Rewards Terms & Conditions

Kao USA Inc. ("Kao USA") – My Kao Rewards

Loyalty Rewards Program

Updated: October 2023

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: BY REVIEWING THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, CHECKING THE "I AGREE" BOX ON THE REGISTRATION PAGE AND PARTICIPATING, YOU AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MY KAO REWARDS LOYALTY PROGRAM.  THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE A BINDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND KAO USA AND WILL GOVERN YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AND ALL PROGRAM OFFERS.

Overview

These are the Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) of the Kao USA My Kao Rewards Loyalty Program (“Program”). Upon enrollment in the Program, you become a member ("Member") of the Program and will earn points on Qualifying Purchases (defined below) at mykaoshop.com and through other means as described herein. So long as you remain a Member, accumulated points will entitle you to receive reward redeemable on mykaoshop.com (“Rewards” or “Reward”)).

The following Terms are specific to the Program and apply if you become a Member.  In addition, Members consent to the Kao USA MyKaoShop Terms of Use and Privacy Policy (both of which are incorporated herein by reference).  These Terms, the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy govern participation in the Program and Kao USA’s use of personal information provided under the Program. Your consent to the Program is subject to these Terms, including the Informal Dispute Resolution provision, Arbitration Agreement, and jury trial and class action waivers below. In the event and to the extent of any conflict between these Terms and the Terms of Use and/or the Privacy Policy, these Terms will govern. Anyone not agreeing with these Terms should not participate in the Program.

Kao USA reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time, without notice to you, so it is important to check the Terms periodically.  Participation in the Program and/or redemption of reward points is considered acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and any modified terms included therein.  Kao USA may, in its sole and absolute discretion, cancel, change, suspend or modify any aspect of the Program, points and/or any reward at any time, including the availability of any reward, without notice. Member's continued participation in the Program constitutes his or her assent to any changes to these Terms and Conditions.

Who Is Eligible?

Program enrollment is only open to residents of the continental U.S. age 18 and older. The Program is provided to individuals only. Corporations, associations or other groups may not participate in the Program. It is fraudulent for any individual or company, association, or group to direct, encourage, or allow individuals to use a single account for the purpose of accumulating points for combined use.

How to Enroll

It is free and optional to become a Member by providing the required information at mykaoshop.com. Upon sign up, you will receive an email confirming your Membership.

Earning Points

Create an Account

Earn 50 points upon enrollment in the Program and the creation of your My Kao Rewards loyalty account.  This is a one-time reward, rewarded upon the creation of your Membership.

Purchases at MyKaoShop.com

Earn one point for every dollar spent when purchasing a product at mykaoshop.com (a “Qualifying Purchase”) when you sign into your online account using the email address tied to your Membership. Only one (1) Membership number per transaction can be used to earn points.  Points will be awarded upon shipment of the Qualifying Purchase.

You earn points on all Qualifying Purchases for personal use, including for gift giving.  You will not earn points on amounts for sales tax, state fees, packaging fees, shipping & handling or delivery charges, and any amount paid using a gift card, merchandise credit, mail certificate, gift certificate, credit voucher, refund check, or any other type of coupon. You will not earn points for any coupon or discounts, or the value of any Reward applied to your purchase.

First Purchase

Earn an additional 50 points for your first purchase made following the creation of your new MyKaoShop.com  account.  Purchases must be made at mykaoshop.com while logged in to your Membership account.  This is a one-time reward.  Points will be awarded upon completion of payment for the Qualifying Purchase.

Refer a Friend

With your friend’s consent, provide a friend’s email address under the “Give Rewards, Get Rewards” prompt. Your friend will be emailed a code for $10 off a $35 purchase (cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions).  If your friend makes a qualifying purchase of $35 or more using this code, you will receive 200 points.

Your friend’s name and email will be shared Yopto, a vendor for Kao USA, solely for purposes of generating and maintaining the coupon code described above.  Yopto may be contacted by contacting Kao Consumer Care, at (866) 628-9997.

A maximum of 10,000 points may be earned each calendar month and a maximum of 120,000 points may be earned each calendar year by each Member. Points are initially granted in a pending status.  Points will be eligible to convert to a redeemable Reward if you have at least 100 active points. 

