(Updated 9/13/19) If you found this page you’re probably either a new hire at Amazon (or considering applying) and wondering what the Amazon employee discount is and how it works exactly. While researching their employee discount, and talking to my Amazon contacts, it quickly became evident that their discount is only a small portion of the employee perks package. So I went ahead and also listed the major benefits you get from working for the eCommerce giant. Let’s get to it shall we…

What is the Amazon Employee Discount?

Amazon offers a 10% employee discount.

They cap the annual discount at $100. So basically you get 10% off everything you buy up to $1,000.

While it’s not a huge discount, it’s definitely better than nothing.

How Long Before You’re Eligible?

I was told by a current Amazon employee that you have to work for the company for 30 days before you can tap into your employee discount.

Are Any Products Excluded from the Discount?

Yes.

Products must be sold and fulfilled directly by Amazon and NOT 3rd party sellers.

Everything else is excluded.

Do Employees Get a Discount on Amazon Prime?

Unfortunately, NO.

Employees are stuck paying full price for a Prime Membership.

See Also: 6 Brilliantly Slick Ways to Get Amazon Prime for Free

Can I Use My Discount on Prime Day?

YES, you can use your 10% discount on any day of the year as long as products are eligible.

Do Employees in India Get a Discount?

Unfortunately, NO.

I chatted with a customer service rep that lived in India and he told me they do not get an employee discount.

Can I Shop From My Amazon Affiliate Links?

The Amazon Affiliate Program lets you earn a commission on any Amazon links on your site or blog that people click-on and subsequently make a purchase.

You get a small commission on the sale and it can add up to significant money depending on how much traffic your site gets.

BUT….you cannot click on your own Amazon links, buy something, and earn a commission.

They put a kibosh on that sneaky practice awhile back. 

Do Employees Earn Extra for Working on Holidays?

Yes, Amazon employees earn “time and half” if they work on the following 6 holidays:

• New Year’s Day.
• Memorial Day.
• Independence Day.
• Labor Day.
• Thanksgiving Day.
• Christmas Day.

See Also: Retailers That Offer a $12+ Hourly Wage with Benefits

What Other Employee Perks Does Amazon Offer?

Well, I’m glad you asked because here they are in no particular order…

– $15/hour Starting Wage – The absolute least they’ll pay you is $15/hour which is a nice starting wage.

– Health Benefits – You’re eligible on your first day of work as long as you work 20+ hours per week.

– Maternity & Paternity Leave – Full-time employees (blue badges) get up to 4 weeks pre-partum and 10 weeks paid leave post-partum.

– Tuition Reimbursement – After working for Amazon for 1-year, you’re eligible for 95% tuition reimbursement towards an Associates degree or certificate.

– Adoption Assistance – Up to $5,000 for single child adoptions and $10,000 for sibling/group adoptions.

– Employee Assistance Plan – Free counseling services for all employees and household members. This includes 3 free in-person counseling sessions per year. 

Ask the Reader: Are you a current or former Amazon employee? How often did you take advantage of their employee discount?

By Kyle James

As I’ve documented before on this blog, many stores these days offer free in-store pickup. But unfortunately very few go the extra mile and actually bring the items out to your car. I call it curbside pickup and it’s incredibly convenient for seniors, those with a handicap, and busy folks who don’t have time to wander the aisles aimlessly looking for brown paper lunch bags. Here are all the major stores that offer this service at NO extra charge, hope this list helps.

Giant Eagle

If you have a Giant Eagle in your neck of the woods you’ll be excited to know they offer a Free Grocery Pickup service.

Just visit the above linked page and choose your store and click “Shop Now”.

Once you choose your store, you’ll schedule a time slot and then add items to your online cart and checkout.

Giant Eagle has “expertly trained personal shoppers” who only select the freshest and highest quality groceries for you.

Then just head to the store at your time, park in the designated spot, and they’ll load up your groceries for you.

If you’d prefer to have items delivered to your home, it can be done for a reasonable $5.95 for next-day delivery.

