Target ripoff Return Policy is Rediculous Las Vegas Nevada

I'm here to tell you that Target sucks and I will never shop in that store ever again. I purchase shirts for my Father at Christmas and they were to small so I returned them I also had a recpt. because the shirts were now on the clareance rack they only wanted to give me sell price!!! No way I was going to have it. So I threw a big fit in the middle of the store and refused to leave until I got my money. They weren't going to screw me over. Finally after the manager, asst. manager and 3 customer service reps said they were going to call the police I told them to go ahead I had proof they owed me. Well I walked out with my money!!!! Also on the way out I said a few choice words and was helped to my car by the nice police officer I thanked him and say "atleast this trip up here wasn't wasted" He just laught.

I am so glad that we have a wonderful Target store in Castle Rock, Col. I have had to take things back for many reasons and they gladley give me either cash or a gift card, my choice.
This was nice to read however just to get the insight on the other stores around..

Unfortunately there are some bad Targets out there - I've been to a few. When you find a good one keep shopping there. We have an awesome Target where I work.
I am glad it was resolved for you :D

To the question: 'Why is it store policy?' BECAUSE!

To the question: 'Why is it store policy?' BECAUSE!

To the question: 'Why is it store policy?' BECAUSE!

To the question: 'Why is it store policy?' BECAUSE!

Your response has helped alot. I have found that the rudeness of the employees was only specific to this particular Target location. I began talking with the online customer service and have recieved exceptional customer service. I was ready to stop shopping at Target altogether until I found that the problems I had encountered were only specific to one location. There are great customer service people, such as yourself, at all other Targets in the Las Vegas area. I am very sorry to assume that one store's bad reputation would carry over to all other stores and represent the Target corporation. Yes, I was upset at the return policy, but I was irate with the poor treatment and snide remarks, especially when I did not even so much as raise my voice. However this is not the case with ALL Target stores and certainly should not represent the Target corporation as a whole. My problem has long since been resolved, but I appreciate the courtesey of every other employee I encountered along the way. This particular store just plain sucks, but I found another location where all the employees are pleasant and smile. Thank you for your comments. I appreciate that you took the time to respond. =)

I can understand why it is frustrating to have to exchange from the same department - but you also have to understand that you don't have a receipt. Target loses a ton of money every year from return scammers(I can go on and on about what I've seen) and this is one way they are trying to curb that.

Now your comments about why should an employee who makes $7/hr care - kind of ironic that you would say the exact opposite for any other situation. You want us to care if you need help, or if you have a concern, but not if it doesn't work in your direction. I am an employee who does care about keeping her job, and saying that I don't care about Target policies won't help me keep it.

For the people who always bring up Wal-mart's return policy(which is NO comparison to Target - learn more about them and you'll quickly quit shopping there) - it's not as good as you think. I tried to return an unopened adapter for a playstaion that had a receipt and they refused the return at all.. why? Policy. (apparently that item had a policy of no returns even with a receipt. unopened might a remind you.)
So - get a different toy and smile. Target cares a lot more about customers than Walmart.

I appreciate your input, but I haven't returned anything to Target in a very long time. I don't know where you got "3 items". I have been discussing the situation with Target. Most of you have been excellent help and I thank you. When I reach a conclusion, I will be sure to let everyone know. So far, the customer service person I've have been speaking with has been awesome. WAAAAAYYYY different from the store employees.

The reason why you had to choose from a the same department is because you have already returned 3 times without a reciept in one year. This is looked at as exessive. People scam target daily and Target can't let everyone return anything. So the purpose of having to choose something from the same department is stop lose returning stuff they stole....well really to stump them and for the companies sales not to jump up and down in departments. hwo would they tract their sales if eveyone did this? the company needs to know where to grow and where to downsize. reguardless of the fact that it clearly states the return policy on the back. they don't have to return anything with a reciept. its 2006 HELLO GIFT RECIEPTS!

If you supposedly take pride in donating toys to the needy, then why didn't you just donate this particular toy and be done with it??

Methinks you are telling tall tales and only digging yourself into an even deeper hole, my friend.

To all of you who responded above with constructive advice and suggestions, thank you. To the two who assume they know way more about my life....

Fisrt of all, we go as a family and choose toys and blankets and other needy items to donate EVERY YEAR. If we are short on cash, we will donate gifts BEFORE buying things for ourselves.

As far as calling me ungrateful, I asked my sister-in-law for the reciept. She knows my daughter got TWO of the same item sold exclusively at Target. The girls told us the same thing as what happened to the woman above. Even with the reciept, or gift reciept, we would be exchanging for an item in the same department. The gift giver has been working alongside us trying to straighten this out. Where on the reciept or posted in the store does it say "Items returned with a reciept will not be refunded and store credit will (maybe) be given for the same department original purchase was made in"? And benefit monetarily? How does that benefit me?? My 4 year old would rather have a book and some gardening equipment than another toy. Shame on her!

