(Bloomberg)—Kohl’s Corp., No. 24 in the Internet Retailer 2019 Top 1000, said it will begin accepting returns for Amazon.com Inc. customers at all of its stores starting in July, expanding a program it started in 2017.
The department store chain began offering the free service as a pilot program that grew to 100 stores in the Los Angeles, Chicago and Milwaukee markets. Now, it will increase to its more than 1,150 locations, the retailer said Tuesday.
Kohl’s has been getting cozier with Amazon (No. 1) in recent years, with the aim of drawing more new customers into its stores. The goal is that they will browse and buy something while they make their returns.
Kohl’s also issued a warrant to an Amazon investment arm to let it buy as many as 1.75 million shares of Kohl’s stock. The warrant vests over a multiyear period starting in January 2020, according to a filing. Amazon didn’t return a request for comment.
Kohl last month also said it would expand its relationship with the ecommerce giant by carrying Amazon-branded products in more than 200 stores.
Key for Garage is now available to Amazon customers
In other Amazon-related news, the ecommerce giant announced that Key for Garage is now available to customers. Key for Garage allows eligible Amazon Prime members to get deliveries in their garage using the Key Smart Garage Kit. Simply select “In-Garage delivery” at check out on Amazon.com to have packages delivered securely and conveniently in your garage. Additionally, customers can check the status of their garage door in the Key by Amazon app and remotely open or close it.
“We know it is important to keep innovating to make delivery as convenient as possible for customers, which is why we’re excited to now have Key for Garage available,” said Rohit Shrivastava, general manager of Key by Amazon. “Today, we are thrilled to open Key by Amazon to millions of Prime members who can now have their Amazon packages delivered securely to their garages. With this new option, members can truly unlock the convenience of the Amazon experience.”
Key for Garage is made possible by integrating Key by Amazon with Chamberlain Group’s proprietary myQ-connected technology. If a shopper already has a myQ-connected garage door opener, all he needs to do is link his Amazon and myQ accounts in the Key by Amazon app. Otherwise, shoppers can purchase one of two Key Smart Garage Kits: the myQ Smart Garage Hub—which allows consumers to add connectivity to their existing garage door opener—or a new myQ-connected Chamberlain or LiftMaster Wi-Fi garage door opener.