H-E-B Grocers

If you happen to live near a H-E-B you should consider their Curbside Grocery Service.

You just shop their website, select a pick-up time and place your order.

Similar to Kroger below, you can add specific comments to your order. For example, you can say things like “can I please have my artisan bread sliced”, which is WAY cool.

They currently have a 4-hour turn around on curbside orders and the most you can order is $600 worth of groceries.

They even discourage tipping and want you to keep the money for your next curbside order.

Kroger

Simply shop the Kroger website and fill your virtual cart with what you need, then at checkout, select your store and pickup time.

An employee will then grab all your groceries and bring them to your car when you arrive.

Be sure to park in the designated spots and you’re good to go.

You can shop online up to three days in advance, which is super convenient.

It should also be noted that only the first 3 orders are free, after that you’re subject to a fee that varies by region.

Meijer

While Meijer charges a $4.95 curbside fee I still thought I should mention them.

The main reason I wanted to mention them was their ability to customize curbside orders.

For example, want green bananas? Or maybe extra ripe avocados? Just tell them in the comments section when checking out from their website and they’ll do their best to accommodate your request.

Once you select your pickup time, just head down to the store and go the to “Curbside Lane” and they’ll load you up.

Nordstrom

I gotta admit this one came as a surprise.

If you join the free Nordy Club you’re eligible to get free curbside delivery from your local Nordstrom department store.

When shopping from the Nordstrom website, be sure to select the “Buy Online & Pick Up in Store” option.

Then use the Nordstrom app to request curbside pickup.

Publix

Publix recently introduced a curbside delivery service that takes all the hassle out of grocery shopping.

You shop online when it’s convenient, then select a time that works for you to swing by and have your groceries loaded into your car.

Win win.

Sears

If you’re lucky enough to still have a Sears in your town, you should try their free In-Vehicle Pickup program.

Just shop online or via their app and select “In-Vehicle Pickup” at checkout. (NOTE: Have to be a “Shop Your Ways” member to qualify, sign-up for free.)

Sears will drop you an email when your order is ready. Then you’ll just head to the store, park in a reserved spot, and use the app to tell them you’ve arrived.

They guarantee they’ll have your stuff brought out to your car within 5 minutes.

Target

Many Target locations in 2019 are rolling out the Drive Up service and it’s pretty darn cool.

You just shop the Target app and wait for notification that your order is ready.

Then you let Target know via the app when you’re on your way and park in the designated “Drive Up” spot in the front of the store.

Once you’re safely parked, you let them know via the app that you’ve arrived and they’ll quickly bring out your stuff and load it.

If your local Target doesn’t offer “Drive Up” yet, you can still order online and choose in-store pickup at checkout. Then head to Guest Services once you get a notification that it’s ready.

Walmart

When Walmart Grocery Pickup was first introduced in 2017 it was met with some skepticism.

Would it be accurate? Would it be more hassle than it’s worth?

But after ironing out a few wrinkles, the grocery pickup delivery service has grown quite popular.

You simply visit walmart.com/grocery or shop via the Walmart app. You can shop over 50,000 items and select your exact pickup date and time.

The cool part is if you place your order by 10 a.m. it will be ready for pickup on the same day.

When you get notified via email or text that your order is ready, you just park in one of the marked “Grocery Pickup” spots and an employee will bring out your items and load them in your car.

Some Walmart’s even have drive-up lanes like the one in the picture above.

Incredibly convenient service for seniors or busy parents and it’s completely FREE.

Ask the Reader: What grocery stores or big-box stores am I missing? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to investigate.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Walmart.

By now you’re probably aware that retailers try REALLY hard to track your every step once you walk in the door. Many big-box stores do this by offering you free WiFi or proprietary smartphone apps. They can then access your location, movements, and even which products you hover over so they can hit you with ads later. But I’m here to tell you that there’s another reason to be cautious as it can end up costing you BIG bucks over time. Let me explain…

Is the Free WiFi Really Free?

