Target review: return policy is deceptive 44

Target is a store I stay away from! I've had horrible return experiences with this store. I made a huge mistake at Christmas in purchasing a ton of video games for my boys over the internet from Target. The return policy is impossible. Some of the games that were duplicates I tried to return WITH the receipt to the store and was told that I could only go through the online mail return route. What BS!. It was on the shelf at the store for sale. Why would I be made to go through the long tedious process of returning it via mail when I was there in person at the store. This left a horrible taste in my mouth for their store and buying from their online store. I also made a return that gave me a gift card back. I used it and had a remainder of 9 cents left on the card and they wouldn't give me the 9 cents in change so its still on the card I'm never going to use. I hate Target.

Two problems I encountered this holiday with Target.

#1 My daughter received a pair of pants for Christmas from a relative.

We did not have the receipt but it had the tags attached. I went to return the item and was informed that I had to present my driver license and can only return w/o receipt 2 times per year. I also could not get a gift card for the exchange even if it were for the lowest price of the item. I had to replace the item right then and there and I had to replace it with a item not only from the same department but it had to be in the ' girls clothing section only '. I asked if we could look in the belts, purses, or other accessories that is in that area and was told no. We had to get a girls clothing item only. I never heard of this from a store before. I was under the understanding that you could replace an item with any product in the store of equal value that was being allowed for your returned item. My daughter actually desired a Cd to replace the pants but was not allowed this. She looked around the girls clothing and did not like anything enough to justify giving up the pants to that particular store. We went back to the counter to retrieve the pants and go to another Target that might have a better selection. At the next Target we were told basically the same thing with the exception that we could venture into the accessories and shoes department. Had the employee of the previous Target known the policy correctly we would have been spared a extra trip to another Target in another town. Regardless, I don't see the logic in leaving a bad taste in a consumer's mouth by making it unpleasant and difficult to make a return that is obviously legitimate. The money stays in the store anyway regardless of what department your buying out of. I don't shop Target because of a couple of bad experiences with them many years ago and I would not of been in their store if not for the Christmas gift return.

This experience only reinforced my good decision of back in the day not to do business with Grinches.

#2 I purchased a Digital camera at a Thanksgiving sale ($99.00) from a Target in North Carolina where I had been visiting for the holiday with family. When I got back to my home in Texas the 1st of Dec. I opened the camera to use it. It took a couple of pictures and immediately began acting up. I returned it with my receipt to Target here at home and was informed they had had 4 of these cameras already returned for reasons of defect. They said they had no more and would issue me a credit. The gal handed me a gift card. I asked her "why am I getting a gift card when I have my receipt". I used a credit card and it should of been charged back on it. She said that I did not specify that I wanted it to be put back on my credit card. I responded that first off she did not ask if I wanted a gift card and that I assumed she would know from the receipt that it would be credited back to my credit card. She said it was too late and there was nothing she could do. I asked for a manager and a lady standing behind the employee came to the counter and had already overheard the conversation. She said " the transaction had been completed and it cannot be reversed, that I should of informed the employee that I wanted it credited back to my credit card ". Since when did this scam begin I thought ? They were forcing me to keep my money in their store even though I had a receipt and the return was all valid. Never again will I look in the direction of a Target Store ! When I told my family and friends about this incident, I learned that my Sister and a friend also had this very same thing happen to them. What's up here ?

We returned a TV to target which we purchased as a Christmas present for our kids. We gave it to them December 24, 2006 and it did not work. The receipt was passed its 90 day policy which we explained to the manager of the Levittown, NY store named Tom, who said he was the executive manager. We explained that we bought it at the end of august as a Christmas present and this was the first time used. He at first tried to do the return but the system would not allow it. He then told us there was nothing he could do and basically target was not responsible. He tried calling corporate but it seemed that all the executives had gone home early. After a heated discussion Tom the manager called security and had 2 men surround me as if I were the criminal. Was I supposed to sit there quietly and eat $700? I am a mother of four children and hardly a criminal. I feel this behavior was outrageous and embarrassing. This whole situation could have been avoided if a store of targets stature had an adequate Christmas policy. Also if your going to have a store open then you should have the help available to deal with such problems. Not a manager who could only call security in an uncomfortable situation. In other words, do not shop early at Target for your Christmas presents!

Target – Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fairfax, VA

I have made several phone calls to the Target "guest relations" about this issue and I have been very
unimpressed.

All I wanted to do was to return a package of refill baby wipes because my daughter potty trained. I was very surprised that I was told I could not return any more items without a receipt.

Early in the year I had returned several gift items without a receipt, but I had forgotten about them.
First was two super small toy items that were duplicates from a friend of mine in Massachussetts. I
live in Virginia. We already had these items and I received a grand total of $5.11 for those items.

My next return without a receipt was a Thomas lego Percy train that I received from my sister. I had
seen these many times at Target, so I just returned them there and bought my son a different set at Target so that he would have it in time for his birthday. I think that returns was around $18-$20. I was just making it easier for myself, but I could have taken the return to Toys R Us or Walmart as they both sell this item.

I am a CPA and a graduate of Babson College, so I do understand business policies. However, I do not at all understand Target's policy. For under $30 in minimal returns and I am now not allowed to return any item without a receipt. I have not shopped at Target since this all started back in early September and plan on continuing this until I hear that Target has rethought their policy.

On both occasions I returned perfectly good salable merchandise that was being sold in the stores. On those same occasions I also purchased a great deal more than my returns. I had been purchasing anywhere from a very low of $40, average of about $60, to over $100 in purchases every two to three weeks. Since this incident started, I have been shopping at other stores and we certainly have many to choose from in the Northern Virginia area.

I am just so surprised at how awful Target has been about this and how amazing it has been that none seems to understand the bigger picture here and refuse to make any exceptions or changes to their policy.