Target Has a Crappy Return Policy!

I spent part of my day today playing with children on the Target Facebook group. I posted a rant about how Target's return policy has turned against its customer. I received a bunch of angry rants from obvious Target groupies who defended the policy.

After pointlessly going back and forth with these little drones, I discovered a site that points out flaws in Target's customer return policy in people's own words. Nothing could be more powerful than that.

Comments

[Michelle]

I've had bad luck with everything Target. Their credit card was the worst I've ever had-poor customer service as well as the lamest web page ever. Never again...

[Andrew B. Clark]

You hit the nail right on the head. From a brand marketing standpoint, Target isn't making it work.

Sure, they have cool, snappy commercials and an extremely recognizable image (logo, etc.). But their brand "experience" is lagging drastically. And as we've learned recently, the customer creates the brand... not the advertising agency and the posers within the company that push their cult-like culture...

I think someone once compared it to "polishing a turd."

Great insight.
Keep Cooking!
Andrew

[Kyle]

On 10/26/08 my sister went into target electronics department and asked for a DVD player which would play Divx. They referred her to a Sony model for $49.99 which the sales member stated played everything including Divx. Well I got this as my present 10/31/08. Read the box and new right away this was not a divx player. Looked and online site and seen she should have been referred to the Phillips dvp5140 $39.99. I asked my sister for receipt which she could not find. So I thought no problem it is unopened has target stickers on it and I only want to exchange because they referred wrong DVD player. At the time my sister (former target employee years ago stated they are very strict with returns). Everyone at the party agreed that would be absolutely crazy if they would not exchange, and I would have no problem. Well I made it to target and guess what my sister was right. The sales person said with a big smile sorry no receipt no exchange. When I asked why she said because I could have purchased somewhere else. I asked do other people also put these labels with target logo's all over their DVD players too. This was ridiculous I just wanted to exchange for what my sister should have been given in the first place. Terrible customer service, and terrible exchange policy. Would never expect something like this from this big of corporation. So I am stuck with a DVD player I don't want and with a longer drive to Walmart for all my shopping needs! At least they appreciate the business. Checked online and the number of online post is growing significantly about this terrible policy, well mine will be right there with them. Change your policy I understand my sister should have not lost the receipt but were human and it happens. At least an exchange for a unopened product with your label on it. Common guy's!!!!!! I would have even taken sale price if there was one.

[Katherine M. Logan]

I am very disappointed in Target and their extremely strict return policy. While visiting our daughter in Williamsport, PA this past August, I purchased a cordless vacuum at their local Target (purchase date - 8/29/08). My daughter told me two months ago it never really had enough suction and at that point, none at all. They had to stop using it. I was able to find my Target receipt and brought it with me on my next visit in mid-November with the intention of returning it. I was there for the arrival of their new baby and in the excitement, totally forgot to take care of returning the vacuum. I came home a few days ago and came across the receipt. Of course, now it is about three weeks past Target's 90 day return policy and they will not do anything for me, not even do an even exchange for a vacuum that actually works. I've gotten the same excuse from the store and corporate . . . that their 'system' will not allow them to do anything past 90 days (this must be in their training manual) and I think anyone who has worked in retail knows this is total BS! A good manager can write items out of stock if he feels it means retaining a customer. Target chose not to keep this customer satisfied.

I already checked on authorized service centers and there is not one within 50 miles. It is impossible for my daughter to travel any further than that in the winter with a brand new baby.) I paid $79.99 for a vacuum that is not working and I feel like I have been taken advantage of. I'm very disappointed that my daughter has a vacuum in her house that is absolutely worthless and get more and more angry at Target every time I think about it.

Target stores are clean with wide aisles and fairly decent sales. Their customer service is excellent BEFORE the sale, but watch out if you need to return something after that 'written in stone' 90 days! If the item has tags on it, you can lie and say it was a gift, but in my case, we just wanted to do an even exchange for a vacuum that worked. If I had purchased it at Sears or Wal-Mart, I know this issue would have already been resolved. I will no longer buy anything at Target except for immediate consumables that I know I will not have to return. I don't think they realize how many customers they have lost over their ridiculously rigid return policy. I will now be spending more of my money at Wal-Mart.

[deborah oehler]

mervins department store folded for many reasons their poor return policy was number 1. i boycott target nearly 100% of my purchases because of their nasty employee attitude & rturn policy, which should just be called target has a "no return policy period.!!!!