Let’s say you enter your local Target and connect to their free WiFi. No biggie, right?

Well, according to this Reddit thread, not only can they track where you walk in the store, but they can also pick which price you’ll see displayed on your phone.

More specifically, they’ve been known to only show you the in-store price on the Target app instead of the often cheaper online price.

Why do they do this? Because they’ll happily price-match their online prices BUT they’d much rather have you pay the more expensive in-store price.

Sneaky, eh?

Test this out yourself the next time you visit Target.

See Also: Skip the Membership: All The Stores That’ll Price Match Costco

The Shopping App Revolution

It seems every store these days has an app that lets you quickly shop from their website, even when you’re walking down the aisles of their brick & mortar location.

In theory, the app is supposed to help you locate the cheapest price, whether it’s online or in-store.

Doesn’t always work that way unfortunately.

Once they have their app on your smartphone they’re in control.

They get access to your location, your browsing habits within their app, and all kinds of other nuggets that they can use to make more money off you in the future.

Which Stores Are Known For This?

Besides Target, other popular retailers like Walmart, Nordstrom, and The Home Depot have been known to employ similar tactics.

Bottom-line: Whenever you connect to a retailer’s WiFi or download their proprietary app, you should automatically assume there’s a chance you’re getting messed with.

How to Protect Yourself?

The obvious way is to simply not download any retailer’s shopping app and NEVER connect to their free WiFI.

But this is not always warranted (or practical) as these apps often are embedded with coupons and deal information that help you save money.

So use the apps to save, but make sure you turn OFF the “Location Services” on your iPhone or Android device.

You’ll find this in your phone’s settings under privacy or location.

By doing so, they WON’T know your in their store and can’t do any sneaky pricing tricks (or track your location) behind your back.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever noticed when a store was messing with you? If so, which store and what was the dealio?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

If you’re considering working for Wally World, or maybe you’ve been hired recently, you’ll want to know how the Walmart employee discount works. It has some nuisances to it, and can even be confusing to many new Walmart employees. So I went out and did some research and figured out exactly how the discount works so you can start saving some money when you become eligible. Here’s what you need to know.

What Employee Discount Does Walmart Offer?

Walmart offers a 10% employee discount.

From their website comes this VERY murky statement, “Our associate discount card offers a 10% discount on fresh fruits, vegetables and regularly priced general merchandise at Walmart stores.”

What the heck constitutes general merchandise?

So I hit up my Walmart contact and got some answers to the following questions…

Are Any Items Excluded From the Discount?

Yes, quite a few actually.

Exclusions include most food items, clearance items, rollback items, price matches, tires, photo orders, gift cards, travel purchases, shipping charges, marketplace items, and some bundles.

The food items where you CAN get a 10% discount include fresh fruits, vegetables and regular-priced general food merchandise.

How Long Do I Need to Be Employed?

You have to work at Walmart for 90 days before you’re eligible for the employee discount.

What is the Walmart Associate Discount Card?

After you’re hired and have worked for 90 days, you’ll get your own Walmart Associate Discount Card.

This card can ONLY be used in-store and you’ll simply present it at checkout to score your discount.

Can My Family & Friends Use the Discount?

Your family members and friends CANNOT get the employee discount on their own.

But…you can certainly use your discount on their behalf.

This can be done in-store as well as in the online “Discount Center” (see Below).

What Other Employee Discounts Does Walmart Offer?

Walmart offers a very cool online portal called the Walmart Associate Discount Center.

Once you login, you’ll find a bunch of exclusive discounts on vacation packages, cell phone plans, along with deals on countless products and services.

The cool thing about this website is that many of the deals are negotiated exclusively by Walmart for their associates.

The deals change all the time so it’s worth bookmarking and checking back often for new bargains.

What About Christmas-Time Discounts?

While I couldn’t find anything specific on the Walmart website, I’ve heard on several occasions that you’ll get a bigger employee discount around the holidays.

