Kohl’s Under Fire for ‘Sneaky’ Check Out Design

(KMDL-FM) Is it possible? Are we about to be mad at Kohl's Mom? That character, Kohl's mom, is portrayed by actress Ellie Kemper. She's supposed to be "the mom" with all the answers to every question that any Kohl's shopper could ever have. Apparently, except one. That one question? Why did you design the checkout aisles at Kohl's the way you've designed them?

Joe Raedle, Getty Images

I am supposing at this moment you are reflecting on your own personal experience as a Kohl's shopper. Do you recall the twists and turns and funneling of other shoppers through a very specific path that led you to the checkstand so you could pay for your items?

Louisiana has seven Kohl's Department Stores. You can find them in Baton Rouge, Covington, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport, Slidell, and Lafayette. The seven Louisiana stores are part of the chain's more than 1,100 locations across the country

Kohl's Under Fire For Checkout Line Design - Is It Fair?

Did you happen to pick up any of those items that were on display between the time you entered the checkout line and the time you reached the place where you handed over your money? Of course you did. And that's exactly what Kohl's planned for you to do and exactly the reason that many shoppers are now calling out the brand for leaning a little too hard into the concept of impulse buys.

Impulse buys are those items we put in our carts or baskets without really thinking about them. The candy aisle at the grocery store is a great example of an impulse buy. But at Kohl's, they are taking the impulse activation gene to a whole new level.

What Other Stores Are Guilty of Impulse Buy Baiting?

Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Okay, Kohl's isn't the only store that does this. But have you ever wondered why you have to wander so deep into a Kohl's store to return an Amazon item? They want you to look around, see if there isn't something else you might need besides that one thing that you didn't need from Amazon.

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A Reddit thread evolved on the subject of Kohl's and impulse buys; it was determined that other retailers who go above and beyond the execution of impulse buy interaction were Old Navy, Ace Hardware, Five Below, World Market, TJ Maxx, Michael's, and even McDonald's.

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Perhaps the problem isn't with the retailer; it's more of a problem with the shopper. I guess if we learn to control our impulses, then we'll learn to control our money. But what fun in life is that? Now, if you really want to have some fun and throw caution to the wind, meet us here.