what game was it?
i work in customer service industry. so like thank you for being a nice angry person. from what i noticed nice angry people tend to have better deals than mean angry people.

Nice job, Jared.

Can someone please explain the rules on stores having to follow what is printed in their ads? I know that if a price is displayed in the store at a certain price, they have to honor that price. But are the rules different for ads? Lots of times you will see in Circuit City or the local grocery, "This week's circular contained an incorrect price." Was just wondering whether that truly gets them off the hook or not.

Anyway, great job. I love that Target corporate validated you.

So basically they won't sell you the item at the proper price unless you argue and go trough all that hassle. It's really simple, people will quit to those 5 dollars just to avoid it, wich is a nice profit for the company, having the customer come with an idea of a lower price.

My parents bump into "errors" from time to time in stores, i do wonder why no "error" i have seen affects the store, but well they do always try to get their money back, or get what they really wanted. Sometimes it is much more than 5 dollars, so look at your receipts people.

(oh and sorry if there are spell errors)

Way to go Jared - now if you could just teach the rest of us how to be the nicest angry person maybe we wouldn't all have to spend a better portion of our shopping time wondering how retailers are going to try and screw us over this time.

RE:

"Hrm, I need to call a supervisor." I am annoyed at this because it is right there on the ad, which I (thinking ahead) brought with me, but I understand they need to do things "by the book."

I'm not sure why you would be annoyed when the cashier called the supervisor? It's not like the cashier could resolve this issue for you. The cashier scanned it a price x and the only way that he/she can override the price to reflect the ad is through a supervisor.

In my opinion, that was unjustified annoyance. ;p

@krunk4ever:
"In my opinion, that was unjustified annoyance. ;p"

If he was annoyed at the cashier, then yes. If annoyed in general, then no.

The computer should have been set up right. Its something to strive for, if nothing else.

I don't think he has any right to be annoyed at the cashier. As a cashier myself, we need to call a supervisor with any price changes, even if it includes correcting a wrong price to the right price. It all needs to be approved.

However, I will add this. While the statment in the ad does seem misleading, this Jared person clearly understood that there was a certain selection of titles marked down as shown when he was "(thinking ahead) brought with me"

He was just trying to get over. Target corperate wasn't saying they were wrong either, they were just being subseviant to avoid further hassel.

Just curious, which game was it?

I was out to get Custom Robo Arena the other day, which came out last week, and found it wasn't on display. I had suspected they were holding back the new releases to avoid the sale, seems that's what happened here. They should have hid them better! Way to go on your win.

Indeed, well done Jared, but this should have been a non-issue.

Target is promoting some level of autonomy for their cashiers. Cashiers are encouraged to make price adjustments up to 20 dollars without consulting the GSTL (Guest Service Team Lead), if the mistake is reasonable ($29.99 to $24 is certainly reasonable, especially with ad in hand).

Any cashier can make a price adjustment, that does not require any supervisor functions. The POS system even has an option which flags the item as a "Sign/Label/Ticket Error" so it can be corrected.

I'm glad that Target Corporate backed you on this one.

Disclosure: I supplement my income from substitute teaching by working the service desk for Target on the weekends. (I understand why many kids are Pure Evil(tm) now. Nurture all the way.)

Working in the electronics department of a retarded retail chain myself, I get a lot of equally retarded customers. Some really smart ones too, but it's unfortunate the ratio isn't more balanced.

I'd love to take a look at that ad myself, a picture would have been nice. When I read:"Includes all reg. $29.99 and above DS games", It sounded like the ad was a two part sentence:

"Includes all reg. $29.99" being the first part,

"and above DS games" the second part referring to the pictures of games printed above the words on the ad.

Sure it wasn't worded as great as it could have been, maybe they put too much faith in the idea that you'd actually think about it instead of jumping to conclusions that best suit yourself.

And if a mess of people tell you that you are wrong, do yourself the favor and question yourself a little. If you were in fact right, than you'll only be stronger in your defense. Sticking to your guns is great - unless your a douche who sticks to his guns.