The Program may identify additional opportunities for you to earn points from time to time, in its discretion.  If you do not make a purchase or earn points for a period of 12 months, you will be considered a dormant user, and your points and rewards will return to zero.

Rewards

If you have at least 100 active points, active points may be deducted from the Membership point balance and be converted into a redeemable Reward as follows:

  • 100 points = a $5  Reward.
  • 200 points = a $10 Reward.
  • 300 points = a $15 Reward.

Once points have been converted into a Reward, they cannot be converted back into points, even if the Reward  is never redeemed or expires. Only one Reward may be used per transaction.

Points are not redeemable for cash. Points and Rewards may be taxable, depending on the value of the item and the federal, state, and local tax laws applicable to Member.  Members are solely responsible for reporting such items on their tax returns and paying any associated tax liability.

Redeeming Rewards

Rewards are valid only in the continental U.S. and can be redeemed only at mykaoshop.com. If you do not make a purchase or earn points for a period of 12 months, you will be considered a dormant user, and your points and rewards will return to zero. One time use only. Rewards have no cash value. Rewards may only be used to purchase merchandise of equal or greater value than the Reward. Rewards code must be entered at online checkout and the Member must be logged into their Membership account to which the Reward Certificate was issued. If you return merchandise purchased with Rewards, then the dollar value of the Reward allocated to the item(s) returned will be converted to points and credited to your Membership account. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or expired Rewards. Rewards cannot be applied to previous purchases and are non-transferrable and not for resale.

General Terms of Program

Limit 1 Program Membership per person, email address and phone number. If there is a dispute regarding ownership of the email address or phone number used to enroll in the Program, the owner will be deemed to be the natural person who is assigned to the submitted email address or phone number by a phone company, an internet provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning phone numbers or email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. Member is responsible for providing correct email address and phone number, as well as updating email address and phone number used in the Program should either change.

The Program sends transactional emails related to Membership including but not limited to the following: welcome email; recurring Membership status statements and/or updates; issuance of Rewards earned; reminder of upcoming expiration of earned Rewards; etc. If you do not wish to receive these transactional emails, you must cancel your Membership. These transactional emails will be in addition to any brand marketing emails you may receive.

By enrolling in the Program, you will also be signed up to receive marketing emails from the brand in which you initiated enrollment into the Program. To stop receiving marketing emails, click on the self-service unsubscribe link found in the footer of any marketing email, or follow the instructions in the Privacy Policy. 

To cancel a Membership, please call please call Consumer Care at (866) 628-9997 or contact us here.

Please note that the hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm ET.

When you return products, points previously credited for those products at the time of purchase will be deducted from the point balance at the time of return. If your point balance is insufficient to cover a deduction related to a return, your point balance may go into the negative. Subsequent points earned will first be applied to reduce that negative balance. Kao USA may in its discretion suspend Membership accounts with a negative balance at any time. If your account is suspended, you may seek re-instatement by contacting Customer Service at the number provided above; Kao USA may grant or deny reinstatement in its discretion.

Points and Rewards have no cash value, are for promotional purposes only, expire as indicated, cannot be combined among Members, are not transferable to anyone else or any other Membership in any capacity for any reason, and may only be used by you for your personal use. Any attempt to combine or transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of points or Rewards in any manner in violation or attempted subversion of these Terms and Conditions will result in disqualification from the Program and forfeiture of all Points in the involved Members’ accounts.  Kao USA reserves the right to take any other or additional action it deems appropriate in its sole discretion in the event that Kao USA believes, in its sole discretion, that a Member or Members have violated any of these provisions.  Sponsor reserves the right to adjudicate all points discrepancies in its sole discretion, and Members agree to abide with any such adjudication.

Returns of gifts you received but for which you were not the original purchaser or return of items purchased without noting your Membership, will not be tied back to your Membership for return credit of any associated points. In a return transaction where Reward(s) was used to reduce the total amount paid, you are entitled to a refund for any amount actually paid and will not be entitled to a refund of the amount of the Rewards.

Kao USA reserves in its sole discretion the right to remove earned points or issued Rewards from any Membership, as well as prevent from enrolling in, suspend, and/or remove from the Program, any Member for any reason, including suspected re-sellers and/or wholesales, or in the event of any suspected fraud, abuse, or misuse in connection with this Program.

