Kmart

For 8 years, my Samsung S85 digital camera has been a workhorse. It is simple to use and (for the most part) it took clear pictures. Then one day, I was taking a picture of a Christmas tree when I tripped on an uneven sidewalk. My favorite camera broke. I got it repaired, but even so, it eventually stopped working. I was devastated. I went to Kmart to find a replacement for the camera (I know that they have Smartphones, iPhones, etc. with cameras built in, but I’m used to holding a camera the conventional way. I like old school cameras).
There weren’t that many cameras in the electronics section. I spotted a Kodak digital camera that costs $ 80. It had 16 megapixels and a 5 zoom. I was impressed. I bought the camera, as well as the 2 year warranty (which costs an extra $ 15).
When I got home, I gave the camera a test run. The pictures were clear. HOWEVER, the flash wouldn’t turn off. When I tried to take a picture with the flash off, the camera emitted a red light. That is a major problem. Imagine if I was at a museum, I took a picture, and a big ass red beam came from my camera…
The next day, I headed back to Kmart to return the camera. Much to my chagrin, the same guy who sold me the camera was working during that shift. However, he was cool about it. I simply explained that the camera wasn’t practical for me. He gave me a refund. Granted, the process took 20 minutes, but neither he nor his coworkers gave me a hard time.
Besides this experience, I’ve been to this Kmart a few other times. They basically have the same stuff that you’d find at Target. Like many people said, the checkout line is ridiculously long. There have been many instances in which I nearly missed the LIRR because of the line. Nevertheless, that’s not really their fault. It’s Midtown Manhattan and it’s in a major transportation hub– of course it’s going to be busy.

Poor customer service. And there’s never an associate available or they’re running from customers as I see them, trying to avoid helping customers.

Location and size: It’s 3 levels and surprisingly it’s quite huge on the inside with it being in Penn Station on the first two levels. Makes for a great way to kill time while waiting on your train.
Décor: The top level is the most visually appealing. That’s the main clothing area so it will look the best. As you get to lower levels it starts looking not as bright and polished. The exception to that would be the shoe and homewares section on the middle level. The lower level towards the back is the least appealing to look at.
Cashwrap: Sometimes is severely understaffed. Also running back and forth between top floor and bottom floor looking for the shortest line sucks. Cashiers could also do with some morale boosting. They all look so unhappy whenever I come across them.
Escalators: Sometimes they’re all working, sometimes they’re all off. Other times you may have one side working on all level or just one level. It really varies. They do have an elevator but I’ve never bothered to use it.
All in all, it’s not the worst but it’s not the best. It needs updating on the concourse levels. Some of the items can be overpriced and it’s clearly because of where it’s located. But if you look hard enough, you can get some real steals here.

I gave two stars because it is rather large and has a good variety of items.
Otherwise it would be one. They are infamous for understaffing. Their checkout lines can take up to 45 minutes and their online pickup counter can take an hour, even if there is no one else in front of you. In the time it takes for them to track down where they kept my item on hold, I could have just went over and grabbed it myself.
Some employees are friendly enough, but a majority are just nasty and visibly hate working there (a fault of KMart I’m sure and not their own).

Zero stars. Stopped in during my lunch break for a file folder for work since it is close to my office. Waited in a checkout line for 30 minutes with probably about 50 other people. Only 5 cashiers ringing when there were 16 registers! The cashiers were moving at a lethargic pace and clearly didn’t know what they were doing. I was finally rung out and tossed my receipt in the trash can as I left. The guard at the door then asked to see my receipt after he saw me throw it away and would not let me leave the store until I showed it to him. He then made me retrieve the receipt out of the distrusting trash can. Omg I will never step foot in a Kmart again.

A good place to browse if you need to kill some time before you train at penn station.
I’m usually only in the LIRR level where you can find their electronics, food items, toiletries, toys, cleansing supplies, pet supplies, luggages, workout equipment, etc! There is a decent selection of items and you can usually find what you need yoi less it is something very very specific.
The lines are usually ridiculous to check out which many a times has made me put back items because I didn’t want to wait. There is an «express» line if you walk to the front of the LIRR level w the beer fridges I guess you can call it their mini store that is across from their pharmacy.

Don’t even think of going to the electronics department and expect even the most minimal level courtesy.
They absolutely positively could care less weather not you made a purchase and are sarcastic to the point of really being blatantly rude.
The atmosphere of the store is pretty horrendous. You’ll find very horrible displays and never expect to find anything that’s in the sale circular in fact they don’t even have one in the entire store anywhere and no one and I repeat no one in the store actually knows what a sales circular is it’s quite amazing that they’ve been able to stay in business all these years but it’s there fantastic location.
Unless you have to make a purchase for some reason right then and there try to avoid this store.
You are pretty much are assured a miserable experience. As all the other reviewers have pointed out the check out is the very worst part of this store.

