Target doesn’t accept returns without receipts to keep criminals at bay, but Chrissy recently discovered that their policy also extends to wedding registry gifts. Chrissy and her husband ended up with several duplicate gifts when Target failed to keep track of her registry. Chrissy didn’t want a refund or cash, just store credit, but Target refused to consider any proffer until Chrissy provided receipts. One manager even urged Chrissy to call her wedding guests to ask for their receipts, because in Target’s book, that’s not extraordinarily rude or anything.
She writes:
As a long time fan of Target, I am absolutely disappointed about their new “return” policy. I couldn’t wait for the day to get married, and with regards to this letter, couldn’t wait to open a Target wedding registry of my own! Only to find out Target has become completely untrusting of their customers and treat us as if we’re thieves! We sent our wedding guests almost exclusively to our Target registry, which malfunctioned, and now we have duplicate sets of gifts that we cannot return.When we attempted to return them, and showed how the gift registry malfunctioned, they insisted that it was our guests’ responsibility to attach a gift receipt & accepted no fault. Of course, since our guests were purchasing from a wedding registry they trusted, none of the guests attached a receipt. Not to mention it looks pretty tacky to tape on a receipt to an expensive, nicely wrapped gift. So the manager suggested we go back to our guests and ask for a receipt so that we can return their gift. We felt that would be very rude to do to our guests, and just do not feel comfortable disappointing people like that, especially after they spent so much money on a gift they thought we would love. The manager also told us “that’s the point of a registry, to get what you want” – Of course! But that doesn’t mean we need two croquet sets, two coffee makers or two wine racks! We felt we were being very reasonable, we didn’t even want cash back; we would gladly accept store credit.
To top things off, I received a wok in the mail that became damaged during shipment. It came wrapped in target paper, included target shipping paperwork, and all we wanted was to exchange it for a non-damaged wok or receive store credit. They still proceeded to tell us that we needed a gift receipt, and refused to return it for us until we talked to upper management. The whole process took over 30 minutes!
We have received over $1000 in gifts from our Target registry, and if we would have known about this absurd return policy, we would have stayed with Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy’s, both of which have no problem with satisfying their registry customers. I do wedding photography for a living and talk with brides on a daily basis, I’m warning everyone to stay clear of Target’s wedding registry. I hope Target realizes quick what they are doing to some of their biggest fans.
Target, it’s a sad day for you when people feel more welcome at Walmart than your store.
Ex-Customer of Vero Beach Target,
Chrissy
Lesson learned: don’t use Target for your wedding registry.
PREVIOUSLY: Target: No Receipt, No Returns. Period.
Target Revises Return And Exchange Policy: Items With No Receipt Worth $100 (It Wasn’t An April Fools Joke)
(Photo: imasuperhero)
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That’s got to be one of the stupidest return policies I’ve ever heard of. Target sucks.
I’m sure it goes a little deeper than this. For instance, are we actually sure that everyone gave their registry sheets to the cashier to be scanned? Also once scanned, gift receipts are automatically generated for those items, printing at the end of the regular receipts.
Also, what part of saying “Hey, I need a gift receipt” is so hard. Those can be printed at the register after the transaction is completed.
And to spread the blame around: it is the cashiers responsibility to ask the “guest” if they need a gift receipt for anything in their purchase.
My recommendation— sell the duplicate items on e-bay. Probably should do it under an alias so as not to offend. It’s more of a pain than being able to just return to Target. But it clears up the problem of having two identical bread makers crowding your counter space.
Target = consumerist hell. I used to love this company as a discount everyday store with a real focus on keeping the customer happy. I remember as a kid the day after xmas when the return lines were full with people bringing back wrong-sized or just plain wrong stuff they would get, only to be greeted with a warm smile, a CASH refund, and a “thank you for shopping at target – please come again”.
These days, everyone is a thief, the employees are indoctrinated by a corporate culture of rudeness, and the prices at the store are frankly not all that impressive.
Hasn’t anyone taught the pinheads at corporate the basic premise that it’s easier and cheaper to keep a customer than to get a new one? Or that it only takes one incident to lose one, if not more (after all, bad experiences are shared) forever?
@Major-General: But how hard is it for a store to accept returns WITHOUT a receipt for items from a gift registry? Apparently NOT THAT HARD since every other store with a gift registry allows you to do so.
When our first son was born, we registered at Carson’s, Fields, and (for the few people on our list who wouldn’t shop anywhere else) Lord & Taylor (don’t ask). Then, for fun, we registered at Target for things like butcher knives, nailguns, and ammo.
We’ve registered at Target for our wedding in June… sonofabitch.
