Target Consumer Reviews - Page 6

SOMEWHERE, TEXAS -- THIS RELATES TO SALES FLOOR AND FRONT LANES. A TEAM LEAD is a supervisor. An EXEC is an Executive Team Lead. The only difference between them [that relates to this complaint] is that Team Leads clock in and out. Execs do not. A Supervisor is supposed to set an example for lower level team members. So, what kind of example is this? I am a team member. I've always wondered why it is that Team Leads and Execs get some ridiculous advantages over lower level team members, and I learned recently, that some of these advantages are not supposed to be happening.

Why is it that Team Leads and Execs can take a 45-minute break [that is supposed to last only 15 minutes], or hour-long lunches [that are only supposed to last 30 minutes (off the clock for team leads)], yet... lower level team members will get in trouble for accidentally taking 2 minutes extra [just an example, not always the case] on lunch.
I've witnessed Team Leads taking more than 7 smoke breaks lasting 20 minutes or so in a short 6-hour shift.

Common law in retail allows 2-4 five minute smoke breaks. Not to mention that when these Team Leads come in, they sit down in food avenue chatting with Execs about non-business related subjects, then yell at team members over their walkie talkies for chatting WHILE they WORK. And guess who ends up needing all the help after the store closes in their departments?? DING DING! It's the Team Leads who spent more time outside smoking and talking then in their department doing their job.

We also have quite a few Team Leads, and several "favoritized" team members who like to go out and get lunch for a select few people while ON THE CLOCK, then come back and clock out for 30+ minutes to chit-chat in the break room with others. I understand that Execs can do whatever they want because they are always considered "on the clock", but seeing Team Leads who, just like me, have to clock out for a 30-minute lunch if they work 6 hours or more, irritates me. I would be a lot more understanding of the situation if they were going for food for everyone.

But instead, what's going on is that the Execs and Team Leads will meet in clerical [away from their department, not doing their job, ON THE CLOCK] for 20 or so minutes to pick a restaurant and order. There isn't more than 25 team members in the whole store at night and even less than that during the day [not including backroom team members]. How hard would it be to find out if all team members would like some food from some restaurant? Why not at least give them the option? It's not like Target is paying for it!

I just don't know what to do anymore. But when it's all the supervisors doing the wrong, who is there to go to when others want it right? I love my job, but the unfair treatment and disrespect represented in the above is driving me away. I wish for myself to remain anonymous if any investigations are sent to the store in question.

ALBANY, NEW YORK -- Over this past holiday weekend, I was forced to stop into local retail chain Target to use their restrooms. I walked through the door and took an immediate left past the customer service desk towards the restroom. I entered the ladies room and entered one of the three stalls. Quite simply I could not believe my eyes at the disgusting mess that was waiting for me inside. I immediately recoiled and nearly gagged at the horrible sight inside this stall. I could not believe that Target would allow one of their restrooms to deteriorate to such a despicable, messy state.

I turned away and nearly ran back out of the restroom and located the manager standing near one of the cash register rows. I approached him and informed him of the completely unacceptable condition of the stall I attempted to use and requested immediate assistance so I could use their facilities.

The manager informed me that it would take a few moments to find a female associate to enter the restroom and attempt to remedy the situation and suggested that I attempt to use another stall. I told him after the sight that I observed after opening the first one, that it was completely inappropriate to the point of being offensive that he suggests I risk opening another of Target's disgusting ladies room doors.

It was at this point that the manager, despite being male, agreed to accompany me into the ladies room. I had to wait several moments for him to obtain a bucket and mop. After checking my watch several times, he returned and I reluctantly reentered the ladies room and opened the same stall door I had previously.

At first, he stood there in what appeared to me to be disbelief. After a moment he asked me what exactly the problem was. I was speechless! I walked over to the toilet and pointed to the urine sitting in the bowl and said "Isn't it obvious what the problem is?" The manager walked over and flushed the toilet for me while shaking his head and otherwise generally acting in a rude manner as I demanded that he wipe down the seat and the handle so that it would be suitable for the use by a lady.

