Kohl’s is one of the largest clothing retailers in the United States and has over 1,100 stores on the US mainland, as well as a successful eCommerce business model. Many of the US expats and seasonal tourists I’ve met in Canada have asked me, “Does Kohl’s ship to Canada?”
Unfortunately, Kohl’s does NOT ship to Canada. The brand has always been a US-based retailer and has no plans to expand internationally.
However, if you’re set on getting Kohl’s shipped to Canada, there is a way. Below, I’ll show you how to use a package forwarding service to get Kohl’s shipped to Canada and explain whether or not it’s worth it.
Does Kohl’s Ship To Canada? Here’s Why Not
Having shopped at Kohl’s in the US myself, I get why people like the store. The selection is good, and there are always deals. The retailer carries top brands, such as:
- Nike
- Reebok
- Adidas
- Vera Wang
- … and more
I’ve always been particularly impressed with Kohl’s selection of affordable, high-quality dress wear. From casual blazers to sharp business attire, Kohl’s is a great place to buy a suit… if you’re in the United States.
If you live in a border city like Windsor, ON, you simply need to drive across the border, shop in person, and bring home your spoils.
However, Canadians who don’t live close to the US border are out of luck.
Based on an official statement, Kohl’s does NOT (nor has it ever) shipped to Canada.
Trust me – you’re not the only person who’s upset with the answer. If you’re wondering why, here are some of the main reasons why Kohl’s doesn’t ship to Canada.
International Shipping Times
One of the main reasons why Kohl’s doesn’t ship internationally is that it doesn’t want to deal with shipping and customer service headaches. Today, an eCommerce store’s customer service ratings heavily depend on the brand’s ability to deliver products to customers quickly.
Unfortunately, international shipping is rarely ever quick.
Brands like Brandy Melville and Zappos experienced similar hiccups when trying to ship their products from the US to Canada. The company may try to promise two-week shipping only for the package to get held up in customs, delaying it for another few weeks.
This tends to be a bad look for the retailer and can cause a host of customer service complaints.
Brand Distribution Deals In The US
Kohl’s doesn’t manufacture or sell its own name-brand clothing. Kohl’s is merely a retailer for major clothing brands. As such, Kohl’s has to follow certain rules regarding where and how it can sell its products. Major brands like Nike don’t want to cause too much friction and competition in a given area.
For example, Nike could have a deal with a major Canadian clothing retailer. Part of that deal could state that Nike won’t supply other major retailers within a given number of miles.
Brand distribution deals can be complicated and involve huge legal consequences if ignored. This is likely the single biggest reason why Kohl’s doesn’t ship to Canada.
Package Forwarding: Your Key To Getting Kohl’s To Ship To Canada
While Kohl’s doesn’t ship direct to Canada, the retailer has no problems shipping your order to an address in the United States. After it arrives at the US address, Kohl’s doesn’t care where the package goes.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a second home in the US?
Thankfully, you don’t have to.
How Does Package Forwarding Work?
When you sign up for a package forwarding service, you’ll be given a virtual address at the US-based shipping facility. This is very similar to a post office box and can be used to receive orders from nearly any major US retailer.
When you’re checking out online, you just need to provide your virtual address as the shipping address instead of your home address in Canada.
Once the package forwarding service receives your package, they will then forward it to your Canadian address. As easy and convenient as this sounds, there is a bit of a catch – package forwarding across the US-Canadian border can be expensive.
How Long Does Kohl’s Take To Ship To Canada?
If you’re using a package forwarding service to get your Kohl’s order shipped to Canada, it can easily take between two and five weeks to receive your order.
First, you have to account for the amount of time that it will take for your order to be shipped from the Kohl’s distribution centre to your virtual mailbox. This usually takes three to five days unless you pay extra for expedited shipping.
Once your package forwarder receives the package, you’ll have to make a request for your package to be shipped internationally across the Canadian border to your home. This is the part that can take a long time.
Some package forwarders offer expedited shipping, which guarantees your package to arrive in less than two or three weeks (at a hefty cost). The cheapest (and slowest) shipping option can take up to six weeks or more to arrive, though.
All in all, expect to wait an average of a month for your Kohl’s order to get shipped from the US to Canada.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship Kohl’s To Canada?
The cost of using a package forwarding service is also something you’ll need to consider. When shopping for Kohl’s in Canada, you’ll have to pay for shipping twice.
The first time you’ll pay is when you ship your order from Kohl’s to your virtual mailbox. The second time you pay is to ship your order from the package forwarder to your home in Canada.
Shipping from Kohl’s to your forwarding service shouldn’t be too expensive and should be less than $10. Sometimes, Kohl’s even offers free or reduced shipping as a promotion.
Forwarding your package from the virtual address to your personal address is the expensive part. Depending on the forwarding company you use, expect to pay at least $25 for slower shipping options and up to $150 for expedited shipping.
How To Get Kohl’s Shipped To Canada: 5 Simple Steps
Most of the people I explain this method to give up once they hear how much time and money is required to get Kohl’s shipped to Canada. If you’re set on going through with it, though, here’s a quick five-step guide on how to make it happen.
Step 1: Obtain Your Virtual Address
Before you start shopping online with Kohl’s, you’ll need to have a package forwarding service picked out. PlanetExpress is a big one in Canada. Some of the other top-rated forwarders that ship to Canada include:
- MyUSaddress
- CrossBorder Pickups
- Fishisfast
- Global Shopaholics
You can see a full list here.
Once you set up your account with your chosen package forwarder, you’ll be given a virtual address that you can use to ship packages to.
Step 2: Connect To A US-Based IP Address
Before you fill your cart up, there’s one more step you’ll need to complete. To access the full US-based Kohl’s online store, you’ll need to mask your device’s IP address to make it appear as if you’re located in the United States instead of Canada.
This can be easily accomplished by using a VPN service like ExpressVPN. You may also find luck using a free or low-cost proxy service that can mask your IP address. Proxies work very similarly to VPNs, but don’t have quite as many security features and encryption protocols.
Once you download your proxy or VPN, you’ll need to connect to a US-based IP address. This will “trick” the Kohl’s website into thinking that you’re a US customer.
If you’re worried about ethics – don’t be. Kohl’s customer service actually recommends that international shoppers mask their IP addresses.
Step 3: Shop Online With Kohl’s
Now that you’re all set up, you should be able to access the full Kohl’s online store and start shopping online as you normally would. Add as many items to your cart as you want. Just keep in mind that the final weight of your order could result in additional shipping charges.
Step 4: Ship Your Order To Your Virtual Address
When checking out on Kohl’s site, you’ll need to enter the virtual address (provided by the package forwarder) as the shipping address. Aside from this minor change, you should be able to enter your Canadian address as the billing address to ensure that your card is processed correctly.
Step 5: Ship Your Kohl’s Order To Canada
Once the package forwarding warehouse receives your Kohl’s package, you’ll be notified and given the option to choose between several shipping options to receive your package in Canada. Once your order is shipped, you’ll be given a tracking number so you can monitor its progress.
Conclusion – Should I Get Kohl’s Shipped To Canada?
Speaking from experience, using a package forwarding service can be rather expensive. The lengthy shipping times and hefty international shipping fees simply aren’t worth it for me.
I’d rather shop locally to save some money and have less of a hassle.
To learn more about tax-free savings accounts and how they can be used as investment vehicles, read my complete breakdown of TFSA vs RRSP accounts next!
Just before Covid, if Canadians ordered from Kohls they needed a credit card with an American billing address. Has this changed?