I think I’ll have to talk to the wife-to-be and see if we can get that changed to another location.
I love target, go all the time (usually for two things and end up walking out with 20) and am getting married next summer. I hope that this mess is cleared up by then otherwise I won’t use them.
I registered at Target for my baby shower, and it looked like NOTHING ever came off the list. I didn’t get totally slammed with duplicates, but I had to really monitor the registry. I seem to recall when I got married six years ago that this wasn’t a problem.
@Major-General: There’s just no reason to have to deal with gift receipts, or hope that your wedding guests remember to, when other stores do not require them. I registered with Bed Bath and Beyond and Williams Sonoma, and they could not have made it easier for everyone involved. They bend over backwards to make registering, returning and keeping track of gifts easy because they know in the end nomatter how you slice it they make lots of money off of weddings – plus have the potential to connect with a customer for life. It just seems like a dumb business decision on the part of Target.
If you’re getting married soon, DO NOT use Target wedding registry. At least five women I know, in addition to myself, have had a HORRIBLE time with their wedding registry. I had at least 5 gifts that were duplicates because of their shitty registry system and trying to exchange for store credit was harder than anything should ever be. And it’s only up for 4 – 6 weeks after the wedding date. Seriously. I know people who had massive problems with baby registries too. I love love love target, but the discount store in them is obvious when it comes to registries.
My wife and I were registered at Target for a few things and we didn’t have that problem. We did receive a few duplicate items but we were able to exchange them painlessly, even without a gift receipt in a couple of situations. This same store has taken a very customer oriented attitude though and has handled any issues I’ve had in a very positive manner.
That said, I don’t know why some stores seem to go out of their way to be a pain in the butt. They KNOW they still currently sell the item, its still in its packaging and/or has a label on it that says “TARGET”, yet they refuse to budge. I can understand not wanting to issue a CASH refund or credit back to someone’s debit or credit card. I’ve worked in retail before and witnessed an internal theft ring that revolved around people bringing in stolen merchandise for cash refunds…with no receipt. (Un)Official policy was a refund could be issued at any time, at the manager’s discretion, for store credit if a receipt could not be produced. Usually if it was still in the computer as current stock, it would be OKd. I know we ended up refunding stuff that was a year old sometimes, but at least it kept people happy for the most part.
We registered at Target for our wedding too and they changed policies after the shower and wedding – we have quite a few duplicate gifts that we’ll never be able to return because we don’t have receipts. Its a ridiculous system. Most guests refuse to put a gift receipt in the box or envelope, and I don’t blame them.
FWIW, we had a great experience at Bed, Bath & Beyond if you can handle the limited selection and high prices.
If you are lucky to get some gifts, just be thankful and accept the duplicates.
Target: Just exactly what kind of criminals are you deterring by your laughable return policy on registry items?
The criminal would have to go online or to a store to search the registry, find items, steal those items, then pretend to be the bride and return them, all to get an in store credit?
Are there huge gangs of bride-impersonating organized theft rings invading only Target and ignoring Macys, Nordstroms and other stores that have sane bridal registry policies?
@Major-General: Getting a gift receipt isn’t hard – Target prints one huge receipt that includes the gift receipt automatically.
The problem is that if I buy an expensive gift off a registry, I may have it shipped directly and (as stated above) the stuff that comes in the box is apparently not good enough for returns (at least at some stores).
Also, if I buy an expensive gift off a registry, and I’m wrapping it up beautifully to take to a wedding, I may very well not attach the gift receipt because I know they want it (it’s on the registry) and they shouldn’t be getting duplicates (the registry should take care of that). Why ugly up a pretty gift, especially if I don’t often shop at Target and don’t know the “you must have a receipt no matter what” policy?
I used to shop at target ALL the time. I had an issue with returns from my wedding and have not stepped foot in the store ever since. Not out of anger, just don’t feel like being unappreciated and inconvenienced when there are tons of other shopping options out there. Target should take note.
I registered at Target for my wedding and was lucky enough not to have a problem with duplicates.
However, every present ordered through Target’s website and shipped to me required a signature for delivery. Everything, even $5 pillowcases. I got really tired of driving across town every few days in the run up to the wedding to wait in line at UPS for the stuff. (UPS threatened to return packages left at the facility longer than a few days, and they refused to let me specify only weekend deliveries.)
my fiancée and I are registered at Target, and we will be canceling our registry and signing up elsewhere because of this email. I sent their return department and email letting them know that they have this publicity to thank for it.
As we registered, we already found out that almost no items we scanned in the store had an online counterpart, meaning no one could see or buy online, but this is just ridiculous for a company to make so much off of a couple and not offer even store credit.
