| Author |
Message |
    
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3164
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 1:55 pm: |     |
I just had to comment on the extremely Draconian return policy at Target, which is completely un-Customer-centric and incredibly frustrating.
Today, I tried to return several items that were received as Holiday gifts. I did not have the receipt, but the items were clearly marked as being from Target. The cashier did a price check on each item and told me I had to find a similarly priced item from the specific department that each original item came from and I could do an "exchange". After searching various departments for "comparable" items, I brought them to the register only to be told I could do an "exchange" with a SINGLE item for each original item.
What is the likelihood of finding a single item with the same or similar price in a specific department? This is crazy.
|
mickey
Citizen
Username: Mickey
Post Number: 359
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 2:01 pm: | |
i wonder why they couldn't just give you an overall credit for the return amount? Isn't it what they used to do? this is a lesson for me to get gift receipts for everything next year, down to each stocking stuffer.
MHD, is this target on route 10, or 22? wonder if it's a universal policy. sorry for your icky day. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4739
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 2:54 pm: | |
MHD that happened to me last year, I was FURIOUS. I swore I would never go back, but alas, Target calls...
I spoke to a manager, she wouldn't budge, wrote several letters to corporated heads, didn't budge. They didn't seem to care. Now I am very careful about getting a gift receipt for every gift I give from Target. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10127
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 2:57 pm: | |
There have been articles in the paper on how many stores are tightening their return policies.
I can see not handing out cash without the receipt, but the way Target handled this sounds like an old Saturday Night Live skit. I can see John Belushi as the customer and Dan Akroyd as the cashier.
Does Target do "gift receipts"? And what actually is a gift receipt? Being even more of a last minute shopper this year than usual I did my shopping at Lord and Taylor (money be damned) and they always asked if I wanted a gift receipt. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3166
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 3:01 pm: | |
Yeah...it was nuts. This was on Route 10, but I think it is the corporate policy.
All the merchandise was brand-new, un-opened and could have easily been resold. I actually didn't expect Cash - a simple store credit would have been fine.
It's amazing when you compare this to places like Costco or Home Depot that take back ANYTHING, even if it's used! |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 995
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 4:24 pm: | |
Bob, I think a gift receipt is a chit with no $ amounts, but it has a barcode/serial number so that the store can trace back to the original purchase for the correct amount of refund/store credit.
Happy new to all the Ks! and all of MOL -
MC |
mimosa
Citizen
Username: Mimosa
Post Number: 206
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 4:43 pm: | |
The same thing happened to me at that Target. I was returning a gift my husband bought and didn't have the receipt. In the past a store credit was issued, but like you, I was told that without a receipt or the card that was used to purchase it, I could only exchange it for an item from the same department. I was so annoyed I took the item home and got hubby's debit card, which is what had been used to make the original purchase. This time they did allow the return and gave me cash back, since it was a debit card. I felt relieved but will be more cautious in the future.
I agree that it should be fine to get a store credit when returning an obviously unused item. |
BGS
Citizen
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 455
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 5:26 pm: | |
I have never had a problem returning to Target in Union...with or without a receipt. As long as there was some indication that the item was purchased at Target, we would always get a store credit if I did not have a receipt or a credit to my charge if I did.
Sorry that you had such a tough time. |
SO Ref
Citizen
Username: So_refugee
Post Number: 1366
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 6:44 pm: | |
I had trouble returning a defective DVD to Target in Union (for an even exchange) and felt the wrath of their un-customer service. I was finally able to convince the manager that it was a damned shame that Target's corporate office didn't trust him enough to make a $20 decision to keep a customer. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2507
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 6:48 pm: | |
Target in Union has this policy also (perhaps you haven't been there in a while BGS). And it's definately "new." I can recall returning just about anything without a reciept in the past, and getting store credit, no problem. It's very frustrating but I guess I can understand it. Now I'm always very sure to have reciepts.
For me Target is too good to give up! |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1321
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 7:34 pm: | |
People have been abusing stores that do easy returns, and now the stores are fighting back. It's unfortunate that the honest among us have to pay the price of other people's dishonesty. But I'd rather have this than higher prices or some other trickle-down effect. |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1543
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 8:03 pm: | |
Here's one reason I can imagine a store would insist on a receipt even if the item clearly came from that store.
The returnee could have stolen the item (from Target's point of view) and is "returning" it for credit/cash.
That does happen more than you think - another trick is to go through the trash outside a store, find a receipt, go into the store and get an item on the receipt and return it for cash.
