Route 7 Review | Page 144

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.”