Kao USA reserves the right to change, suspend, or terminate the Program or any of its associated Terms (including terms regarding earning points and/or Rewards) at any time and in any manner with or without notice. Any subsequent Terms supersede prior versions. Any unused points or unredeemed Rewards are forfeited if Membership is cancelled, terminated, or otherwise closed, or upon Program termination.

NO WARRANTY

Kao USA, its respective subsidiaries, divisions, and affiliate entities, along with each such company’s respective officers, directors, employees, and agents make no warranty, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Program or any products or services related to the Program.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY

By agreeing to participate in the Program, you release Kao USA, its parent and subsidiaries and affiliate entities, reward suppliers, advertising and promotional agencies, and their respective, directors, officers, employees, and agents (the “Released Parties”) from all liability with respect to the Program, the use or misuse of points or any Rewards, or the use of any Rewards by an individual other than the Member to whom the Reward  was issued. By participating in the Program, you hereby release the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and other expenses (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees) relating to participation in the Program, use of the Program and its benefits, and/or these Terms.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS OR HARM TO BUSINESS OR REPUTATION, ARISING OUT OF MEMBERS' PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM, POSTING ON OR ACCESS AND/OR DOWNLOAD OF ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION FROM ANY WEB SITE OWNED, OPERATED OR CONTROLLED BY ANY RELEASED PARTY, THE PROGRAM OR REWARDS OFFERED THROUGH THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DAMAGES FOR BODILY OR PERSONAL INJURY, EVEN IF THE RELEASED PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGES. MEMBER AGREES THAT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES ARISING OUT OF ANY KIND OF CLAIM (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL NOT EXCEED $10.00.

Released Parties are not responsible and shall have no liability for lost, late, incomplete, misdirected, or undeliverable e-mail, or registrations, unique code submissions, or for any computer, programming, telephone, satellite, cable, network, electronic or Internet hardware or software malfunctions, failures, connections, or availability, or garbled, corrupt or jumbled transmissions, service provider/Internet/Web site/use net accessibility, availability, or traffic congestion, or any technical error, or unauthorized human intervention, or the incorrect or inaccurate capture of registration information, unique codes, or the failure to capture, or loss of, any such information. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions implies any employment or joint venture relationship between Kao USA and Member. Member shall not receive nor be entitled to a salary or any other benefits or privileges Sponsor provides to its employees.

TERMINATION

Kao USA may, in its sole and absolute discretion, cancel, change, suspend, or modify any aspect of the Program, at any time without notice.  Kao USA may, in its sole and absolute discretion, terminate or suspend any Member’s participation in the Program for breach of these Terms and Conditions, or for taking any actions that are inconsistent with the intent of these Terms and Conditions.  Kao USA reserves the right at its sole discretion to prohibit any Member from participating in any aspect of the Program if Kao USA deems or suspects that such Member has engaged in or has attempted to engage in any of the following: (a) acting in violation of these Terms and Conditions; or (b) damaging, tampering with or corrupting the operation of the Program; or (c) acting with intent to annoy, harass or abuse any other person or Member; or (d) any inappropriate, uncooperative, disruptive, fraudulent, potentially fraudulent, or unusual behavior or activity; or (e) activity deemed in the sole discretion of Kao USA to be generally inconsistent with the intended operation of the Program.  Any decision Kao USA makes relating to termination or suspension of any Member’s participation in the Program shall be final and binding in all respects. Kao USA shall be the sole determiner in cases of suspected abuse, fraud, or breach of these Terms and Conditions or intent of these Terms and Conditions.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION AGREEMENT

Informal Dispute Resolution

You and Kao USA agree to the following dispute resolution procedure: In the event of any dispute arising out of or related to the Program ("Dispute"), the party asserting the Dispute must first try in good faith to settle such Dispute by providing written notice to the other party (by first class or registered mail) describing the facts and circumstances (including any relevant documentation) of the Dispute and allowing the receiving party 30 days in which to respond to or settle the Dispute. 