The discount seems to vary from store to store, but it appears you’ll get a 15%-20% discount come December.

You’ll also get the 10% discount on ALL groceries/food right before and after Thanksgiving.

What Are Some Other Employee Perks?

Here are a few of the most popular perks that come with employment at Walmart.

1. They offer an associate stock purchase plan with company match.

2. Ability to contribute to a 401(k) starting on your first day. Walmart offers a 6% match after 1-year on the job.

3. Medical plans starting at around $26 per pay period.

4. A generous 10 weeks of paid maternity leave where you’ll get 100% of your pay.

5. You’ll also get $5,000 to go towards the expenses of adopting a child.

Ask the Reader: Do you work for Walmart? If so, what specifics of their employee discount can you share?

By Kyle James

Does Apple sound like a cool place to work? Maybe you already got hired or maybe you’re thinking of seeking a job with the tech giant. In either case, it’s important to understand the Apple employee discount as it’s one of their greatest perks. Here’s everything you need to know so you can take full-advantage.

What Exactly is the Apple Employee Discount?

Their employee discount is 25% off…well sort of, let me explain.

Specifically, it’s a one-time annual 25% discount in each product category.

Their four main product lines include the iPhone, iPad, computer, and Apple Watch.

So in a year’s time, you could theoretically get each of those devices for 25% off the retail price.

I was also told that workers get 10% off everything in the Apple Store except gift cards. (If you currently work at Apple can you please verify or debunk this in the comments section, thanks in advance.)

Any Additional Discounts?

Yes, there certainly are.

A former Apple intern said that once you use your 25% discount, you can still take advantage of the 15% off family & friends discount for up to “10 units”. So you can buy stuff for family and friends and get a cool 15% off.

In addition, after every 3 years of employment, you’ll score a free $500 to buy whatever you want.

PLUS…you can combine the $500 with the 25% employee discount and score a MAJOR deal.

Like the intern says in the article, you basically get a free new iPhone every 3 years.

Do Apple Employees get the Latest iPhone for Free?

I’ve heard this rumor for years, and the answer for employees is unfortunately NO.

Unless of course they take advantage of the work-around hack mentioned above.

See Also: Here’s How the Apple Military Discount Works and How You Qualify

Are Any Apple Products Excluded?

Nope, everything Apple sells is eligible for the employee discount.

How Long Do I Have to Work to Qualify?

You have to work at Apple for 90 days before you’re eligible for the employee discount.

Can the Discount Be Used on Black Friday & Cyber Monday?

Yes, your employee discount can be used any day of the year.

Anything Else Discount Related?

Apparently Apple is also famous for offering a bunch of 3rd party discounts to employees as well.

These products include things like iPhone cases, screen protectors, Apple Watch bands, iPad cases, and laptop accessories.

Discounts range from 10% off all the way up to 50%.

Ask the Reader: Do you work for Apple? If so, let me know how much money their employee discount has saved you.

By Kyle James

Photo Credit to Dru Bloomfield.

While I’ve talked about discounts for military/vets, teachers, and students in the past, I’ve never given First Responders their deserved credit. I’m talking about police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and even correctional officers and paramedics. I discovered that many companies these days happily offer these heroes a generous discount on their purchases. Here are the most popular retailers that I’ve discovered so far.

First, What You Need to Know:

The majority of the companies in this article use one of two online services to verify your employment as a first responder.

You’d be smart to register with each so you can start getting your discounts today. Here are the details…

1. ID.me – This service simplifies the process of identifying your identity and employment status.

2. VerifyPass – Similar to ID.me but with more of an emphasis on military, responders, students, and teachers.

Now that I got that out of the way, here are the current companies that offer a discount…

Affliction Apparel

Affliction is happy to offer first responders a 15% discount.

This deal on apparel is good for both active and retired police, fire, and EMT.

They use VerifyPass to check if you’re eligible. Sign-up for free NOW.

Clarks Shoes

Clarks offers a discount for active Police, Fire, and EMT workers as well.

