Don't Use Target's Wedding Registry If You Think Asking Your Wedding Guests For Receipts Is Rude
As we've mentioned before, Target doesn't accept returns or exchanges of gifts bought through their wedding registry unless you have a receipt. Got two of the same thing? You're out of luck unless you're willing to call your wedding guests and ask them if they kept the receipt.
Reader Terry has two ice tea makers and two griddles that she'd like to exchange, but is having no luck with Target. Terry has launched an EECB and cc'd us so we could listen in:
My fiancée and I registered at Target as well as Elder-Beerman for our wedding on May 24, 2008; it went wonderfully, by the way. At least until after we opened the gifts. We received two iced tea makers and two griddles from our registry, and they were marked “Fulfilled” on the registry. We also didn’t receive any receipts on the items, but I’m sure our family assumed like I did that you wouldn’t need a receipt with an item purchased from a gift registry.
I hauled my packages back to my local Target, with registry printout in hand as some extra insurance. The person behind the counter informs me that I will need a receipt or gift receipt even for an exchange of the items. I asked him why that was so, that you could clearly see from the registry that Target knew the items were paid for. He said that they used to be able to look up purchase information from the registry but they cannot anymore. He again told me that I should contact my relatives and get a receipt. I asked him if he thought that was tacky, and he agreed. I informed him that I would be escalating this issue, and offered to allow him to escalate it himself, which he was completely uninterested in.
When I went out into the parking lot and loaded the packages back into the car, I called the only phone number I could find which was on my registry printout. After verifying my information with the person on the other end of the phone, she proceeded to tell me that everything the person told me in the store was correct and there was nothing she could do to help me. I went over the same argument points with her that I went over with the person in the store: that it was tacky to call someone for a receipt and that Target knew when and where those items were purchased. She did tell me one thing that the person inside did not mention, that our registry was created before this policy change took place. She told me that gift receipts print out automatically and that it was the gift giver’s responsibility to make sure a receipt was given with the gift. I told her that I found this policy hard to believe, since in the time I have been shopping in Target since this policy change not one of the cashiers have told me that gifts I give from a registry can no longer be looked up and the person MUST get a receipt or gift receipt.
I informed the person on the phone that I would be informing all of my friends of the customer-unfriendly practices at Target, but I also wanted to contact a person of authority at Target to give them a chance to rethink this anti-consumer policy. Low and behold though, while searching for the e-mail address of someone I could contact at Target HQ I found this story, which is another formerly loyal customer with the same issue.
Target: You’re logging registry purchases. We know it. You know it. Your employees know it. I understand that fighting internal and external shrink is important but intentionally removing the ability of team members to verify purchase information is ludicrous. I am not asking for a refund, just the ability to make an exchange for a gift that I can actually use. This is not an unreasonable request.
Also, FWIW: Elder-Beerman had no trouble looking up a duplicate gift I received there. They even issued me a gift card so I could order a china set that they didn’t have in the store. I guess you really do get what you pay for.
Terry
PREVIOUSLY: Target Bungles Wedding Registry, Won't Exchange Duplicate Gifts Without Receipts
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Comments:
Ugh. Target's gift receipt is a double edged sword. Gift receipts don't have prices on them. But without one under their policy they can refuse exchanges and returns.
Some friends of ours recently had this same trouble with baby registry at Target. I think they were able to get gift cards for use in-store? DH and I were married last year and registered at both Target and Bed Bath & Beyond. We did not have to return or exchange any items from Target but we did for several items from BBB. One was for a metal colander that broke 2 months after the wedding - we took it back and they let us exchange it no questions asked. The other item was a defective $100 coffee maker and they did not argue about that one either.
While I think it is a stupid policy and I do have empathy for you. It is clearly stated on Target's website and under the wedding registry site. [www.target.com] I wonder when they changed the policy, back when I got married we exchanged plenty of stuff we didn't have gift receipts for at Target with no problems. But this was some time ago. It's a shame they are going to loose a lot of customers for this policy. It truly is absurd. I mean at least give peeps a store credit... sheesh.
Target blows!