PS. Corporate and higher management has ZERO backbone. They want to keep you as a customer, so they give you what you want. Unfortunately rubbing your ego doesn't help you become a better person - or anymore right.

@numberoneshaqfan: and now it becomes clear why you are now and forever will be, just a cashier. Jared had every right to be annoyed and angry. the cahiers at most Targets have the right to change a scanned price. the cashier should have called the supervisor over with taking the side of the customer. of course corporate isn't admitting that they were, wrong, because corporate wasn't wrong, the store idiots (including the lowely cashier) were wrong. I would file an official complaint on the manager for not following policy. especially since the game ended up being sold for more than the advertised price anyways.

If a store will not give permission to a cashier to adjust prices by $10.00/$20.00 or less, then they do not need my business. Does Target have a price matching offer like K-Mart?

I work in a hotel (completely different than Target I know) our front line has the power to make adjustments up to $100.00 without a supervisor. All the customer has to do is show an ad (internet, travel guide, etc) and as long as it is legitimate in the "cashiers opinion" then they have the discretion to do whatever it takes. Why irritate the customer and loose in the end?

I guess that that is one of the differences in a customer service establishment and a big box.

@numberoneshaqfan:
I always take the sales paper to the stores I shop in, prices are constantly "Not changed by corporate" or "The price must not have downloaded properly"

The name tag on this supervisor didn't happen to read "FRAN" did it?

$3 gift card, lol!

I used to work at Target. All cashiers have $20 leeway to change prices if a customer has an issue. Especially if the ad said a different price (and that wording makes Jared right, by the way), the cashier should have just changed it. In fact, I used the $20 leeway once and I had to invent a price another time (item wasn't even in the computer, I sold it for $1.99). I was never even asked about it. I'm very surprised that this happened, because when I worked there the managers made a habit of making us look like the idiot when a customer (excuse me, "guest") complained. Next time, if there is a next time, do exactly what you did.

Don't shop at Target if at all possible. They treat their employees like garbage. They get screwed just as badly as employees at Walmart but no one seems to notice. Also, does anyone remember when they banned the Salvation Army from their stores a while back? Ugh, I'm so glad I got out of retail.

Jared, please stick to Subway (tm) as Target doesn't seem to care for you.

Beki: The local Target used to allow people/Salvation Army to be outside the main door. When they started becoming bothersome to the customers they were given an area off to the side of the main door to preach/ask for money/signatures. This was still annoying to the customers so they decided to not allow ANY group or person to solicit in front of their store. I like it that way and will continue to shop at Target.

I'm glad Target doesn't have the Salvation Army and its homophobic church people begging for money. That Target stood up for doing the right thing in the face of adverse publicity means a lot to me.

all over $5.

@Beki: Let's see... Target, or Walmart? Targets tend to be cleaner, have better quality merchandise, and well, just less trashy overall, so I'll stick with Target.

And I'm glad they banned the Salvation Army from their stores. --The SA is a discriminatory organization, and even though that's not why Target banned them, it's still good that they did.

Did they try to sell you any "scented canders?"

If target employees are treated as badly as WalMart employees, why do they always (with a few exceptions) seem so happy, pleasant, and empowered? I LOVE shopping at target because 99% of the time they're incredibly helpful.

@konstantConsumer: money is money

@homerjay: I've often wondered the same thing. I don't think I've ever found a Target employee that was pissed off, nor have ever seen a Target location that resembled a garbage dump (can't say the same for "Ole'Smiley Face"), so assuming the salaries are similar, why aren't they both just as bad as one another?

I would have been able to give that discount when I was a cashier at the Empire of Evil. I might have had to explain myself, but when I produced the ad, it would have been clear. They were completely wrong not to honor the advertised price immediately. The ad doesn't specify that new games are excluded, or give a list of titles that are included. Someone in their ad copy department at corporate should have taken the flogging, not a customer.