They use ID.me to verify your employment status.

The specific discount changes all the time so you’ll want to login and check it out for yourself.

Columbia

Columbia Sportswear offers a 15% discount via ID.me.

The discount is good for police, fire, and EMT.

See Also: Veteran & Military Discounts: 90+ Places Where Heroes Get a Deal

Costco

Did you know Costco also offers a first responders discount?

Not only will you get a $20 Costco cash card with your new membership, but you’ll score $60 worth of freebies and coupons.

The discount is done via ID.me.

Dickies

Dickies is also proud to offer a 10% discount to first responders.

They use SheerID to verify your eligibility.

Fanatics

Save a cool 15% off your purchase the next time you shop at Fanatics.

This includes Police, Sheriff, State Trooper, Corrections Officer, Federal Officers, 911 Dispatcher, Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, EMT, and Paramedic.

Helzberg Diamonds

Score a 10% discount when you shop online at Herzberg or call them at 1-800-435-9237.

Good for police, fire, and EMT professionals.

Jockey

Jockey is proud to offer a 10% discount via ID.me as well.

Never pay full-price for underwear again.

See Also: 50+ Places Where Educators Get a Teacher Discount

Leatherman

Leatherman offers a discount via the Leatherman Pro program.

The discount gets you access to deals that top 50% off the original price.

Good for those in Fire (including volunteer), EMS, and LE.

Lululemon

According to this Reddit thread, Lulu offers a 25% discount.

You have to get the discount in-store only and it appears to be good for sale merchandise as well.

MLB Shop

MLB Shop offers first responders a slick 15% off their next purchase.

This deal is also good for spouses and immediate family members.

MooseJaw

Get 20% off all full-priced purchases at the outdoor gear and apparel company Moosejaw.

They use ID.me to verify if you’re currently EMT, police, or fire.

Excludes kayaks, canoes, SUPs, cameras, snowboards, skateboards, bikes, skis, and gift cards.

NBA Store

The NBA Store discount works the same as the MLB Shop above, 15% off.

It’s also good for immediate family members and spouses.

Overstock.com

First responders can join Club O Rewards for FREE and get free shipping on EVERY purchase, 5% cashback, and additional coupons/perks.

Free for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMT’s.

Quiksilver

Quiksilver is proud to offer a 15% discount to all first responders.

Excludes gift cards, GoPro camera, and some hard goods.

Reebok

Via ID.me, Reebok offers heroes 20% off their entire purchase.

This discount is also good for students and those in the military.

Roxy

Roxy happily offers a 15% discount to all first responders.

This discount is available online only and not at any outlet locations.

Saddleback Leather

Saddleback offers a 10% discount to military and first responders (Police/Fire/EMT).

They use ID.me to verify your information.

Under Armour

Under Armour offers a 10% online discount for active Police, Fire, and EMT.

After you verify your purchase via ID.me you’ll select “Military and First Responder Discount” at checkout.

Vera Bradley

Vera Bradley offers a generous 15% discount to “Police Officers, Sheriffs, State Troopers, Corrections Officers, Federal Officers, Volunteer & Career Firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics.”

Vera Bradley also uses ID.me for verification purposes.

Verizon Wireless

Verizon has an excellent First Responders Program.

From their website, “First responders save on their personal wireless plans. Get Go Unlimited for as low as $30/line with 4 lines. Per month. Plus taxes & fees.”

Join visit the above linked page and sign-up for free and you’ll get access to all the current discounts.

Yeti

Yeti offers a discount program via ID.me.

Just verify your purchase and gain access to cool Yeti discounts and perks.

Ask the Reader: What first responder discounts and perks have I missed? Let me know in the comments section and I’ll check them out.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Andrew Magill.

It’s time again for the bonanza of Amazon deals also known as Prime Day. It actually should be called “Prime Days” as the event has expanded to 2 shopping days. Here’s everything you need to know so you can decide if you’ll participate this year.

How Long Will “Prime Day” Last?

48 hours to be exact.

