A few more tips from a Kohl's associate

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

This is my third Black Friday. I only decided to work at Kohl's because I wanted the discount. So I've learned a lot. :)

 

1. Apply for the Kohl's charge.

I hear all kinds of excuses, but bottom line? We have a really good card. In some states, it's interest free for life. You can spend on it and then instantly pay it off right there at the register. You save 12 times a year just for using it. It takes less time than to write a check to fill out an application. (I've told customers to time me, it's seriously less than 2 minutes). You don't have to ever carry it with you; we can look it up in 30 seconds. Also? If you apply, whether you're approved or not, you'll still save 15% just for trying. That's on top of all other sales prices. Plus, you'll make the associate's day. (It's part of our annual review).

 

2. Get to know your Beauty Associate.

Our Beauty Specialists are not on commission. All four of our main makeup lines are a division of the Estee Lauder family. (American Beauty=Estee Lauder, Flirt=Mac, Good Skin=Clinique, Grassroots=Orgins: all Estee Lauder banners). Beauty associates have a daily goal, meaning that if they're not swamped, they might be grateful and ring you up... which means you skip the lines. Plus, they have freebies and are trained in hand massages! Guys: some Beauty associates will even gift-wrap your Beauty purchases for you (depends on the store manager).

 

3. Be nice to us, and we'll be nice to you.

My first Black Friday, I was covering misses during their lunch and people were just trashing the fitting rooms. These clothes are not yours until you buy them, which is why we have signs asking people to please bring out what they don't want. People were ignoring those... except for one lady, who pitied poor overwhelmed me and actually hung up not only her outfits, but the giant mountain in her fitting room. I marched her right over to jewelry when the Misses Associate came back and personally rang her up. Kohl's associates can give 10% off the total for whatever reason they want, and you'd better believe that nice lady got that on top of her zero wait in line. I see her a lot in store, and she never leaves without makeup freebies.

 

I've seen people give 10% if customers with a lot of items allow someone with very few items to go first, offer to bag their own, etc. Kohl's also doesn't have a military discount, but most of us won't hesitate to show our gratitude with 10-15% as well. And if you apply for a Kohl's, most of us will stack the discount.

 

4. If you see a shoplifter, report it.

Trust me, we make it worth it.

 

5. If you come in at 7am and all the digital cameras are gone...

Go right to Men's (generally least busy) and ask the associate to call another store. Don't go to customer service. By the time you wade through lines, no one will have them.

 

6. Don't ask Jewelry to ring up your huge cartful of items.

We can't say no, but that means every customer waiting for us to finish with you will treat us horribly after you leave because they're annoyed at the added wait. If you have less than 5, we probably won't mind. More than that, especially glass someone has to wrap up? We'll ring up your jewelry, but then step to the other line, please.

 

7. Buying online? Join the email list.

You can unsuscribe at any time. Your first email will have a code for 10% off, on top of other sales prices. Also, it's kinda handy.

 

:)

[v_krishnan24]

Well thought out tips. thanks. subscribing for email.

[noehlp]

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/11.gif to GottaDeal!!!

 

I am totally AMAZED at all of your tips! They are really helpful! Thank you very much!

 

Patty

[bugsette]

thanks for the tips

[Trish1298]

Great tips, thank you

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

Here's a few more unadvertised...

 

There isn't as much of a rush to check out.

Our Early Bird prices will be in the register until 3pm. That does not mean come in the store at 2:15 and expect to finish the line in time. If you do, the store will be getting a stern phone call from corporate, because they're not meeting sales!

 

I posted this in another thread, but... everyone knows about our 7" portable DVD player. We also have an unadvertised 9" portable Digital Labs DVD Player with swivel screen. Usually retails for $300, will be on sale for $119.99. I don't know if there's a rebate or anything to make that price even lower. Even if there's not.. pretty good deal, I think. My store actually has more of these in stock than the advertised 7".

 

After Table and Tower items?