Oddly enough, most of the time when I shop in Target, the price rings up lower than the price on the shelf or item. I've never asked about this, and have always been glad to be the recipient of their apparent largesse. In terms of customer service, I have found themn to be no better or worse than any other retailer. You find some good, some bad, some indifferent, and sometimes the same person can be all of these at different times.

@Starfury: Agreed. Anybody getting in my way when I have to make a quick run into Target is liable to get run over, and that includes people ringing bells for charity. I approve of their policy.

That $3 gift card cracks me up. Is that all Jared's annoyance is worth? Just make sure they actually deliver, Jared. Otherwise you might have to call them back and deliver the paperboy's line from Better Off Dead (slightly altered): "I want my three dollars!"

I read the ad differently:

The ad reads: $24 Sale, Each Nintendo DS Games (fine print: Choose from over 30 titles to stuff their baskets! Includes all reg. $29.99 and above DS games.)

As I read this, it says that of the over 30 titles on sale (which may not included every title), the price is $24. These on-sale titles include those that are prices $29.99 and over.

Otherwise it would say, $24 Sale on all Nintendo DS Games. No?

My favorite part of your story, Jared, is that you paid for your other purchases and then sought out the supervisor again to continue arguing your point -- and you won. I admire that sort of persistence.

"all over $5" - this statement cuts both ways. On the one hand, one can ask whether it was worth Jared's trouble over $5 ($8, actually, counting the gift card). I think it was, and it sounds like Jared agrees. On the other hand, I would ask whether $5 was worth the manager's trouble. Is a loyal customer worth $5? Probably. Is avoiding a scene with an angry customer worth $5? You're damn right!

And that $3 card is funny. Why not $5?

@bigtech: It's the "includes ALL regular $29.99 and above DS games" that makes Jared correct. All $29.99 and above games are on sale, and this comprises over 30 titles. It is at least unclear and should favor the customer.

And what does "over 30 titles" mean? 31, 35, 68?

@Beki: I used to work at Target too, and used the $20 leeway quite a lot. What's more important, keeping the guest happy or having to deal with a backed-up line full of angry people whilst waiting for an LOD? Also, if something you're buying is dinged or smudged, haggle for a discount. The cashiers also are allowed to take an extra 10% off items.

This cashier should have just sucked it up and put in the $24 price. Perhaps she was new?

I can also testify to Beki's comment that certain Targets stick it to their employees. The one where I worked at for instance, constantly rotated schedules so only a few people could claim as full-time employees. There was a lot of shadiness going on to satisfy corporate.

However the Target where my mum worked for a while was wonderful - she had flexible hours, her superiors were always polite and helpful, and the work atmosphere was fun.

I still shop at Target, but I make it a point to go where there are happy employees, ergo a better shopping experience.

@ADM:

There is no standard answer to how stores must handle mistakes because it is a state issue generally. Most states give the stores an out to correct price mistakes (through follow-up ads and/or signs at the store). These laws are primarily around 'bait and switch' issues, so they don't force the stores to sell at the advertised price if they take some action to correct.

Most of the major retailers have a price guarantee policy that states how they handle price mistakes, including some stores that give it to you for free up to a certain dollar amount (I think this is required in some states). There was actually a Consumerist post a while back about a woman banned from a grocery chain because she was tying up the store trying to find price mistakes so she could get stuff for free.

In most stores, managers/cashiers/supervisors have a long list of reasons why the price is right (and you are wrong), hoping that you will eventually give up or sucumb to their vastly superior powers of logic.