This is the store from hell
I am too frustrated right now to go into detail
I had problems with them a year ago and I said I woiuld never shop there again, especially on line…
Foolishly I broke this vow and thought I might have better luck this time.
Guess not. Worse than last time.
I have had to deal with the rudest people, in person (they were supposed to give me a teakettle at the store I had ordered online and they refused to even though when I had called on the phone earlier they told me to just come to the store and everything would be OK).
These people are all either incredibly inept or nasty.
Today after I got home I called KMarft’s service number and got put on hold and after 15 minutes i gave up.
I then used the call up service provided by the email I had received and got a man who knew nothing and transferred me to someone else who listened to me and the connection went dead.
I can’t believe all this is for real.

I thought NYC was all about being linguistically challenged and in a rush, not about waiting for 10 minutes as the cashier fumbles while trying to assist all the upstanding gentlemen who buy as many XL cans of beer as they can carry.

This location is a lot bigger than then cooper location so you’ll almost always find what you want but the size of this store is so huge that it sometimes gets overwhelming and causes me to dread coming here.
If you’re looking for something, you’ll definitely find a staff member in one of the aisles within 20 – 30 feet.

The only reason I stepped in was because I was looking for water and a monster. I found it but damn, 25 minutes waiting in line really? 6 employees living it up in the check out section having a blast ignoring the line.

Walked in to grab a bottled water and there were about 5 people ahead of me, and 4 registers opened so I thought should be too much of a wait. Little did I know that the staff was super slow having conversations amongst themselves just cracking up as the line only got longer the wait was rediculous and the cashiers seemed to be less than happy to be there, no hi sorry for the wait or nothing… customer service 1−0−1 greet your customer! They get 2 stars because it’s a nice kmart with things well organized and displayed.

I have been wandering in here for a good hour and a half, trying to find the way out. Can’t you guys put up some exit signs or arrows on the floor or something?
Also, please stop interrupting the store music channel with announcements. I was just werking it out to the Jackson 5, doing a soul train line down the home improvement aisle when you interrupted with an announcement right in the middle of the chorus to ABC. This happens constantly during the best songs and is very annoying.

This store needs to die. Target needs to take this mess and do something good. hell, even WalMart would be a better option. Beyond being dirty and messy, the cashiers are extremely slow, which is unforgivable for a store like this, especially one in a major transportation hub like Penn Station. I shouldn’t have to wait on line over 15 minutes just to buy a little bit of food for my baby… which I wasn’t able to do. I had to leave my items behind so I wouldn’t miss my train because the cashiers were just taking their time like they didn’t have a care in the world. die, KMart, DIE

I dont go to kmart alot but since this is right near penn station why not pick up a few basic needs… Kmart Has almost everything target has and more. but so.sooo many people… it’s always cowered… Opens early closes late… three floors… good amount of cashiers… but the staff can be extremely slow… prices are somewhat reasonable…

I often stop at this Kmart because it’s convenient. When I get off NY Penn station from NJT I can go into it from lower level without going outside.
There’s always a good selection of seasonal items. The lines to check out go pretty fast on lower level.

The only good thing about this Kmart is it’s proximity to Herald Square and Penn Station. What commuter doesn’t like the ability to make a quick buy of household goods, random electronics, or camping gear while waiting for his/​her train (LIRR/(sc)AmTrak, NJ Transit) to board?
Well, look elsewhere. I’ve stopped at this Kmart on many occasions (the last time for a warm hat since it was like Hoth outside) and left empty handed each time — even though this place technically had three floors.
The store is almost always a disaster. The staff is dispersed in such a way through out that will not be of any use to you. The check out area, especially on the Penn Station level, is worse than the DMV.
«Please step down to register number 15.»
If you are brave enough to try and buy something, you must be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes on the winding line. This is true even with 10 registers open.
If you’re really in a rush to catch a train but really need some household items, head over toward 7^th Ave. There’s a Duane Reade there that is much more organized that recognizes the necessity of speedy service in a train station.

Conveniently located
The Walmart Super center of New York

I’m originally from Texas, where, as we all know, everything is better.
(Yeah yeah, everything is bigger, but it’s common knowledge that bigger is better, so I just made that leap for you. You’re welcome.)
Anyway, in Texas, we have Mega Wal-​Marts and Mega K-​Marts and Mega Sam’s Clubs and Mega Targets, and even the grocery stores are supercenters. Needless to say, I really like one-​stop shopping.
Moving to Manhattan, though, you give up supercenters. You have to go to different places for different things. Nothing’s all-​in-​one, and if it is, it’s not huge. Sniffle.
…Enter Midtown K-​Mart! It has anything you need. It’s a great place in a convenient location to stop in for something quick. The employees are super unprofessional, but hey. They work at K-​Mart. And you’re only interacting with them for a minute while you check out.
I worked across the street from here for a year, and it was always nice to know I could do my household shopping on my lunch break.

If you’re waiting to catch your train, and want to kill some time by looking at messy, disorganized shelves with rude employees and no significant sales, then definitely come here.
The underground entrance is in the LIRR section of Penn Station.