(This is only for tables with tablecloths). If you're looking for an item like $17 Sterling Silver 1/10 ct. tw. earrings/necklaces and you don't see what you want, look under the tablecloth. Most stores hide understock there. If jewelry understock is not under there, find a floor associate (again, men's is always the best bet) and have them call jewelry to ask where it is. Otherwise, you're going to get stuck in the mob of people waiting for locked case jewelry.

 

Guitar Hero

Not all stores stock it with toys. Our bundles are right in front of picture frames. The closest store to me has it stocked in front of shoes. If you can't find it, don't assume it's out until you've walked the entire floor.

 

Other odd items... we have all of our DVDs up front at the registers. Batteries are with toys. Men's and Women's cold weather are not stocked together: men's is with mens (usually near shoes/men's socks) and women's are in accessories.

 

Also, I'm sorry, but I do not have time to do pricechecks. No associate does. Use the machines for that. Most stores have them in: Accessories, Women's (1x size), Intimates and Children's. If your store doesn't have them, just bring the item with you. We can always scan it and then delete it if you don't want it. :)

[MominCT]

I wish our kohls was this nice.. I worked there when I was a teen and the manager was awful! I got her fired after she told a private problem I had which I had to tell her to take the week off (I had a miscarriage). They are still awful to deal with in every way

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

I genuinely enjoy working at Kohl's. I've owned my own business, done the whole cubicle thing and all that, but I think I'm one of those insane people happiest in retail. It helps that my managers are great role models with witty senses of humor. I admire them all and we have a lot of fun during even the longest workshifts.

[Wings3617]

Great tips!! Thanks so much for taking the time to share them! You must be a wonderful employee and a breath of fresh air in retail!

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

Aww, thanks.

 

Goodnight, all. I'll check in one last time before I leave in a few hours.

 

-J

[ICF]

 

6. Don't ask Jewelry to ring up your huge cartful of items.

We can't say no, but that means every customer waiting for us to finish with you will treat us horribly after you leave because they're annoyed at the added wait. If you have less than 5, we probably won't mind. More than that, especially glass someone has to wrap up? We'll ring up your jewelry, but then step to the other line, please.

 

 

At mine, we had about 4 items, and after waiting in line at jewerly for about 20 mins in order to get some earrings we were told they WOULD NOT ring up anything other then fine jewerly. So, we could buy the earrings there but would have to wait in the "normal" line for to buy the other 4 items (which probably would have taken 45 mins or so to do). We were so pissed we just left w/o buying anything.

[Mrs.Gumshoes]

Awesome tips! I love hearing them.

[lwjbestcook]

I went to Kohl's Wed night at 9:00....got almost everything I'd planned to buy on Friday, that had an Early Bird sign on it. Whoever said they will honor the prices Wed night, was correct...you just have to watch how things are ringing up, cause everything I had,rang up regular price and the cashier had to put in the EB prices. I will be doing this from now on as that was one less store I had to deal with today. lwj:D

[bugsette]

Kohl's was great today... The associates were so friendly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

We were so pissed we just left w/o buying anything.

Well, that's why I said probably. If you had to wait 20 minutes (which honestly is no time at all on the busiest shopping day of the year), they were clearly busy. That's why Jewelry has their own registers. We're not a cash register station at all.

[redsd]

I was at Kohl's at 5 and got some gold jewelry first thing, then shopped for shoes and other items. By the time I found what I wanted, the line was to the back of the store. Never again! I can go any day in advance, and get price adjustments later, right? I assume I have to go in on Black Friday to get the adjustments?

[len_mullen]

I was at Kohl's at 5 and got some gold jewelry first thing, then shopped for shoes and other items. By the time I found what I wanted, the line was to the back of the store. Never again! I can go any day in advance, and get price adjustments later, right? I assume I have to go in on Black Friday to get the adjustments?

I went into Kohls looking for two items. I got them, checked out, went to Staples, then returned to Kohls for shopping. I was in and out 20 minutes the first time and found nothing worth the wait the second time. Get the one or two things that will make your BF a success and get out.

[Jillsky]

Your awesome OP! Very good advice.