@krunk4ever, @numberoneshaqfan: i read it as he was annoyed that this was going to become an issue, not that he was annoyed at the cashier.

imo, this is a typical case of ppl on a power trip. the supervisor clearly had the ability to change the price all the time but refused. they love to bask in that little bit of power their afforded.

i've been on the other side before too. the cashier should've adjusted the price & retained the ad in case he needed a little CYA. end of story.

i find situations like this to be an incredible inconvenience...so i like to return the favor. i whip out the cellphone right at the register & call numbers until someone answers the phone. then, in the loudest possible voice i have a mock conversation w/ them, "hey jim, you have blumenthal's number?....no, it's not about golf on wednesday....yeah, fred said something about coming...listen, i need to talk to rich about an issue....ok, keep looking...." i continue the conversation indefinitely until my price change happens (or i get escorted out). usually it's the former...right about when the 8th person in line starts throwing a fit.

Im not taking sides or anything, what bothers me here is that the ad says that over 30 titles were on sale, nobody asked wich were the games on sale. Yes, the ad is confusing, but it doesnt says or really implies that all games that were $29.99 are now $25, you are all asuming that, but the ad says over 30 titles, not all the $29.99 titles. If both the supervisor and the tech guy said the game wasnt on sale, and Jared knew the game was just too new to be on sale, to me he was the one acting wrong, and still got away with it. If it happens to me, i go and tell "okay, show me the list of your games on sale, show me the list wich proves my game is or not on sale" And if i dont see a game that i like, i just dont buy anything.
Im not a sheep, i defend myself a lot, i know my rigths. From here, Jared doesnt look lik he was defending himself to me, looks more like he knew they were rigth and still he pushed to see if he could get away with it, and did.

Just to clarify real quick, my annoyance was not really directed towards anyone (initially) but actually at the situation because I have had price changes of around $5 before, and the cashier did it themselves.

Also, I think the whole event was worth getting my $5, if not for the reason of them fixing the prices for future customers or posting a sign saying that not all DS games are actually on sale. However, the sign goes back to an earlier comment about whither stores actually have to match their own ads even if there was a mistake.

The whole $3 gift card made me laugh because it just seemed so odd, but I appreciated the gesture. The people I spoke with at the corporate office were incredibly nice and backed me up completely (even reading the ad with others there to verify they agreed with me).

I hope I'm not the only one who thinks that, while the principle is good and all, this whole deal was EXTREMELY piddly.

$5? I mean, he spent more than $5 of his own time arguing this. Over a video game.

Congrats for wasting a ton of your time to save $5 on a nintendo game bro.

I worked at Target in high School and Loved it. I was a cashier and could change prices if needed to keep the folks happy and the line moving. To me it sound like Jared was trying to get something cheaper because of a unclear ad, I mean lets face the fact that new games are never on sale a week after they are put out. In my view he was just being a jerk. and I'm sure Target will go under without his huge contribution to their bottom line.

I think the main point here is whether or not the ad was clear, Jared understood it. He knew that only a select amount of games were on sale, but he was trying to get over on Target anyway.

Walgreens does not have this problem, they purposely train their employees to understand and read ads so you do not have to call a supervisor to price modify an item.
If the add says Xoz. of Product A is $24 dollars, then you match the product to the terms in the ad, if it matches you price modify.
At Walgreens if the ad said any DS game over $29.99 will be sold for $24, then any cashier would just PM it and then let a manager know after the fact so they can figure out if there is a problem with the ad that may need to be fixed.

This way customers are not inconvienced when they are right and it was actually the company that made the mistake.

Also, sometimes someone does have an ad that was misprinted, Walgreens will honor it until they put a sign up in front of the product correcting the error.

You would be suprised at how many people will bitch to try to get a cheaper price when there is a clear sign stating it was a mistake and listing the correct price.