Upon completion, the manager was about to leave the restroom with his sorry mop and bucket, but not before I suggested that he keep a much closer eye on the condition of the restrooms because not everyone would be as tolerating as I was about their condition.

As I was leaving the restroom and walking back out the door to my car (I had no intention of purchasing anything as I entered and certainly had no intention of purchasing anything after I entered their restroom) I saw the manager discussing our conversation with a female employee and both glanced in my direction as I thankfully left this sorry establishment. I am contemplating my next action, whether directly writing corporate headquarters or calling the district manager.

PLANO, TEXAS -- A co-worker and I just got back the location in Plano, TX. We were purchasing a specific item for a baby shower at the office. We called the store to ask them if the item was in stock, and when confirmed we let them know we would be on our way to pick it up. When we went to purchase the item, we noticed there was a $10 price difference than stated on the website, which for us was enough of a difference to matter. We asked the cashier, and she said exactly "Yeah, I think because they charge shipping or something. I dunno."

Since she didn't sound too sure, my co-worker asked if we could confirm with a manager, and she said "Well, you can talk to that guy.", and pointed to the male cashier next to her. Confused, we asked, "Is he a manager?". She replied, "Sort of. Well… He's more of a manager than I am." So when we asked the "sort of" manager (a.k.a. another cashier) what their policy stated on this, he said "Yeah, we don't match prices or anything like that. That's Walmart". My co-worker and I just sat there for a second, and said "Thank you, we'll go ahead and get it." We checked out and left confused and frustrated.

When I got back to the office, I called the customer service desk, gave them some details of what happened, and asked about the policy. While I was glad that they were able to provide a more solid answer that explained the policy, I was disappointed that they didn't apologize for the lack of response or assistance at the cashier's counter. I just think some things could have been done to handle this better:

1. When we called and stated that we were looking online and were about to come in, they could have let us know then that larger items are often priced differently online. That way we could have gathered the proper amount of money from our team before we left or considered a different item.

2. When we asked the cashier of the policy, it would have been nice for her to take the initiative herself to find out the details instead of appearing to guess at it.

3. When we asked for a manager, she could have either paged a manager, or she could have said, "I can grab a manager if it is necessary, but my associate here has been here longer and may know the details. Maybe he can help?"

4. Also, I was surprised that the employee made reference to Wal-Mart doing the price matching. First off, he came off condescending like we were the ones confused. Secondly, I really started wondering if we could go back the same product there at lower price due to the price matching policy. I also thought that he didn't know what we meant when he said"Price Matching". Price matching usually refers to a store matching an advertised price for a chain other than their own.

Overall, while I don't agree with the policy, it's not the policy itself that I was upset with. I was frustrated with absence of any customer service or help with the situation. I had to really work to find a solid answer, much less an apology for the inconvenience from anyone at the store. I hope they'll take notice to things like this, as sometimes the smallest bit of effort can make all the difference in a shopping experience.

PINEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA -- I regret having to write to you about an unpleasant experience I've had with your company. I prefer to contact a company only in praise of an employee or the company's actions. Unfortunately, my situation is such that it is necessary for me to forward a complaint to you. I want you to know that I have been a walking billboard for your company and many of your investors. I have never had one single negative comment concerning your store. I can easily provide documentation of thousands of dollars of receipts from my visits at multiple target stores. In the past, I had the attitude that you could do no wrong.

The following letter was written by the person who purchased a LCD Television for me. It was forwarded to the Charlotte NC Better business Bureau. I did this only after someone at your corporate office seemed not to care. I urge you to listen to your recordings for that day to verify my story and to make you aware of the lack service your guest services department (on a corporate level) recently gave to me and the person who purchased the merchandise. I am truly sorry for the length of this letter but I feel it necessary in light of the detail that you might need to investigate. Thank you for your time.

I purchased a flat panel TV as a Christmas gift (Trutech 19 Flat Panel 20" at $191.53) on 11/24/2006 which stopped working after an approximate 2.5 months of use. I returned the item to the store location with the receipt on April 20 4.5 months after purchase. Since the purchase was a Christmas gift, it was in the box unopened for over a month (waiting for Christmas morning.) The store refuses to handle the item in any way since the purchase was made more than 90 days ago. Target refuses to address it in any way except to refer me to the manufacturer warranty number on the paperwork.