Prime Day will last from July 15-16, 2019 and is only for Prime members.

That’s 48 long hours to take advantage of flash deals that will last for a limited time frame.

If you’ve never tried Amazon Prime, you can get a 30-day free trial starting now. And since we now know when Prime Day officially is, we can confirm that your free trial will carry you through the event which is kinda cool.

See Also: 9 Amazon Prime Benefits You’re Probably Not Using

What Deals Are Being Anticipated?

Just yesterday Amazon launched a sneak preview of some of the deals they’ll have available on Prime Day. (see screenshot above)

If history repeats itself, the best deals will be on Amazon devices like Echo and Echo Dot, as well as a plethora of bargains on electronics, toys, home decor, and apparel.

Depending on what you’re shopping for, the deals will be hit-and-miss.

As always, I only recommend buying an item in cases where you’d buy it regardless of Prime Day.

Bonus Tip: For even extra savings, consider opening an Amazon Rewards Signature Visa and score unlimited 3% cash back on all your Amazon and Whole Foods purchases moving forward. If you want more information, Money Crashers did a thorough review of the card recently that’s worth checking out.

Does Amazon Offer 1-Day Shipping on Prime Day?

Yes, but it all depends on your zip code.

Amazon has recently invested $800 million in improving their shipping and logistics channels so they can offer even more products with 1-day Prime shipping.

But as of right now it depends on where you live as to whether you’ll score free 1-day shipping.

While Amazon is making every effort to increase the number of items available for 1-day shipping by Prime Day, expect most of the changes to come later in the year.

See Also: 6 Brilliantly Slick Ways to Get Amazon Prime for Free

Will Whole Foods Have Prime Day Deals?

They had deals last year so I’m sure Amazon owned Whole Foods will again participate.

In 2018, they offered Amazon credit card holders 2x the reward points during “Prime Day” week.

Also, look for specific discounts on groceries at Whole Foods that will coincide with the event.

But most importantly, look for a $10 Amazon credit to use on Prime Day. You’ll only have to spend $10 at your local Whole Foods to score the free $10.

Will Other Retailers Participate?

In a bit of sportsmanship, other popular retailers have gotten into the act and offered their own deals on Prime Day.

In recent years this has included Best Buy, Walmart, Macy’s, and Target.

These stores tend to discount the same type of items as Amazon so look for deals on electronics, kitchen appliances, clothing, toys, laptops and more.

This is a great way to quasi take advantage of Prime Day and never have to pay a cent to Mr. Bezos and Amazon.

Ask the Reader: What, if anything, will you be shopping for on Prime Day?

By Kyle James

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.

Is it just me or are Amazon Prime packages having trouble always getting to your front door in 2-days? With the HUGE volume of packages they mail daily, it’s not surprising that not all packages get to the customer on-time. But did you know you have recourse if Amazon doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain and deliver in the 2-day shipping window? What they’ll give you for the inconvenience just might shock you. Here’s what you need to know the next time you get something late from Amazon.

Score a FREE $5 Credit to Your Account

I had an Amazon Prime package arrive 2 days late just last week.

There were no storms in the area and no obvious reasons for it to be late.

So I did what I usually do and hit up Amazon live chat to let them know that they didn’t hold up their end of the Prime shipping guarantee.

I knew they would offer me something for the inconvenience, but I wasn’t sure what it would be as I hadn’t done this in quite some time.

I was pleasantly surprised that the Amazon rep immediately offered me a $5 credit to my account. But keep reading as this get MUCH better.

Here’s how the initial chat went down…

What About 1-Month of Free Prime?

Amazon use to give you 1-month of free Amazon Prime when your package arrived late.

You just had to complain a little bit and they would quickly credit your account.

I’ve received this little-known Amazon perk as early as last year.

But when I asked the chat rep about getting 1-month of free Prime, in lieu of the $5 credit, I was told that this practice was discontinued last year.