I work at the Service Desk at a Target in Southern California, and let me clear up a few things. The people you’re talking to in “upper management?” They have no more power in overriding this policy than I do. The registers are designed to not allow returns over $20 w/o a gift receipt, no matter who is logged in. If corporate themselves decide to issue an override code, then and ONLY then will it go through. And that NEVER happens.
Our registry system is a joke. No one updates it. Half the time the cashiers don’t know how to remove items from registry during purchases. The registry scanners don’t always transmit properly, meaning that those 50 items you carefully chose aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. And pointing out that the item came from Target is like pointing out that the sun is shining today. We all know, and we all don’t care.
It’s funny, actually. Until about half a year ago, we had the power to see which items were actually purchased off of a gift registry, but then, corporate decided to remove that option, citing that “the percentage of guests who will be affected by this is minimal, and most will appreciate the new, simpler policy.” Do yourselves a favor. Register somewhere else. Trust me.
Hah. This is entirely on the people buying the gifts.
1) If you’re buying a wedding gift, (or birthday, christmas, festivus, etc), get a gift receipt. That’s kinda the point. I don’t recall a purchase at target that DIDN’T come with a gift receipt automatically in a long time. Even when I’m buying socks and deodorant.
2) Updates to the registry fail mostly when the person buying the gift doesn’t give it to the cashier. I see the sheets laying around in random aisles almost every time I shop there.
Get smarter friends
Regarding those who think for some weird reason Target should be “better:” what ever made you think that Target is any better than any other mass-market retailer? They have great branding, great design, and great advertising. And none of those things has anything to do with the in-store experience which is usually worse that Wal-Mart or Home Depot (two of my least favorite stores).
Crate and Barrel tweaked their online/offline registry system so gift recipients won’t get duplicate gifts 10 YEARS AGO. It’s not a trivial job, but it’s completely feasible.
Sorry for the length of this post, you’ve been warned!
I used to work for Target for a year & a half, and I understand all of your complaints about their Wedding Registry. Their registry printouts are nightmares! Its impossible to find items without an employee’s scanning gun. So, I’d find customers going down every aisle looking for the right item, only to realize when they checkout that its the wrong size or brand, and hence, not on the registry. Then they’d ask for help, and I’d find out that somebody moved the items without updating the system so our scanning guns could say the right aisles!
The main reason I’ve seen products not available in the store is because the bride/groom chooses mostly online-only items, which are not available in stores. I’ve also found some brides/grooms scanning the clearance items to get a good deal, when the items being scanned are never coming back to the store again.
VERY IMPORTANT: There are different-sized Target stores. You have the Super Target with a full grocery store and 2 entrances, a mid-size Target with 2 entrances & the freezer food section (but not the grocery store), and then a regular Target with one entrance and no grocery store at all. If your bride/groom makes their registry/selects items at a Super Target, you are definitely not going to find everything if your local Target is a smaller-sized store.
So, all in all, the bride and groom might be *partially* at fault for items not being available when you are looking for them (especially if they are online-only), but Target could definitely change it to where its more obvious that it’d be harder for others to find items if the bride/groom chooses to do their registry online. My store (including the store manager himself) complained to corporate about this and nothing happened by the time I left the store.
In regards to the gift receipt, we had to print them out whenever someone had a registry at the checkouts (and asked when we didn’t see them.) Target is extremely strict with their return policy, but people have abused it to the point where they had to have the rules. I’ve seen everything from people trying to return items from Wal-Mart (like their own brands), electronics with Best Buy store stickers on them, and empty (most likely stolen) CD jewel cases re-shrinkwrapped by the customer to get a ‘refund’ on it. Of course in all cases they didn’t have a receipt. Although I agree that they should let you return things with a registry if its obvious that the item is on the registry, you have to understand that (as someone else said on here) that ‘one bad apple ruins it for everyone.’
I recently got married and had a similar incident. We received 6 of the same food processor that we registered for. We registered for 1 of course, but on our registry it showed that we got 0. Target would not take them back without the reciept. I could the comment number and also the wedding registry. They were unwilling to comply or help me at all. Just that my comments would be taken in and reviewed. Wow, thanks alot Target. We were able to finally solve the situation. But not without asking those who got them for us to return for us. Yeah, that isn’t at all tacky to do. I understand Target has a policy and I am sure that they have gotten screwed before, but they need to look at things on a case by case scenario. This was there fault we got so many. They have lost me as a customer and I am telling people to stay away from the target registry and to not shop there anymore.
First off let me tell you the return policy:
Target Stores Return Policy
We will issue a full refund for most items returned within 90 days in new condition, with the original receipt, packaging and accessories. A form of personal identification may be required.