I just LOVE Kohl's. I stocked up on a bunch of fisher price toys when they had the sale AND got another 20% off from my credit card (it was the peel on one on the flyer). I'm set for xmas gifts for the kids. The toys were plentiful & I got them super cheap.

 

Sales people are very friendly too. I remember when they first opened the Kohl's near me & they hunted down a very HTF St. NSt. Nicholas Square village house. (I love the that collection!)

[tntfuller]

wish I had a good Kohls story to tell. The check-out lines at two different stores in the Atlanta area wrapped all around the store and met in the middle back by bedding. My sister in law spent almost two hours in line just to pay. My mom and I were at different store, waited 25 minutes and hadn't moved but maybe 5 feet. We gave up. I know Kohls, they'll have another good sale next week. It just wasn't worth it today.

[trhtmassa]

Same in KY. Walked in after 1:00 -- left because lines were too long.

[cpg117]

The line was long in my Kohls but my daughter was able to find a couple of toys she couldn't find elsewear and I found some good deals and probably would have found more if I hadn't run out of energy. While we were in line they announced they were extending the early bird hours but like I said just had no more energy and was ready for lunch.

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

At one point, the lines in my store crossed each other and made a heart. Yeah, people complained, but what can you do? It's Black Friday, there's going to be lines. Why expect differently? My favorite were the people who complained to jewelry that they got there at 3 and we wouldn't honor early bird prices. My manager manually extended the prices until 4 for people in line at 2:30, but frankly, he didn't have to.

 

We also got a lot of demands for an "express line". We don't do that for 2 reasons: first of all, if you were waiting in line for an hour and a half (which is the longest our wait ever was, we had ALL registers on each side going + a bagger for each one, which really is not that bad), wouldn't you get pissed watching people whizz by who'd only been there for minutes? Kohl's stores have never had to call the police for crowd control, and as an associate, I'd rather not be caught in a fray. Also, there's always the people at grocery stores who either can't read the limit or more likely, just don't care. That means we'd have to dispatch other associates to watch that line, which cuts back on register and store coverage. Personally, I think the latters are more important.

 

Yesterday, I had a nice old lady scream at me because I didn't know where a specific cat calendar was. (It should be noted I was standing at Jewelry at the time). But that was my worst customer, and I'm grateful for that. Did we feel guilty at Jewelry turning away people with one or two items, usually purses or fashion earrings, because we were ordered by corporate to focus only on fine (locked case) jewelry? Absolutely. I heard everything from being late to a funeral to pending surgery on Saturday. But then we'd just have to remember: it's Black Friday. We didn't force people to wait in line, they could leave at any time. Considering how insane our stores are on normal sales, it was expected to happen on the biggest shopping day of the year.

[ingasmile]

I love KOHL's. Remember 2 years ago when they would have the super Saturday sales if you were the one of the first 200 people in the door they gave you $15.00 in KOHL's cash? I wish they would do that again.

 

I will never understand people who go out shopping on BF and expect to get in and out in less than 20 minutes? Hello, are you new to the BF thing?

 

Inga

[mulchman22]

Well, that's why I said probably. If you had to wait 20 minutes (which honestly is no time at all on the busiest shopping day of the year), they were clearly busy. That's why Jewelry has their own registers. We're not a cash register station at all.

I have no problem with them doing it seperate EXCEPT when u are doing buy $50 get $10 for later, seperating someones order can make people lose out on there cert. so if doing the $10 for later I think they should HAVE to ring up. I was lucky my 2 sales worked out perfect that I didn't lose so I did say anything or even ask them to ring up other stuff. Also NONE of REALLIVES tips worked for me (extra savings off) I let people (2) go in front of me (sales lady knew). I help one of them bag at the jewlery counter(not fine jewlery the other one with the silver) they would ring up 5 addl items if u where buy something from their counter . WAS very polite told them I hope the rest of there day was as great as mine has been. ETC ETC ETC..

NO addtl saving

RealLIVE I guess U don't work at my store

.