See Also: 6 Brilliantly Slick Ways to Get Amazon Prime for Free

But Wait…It Gets WAY Better

After I asked about the free 1-month of Prime, the chat rep volunteered something even BETTER.

A free $10 credit to my Amazon account to be exact. No joke!

Not sure if I triggered this because we order from Amazon often, or if this is standard practice if you seem unsatisfied with the $5 credit.

I’m also guessing that this could be a 1-time dealio and the next time I’ll only get a $5 credit.

In any case, the bottom-line is to try this trick the next time your package arrives late…you just might end up with a FREE $10 like I did.

Don’t believe me? See my chat session below…

Ask the Reader: How often do your Amazon Prime packages arrive late? Have you ever held Amazon’s feet to the fire and received something for the inconvenience?

By Kyle James

Do you love shopping online? Maybe it’s the coupon codes, or the easy price comparisons, or the overall convenience? Whatever the case, many retailers let you shop their website then pickup the item in-store at their brick and mortar locations, usually within an hour or two. Here are eleven such popular retailers along with details on how their in-store pickup service works. Hope it helps!

Best Buy

After you add items to your cart at Best Buy’s website, you’ll want to choose “Store Pickup”, then select your local store.

They’ll then give you an estimated pickup time which is usually within an hour.

Then wait for an email telling you the order is ready for pickup.

Bring in your order number, photo ID, and credit card to collect your items.

Look for reserved parking spots labeled Store Pickup which will be close to the front door for even faster pickup.

Also, they have a convenient program called “Friends and Family Pickup” which allows you to order something online and have someone else pick it up.

An example where this would be handy is an away-at-college-student. You can buy them something online and they can pick it up at a Best Buy near campus.

BJ’s Wholesale

If you have a BJ’s in your neck of the woods you should be aware of their Pickup Service.

Penned the “Shop BJs.com – Pick Up in Club” program, most orders will be available for pickup within 2 hours.

Just place your order, select Club Pickup and wait for your email confirmation.

See Also: The 8 Best Return Policies in the Known Universe

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dick’s has upped the game by offering Free One-Hour Pickup.

Just shop their website like you normally would, set your store preference and add items to your virtual cart.

Under delivery options, select in-store pickup and finalize your purchase.

Wait for the email notification that your order is ready and drive on down.

When you arrive, visit the Self-Service Pickup Station to let employees know you’re there.

Home Depot

To take advantage of the Home Depot In-Store Pickup option just shop like normal but select “Pick Up In-Store” on the product page in your virtual cart.

You’ll get 2 emails, the first will be an order confirmation followed by an email telling you the order is ready for pickup. The 2nd email will usually arrive within 2 hours.

The 2nd email will also contain the instructions needed to make the pickup process seamless and quick.

IKEA

The IKEA “Click and Collect” service is WAY slick.

Just shop at IKEA.com and add products to your shopping cart.

Once you get to the checkout page select “Click & Collect” and they’ll prepare the order at the store of your choosing.

Wait for the email or text message then go get your stuff.

Important Note: This program will cost you $5 upfront but you’ll get it back in the form of an IKEA gift card when you pick up your purchase.

Kohl’s

The Kohl’s Free Store Pickup is pretty straight-forward.

Just place your order, choose Free Store Pickup Today and wait for the email (usually within 2 hours).

Then drive to Kohl’s, park in a reserved space and head for the designated pickup line.

Lowe’s

The Lowe’s In-Store Pickup policy works very similar to the Home Depot’s.

Just select “Store Pickup” at checkout and grab your item(s) at the customer service desk when you get a notification that your order is ready.

They don’t specify a specific time frame but it’s always been within a couple hours in my experience.

Macy’s

The Macy’s in-store pickup system is pretty slick too and available on a vast majority of items.

Simply pick Free Pickup In Store at checkout and get an email within 2 hours that it’s ready.

Be sure to place your order before 6 p.m. to get the 2-hour in-store pickup window.

Staples

The Staples In-Store Pickup program is cool too.