I had the same issue - I ended up with an extra George Foreman grill - it made a wonderful present for my friend who has no issue with regifting, thankfully.
Well, I know now that I'll be removing my Target registry for my wedding.
The advantage of having a store registry is the ability to exchange gifts if there is a problem. Bed Bath and Beyond and Crate and Barrel can do exchanges no problem.
I'll just remove Target, with permission ^_^', and set up an amazon registry.
I can't believe they still haven't changed this policy for registry gifts. I understand requesting receipts for refunds/exchanges on everyday purchases, but as the writer says, they have proof of purchase with the registry's information/logs.
Except for their return Snafu's I still love target..
Yup, I scratched target off the list for my registry due to their return policy. Thats several thousand in potential business lost.
At bed Bath & Beyond, you can return items that you had on your registry for CASH without a receipt.
"Target: You're logging registry purchases. We know it. You know it. Your employees know it."
Well, obviously they aren't logging all registry purchases, or you wouldn't have received two of something.
It's a stupid policy, they should at least give you store credit. Registry at Crate&Barrel for weddings and at Babies 'R' Us for babies. Both of them do returns without receipt no problem.
I think Target is right here. This is really no different than somebody walking in and trying to return something without a receipt. The fact that you registered for it doesn't really come into play. Sure they could accommodate you, but I don't think they are obligated to.
We received silverware from Bed Bath & Beyond and about 3 months later the stainless steel set had rust spots all over. I called and asked if there was anything I could do and they said "bring it in, we'll give you cash or a store credit", I said "but I don't have the original packaging", they said "that's okay, do you still have most of the pieces?"
Basically, Bed Bath & Beyond has always been willing to do whatever it takes to make their customers happy.
I for one can say this is a load of hooey. Just because it is a company policy doesn't mean it is enforced by the Third Reich.
I'm getting married here in another month and a half.
My fiance had a shower a month or so ago and we got like 12 towels when we only registered for 6. They all still had the original tags on them and had come from Target. The only problem is that we didn't have the receipt or gift receipts for any of them.
Did Target turn us away? No they didn't.
They gave us a gift card and accepted the return. No problems at all.
This all happened in Eastern Iowa.
This many comments and still nobody's blaming the customer? Here' I'll give you a starting point. You were married three days ago and now you're fighting with Target? Go on a honey moon, enjoy wedded bliss for a few days and then worry about duplicate gifts.
@samurailynn: BB&B gave me a sick deal on a floor model Dyson and then threw in attachments that they had sitting around. Then they let me use a coupon. I love them.
@freshyill: Yes, Target CAN have a policy like this. That doesn't meant it's a good policy from a customer service perspective. Specifically because of their unfriendly return procedures, my fiancee and I have basically decided not to register with Target, when we had been seriously considering doing so. And I doubt we're alone. So their policy is directly causing them to lose business. We will probably go to Amazon instead for the type of item we would have registered at Target for.
Target's recent changes to the return policy have made it an absolutely abysmal place to shop. Another example: I bought one of those fancy Target-exclusive, name-designer clocks. A few months later, after the thing completely refused to keep time, the store refused to accept it back b/c it was beyond 90 days. My only recourse was to "send it to the manufacturer" (which was TARGET!!!) at my own expense (we're talking a 20 inch clock, weighing about 15 lbs, PLUS add in a $5 "handling fee."
After an exhausting 60 minutes of haggling, I had to resort to the nonsense of buying an identical new clock, then returning "that" clock with my new receipt. I despite being forced to participate in such a sham, but if a store won't stand behind its own house-brand products, I don't know what else I can do.
In the future, I won't buy anything that can break from Target.
This wasn't the case at all with my wife and I. We registered, and they took care of returns without receipts no problem, as long as it was on our registry.
Target kicks ass.
Target is the devil when it comes to returns of just about any type. We had the misfortune of getting an off-registry gift, with Target tag still attached, and we were "lucky enough" to be able to exchange it for ONE item (since I only had one item) of equal or GREATER value from the particular sub-department of the store that the original item came from. I wasn't even asking for cash back! I would have gladly accepted store credit. I certainly wasn't trying to rip them off. I have had NO problems at any of the other registry sites I received gifts from (Macys & BB&B).