Yeah, I had something similar happen in Target last week. They had a pair of mini ceramic element electric heaters on sale. The original price was $29.99, and they were in a large display that said "30% off marked price". Well, the box had a small sticker in the upper-right corner which said "was $29.99 | now $19.99". I took $19.99 to be the "marked price", and so expected to get another 30% off that (making the final price $13.99. It rang up as $19.99 at the register. I argued with the manager, she disappeared for 10 min. trying to find the display, and I was in a rush so just paid the $19.99 and left. After all, $20 for 2 heaters is still a pretty sweet deal. Annoying, but not the end of the world. Yes they should word their ads more carefully, but I suspect the people who draft/print the ads are not the sharpest tacks in the tin.

i would have bought the game and then thrown that piece of shit game back at her face and spat on it.

hahaha

@Erzengel: The ad says: "Choose from over 30 titles to stuff their baskets! Includes all reg. $29.99 and above DS games." In other words, "Hey, we have over 30 games! And, guess what, all of them regularly priced $29.99 and over are on sale." I don't understand how you read the "over 30 titles" as qualifying "all reg. $29.99 and above." In plain English, it says that Jared is correct. Your mistake is that you are reading the ad while trying to anticipate what Target meant. Your reading renders the word "all" meaningless. My reading gives meaning to every word. If Target meant what you are suggesting, they needed to describe it accurately with the language they used. They did not. They could have said: "Sale includes certain games reg. $29.99 and above, over 30 titles in all!"

Yeah, what nequam said. Frankly, I don't see any way to get around the word "all." If it said just, "Includes reg. $29.99 and above DS games," ok, you could make an argument for whether that implies all or some of the 29.99 games. As it is, it's possible that the ad means that the 30 games mentioned include all games which were 29.99 or more, as unlikely as that might be (I suspect there are far more than 30 expensive video games out there for any given system).

But whether it meant that or not, with "all" in there, there's no way to take it to mean anything other than that all 29.99 games are being referred to. That's what we highly-trained language specialists call "a noun phrase modified by a quantifier." A quantifier quantifies, and the quantifier "all" denotes the entire set X, where X is items that fulfill the rest of the phrase ("29.99 games").

Semantics is really highly mathematical. You'd have to jump through some explicit linguistic hoops to make that ad mean anything but that it is referring to ALL 29.99 games. *steps down off soapbox and goes back to work*

I agree with everyone that loves Target and feels that they have excellent customer service.

But I also agree with everyone who refuses to purchase electronics, music, or movies there. From finding someone to open the case, to getting an answer to 1 or 2 questions, to getting the correct price, I don't have the patience to deal with them. Fortunately, electronics and media don't need to be tried on, so I can get them from one of my favorite online retailers, like Newegg or Half.com

ah but you forgot one potential interpretation. Games aimed at the Over 30 crowd. :p

I used to work at office depot, and we had up to $100 in leeway. I had to use it all the time, because the machine was a pos (har har) and was always cutting sales short (for some reason hq never seemed to input the date range properly). I was never questioned about it. Yet for some idiotic reason I had to get manager approval to void items...go figure.

Maybe my expectations are too high, but after all of the time and trouble you had, they sent you a measely $3 gift card?

Yeesh. Don't spend it all in one place.

hey dumb-ass, give him the damn advertised price. it's what your ad states. also, the amount of time you argued about a few dollars, your salary and time away from doing something productive, cost your employer more than the fucking $6 difference of the game.

I currently work at Target and have no issue with working there at all. The environment is enjoyable, the pay is decent, and they don't have a cow when you can't come in. I don't ever feel as oppressed or uncared for as Wal-Mart employees seem to feel. Currently I'm just staying there to see what my raise will be in May.

Although at my Target its a $10 leeway, not $20, I would have most certainly given the guy the game at $24 and any other game he brought up there. It's common sense to keep the guest happy. I actually plan on going up there tonight to load up on DS games for $24 and get my 10% Discount as well.

It can't be any worse than when they release a "FREE Choxie Brand Chocolate" coupon (on the internet no less) and stay-at-home moms with no life come and RAPE the Choxie area, bringing up $85 of chocolate with a coupon for EVERY ONE. And the whole thing is completely legit, even though they just made about 100 copies of the same coupon (there is no fine print saying they can't).

Back on topic: I think it should imply that ALL games over $24 should be $24, and if they try to start crap with me tonight I'll be doing the same thing as this guy.