Just shop the Staples website and click the “Pick up Today” button and select your local store.

Once you complete your purchase you’ll get a “Ready for Pickup” email within 1 Hour. Now that’s fast.

Target

The Order Pickup service at Target is pretty darn convenient as well.

When shopping the Target website, look for eligible items marked Free ship to store or Free order pickup.

Select either option and complete your purchase.

Next, wait for an email confirmation that your order is ready for pickup and you’re good-to-go.

Also, keep an eye out for Target Drive Up in late 2019. The service will allow you to place an order via the Target app and have a Target employee bring it out to your car.

Walmart

Walmart has a handy in-store pickup service that is often underutilized.

Just order online and get same day pickup (usually within 2 hours) at NO extra charge.

The one catch is that it only applies to select items….but the selection is in the millions of items.

Just look for “Free pickup today” under the item’s price and follow the instructions.

Ask the Reader: Did I miss any retailers? Let me know in the comments, thanks!

By Kyle James

The Old Navy return policy seems fairly straight forward at first glance. But when you start to delve into the details you quickly realize it has some nuances to it. Let’s take a deep-dive into their return policy and get all your burning Old Navy questions answered.

How Many Return Days at Old Navy?

You have exactly 45 days from date of purchase to return stuff to Old Navy.

The same goes for Gap and Banana Republic.

What Happens After 45 Days?

If you try to return something to Old Navy (with your receipt) after your 45-day return window, you’ll be stuck with store credit.

BUT…this is completely at the manager’s discretion, meaning you could potentially be out-of-luck.

Hopefully Old Navy still has the item in-stock as you’ll stand a greater chance of success that way.

The current selling price is what you’ll typically get in merchandise credit.

Can Clothing Be Worn?

Clothing has to be in UNWORN and UNWASHED condition to be returned.

They will not take back any items that have been worn or washed UNLESS they are defective.

See Also: Is Old Navy’s Coupon Policy Bad Customer Service?

Do I Need My Receipt?

Typically YES….but there are some cases where you don’t need your receipt.

This is especially true if you’re exchanging an item for a different size or color. No receipt is required if the item is still in new condition.

If you lost your receipt and want a refund, Old Navy can usually look up your order via your credit or debit card.

If they find NO evidence of your purchase, you’ll be stuck with store credit at the current selling price of the item.

If you try to return an item without a receipt, and they don’t currently sell the item, they’ll tell ya to pound sand.

Are Clearance and “Final Sale” Items Returnable?

Clearance items are returnable but final sale items are NOT returnable.

Can I Return Stuff Bought Online to a Store?

YES, absolutely.

As a matter of fact this is the best way to avoid having to pay return shipping fees.

Just the bring the item(s) back to any Old Navy with your packing slip.

Does Old Navy Track My Returns?

When you make a return without a receipt they will ask for a photo ID.

They use your information to track your returns to make sure you aren’t taking advantage of their policy.

To many “No Receipt” returns at Old Navy and they can ban you from future returns.

Can I Return Gifts for Cash?

No, you cannot get cash for gift returns.

You’ll have to settle for store credit. This applies to returns with and without a gift receipt.

Be prepared to show a valid photo ID for them to process your gift return.

How Do I Return Items Online?

When your online order gets delivered take notice of the invoice slip.

This invoice has a section for returns that you’ll need to fill out and follow the instructions.

BUT…an even easier way is to check out their Online Portal for returns that will quickly guide you through the process and help you print out your return shipping label.

Be aware that you’ll be stuck paying the return shipping charges so it’s always smart to return items in-store when you can.

Can I Return Old Navy Items to Gap or Banana Republic?

No.

You must return items back to the brand where they were originally purchased.

What About Holiday Returns?

Old Navy has a nifty little holiday return policy that you should be aware of.

All items bought between November 1st – December 24th can be returned up until January 15th or 45 days of purchase, whichever is later.

Ask the Reader: What’s been your experience with the Old Navy return policy? Any tidbits that I may have missed?

By Kyle James