Kmart

Full review
I'm not exactly a big fan of Kmart stores. Why? Nearly all of the Kmart stores that I have visited, whether they be in California or Texas, have been either filthy, equipped with a rude staff, or the prices simply couldn't stack up to the low prices at Wal-Mart. So why would I shop at Kmart's online store? The clearance section, my dear...

About Kmart.com

Like your local Kmart store, Kmart's Online Store features all sorts of general products, ranging from digital cameras all the way to Joe Boxer brand underwear. To purchase a product from Kmart.com, new users must first become a member; requires you to fill out your usual billing information form. Please note that you must have a major credit card or a Kmart gift card to finalize a purchase here.


Navigation:

Kmart.com is a fairly large online store, so good formatting is very important. Other than some links that simply don’t work, Kmart has successfully made shopping at their online store very user friendly. Kmart.com offers ten main categories on their home page (jewelry, Apparel, For the home, Electronics, Health and beauty, Sports, Toys, Baby & Kids, and recently a link to Sears' online store has been added. These category choices all get divided into sub-categories making for easy shopping. If you have any problems finding a product you can always use Kmart’s excellent search engine.

Selection:

The selection at Kmart online store (in most categories) is pretty good. Some categories,, however, can be downright skimpy. For example, the clearance section is nearly vacant, as is the skin care section. Since I only use Kmart.com to browse its clearance section, it's somewhat disgruntling to see much a scant selection. When it comes to name brands, Kmart Online Store features most brands that you would find at their retail stores, i.e. Martha Stewart, Route 66, Joe Boxer, and hundreds of non dealer brands as well.

Prices:

Most of the prices on products from Kmart.com are decent, but certainly not comparable to the low prices you can find at Wal-Mart’s online store. As you might expect, the absolute best prices at this store can be found in the clearance section, where some products can be as much as 80% off retail. My Casio calculator was only $19.99 or nearly 70% off of retail! As for the non-clearance items, I have never been able to find a product at Kmart.com where the prices have been able to beat Wal-Mart’s roll back price tags.

Shipping:

While free shipping would naturally be the best shipping method, Kmart.com offers fair shipping rates. Kmart bases its shipping rates on the weight and shape of an item, so you never get overcharged for shipping. Kmart takes great pride in not overcharging for shipping, which is great since some online companies will charge more for shipping that the cost of the actual product. I paid just under six dollars in shipping costs for my calculator using ground; Kmart definitely didn't make any money off of my order with its shipping costs. Even heavy items have relatively low base shipping rates, i.e. heavy TV sets usually will only set you back around 15 bucks for base shipping.


Return Policy:

Kmart.com has a wonderful return policy. If you are not happy with your order, Kmart offers a 90 day window period where you can simply mail your order back using the pre-paid label for a full refund (minus shipping), or you can return it for cash or exchange at your local Kmart.

Customer Service:

I received my online receipt just a few hours after placing my order along with a tracking number. If you do have nay problems with your order, Kmart offers a toll free number that is open 6am-10pm or the option to e-mail their customer service department.

Arrival Time:

Kmart Online Store was extremely quick at delivering my order. I received my Casio FX in just 7 days using Kmart's consolidated ground shipping, which was about half the time Kmart claimed I would have to wait; not too shabby. If two weeks sounds too long to wait for your product to arrive, you can always go with regular ground shipping or express shipping at an extra charge. Note: Kmart does not ship outside of the continental United States.

Final Words:

I was very pessimistic at first, but I ended up being very satisfied with my shopping experience at Kmart Online Store. Kmart Online Store is simple to use, offers fast shipping, and a clearance section where it’s possible to find an amazing deal. So why am I only giving this store 3 stars? Well, the prices on most items simply can’t compete with the low prices of leading online stores i.e. Wal-Mart. That said, I do recommend checking out Kmart’s clearance section, but for general low prices there are simply better stores out there.

Thanks for reading!