90 days is not an acceptable period for determining proper function, esp when total time period of ownership includes the period of time that Target advertised the holiday sale and Christmas morning (one month lost.) The picture tube is completely bad by no fault of the purchaser. The store "assistant" manager, Letieisha, was rude and indifferent to my whole situation. She referred me to the manufacturer number in the booklet or the Target Customer Care Center. That associate on the 1-800 Customer Care number (called from the Target store) was short and his supervisor (Jerry) tried to convince me that their return policy has not recently changed (not true.)

He also advised that I can "call anybody in corporate I want because I'm going to get the same answer" and that he would not "sit there and argue with me about whether their return policies have changed." I was not argumentative in any way. To top it off, after Target continually advised me they only "warrant" their expensive electronics for 90 days and that I would have to deal with the manufacturer directly, the manufacture only offers a ninety-day warranty. Jerry (Customer Care supervisor) told me that I could have bought an extended warranty in the store because some stores are starting to offer extended warranties now.

I was never offered to purchase any kind of extended warranty. I think it's Target's and the manufacturer's duty to warrant the product for more than 90 days, esp the entire picture screen. My flat panel TV has completely failed providing about 90 days total use and I have nothing to show for the money I saved for several months to buy a family member a nice Christmas gift.

My Target customer care case number is ** and my receipt number is **. I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you can respond within 30 days, so that we are able to resolve this problem in a speedy fashion. You may contact ** at the information provided in the case number. My contact information is **.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA -- My name is Shannon, I'm 22, Caucasian and I live in South Minneapolis. I have several complaints regarding your location on Minnehaha Ave. in Minneapolis, MN. First, you need to either put all your employees through a mandatory customer service course or, if that is already a standard training class, you need to enforce it better. I have NEVER seen more rude, moody employees in one store in my life. To the point where one old cranky woman who was stationed at the fitting rooms made me feel bad for bothering her for a room.

The cashiers need to learn how to bag things properly as well. It's not enough just to put the cards in a smaller separate bag if you're just going to throw it in the big bag with everything else anyway. I had one gentleman actually throw all of my purchases on top of some rather easily crushable items, i.e. greeting cards, in the largest bag that Target carries. I had to send a wrinkled thank you card to my Grandmother, not to mention the trouble I had carrying such a large heavy bag by myself. They never smile, and in general tend to pretend you're not even there.

Another example: there were two young female employees that were running two of the check out lanes and it was a bit slow in the store so they were standing together talking. I was ready to check out and went up to them to see if they were open. First they didn't even look at me, so I had to initiate the conversation and ask if they were available.

They turned to me with a sneer like I was the rudest person in the world for interrupting their all important conversation and one of the women walked to her station leaving me to just assume that I was supposed to follow her to be checked out. She never said a single word to me, never looked at me besides that first initial glare, I said thank you and have a nice day and didn't get the smallest response.

As someone who has worked many customer service jobs in many different areas (i.e. phone center, restaurant/night club Hostess, server, retail, etc.), it's an important thing to me. And as you've read, I have had multiple bad experiences in your store and I consider that intolerable.

Second, your aforementioned location is ALWAYS horribly under stocked and it's ridiculous. It's not difficult enough to try to maneuver my way around old men in their motor carts and women with 5 screaming children running amok in the store to find what I want. Oh, no. No, half of the items that I'm looking to compare and possibly purchase aren't even there! It looks like a going out of business sale in some of the aisles, the way the shelves are so empty. People are obviously shopping at that location, and it boggles my mind to try to understand why you wouldn't stock it as well as you stock your Penn Avenue, Richfield location.

Also, trying to find jeans in a size that women actually wear is impossible at your store. I have no plans to ever attempt to buy jeans there ever again. Basically, you are sure to have sizes 0-6 and 13-27 or however high they go, but for the real sizes like 8-12? Never there. Never. I have attempted on several occasions to purchase jeans from your store and I have never found my size (size 10).

