If you think Kohl's upcoming partnerships with Amazon.com are akin to bringing the fox into retail's henhouse, you're thinking in an outdated way, according to Kohl's incoming CEO.

Maria Butt's Long Island apartment is stacked with items she wishes she hadn't bought online but never quite got around to sending back: carpet pads, GoPro accessories, Alexander Wang sneakers and a case of lemon madeleines that "did NOT taste good."

Amazon has taken another step toward consolidating control over the process that leads goods from the warehouse floor directly to the doors of its customers.