Thanks to the rest of you for the suggestions. I have contacted Target directly and the gentleman I have been talking with has been very polite and is working very hard to help me.

AND don't assume I was rude to any employee! I was NOT. I would never blame an employee for a store policy they have nothing to do with. I wouldn't want anyone to get in trouble or lose their job for one stupid return! Which is why I was flabberghasted when the store manager told me that "If you don't want to shop here, that's your perrogetive!"

Most of you who have responded have been very helpful. I appreciate that you all took some of your very valuable time to offer some suggestions. Thank you agian.

What is the big deal??! According to the return policy WHICH IS POSTED ALL OVER THE STORE - NOT ONLY ON THEIR RECEIPTS - a valid receipt is REQUIRED for all returns and exchanges. Translated in easily understood terms, if you don't have a receipt, you are stuck with the item!

However, when you attempted to make your illegitimate return, Target was kind enough to make an EXCEPTION to their policy for you. They did not have to do this. This was considered "above and beyond" and they were trying to help you. Of course, this is not good enough for you - someone who wants everything she demands as nothing else will do.

My suggestions here .... (1) get the receipt from the individual who gave you the item; (2) give the item back to the gift-giver so they can return it, as it is morally tacky of you to try to benefit monetarily from something given to you out of kindness; (3) thank people for making exceptions and trying to help you, even if it's not what your little heart desires, rather than barking your head off and making a scene; (4) learn to control yourself in public and act more professionally so that others will be more apt to want to discuss things with you.

I also am at a loss trying to understand Target's strange return policy. I was very excited when we got our first Target store in Birmingham and was a frequent shopper even though the store was on the other side of town from my home. Last year just before Christmas, I purchased a photo printer for myself (at the same time I purchased almost $900 of other merchandise)...when I got home, I found that this particular printer was not compatible with my digital camera. I returned to the SAME STORE 2 days later ( WITH MY RECEIPT IN HAND) and got the same "song & dance" as the consumer from Las Vegas!!! I was told that I could NOT receive a cash refund (I paid by debit card which had already been processed) & would have to select an item from the same dept. The employee in this store (like the ones mentioned by others) was also at a loss to explain the policy...however, she WAS very nice/polite which induced me to reply in kind. I also spoke to a manager (same story).

Knowing it was useless to argue with the hourly paid employees who had absolutely no hand in making the policy, I knew I had a decision to make....I could keep the printer which didn't work with my camera or get something else from the same dept (which I did). I also had a way to express my dissatisfaction with Target's policy.... I HAVE NOT (AND WILL NOT) PURCHASE ANYTHING ELSE FROM TARGET - EVEN IF THEY HAVE THE LOWEST PRICES! Also, whenever I hear anyone - even strangers- mention making a purchase from Target, I tell them to be VERY SURE that they have EXACTLY what they want because of the trouble with returning items even with a receipt. None of my family shops at Target any longer and I know of others who have also chosen not to shop there. I certainly realize that my business alone will not put Target out of business, BUT, if enough people respond in the this manner, Target will eventually get the message (I also sent a letter to the store in question as well as to the corporate office - neither was ever acknowledged but it made me feel better to send it anyway). I don't feel that my little personal boycott would have much impact if I failed to tell Target WHY I am not shopping there and my intentions regarding spreading the word....

Just my opinion, but the power of the dollar will eventually prevail and get the attention of the policy makers... after all, there wouldn't be a TARGET very long if EVERYONE is shopping at the "other" discount stores!!!

Hope you will all show your dissatisfaction with Target's return policy by doing the same...best of luck

As a retail store manager for 20+ years I may be able to help.
In retail, when an audit of the store is done,it is by depts. Toys,HBA,womens,mens...ect. If they allowed you to exchange a toy for say shampoo(example) then at audit time toys would be over in their audit and HBA would be short.
Now trust me when I say that being over in one dept is just as bad as being short at audit time. This means (to the guys at the top) that the manager,clerks and stockers are doing a bad job. And if you can not explain why you are over and short, then it will cost you your job.
I cannot give you all the answers as to the why's or what's but I can give you 80% that this is the main reason for dept-dept exchanges only with no reciept.
Hope this helps.

If you put Target into this sites 'search' box it will return dozens of complaints about this stupid Target policy, including one from me of about 2+ years ago.

I even tried to phone their 'executive office' and their home office operators will NOT put you through to anyone but customer non-service, you can write to their CEO but he will never see your letter, it goes back to the same customer non-service department who, if they are feeling generous that day, might crank out a form letter which won't be on point to anything in your letter.

This chain just SUCKS. I would NEVER buy anything there for a gift, either Xmas or birthday as if someone tried to return it they would get a run around just like you got.