Yep, Target went NeoNazis with the receipt rules. But they were being grossly taken advantage of before. A ex-sister-in-law of mine was black listed from Target for bringing in too returns without receipts. (The family strongly suspects she and a friend were stealing and returning things for the cash.) But with today's modern age, why can't they use sales off of the gift registry and original packaging as proof?
I wonder when they changed the policy
They've been steadily making their return policy more and more anti-consumer for a long time. The final step (no returns at all without a receipt) was this past December
What's really sad is that when Target first started up (in my area of the country, anyway), they had a months long advertising blitz bragging about how generous, easy and consumer friendly their "no questions asked" return policy was.
I still shop at Target, but only for low cost items that I'm certain I won't be returning
every time I shop at Target they ask if I want gift receipts. All the buyer had to do was tape it to the item, or put it in the card, or staple it to the bride's forehead.
It doesn't list the price because it's a GIFT. Just because she had a wedding registry and an item that is listed on it doesn't mean it's guaranteed she's an honest person and that item came from Target.
Target is covering their butts. Not with the customer in mind, but still, it's their butts.
I can see potential for abuse too - I set up a registry, buy something and then return it with a receipt. Then I go grab one off the shelf and return it, saying it is a duplicate from the registry.
Target probably can't win with this. If they were to continue tracking the specific sales on the registry, it wouldn't be long before some *cough* consumer site complains about privacy concerns and they shouldn't be doing that.
The registry should make it clear to the guest making the purchase to include a gift receipt, then there wouldn't be an issue.
Another factoid about Target gift registries: Any Team Member can add to it, including checkout staff. My now wife and I registered through Target, and it wasn't long before we got some phone calls from family asking why we registered for cat litter!! Turns out, my sister was buying some things for herself at the same time she was buying for us. When she told the cashier, the cashier helpfully added my sister's entire purchase to our registry! Fortunately she didn't buy anything too personal that day.
We had a similar experience with Macy's. One helpful wedding guest did some comparison shopping off our registry there and supposedly found the same item cheaper somewhere else. They proceeded to call Macy's and ask them to remove the item from our registry, which they did without telling us. Unfortunately, the items were not identical, and our remaining guests were prevented from buying us what we wanted. Now we're stuck with a gift we can't return, and we didn't get what we asked for.
Thankfully the wedding went off well, and there was only one box of cat litter on our gift table at the reception. :)
After I read Chrissy's original story of Target's horrible wedding registry, I have steered 3 couples away from them in favor of Bed, Bath and Beyond. I'll be forwarding this new story onto them to re-affirm my recommendation.
Are you high? There's a HUGE MAJOR difference here between a person walking in with no receipt and a person on the Target gift registry:
THE REGISTRY IS BASICALLY FREE BUSINESS TO TARGET. If I register for my wedding/baby/whatever at Target, that's like me telling my family and friends "YOU MUST SHOP AT TARGET."
For the "privilege" of the customer providing them what is essentially a captive audience, they could at least throw a bone or two to said customer.
J=}
Do any of you think it is tacky to tuck the gift receipt (no prices, etc.) in the box with the wedding present? That's what I usually do, just in case the couple got multiples, it doesn't work, etc. If guests do this, they can save the couple some headaches down the line.
I always tape the gift receipt to the inside or back of the card. I fold it up neatly and just find a spot that's out of the way. My friend's wedding registry was at Target, so I definitely made sure their gift receipt was in the card.
When I was married in September, I returned a gift past the 90 day limit and still received purchase price as a store credit.
I think I had the gift receipt though, even though they looked it up on our registry.
@littlemoose: No, I don't think it's tacky, and I'm sure it's much appreciated in many cases. But a lot of people probably don't even think about it, and/or don't realize how important this would be given Target's policies. And I do think it's somewhat embarrassing to the couple to have to call and ask people for any receipts that weren't included just because of the store policy.