Once I even had to buy a pair that was too big for me out of sheer desperation. And your clothes are too expensive as well. I refuse to spend $19.99 on a shirt that is made out of cheap fabric, poorly sewn and will shrink the first time I wash it. I found an A-shirt style white tank top in the lady's section for $6.99. I went to the men's section and found the same style shirt in a 3 pack for something like $4.99. Men get 3 shirts for less than the price of one women's tank. Makes sense, doesn't it?

The only reason I continue to visit your store is the convenience factor. But now that you have stopped finding it important to stock the items that I and your other customers are in need of, I am at a loss for why I should continue to shop there. I go to your store to basically give you my money. My thank you for that is you letting your store be an under stocked pit with some of the rudest people I have ever met. On behalf of myself and the other residents of South Minneapolis, shape up. And let me know when you do because, until then, I will be taking my business elsewhere. Thank you.

GREAT FALLS, MONTANTA -- Yesterday evening I was standing in line next up to be checked out, Berta, the "front end supervisor" rudely stepped in front of me to shut off the light of the checker, telling me I was going to HAVE to move to the line next over because SHE was sending the young man for a carry out. I said to her that I was next to be checked out and that other line had a line, she then repeated LOUDER to me that I would have to go to the other line.

Now, let me give you what she should have said: Two options: Either wait for me to be checked out and then send the young man out, OR ask me to move over instead of basically moving me out of the way and TELLING me I need to move. OR maybe she could have rolled the cart out to the car for the customer herself since all of the checkers were busy.

OK, so now I'm irritated with her. This is not the first time she has overstepped her boundaries. I guess Target has a policy about children and carts... I completely understand if it is a problem with some customers to ask the parent politely to seat their child. I was STANDING STILL in LINE and she asked my CHILD to sit down!!! Don't we teach our children NOT to talk to strangers.. Speak to the parent not the child. OK, now let me finish last night...

After that Berta finds a credit card on the floor... she with INCREDIBLE RUDENESS asks my name? I may have overreacted BUT she has already turned me off with the bossyness of moving me to a different line.. so I asked her not to speak to me. She of course carried on her way VERY much into ME and what I was doing, her presence is just rude, she is snotty and absurd about the way she does things, and should NOT be treating customers this way.. to finalize things as I was walking out the door she was grumbling about me and said to me (very very loudly) "I am just doing my JOB!" I did tell her she was snotty, and she turned around and told me I was WORSE!!

Now, maybe true, but I am the customer and she had already stepped on my toes, she needed either to keep her mouth shut or take care of the situation very differently. The cashier that was helping me actually leaned over to make sure that I got a comment card, WITHOUT EVEN HAVING to ASK HIM. He actually said to me when I said that she needed to work on her politeness and she took her job a "bit" too seriously that he was not allowed to comment! He even knew she was in the wrong! Berta needs some more training or maybe to be moved to a different department like the stock room, where she doesn't have to treat the customers with her frustration.

DENTON/LEWISVILLE, TEXAS -- Two problems I encountered this holiday with Target. #1. My daughter received a pair of pants for Christmas from a relative. We did not have the receipt but it had the tags attached. I went to return the item and was informed that I had to present my driver license and can only return w/o receipt 2 times per year. I also could not get a gift card for the exchange even if it were for the lowest price of the item. I had to replace the item right then and there and I had to replace it with a item not only from the same department but it had to be in the 'girls clothing section only'. I asked if we could look in the belts, purses, or other accessories that is in that area and was told no.

We had to get a girl's clothing item only. I never heard of this from a store before. I was under the understanding that you could replace an item with any product in the store of equal value that was being allowed for your returned item. My daughter actually desired a Cd to replace the pants but was not allowed this. She looked around the girls clothing and did not like anything enough to justify giving up the pants to that particular store. We went back to the counter to retrieve the pants and go to another Target that might have a better selection.

At the next Target we were told basically the same thing with the exception that we could venture into the accessories and shoes department. Had the employee of the previous Target known the policy correctly we would have been spared an extra trip to another Target in another town. Regardless, I don't see the logic in leaving a bad taste in a consumer's mouth by making it unpleasant and difficult to make a return that is obviously legitimate. The money stays in the store anyway regardless of what department you're buying out of.