The only other stores with a similar policy are Kmart (haven't been there since the bankruptcy business so it could be outdated now) and Dillards, a snotty nose in the air store that I would set foot in if someone paid me.

All other stores have a more reasonable policy, some like Wally World allow 3 no receipt returns in 45 days if you have a DL, after 3 it is up to a manager to over ride the system if they choose to do so, if not then you can't return. Target had this same policy up until 3 years ago but for some reason changed to what it is now.

Target is just a bunch of idiots, I avoid them and shop at decent stores.

Hello,

I do not work for Target, or any other retailer, but after reading your report, and the other rebuttal, the only reason I can think of that makes sense to have a same department exchange only is as follows:

In the case of a "scammer" simply picking an item off the shelf to return for an exchange, some items have a higher resale value than others. For example, a DVD and a toy may cost the same amount, but generally, DVD's have more security measures and are harder to steal. So, since the alleged scammer cannot get cash for the item, it would profit them more to exchange the relatively easier to steal toy for a DVD, which they could sell at a pawn shop or something.

I don't know if that is the reason or not, but it' the only thing that made sense to me.

Sorry, to say but its due to the abuse of consumers over the years that stores have to instill a harsher return/refund policy. You have no one to blame but those who inconvenience the stores.

They have every right to say that you are only limited to exchanging it for something in that department, or heck, for that SAME item. Since you have no proof that item was bought there, they have to make sure they aren't being ripped off on the return.

This is why stores now issue GIFT receipts with purchases (amazingly, you can ask for a gift receipt from KMART and Walmart now). Stores are realizing that the best way to handle returns after the holiday season is to issue Gift Receipts to the person who is buying the gift, to include it with the gift should the receiver not want it.

Beyond that, you are also making a mountain out of a mole hill, since its only a toy.

Why not donate that extra toy to Toys for Tots or a charity group. TEACH your children that your gift will go to someone who will be happy; that their extra/duplicate toy will go to someone who will appreciate it?

When we received extra/duplicate toys as a kid, our parents tuaght us to "share" with our cousins and/friends if we didn't want them. (ie give it to them). Sufficed to say, it taught us a valuable lesson when we were young.

Employees care about why the ridiculous policy comes down, because of the customers who come in and demand to know why.
We are then treated like we are stupid because we have no idea why.

I know that I don't like to be treated like I'm stupid. So I did care as to why a policy went into effect.

The fact is that it shouldn't matter what department I purchase something from since I was going to spend more than the credit anyhow. Every store knows to expect a mile long return line after Christmas and guess what? Most of those people don't have reciepts. AND as far as chronic returners, Target, and every other store, track their returns to prevent that from happening. That's why you have to fill out that handy dandy little paper and provide ID. It still does not answer the question as to why it matters what department you purchase from. I KNOW why the "No return without a reciept" is posted. And it's not a courtsey, that's bullshit smoke up the consumer's a*s trying to make it sound like you're getting a good deal, but it only works on morons. I have to agree with the first reply. No one knows why. And what the hell do employees making $7/hr care? You don't own Target and your response was not helpful.

To put it bluntly, it's because of all the scammers that come into retail stores and muck things up for everyone else. Between shoplifters and return scammers, stores lose an awful lot of money each year. Unfortunately, we have to treat everyone the same or we'll eventually get sued (which, incidentally, is why there are no bell ringers allowed outside Target- no one else is allowed, either).

I typically hear about or deal with one or two people each week who try to scam us. Recently, we had a man try to return a televison that he had just carried up from the electronics department (security had watched him on camera, of course)! We've had people try to return brands that we don't even sell.

Now, if you had asked me this while I was at work, in Target colors, I would have lied out my teeth and said that I didn't know. Why? Because it is rude to imply that I'm lumping the guest in question in with scammers.

Incidentally, Target's return policy is clearly laid out on the back of all its reciept tape and, in our store at least, is in big letters behind the Service Desk, on a red sign. It clearly states: "A reciept dated within 90 days is required for all returns and exchanges." I'm looking at it right now. The fact that there is a provision for no-reciept returns in the first place is pretty lienient. I'm sorry the people you dealt with were jerks, but would it have killed you to exchange the item for a different toy?

Oh, and don't bother being rude back. It just makes you look like an a*s, and will probably get you kicked out of the store. Just don't go back.

Because they really have no idea why that rule is in effect either.

I have worked in retail before and the someone making big bucks in the corporate office comes up with these rules and passes them down with a no explanation as to why. You are basically just told follow this or be fired. It's as simple as that.

I cannot count the number of policies that I would come out and my co-workers and I questioned not only why the policy came out but also who would even think of something as stupid as that.

I hope that helps to answer your question as to why they didn't know the reason for the policy that they were bound by.