[ICF]

Well, that's why I said probably. If you had to wait 20 minutes (which honestly is no time at all on the busiest shopping day of the year), they were clearly busy. That's why Jewelry has their own registers. We're not a cash register station at all.

my issue was, why not ring up my other items? Why should I have to go back into the "main" that wrapped around the store and met in the back....likey taken roughly an hour (just a guess--may have been 45 min, may have 90?)

 

I only had 4 other items...it wasn't as if I had 25 things. The earrings were about $45, so it's not like I was wanting to buy a $3 item to just avoid the long line.

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

I have no problem with them doing it seperate EXCEPT when u are doing buy $50 get $10 for later, seperating someones order can make people lose out on there cert. so if doing the $10 for later I think they should HAVE to ring up.

We can combine receipts, so that's not an issue.

 

You were a model customer, mulchman22. If I'd been there, I woulda given you 20% for all you did! If I ever find out any coupon codes, I'll PM you. Do you have a Kohl's charge? Most of our codes are for those...

 

my issue was, why not ring up my other items?

Well, let me tell you the other side. My jewelry counter was ringing up 5 or less of anything along with the locked case stuff, and we were getting SO MANY COMPAINTS about that. People waiting to be shown stuff were angry we weren't helping them instead and people wanting to buy fashion jewelry wanted to know why we could ring up blankets and not little $5 earrings.

 

It's not a matter of not wanting to help customers, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Most jewelry departments had at least 15 associates working, so for it to take 20 minutes for you is unusual. Maybe if you didn't hit them at a peak time? I don't know.

[ICF]

It's not a matter of not wanting to help customers, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Most jewelry departments had at least 15 associates working, so for it to take 20 minutes for you is unusual. Maybe if you didn't hit them at a peak time? I don't know.

Let me start off by saying I appreciate your posting here in the days leading up to BF, and that I love shopping @ Kohl's and spend way too much money there, but I just think this particular store could have done things better.

 

I was there @ 5:15, and received a # from the jewerly counter. I don't recall what it was, but it was in the upper teens. Knowing I had some time, they were serving #7 or so from what I could tell, I went and got my other items. When I returned 10 mins or so later, they were only up to #10. I then waited while 3 Kohls employees waited on other people until they got to me at 17 or 18 I think. IMO, if they were not going to ring up anything there should have been a sign up saying "FINE JEWERLY PURCHASES ONLY MAY BE PAID FOR HERE" or something to that affect....especially sinec I was with my spouse and we could have each stood in a line if need be.

 

There is no perfect system, but it would be nice if somehow they could have set up an "express lane" on one of the registers and only rang up people that had X # of items or less. I was shocked that early in the morning that there were lines meeting in the back of the store....it wasn't like other stores that gave out X as a freebie and people didn't want to miss it. The $10 / $50 coupons were available all day I'm pretty sure....I expected people, lots of them in fact, but not 2 lines that were each probably 100 deep 15 mins after the store opened.

[Guest RealLivePrinces]

I'm not speaking for anyone but myself, but the number sign itself says something about 'this is for fine jewelry only". Whether that also implies for checkout too is arguable and mainly up the manager or jewelry department supervisor running the bay (which is what we call the inside of the counter). It's a judgment call, so it's never going to be right or wrong depending on what customer you ask. Like I said, we had people angry we weren't doing fine jewelry only, which blows my mind.

 

An express line, unfortunately, is improbable for the reasons I stated above.

[Layher6]

I love Kohls and had a great day there on BF. The lines were really long but our store was very organized and I moved from the back of the store to check out in 20 minutes which is amazing. Kohls is the store we always hit first and you are 100% right RealLive Princes ,the nicer you are to the associates the more they are willing to go out of thier way to help. In fact, I was price matching one item and the associate commented on what a good price I was getting and that her father would love that item. I gave her the ad so she could price match during her lunch hour. I am also very excited to discover the tie in with clinique makeup. Thanks for the excellent tips!!!!!!

[peachysquirt21]

Got to Kohl's almost a hour after they opened. It was a zoo. The lines were just long. We said to heck with it & left. I was so mad cause I wanted to get one of those fleece blankets for $8.99. Went to Kohl's this morning & they had a ton of them. I got one for $9.99. I was sooooo happy.