We don’t want to sit here and lecture Target on how to run its stores, but maybe some people at Jared’s local store could use remedial price-matching policy lessons. Jared wanted them to match an advertised price on something dear to the Consumerist community: cat food. Yes, the store running the sale is Pet Supplies Plus, and the sale price requires a loyalty card, but the card is free. We’re not talking about Costco here. Yet the store refused to budge, even though Target’s written price match policy contradicted what they were saying. [More]
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Enjoying Video Games Is Not A Crime, Except Maybe At Target
By 5.29.13
Things that Michael could not be trusted to do at Target: carry a game from the electronics department to the front of the store without stealing it, and provide a reliable price-matching amount from Amazon. It’s totally excellent that they’re willing to price-match Amazon and all, but Michael shared his story because he’s sort of bemused that something as simple as a game got him treated like a criminal. [More]
Think You Can Tell A $99 Wedding Dress From An $1,800 One?
By 5.24.13
Times used to be, you wanted to buy a wedding dress, you had to go to bridal shops boasting designer creations, with the prices to match. But now retailers are getting into the wedding game, providing cheaper options for customers. Target just threw its veil into the ring with its new line of bridal gowns starting at the low price of $99, which made us wonder — can anyone even pick out the less expensive gowns from their pricier counterparts? [More]
Target, Macy’s Reject Fee-Fixing Settlement With Credit Card Companies & File Fresh Lawsuit
By 5.24.13
Last summer, some of the country’s largest retailers reached a settlment with Visa and MasterCard that was supposed to put to rest qualms the businesses had with the credit card companies’ alleged practice of fee-fixing. The $7.2 billion settlement didn’t sit well with some, including Target and Macy’s, prompting a group of retailers to file a new lawsuit this week, effectively rejecting that previous agreement. [More]
Store-Brand Sunscreens From Target, Walmart, Walgreens Outperform Higher-Priced Options In Test
By 5.23.13
If you think you get what you pay for when you buy sunscreen, you might be in for a surprise. Our less-sunburned cousins at Consumer Reports recently put a dozen sun-protection products to the test and the ones that came out on top were also among the least expensive. [More]
Target Testing Out Its Own Streaming Video Service With Employees
By 5.20.13
Is there something missing from your streaming video routine? Perhaps, but even if you’re totally sated by the players already in the online video arena, Target is reportedly getting ready to throw its own hat in the ring with a Netflix-like movie service. Thus far it’s only testing it out with its own employees. [More]
Target Recalls 150,000 Giada De Laurentiis Lasagna Pans Because Lasagna Should Not Result In Lacerations
By 4.25.13
From knives to food processors, there are plenty of things in the kitchen that could cut you, but lasagna pans have historically been low on the laceration scale. But Target has now recalled nearly 150,000 of ceramic pans branded with the name of visage of celeb chef Giada De Laurentiis out of concern that they could break and cut the user. [More]
Target Still Struggles With Reality, Thinks ‘More Than’ Is A Meaningless Marketing Phrase
By 4.23.13
It’s kind of confusing when phrases like “more than” and “over” have become nothing more than meaningless marketing buzzwords. Three and a half years ago, we brought you a set of light-blocking curtains that block more than 100% of light. It sounds nice, but is physically impossible. Reader Liz found a similar marketing oddity at Target, where a sign brags about a discount of “more than” $20 when the discount is, in fact, exactly $20. [More]
Target Probably Didn’t Check Spanish Dictionary For “Urine” Before Selling “Orina” Sandals
By 4.9.13
Dear readers, cast your brains back all the way to last week: Remember when Target caught a bit of flak for selling only the plus-size version of a dress in Manatee Gray in an apparent mix-up that had the other ladies’ version in regular Heather Gray? The company apologized and blamed an internal process for the glitch. That’s all cleared up — but who at Target made the decision to go ahead and sell Urine style sandals? [More]
Target Admits “Manatee Gray” Is Maybe Not The Best Color Name For Body-Conscious Shoppers
By 4.5.13
Earlier this week a Target shopper sparked a controversy on Twitter after discovering that the same gray dress was listed as “Manatee Gray” in the plus-size version and simply “Heather Gray” in the “Missy” category. The company is now scrambling to apologize for the snafu, saying it uses the manatee color name all over the site. That makes us wonder — what other totally inappropriate and/or wacky color names are floating around out there? [More]
Target Can’t Find The Product I Returned In Its Own Warehouse & Somehow This Is My Problem
By 4.3.13
Consumerist reader Anne and her husband just welcomed a new baby girl to their Brooklyn home, and as such, were busy getting ready for her arrival in the weeks leading up to her birth. As part of her nesting activities, Anne ordered a baby rocker from Target and chose a light cream color. But when it arrived, it was really more of a brown hue and she didn’t want to keep it. [More]
Geek Squad Too Geeky For Target?
By 4.3.13
Back in October, we told you about Best Buy and Target experimenting with putting Geek Squad dorks behind the counter at a handful of Target stores. Shock horror, this didn’t really shake things up at either retailer, so they have decided to just go their separate ways and then maybe occasionally say hi in the hallway between class before eventually deciding it’s easier to just pretend they never went on those couple of awkward dates. [More]
4 Ways Retail Stores Are Monitoring Your Every Move
By 3.27.13
From the second you pull into a store’s parking lot, you can be relatively certain there are electronic eyes on you. But we’re way past the days of black-and-white monitors to discourage vandalism and shoplifting. Today’s retailers follow you everywhere and know lots about you. [More]
Hey Kids… This Mystery Shopper Report Tells You Which Stores Will Probably Sell You R-Rated Movies & Games
By 3.25.13
When I was an adolescent, my friends and I had to rely on word-of-mouth about which stores would look the other way when it came to movie ratings and parental advisory warnings on music. But kids today, they have the benefit of the Federal Trade Commission, which periodically looks at how strict various businesses are about sticking to these ratings systems. [More]
Target Sent Me Free Stuff! Too Bad It Was An Open Box Cutter
By 3.21.13
The good news, for Carmen, was that she received some free stuff in her Target order. Who doesn’t like free stuff? Carmen. At least, she doesn’t like free box cutters that nick her finger and make her worry that she will get some kind of Warehouse Plague. [More]
Why Does Target Need To Scan My Driver’s License To Sell Me Nicotine Patches?
By 3.18.13 — Updated: 3.19.13
Rodney’s son asked him to pick up some nicotine patches, so he did. Rodney, an ex-smoker himself, knows the agony of nicotine withdrawal, and was happy to help him out. Up to a point. He wasn’t happy enough to let Target scan his driver’s license and hold on to the information that he had bought nicotine patches when he hasn’t smoked in years. The thing is, his caution is entirely justified. He could very well land on a data broker’s list of recent smokers. [More]
Target Sign Wording Leaves San Jose Residents Scratching Their Heads
By 3.18.13
No one at Target would return a call last week from the San Jose Mercury News, so the paper wasn’t able to solve the mystery of what Target is trying to communicate with this sign in their cart corrals. They were left only with speculation, and if newspaper and online readers love anything, it’s speculating about typos. [More]
Target, Where You’ll Pay Just A Little More For A Repackaged Xbox Accessory
March 15, 2013
Consumerist reader Christopher was strolling through the video game section of his local Target in Connecticut when he noticed something strange about the price tag for an Xbox accessory that was labeled as “Repackaged” with a big red sticker. Usually, that means the price would be lower, but as we all know when it comes to Target and price tags, logic goes right out the window. [More]