I don't shop Target because of a couple of bad experiences with them many years ago and I would not have been in their store if not for the Christmas gift return. This experience only reinforced my good decision of back in the day not to do business with Grinches.

#2. I purchased a Digital camera at a Thanksgiving sale ($99.00) from a Target in North Carolina where I had been visiting for the holiday with family. When I got back to my home in Texas the 1st of Dec. I opened the camera to use it. It took a couple of pictures and immediately began acting up. I returned it with my receipt to Target here at home and was informed they had had 4 of these cameras already returned for reasons of defect. They said they had no more and would issue me a credit.

The gal handed me a gift card. I asked her "why am I getting a gift card when I have my receipt". I used a credit card and it should have been charged back on it. She said that I did not specify that I wanted it to be put back on my credit card. I responded that first off she did not ask if I wanted a gift card and that I assumed she would know from the receipt that it would be credited back to my credit card. She said it was too late and there was nothing she could do.

I asked for a manager and a lady standing behind the employee came to the counter and had already overheard the conversation. She said "The transaction had been completed and it cannot be reversed, that I should have informed the employee that I wanted it credited back to my credit card." Since when did this scam begin I thought? They were forcing me to keep my money in their store even though I had a receipt and the return was all valid. Never again will I look in the direction of a Target Store! When I told my family and friends about this incident, I learned that my Sister and a friend also had this very same thing happen to them. What's up here?

SANDY, UTAH -- For Christmas I received a Pink Velour Suit from Target from my sister. I already have a pink velour suit so I decided I would exchange the pink for black. So I went to the Guest Services with my pink velour suit (all tags attached) and asked if I could exchange it for black. The girl asked if I had my receipt, and I said, "No, it was a Christmas gift." So she said it would have to 'go on my license' and that I was only allowed 2 items per year to go on my license.

I said okay, but I just want to exchange colors. She said she would still need my license. So she scanned them and then told me to go get the black ones. I went and picked them out but I wasn't sure about the sizes so I decided to try them on.

The dressing room girl was VERY rude, and after an amazing acrobatic performance of juggling my purse, nine month old baby, and the velour suits in the tiny dressing room, I managed to get the right size. I took it back up to Guest Services. The girl I had originally been working with was not there, but my suit was sitting on the back counter. I explained to a new girl that I just needed to exchange colors. So she scanned it in and informed me that I owed $8.00.

Okay, I know that's not a lot of money, but I still had to know why they were charging me to exchange COLORS (The pink and black suits were the exact same price, neither on sale.) The girl explained to me that she had to give me the lowest price the suits had ever been at for the pink suit and the current price for the black suit. I would understand if I was RETURNING the pink suit for credit or cash that they would give me the lowest price, but I was making a straight across exchange!

Now, I have worked in retail, in a management position, for many years, and I have NEVER heard such a ridiculous 'exchange' policy. There is no exchanging, just 'returning and buying back'. I kept saying, "I'm not asking for you to give me money or a credit, I am just asking to SWAP the color... a straight across exchange!" But she just said, "That's our policy." I told her no thanks, that I would just get the receipt from my sister. Then I asked for the
corporate phone number, but after reading the other complaints I am not holding my breath that I will get any better service when I call on Tuesday.

I am very unhappy with the service I received from Target, and I plan to assemble an email with the links to these complaints and the MANY others I found while googling their exchange policy. Hopefully they will realize that in order to stay in business, they need to redefine their definition of 'Customer Service'.

E. HANOVER, NEW JERSEY -- I am a pre-School teacher in a very poor school district. I shop a lot at Target after the holidays. I purchase toys for all the birthday parties for the year, Easter for my son's, nieces, toy drives, students plus any classroom birthday parties. I also use coupons when I shop. When I shop at the East Hanover Target I always feel that I am being discriminated against for using coupons.

There are two cashiers that work in the morning and a supervisor who does not know how to read or understand the English language. One is a very chest heavy young lady and a Latino woman. The first lady does not understand what: Limit One per purchase means. It means that you can use one coupon per item purchased and not two or three coupons towards the purchase of one item. When there is a problem at any register they ask her for help. She can't understand how to read a coupon.