I like Target and think its a shame, but at this point its better than Crap-Mart. The thing that really annoys me about our Target is on all the doors it states that they will not let people solicit outside their stores so that their customers can enjoy their shopping experience however for over two months now there has been some organization standing outside with their TV tray and their bucket asking for donations... If you are going to go so far as having a policy printed on all of your front doors you think you would at least enforce it...
Many of the people who work for Target won't use Target's registry for either wedding or baby because it's too much of a hassle...
@quail: Some restrictions are fine. However, I think that Wal-Mart's policy is more reasonable: with photo ID, you can get a limited number of returns accepted without receipt (3 in 6 months, as I recall).
I hardly ever return anything, but, it makes me angry that Target has become so difficult. If defeating fraud is the point, why can't they track transactions by my credit card? Why put the onus solely on the customer?
I had the same problem. The gift receipt included apparently did not belong to the gift. The gift was $30, and I said store credit would be fine. They said they could only give store credit without a receipt for $25. I said fine, give me credit for $25. They said they couldn't do that because the item was $30, and would I like a bag for it? I gave my best, "No, dumbass" look and expressed my regret for registering at Target. Other places I registered at have MUCH better customer service. Target lost me as a customer.
Yes, you should include gift receipts, but when a guest doesn't do that, you're SOL at Target.
Anyone need a set of mixing bowls? I have three.
I'd recommend Babies R Us for baby shower registries. They have no problem taking back items without a reciept if they were on your registry. I have done it many times.
Lesson: Don't register at Target.
@fluiddruid
I know Target can track by debit/credit card or written check in their system. I don't know if they have stopped this but last year I returned something I lost the receipt to and the gal just asked for my card I used to purchase the item and they were able to track my purchase in their system and I was able to get a refund. Again I'm not sure if this has changed or not.
I had so many problems with their wedding registry three years ago that I ended up scrapping it and going with Bed Bath and Beyond. Target's merchandise is constantly discontinued and they never scan anything that IS found on the registry properly. After a month of constantly having to update my Target registry, I just said 'nevermind' and went with BB&B. I'm so glad I did.
Now that my husband and I are having a baby, Target is the last place I will ever consider registering. I ended up registering at Babies R Us yesterday. After Target's shenanigans with improperly scanning and now with their new "no receipt, no refund" policy, I actually am considering discontinuing shopping there.
don't forget that at target, some refunds are based on the current price, not the price listed on the receipt. Guess what happens when the $35.00 item you want a refund for is on clearance for $1.99. Yup, you only get $1.99 back!
@Hamm Beerger: sometimes people buy something they see on the registry but neglect to mention that it was a registry purchase...
I'm surprised that Target wouldn't even give a gift card. Even Kmart would allow you to return something without a receipt and just give you in-store credit.
Having bought for a friend's baby registry at Target and then checking afterwords, I found the problem causing people to double-buy. The registry isn't updated until the NEXT DAY!
So, you can buy that toy or walker thing or whatever it is babies need in the morning, and it's still printing with the registry list that night when someone else gets there. Not cool.
Ask for a gift receipt if you're giving people a gift from Target, I guess.
If the item came from Target.com, you can actually get the order number if you call in. That allows you to print of the in-store return receipt. Yeah, it's a big hassle, but Target.com uses basically nothing but drop shippers so the packing slips are all different.
Above: Reason number one why one should not have a gift registry at Target.
Reason number two? After applying at a local Target for a job (which I did not get), I had to sit and wait for a manager to meet-and-greet me and inform me of what would happen within the following week. While there, a pair of girls brought back a few items they had purchased for a friend's baby shower. Apparently, the registry was in the same name as another customer, and so the items they got were essentially marked as being purchased on this matching list while the items they bought weren't needed for their friend at all.
Thankfully, this was an error caught before the shower and could be corrected in a timely fashion, but I can imagine some very... interesting complications that this could have caused.
Especially if the recipient needed the receipt to return the junk they had no use for.
No receipt = no refund = no purchases @ Target. Wow, that was easy! NEXT!
Isn't the point of the registry to make sure you get things you like and you don't get two of the same thing?