with photo ID, are issued a JCPenney
gift card in the amount of the lowest selling price
from within the last 45 days.
Months later, I decided to take them all back.
Work had been hectic, and I didn’t take time to
exercise. The kids always want to go out to eat.
And I could list ten more excuses. I gave up on
my weight loss goal and I hated to have unused
clothing hanging in my closet.
I was addicted.
Since Costco has an almost limitless return
policy (except for electronics, which is 90 days),
I returned my five-year-old washing machine.
There was nothing wrong with it—I just wanted
a new one. The friendly clerk looked my purchase
up on his computer and placed nearly 400 dollars
in my hand.
I found that stores such as Nordstroms, Target,
Macys, and REI have similar return policies, and
even Walmart’s policy (although limited to 90
days) is very customer friendly.
But such power often becomes a curse.
I started shopping with future goals in mind.
I purchased a stand up paddle board thinking I
would make time on Saturdays to take the kids
to Sand Hollow Reservoir. Several months later,
I returned it. I bought a Rosetta Stone Spanish
learning set, thinking how fun it would be to
speak a different language. I sent back the box
nearly a year later, still in the cellophane wrapping. But my worst mistake was clothes shopping at Kohl’s.
Kohl’s has a top notch return policy. For an
entire year, a customer can get a cash refund on
a return, even without a receipt. Returns longer
than a year from purchase dates still earn refunds: either store credit or a check in the mail.
It seemed like the perfect place to shop.
I wanted to lose weight and thought I would
give myself some incentive. I purchased a very
nice Levis belt, about one inch too short on
my waist for the prong to reach the first hole. I
bought several shirts, all slightly too tight. The
pants I purchased, Haggar, Dockers, Marc An-
Kohl’s was very busy, and I stood eight people back in line. Finally, one of the college-aged
girls handling returns motioned that it was my
turn. I pushed my cart of clothing up to the
counter and took my receipt—I learned returns
are easier with one—out of my wallet. I said I
would like to return all of the items, and I began
placing them by h er computer.
What she asked next caught me by surprise.
It’s what she was NOT supposed to ask. Kohl’s
return policy is no hassle. I don’t need a reason
or an excuse. That’s the beauty of it.
“And why are you returning these?”
I stammered. I extended my arms and opened
my hands to offer an explanation, but no words
came. Finally, I forced, “You’re not supposed to
ask me why.”
“You’re right. Sorry. It’s just you’re returning
so many items. I was curious.” She stopped
talking but her eyes continued. “So why are
you?” they asked.
“Because I don’t complete my goals. I didn’t
lose weight. I don’t fit any of these. And I didn’t
take my son paddle boarding. And I still don’t
know ten words of Spanish…You know what,
never mind. I’m keeping these,” I said, pulling
them back in the cart.
When I reached my car, I called my wife. “I’ll
be late for dinner.” I told her. “I’m stopping to
pick up a paddle board and that Rosetta Stone
software again. At stores that don’t allow for
easy returns this time.”