With people using plastic and computerized registers, that scam is probably less common than it was.
Anyhow MHD, it's a drag when you can't just return something, but the logic behind the policy might be more complicated than a manager just digging in his/her heels. |
babyturtlelover
Citizen
Username: Babyturtlelover
Post Number: 145
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 9:36 pm: | |
The same thing happened to me today. My husband bought 2 fly pens,2 fly pen chargers and 2 fly math software for grades 4-6. I only need one charger and one math software. So I go to customer service and they tell me that I need to get one item for 29.99 and one for 24.99 in the toy department. Do you have any idea what its like trying to find something for an exact price? and I was told I could not get 2 items that would equal 24.99 or 29.99. I walked out an I was furiuos. I swear I will never go back there again.. Tonight I go to the Rockaway Mall and there is a brand new Target on the outskirts of the mall. I talked to the customer service girl and explain to her what happened in East Hanover and she says "Come back on tuesday night when I will be working and I will be happy to return them for you" The East Hanover store said that it was a corporate policy but the girl in Rockaway said that their store changes the policy during the Holidays. I asked the girl in East Hanover what would happen if I had to return the fly pen (they cost 100.00 each) and they are probably the most expensive and only toy for 100.00 in Target.... She didnt have an answer. |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1536
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 11:41 pm: | |
I don't shop Burlington Coat Factory because of their return policy. You can only get a store credit, even with your receipt. That means once you buy something from them they ALWAYS have your money. |
Arnomation
Citizen
Username: Arnomation
Post Number: 432
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 8:44 am: | |
The returnee could have stolen the item (from Target's point of view) and is "returning" it for credit/cash.
Without a receipt you don't even have to steal it. You just have to walk into the store, pick up an item and walk to Customer Service and say you want to return it.
|
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 762
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 9:12 am: | |
My friend who was recently married had to wait 6 months before returning duplicates off her registry. No real reason why, that's just their "policy".
Kohls has a crappy return policy too. I was there about a month ago to return a shirt, but was buying over $100 of other clothing. It couldn't be done in a single transaction since exchanges have to be for the exact same price only and none of my items were exactly the same price as the shirt. I had to go to the back of the store to RETURN it, then make my purchase. And even then the transaction had to be split into 2 because I was using an Amex gift card and my credit card and they couldn't do it together. It was more trouble for them than me, I don't get it. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3169
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 12:41 pm: | |
Whenever I bring an item back without a receipt, I make a very visible point of going straight to Customer Service, so I won't be accused of "stealing". In addition, there are plenty of stores like Home Depot, Barnes & Noble and Costco that take back ANYTHING, even if it's used.
In addition to venting here on MOL, I did send an email to Target via their website & just received the following unhelpful email:
I'm sorry for any disappointment, but you need to have a receipt to receive a store credit for your purchases.
Our return guidelines require a receipt for any return, but we also want you to have the chance to find another items that you're sure to love. That's why our store team member offered you an exchange for a similar items of equal or greater value from the same products category. We also need your photo ID to do any exchange because we track and limit these exceptions.
Your feedback is a big help to us, and I'll make sure to share your comments with our executives. Please let us know if we can be of any help in the future!
Thanks for shopping with us. We'll see you again soon at Target.
|
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1673
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 12:47 pm: | |
Although this wouldn't help with gifts -- Target will take back things (for full credit) without a receipt if you have the credit card used to purchase the item. They can quickly look it up.
Before the holidays, there was a woman checking out right in front of me. She was buying lots of kids clothes (from baby to teen sizes) -- whne she was done I recall the cashier printed out something like 15 gift reciepts! Based on this thread, I now understand why that was a good idea!
Happy New Year -- Pete |
Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 198
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 10:49 am: | |
On another note I would also check the return policy on the back of your receipt. Many mass retailers are starting to implement a time limit for merchandise returns. I know guys like Lowe's and Target have this limit and will not take returns back, as well as many of the large electronic chains (I think Circuit City will not take an electronic return after 15 days).
|
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2080
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 9:52 am: | |
At the extreme opposite end is Kohl's. I returned a shirt for my daughter the other day. I did not have a receipt, not even a bag. They sent me to the customer service desk at the back of the store, so I walked through all the departments and got there. They gave me store credit with no questions asked. But I guess being a fat balding middle aged white guy, I don't fit their criminal profile...
Very easy to deal with. |
SO Ref
Citizen
Username: So_refugee
Post Number: 1380
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 9:58 am: | |
It's not like the customer service person needed to sit next to you on the train... |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page