Notice must be sent:

  1. To: Kao Consumer Care
    Kao USA Inc.
    2535 Spring Grove Avenue
    Cincinnati, OH 45214

  2. To you at: your last-used billing address or the billing and/or shipping address in your online profile.

Both you and Kao USA agree that this dispute resolution procedure is a condition precedent which must be satisfied prior to initiating any arbitration or filing any claim against the other party.

Arbitration Agreement

To the extent you cannot resolve any Dispute through the informal dispute resolution procedure described above, a Dispute must be resolved through binding individual arbitration. You agree to give up your right to go to court to assert or defend your rights under this Arbitration Agreement and with respect to any Dispute. You and Kao USA expressly delegate to the arbitrator the authority to determine the arbitrability of any Dispute, including the scope, applicability, validity, and enforceability of this arbitration provision.

You may begin an arbitration proceeding by sending a letter requesting arbitration to Consumer Relations Dept, Kao USA Inc. 2535 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45214. You agree that the arbitration will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) pursuant to its Consumer Arbitration Rules (“AAA Rules”), as modified by this Arbitration Agreement. The AAA Rules are available on the AAA’s website www.adr.org, or by calling the AAA at (800) 778-7879. In the event the AAA is unavailable or unwilling to hear the Dispute, the parties shall agree to another arbitration provider. Payment of all filing, administration and arbitrator fees will be governed by the AAA’s applicable rules.  The arbitration shall be held in Cincinnati, Ohio or otherwise where agreed by Kao USA. 

In lieu of arbitration, either you or Kao USA may bring any individual claim in small claims court consistent with the jurisdictional and dollar limits that may apply, as long as it is brought and maintained as an individual claim.

Waiver of Right to Bring Class Actions and Representative Claims

All arbitrations must proceed on an individual basis. The arbitrator is empowered to resolve the Dispute with the same remedies available in court, however, any relief must be individualized to you and will not affect any other customer. You and Kao USA agree that each may bring claims against the other in arbitration only in your or Kao USA’s respective individual capacities and in so doing you and Kao USA hereby waive the right to a trial by jury, to assert or participate in a class action lawsuit or class action arbitration (either as a named-plaintiff or class member), and to assert or participate in any joint or consolidated lawsuit or joint or consolidated arbitration of any kind. If it is decided that applicable law precludes enforcement of any of this paragraph’s limitations as to a particular claim, then that claim (and only that claim) must proceed in court and be severed from any arbitration.

Other Terms

This Arbitration Agreement is governed by, and interpreted, construed, and enforced in accordance with, the Federal Arbitration Act. The terms of the Arbitration Agreement provisions will survive after this Agreement terminates or your use of the Program ends. Except as set forth above, if any portion of this Arbitration Agreement is deemed invalid or unenforceable, it will not invalidate the remaining portions of the Arbitration Agreement.

Termination

Except for the Arbitration Agreement, which will survive the termination of these Terms, these Terms are effective unless and until terminated by either you or Kao USA. You may terminate this Agreement at any time by cancelling your Membership. Kao USA also may terminate this Agreement at any time without notice, and accordingly may deny you access to the Program, if in Kao USA’s sole judgment you fail to comply with any term or provision of the Agreement. The obligations and liabilities of the parties incurred prior to the termination date will survive the termination of this Agreement for all purposes.

General

All Terms are applicable to the extent permitted by law.  Void where prohibited.

If, for any reason, the Program (in whole or in part) in the sole opinion of Kao USA is not capable of running as planned by reason of, but not limited to, infection by computer virus, worms, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which Kao USA, in its sole opinion deems could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Program, Kao USA may cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Program and/or proceed with the Program in a manner deemed by it, in its sole discretion to be fair, appropriate and consistent with the spirit of these Terms and Conditions. 

Kao USA reserves the right to terminate or temporarily suspend the Program at any time, for any reason, with or without notice, even though termination may affect Members' ability to accrue or use their Points.

These Terms shall be interpreted in accordance with Ohio law without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby. The waiver of any provision of the Terms must be made in writing and any such waiver will not be considered a waiver of any other provision or of Kao USA's right to require strict observance of each of the Terms herein. If any provision of the Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, that provision will be severable, and all other provisions will remain in full force and effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between us relating to your use of the Program.