Also, please note:
Music, movies, video games, software and collectibles must be returned unopened.
Camcorders, digital cameras, portable DVD, computers, portable electronics, framed art, gas-powered scooters and hot tubs purchased from Target.com are subject to a 15% restocking fee.
Most consumer electronics purchased from Target.com cannot be replaced or exchanged.
Holiday and Seasonal merchandise on clearance at the time of the return will be refunded at the current clearance price.
Any purchase made by check may be refunded as a merchandise voucher.
Refund value for each item returned will be reduced to reflect value of free gift or discount.
Other restrictions may apply.
All other returns or exchanges – including those without a receipt – will be offered manufacturers’ warranty and repair assistance at
1-800-303-0308.
Don’t have your receipt?
In most instances, Target stores can verify purchases made within the last 90 days on a store account, third-party charge account, check or GiftCard using our unique Receipt Look-up system.
To return an item purchased on Target.com:
Most items on Target.com can be returned to a Target store or by mail. You will need the order number or a gift receipt/packing slip in order to return a purchase from Target.com using our Online Returns Center. To find out if your item can be returned to a Target store, visit our Online Returns Center. The “Method of return” drop-down box will let you know where the item can be returned and allow you to choose which return method you’d like. If you select the “Store” drop down, your receipt will appear and you will be prompted to print the receipt. You must have an in-store receipt from our Online Returns Center in order to return a Target.com item to a store. If you choose to return your item to a store, shipping and handling and gift-wrap charges cannot be refunded.
The following items cannot be returned to a Target store, and must be returned by mail:
Items that specifically state they “cannot be returned to a Target store” on the “Additional Information” tab in the product’s description
Items that have been replaced because they are defective, damaged or incorrect.
Items purchased from the Amazon.com store at Target.com
Books, DVDs, videos, CDs, music cassettes and vinyl records purchased from the Amazon.com store at Target.com must be returned by mail within 30 days of ship date
All other items purchased from the Amazon.com store at Target.com must be returned by mail within 90 days of ship date.
With wedding and baby registries, it tells you to make sure that you include a gift reciept with your gift so that it can be returned. and its not that target isnt “updating” your regisrties its that youre not giving the papers to your cashier to scan off so that they arent getting duplicated, or that there is 2 or more people that are there shopping for the same couple and you two got the same things. you cant exactly mark off a registry that is already printed… the exception to the policy changed almost a year ago, sucks, but everyone should include a gift reciept anyways cause you never know if they alredy got it or not. or it is defective, or whatever the reason might be. – I dont agreee with it either, I think that registries should be the only “exception” that we have, cause you did take time and register with target they should make it easier for those who did.
you are still able to do reciept lookups with a debit,credit, check, giftcards, pretty much anything except cash!! whoever tells you different is lying!!!–within 90 days of purchase that is– as for online purchases you can most likely look it up, with credit card, but if not then you can use the kiosk and return the item using the packaging slip either to the store or online, depending on the item.
Target believes that it should be a fast, fun, and friendly envirnment, what was said about waiting in line for 20 minutes is BS!! There would be someone that would come up and help you asap.
Without a reciept, target does make an exception that if the item is under $20.00 then they can try using a no reciept return using your ID, only allowed to do so 2xs in a year… 365 days after the last time you do it. It is an exception they dont have to do it for you, so if youre a dick or a bitch then they can be one back.
If you really want to voice your openion then call the Guest Comment Card number… 1-800-440-0680. *targetgirl*
I just deleted my Target registry. Too bad for Target; we have invited 290 guests, and I will be having 3 bridal showers within the next month. I called Target to confirm that this was, in fact, true. They told me it was. They reassured me that they would keep track of my registry and that I would not receive any duplicate items. The consequences of being stuck with duplicate items are too harsh to trust them. I guess Bed Bath & Beyond and the Pottery Barn are about to get lucky!
We went through the same thing with our Target registry. we told all of our friends that were getting married to use the Crate and Barrel registry. Their return policy rocked!
Same issue happened with my wedding gift registry. Target didn’t remove purchased items from the registry, then refused to accept the returns, even refused to give us store credit. We ended up with 12 camping chairs (registered for 4), 2 camping stoves, etc. We ended up giving the duplicates as Christmas gifts to close relatives who didn’t mind us “re-gifting” these things (i.e. parents and siblings.) Target is so tacky. They try to be “upscale” compared to Wal-mart, yet they sell the same products at higher prices and have super crappy “customer service.”
We’ve run into this problem just today with Target trying to return shower gifts and will be removing all but the cheapest things from our wedding registry. They have a miserable return policy, and will hopefully not be getting our wedding guests’ business.