The Latino woman just acts like she does not understand any coupons that I give her. She acts like she can't read them and stops the line constantly to ask someone else who is not well informed a question. I feel that she is trying to learn how to save money from the customer's ideas. She waits for the customer to say that they do not want the item so she can keep it for herself. I've notice that when a team member wants to do a re-shop this Latino woman wants the merchandise left at her register. Can a team member shop on the clock? I can't believe that anyone can be as dumb as she acts.

The last person a very overweight short African American lady, she does not understand what the word “ANY” means. I was purchasing some bags of chips for an upcoming classroom party. There was a photo of the packages of chips on the coupon but not a photo of the bags I had. The chips were Lay's and coupons were for any Lay's chips. This overweight short African American lady said “oh, this coupon is only for the ones that are on the coupon.” This was not stated anywhere on the coupon. What school did she drop out of?

Every year I have this problem with your team members. Does your team members realize that Target is paid for coupons plus a handling fee by the manufacture? It is CRAZY that I have to be hassled and harassed every time I am trying to save a $1.00 or two in your store.

It is not illegal to try to save money by using coupons. They are printed and distributed every week in the Sunday paper. It is not right that I am treated like a criminal for using coupons. I think Target should set their standards for hiring team members higher. You always seem to hire people who have possibly dropped out of high school or did not attend high school or who have very poor reading skills. If you set your standards higher you would not have such a high turnover rate.

When I have a problem and ask for a manager some young kid shows up. Why does all of Target team members seem to be so brain washed that they protect the manager as if he is the president of the United States? Last year I purchase our gas grill and aluminum patio set from Target. Our family spends a lot of money at Target I do not want to be harassed for using coupons. I do not need for anyone to call and apologize to me just correct the problem in your store. A once loyal customer.

PLANO, TEXAS -- I reside in the state of Texas and am sick of encountering issues 8 out of 10 times when I attempt to redeem a store coupon, which Target publishes on their website for the public to print and redeem at Target and/or SuperTarget. I sent the following email to the office of Gregg Abbott, Texas Attorney General and plan to follow up with him regarding the deceptive trade practices SuperTarget and Target used to get people into their stores and then not honor the offers.

Target posts weekly store coupons on their website for consumers to print and redeem in the store when they purchase the qualifying product. Consumers print the coupons with the intent to redeem them at a SuperTarget store when they patronize the store. Consumers choose the product described on the store coupon and proceed to the cash register to pay for the item(s) and redeem the coupon(s).

Redemption of the store coupon(s) is/are declined by the cashier, GSTL, LOD or a combination of these people at the Point of Sale. Allegations and misrepresentations are made to the customer by the aforementioned store employee(s) and generally fall into one or more of the categories listed below:

1. The coupons are fraudulent.

2. The coupons have been copied and are not real.

3. The store does not take internet coupons.

4. The store will only let you redeem one coupon even though the verbiage on the coupon does not restrict the coupon to "One per person or one per store visit"€ but rather the coupon states "€œLimit one coupon per item" so therefore a customer should be able to buy as many as they want as long as they have a coupon for each item.

5. These are copies and have been altered.

6. Target does not publish coupons on their website for consumers to use in the store.

7. €œ"Did you buy these coupons on eBay because we have encountered a lot of coupon fraud"?

8. €œ"You can only use either a store coupon or a manufacturer coupon and you must choose which one but you cannot use both on the same item." This is incorrect as the Target corporate office confirmed both could be redeemed on the same item at the same time. This is standard practice in the retail world as most stores now use shopper cards and have done away with paper store coupons.

The end result is that Target misrepresents the offer to the consumer and lures you into the store to buy the product only to breach the contract by refusing to redeem the store coupon at the end of the transaction and not honor the store coupons that were printed off SuperTarget'€™s website.

12/21/2006: Here is the response I received from the Attorney General's office. Now we will wait and see if they take any action. "Your letter has been forwarded to the Consumer Protection Division (CPD) for review. CPD monitors business practices and determines priorities for enforcement. When appropriate, CPD takes action to stop violations of Texas consumer protection laws. We appreciate your assistance in this effort."