John, do you know what Kmart bike return policy is? This is one of the questions my readers ask a lot. Well, I´ve got you covered.
While Kmart’s been in decline for the better part of two decades, they remain one of the more affordable retailers for bicycles. However, what kind of return policy do they offer dissatisfied customers?
Not only does Kmart impose a 30-day time limit on returns, but they will only process returns if the bike arrives damaged or incorrect. Furthermore, they sell many bikes through third-party marketplace vendors who may impose fees on those wishing to return an item.
This sounds pretty restrictive, but those wishing to return a bike will want to keep reading for deeper insights on Kmart’s policies.
Time Limits on Kmart Bike Returns
Kmart’s 30-day time limit on returns is actually a bit more nuanced than it sounds. Before a customer can return their bike, the store must first authorize the return request.
If returning a bike by mail, the customer must ship it back within 14 days of authorization in order to receive a refund.
However, this time limit may not apply to all bikes. Since virtually all bikes available from Kmart are sold by third-party vendors, policies are subject to variation.
For instance, some vendors may only allow returns if the bike violates warranty and may then only authorize a replacement in lieu of a full refund. Others simply adhere to Kmart’s return policy.
This means that customers should never take Kmart’s 30-day return period at face value. When selecting a bike, always check the return policy offered by the individual seller and avoid bikes offered by vendors whose policies you aren’t willing to work with.
If you wish to take advantage of the 30-day grace period, you’ll want to find a seller who adheres to the Kmart standard.
Does Kmart Charge Return Fees?
If a customer receives the wrong bike, or if the bicycle is damaged upon receipt, Kmart charges no fees for restocking or shipping costs. However, marketplace sellers do have the privilege of imposing their own restocking fees if they so choose.
This once again means that buyers must be diligent about checking the return policy on the specific bike they choose to purchase.
Even if a seller does opt out of setting their own return policies, Kmart may impose a shipping fee depending on the reason given for the return.
If the bike is damaged or incorrect, Kmart thankfully waives all shipping costs, even on oversized items such as bicycles. However, Kmart will not foot the bill for items returned due to buyer’s remorse.
In the event a customer changes their mind before their bike arrives, they are unable to cancel their order and will have to refuse delivery. However, unless the bike is damaged or incorrect, Kmart will charge a 15% restocking fee for delivery refusal.
This means customers must do the math and determine whether the cancellation fee outweighs the shipping costs on later returns.
Returning Bikes to a Kmart Store
Since bikes ordered from marketplace sellers must be returned to the sellers themselves, customers can only return a bike to a Kmart store if it was purchased from Kmart directly.
Given that Kmart currently operates just nine stores worldwide, the chances of such an occurrence are highly unlikely.
For those lucky few with a Kmart in their vicinity, the return process will prove fairly quick and painless. Simply ensure the bike is in the same condition in which it was received and fill out a packing slip stating the reason for return.
Then bring it to the customer service desk, where the employee will process your return.
How to Return a Bike by Mail
Returning a Kmart bike by mail will be a slightly more involved process. Fortunately, however, the participation of third-party vendors will likely hold less weight over the return process than it does the return policy.
This is because marketplace purchases fulfilled by Kmart may still be returned to the Kmart facility from which they were shipped.
Simply follow these steps to return a bike purchased from Kmart’s website:
- Go to Kmart’s order center and fill out all requested information to have your return authorized. If your order is successfully authorized, you will receive a shipping label.
- Check your packing slip for the address of the originating facility.
- Disassemble and securely package the bike (in the original packaging if possible).
- Note the reason for the return along with any other requested information on the packing slip from your order.
- Put the packing slip inside the package. Do not attach it to the outside, where it may be lost or damaged.
- Contact Kmart to arrange a pickup for your item. You must be home at your scheduled pickup time.
Once all steps are successfully completed and provided your item is eligible for refund, the money will be returned to the account used in the initial purchase within 30 days of Kmart receiving your return.
Can You Exchange a Bike at Kmart?
Kmart does not typically authorize exchanges. However, since most marketplace sellers offer warranties on their bikes, the majority of customers will have no trouble exchanging their bikes for a replacement if the warranty allows for it.
Furthermore, Kmart allows sellers to set their own exchange policies, which may differ from Kmart’s own.
In the event that Kmart does offer an exchange, customers will not be able to receive a refund on the new item under any circumstances.
Items received through the exchange can only be exchanged yet again, and only if they meet Kmart’s (or the third-party seller’s) eligibility requirements.
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Conclusion
Kmart’s bike return policy is not only restrictive in numerous ways, but also requires a fair bit of research due to the policy differences between third-party marketplace sellers.
Given the wide variety of vendors on Kmart’s marketplace, customers will have to do quite a bit of reading when selecting a bike if they want to prevent possible issues in the event of a return.
In short, preparation is key. Diligence is practically a requirement at the time of purchase, as it is the only surefire way to diminish your chances of buyer’s remorse.
References
https://www.kmart.com/en_us/customer-service/Policies/return-policy.html
