Complain about a product or service

Target - Pricing Disputes

Eleanore of Hales Corners WI (11/27/08)
On Tuesday, 25-November-2008 I purchased an easy bake oven for my granddaughter. I presented a coupon to at the service desk for Two Easy-Bake Mixes with purchase of Easy-Bake Oven. At time of purchase they have any of the mixes in stock. I called the store today which is the 26th and still not in stock.

I asked to speak with the LOD and was told that they do not have control over inventory. The coupon expired on 11-26-2008 and since they still did not have the item in stock they would not honor the coupon for another date and they would not substitute per corporate. This is not good business and it is not my fault that they do not have anymore inventory of this item. In all good faith the coupon should be honored when the product is in stock. You would think at a time when the country in a ression and store are loosing business you would do what is ever needed to satisy the customer. If this isn't resolved to my satisfaction I can take my business elsewhere. I will inform my family and freinds as to what occurred.

Christne of Hillsborough NJ (11/26/08)
On Sunday, November 16, 2008 I was on the Target website & noticed that Britax Marathon car seats were on sale for $42.99... being pregnant with twins I was overjoyed to think that I could get my children reliable car seats at such a great price.

My joy was short lived when I open my email the next morning to find an email from Target, stating that they cannot honor my order, even though they made a mistake in the pricing of the car seats.

The emails I received continued to direct me to the Help Section & Policy Pricing, to me that is just a way for Target to own up to their mistakes but not have to take responsibility for them. Is that anyway to run a company?

What are you teaching your employees, its OK, to make a mistake but dont worry about it because you wont have to take responsibility for it nor the inconvenience that it causes the customers. There is no other reason that a company would have such a policy other then to cover their butts when mistakes are made. Not only did you not honor my order but also they didnt even offer any inconvenience discount

Debbie of Wake Forest NC (11/26/08)
I went to my local Target after seeing a Christmas tree on sale on their website. The website indicated that the tree was available online and in the stores. When I got to the store, the tree was not priced on sale, so I asked an employee about it. The employee, who I later found out was a manager, told me that I must have read the ad wrong and it must be another tree that was on sale.

I was sure it was that tree and I asked her if she could check on that and even check the store website. She begrudgingly went to the front of the store and I followed her. She looked it up on the computer and found out that I was correct, but then she stated that they don't always reduce items for sale just because the store website does, even when the website says that the item is also available in stores.

She apologized and told me that she couldn't help me, and I let her know that that was wrong and that they were not honoring their own company's prices. She told me there was nothing she could do. I then asked her if I could speak to the manager, at which time she indicated that she was the manager. I again told her that that was very bad policy and that I had worked for Target in the past and we never handled issues like that, or our customers, in that way. After that, I went back to the department, and still being angry about what had just transpired, I put the tree and all the other items down. My shopping trip at Target was over. On my way out of the store, I stopped at Customer Service and asked who the store manager was. The employee told me that Kelli, who she had just seen me speaking to, was the manager. I then asked who the head store manager was, and she told me David. I asked if he was in, and she told me he was off for the day. When asked for his last name, she indicated that they do not give out last names. Yes, I do recall that policy when I worked for Target previously. Target is not the store it used to be, at least not at that location.

I left the store angry over a mere $10 that Target wouldn't make right. The tree was originally priced $69.99, and the sale price (as listed on the website) was $59.99. I didn't buy all the items that trip that I had planned on based on this experience, and I came home and ordered the tree online at Target.com and got free shipping, so I still got the tree at the right price. However, I will never look at Target the same way. That is no way to treat their customers.

B of Syosset NY (10/25/08)
False Advertisement - Hanes sweat shirts - lowest price of the season advertised at $4.66. I had previously (within 2 weeks) purchased the same article for $4.50 and when I saw the ad I thought they were selling a heavier shirt because of the higher price and quote. I went to the store and saw it was the same article I had previously bought and it was now at a higher price despite their advertisement.

I cannot believe any of their advertisements again. I am a senior citizen and my time and gas consumption were thoroughly wasted by their LIE! I cannot trust them anymore. Will this info be sent on to them - I would like an explanation of their statement Lowest price of the season.

Casilda of Brooklyn NY (09/21/08)
I was at The Targetstore located at the Atlantic Center Mall this morning at 10:00a.m. and purchased a girls jacet that was hanging on a rack with five other jackets that were exactly the same. The sign above the jacets said Girl's 4-16 Cherokee jackets $19.99. When I got to the register the jactet rang up at the original price of $44.99. I went to customer service and the very nice young man was willing to help me but needed a manager to override the difference in the amount.

We spoke with two managers and eventually had to speak with Jeremy (LOD) who was rude, impertinent, and told me that he didn't care what the sign said he was not giving me the jacket for the sale price. He further went on to explain that he didn't care if I called the bureau of consumer affairs or anybody else he was not honoring the sign which was posted above the merchandise. I asked him for a copy of the sign and he told me it was the property of Target and he wasn't giving me anything. Eventually he gave me the sign. I asked Jeremy for his managers name and the name of his district manager and he told me he had no district manager and the store had no district manager. He proceeded to give me an 800 number and told me that I could accept a 10% discount and if I didn't take that he was going to cancel my sale. to get out of the store.

I repeatedly told him that he should watch how he was talking to me and that he was being exceptionally rude and disrespectful to me, but he carried on anyway. I want a written apology from him for his failure to provide customer service, his rude attitude, and his telling me blatantly that he was going to cancel my sale, and him telling the security guard to put me out of the store. I want the difference between the $44.99 price of the jacket and the displayed sale price of $19.99. I have been a shopper at Target since it's opening in New York and in New Jersey. Thanking you in advance for help in resolving this matter in a satisfactory manner.

Kathleen of Ukiah CA (08/26/08)
On August 15, 2008 I ran into Target to check on a few furniture items. I found a leather chair priced at $229.99 but was unsure if it would fit in the house. On August 22 I returned to the store and found that the chair was still priced at $229.00 and asked to have one brought to me from the warehouse. It took 45 minutes for the clerk to find the chair. Meanwhile I went to the area rugs and found samples mounted on the side of a bin all of which were marked at $129.99. I took one out of the bin that exactly matched the one on the sample and noticed it was marked at $149.00. I assumed that was the regular price and it would be marked down to the sale price at checkout.

I took the only two items I had in my cart to checkout and had them rung up... the rug rang up at $149.00 and the chair rang up at 329.99. Just as I was beginning to sign the credit slip I noticed the price difference. It took another hour to have the managers research the pricing and I was told that the prices that rang up were correct. I told them I knew the law and they are required to give me the items at the price marked on the display. After that they agreed to sell them at the marked price and I saved $120.

If I had not paid attention to the sales slip Target would have made that $120. Since both items were mismarked I believe that this is a SCAM perpetrated on the public. I wish I lived in Santa Rosa so I could go in and see if they are still priced incorrectly. It seems too far fetched to belive that I picked up the only two items in the store that were mismarked.

No harm done because I was strong enough to stand up to them and demand that they sell the items for the price marked on the display items.

Edward of Asheville NC (08/22/08)
On 06/14/2008 I purchased $297.15 worth of outdoor furniture cushions from the Asheville, NC Target store. Within 2 weeks, I was back in the store and saw the same cushions on clearance for 30% off the original price. I approached John manager on duty (no last name would be given) and told in a snooty manner that there was a difference between sale items and clearance items and that I was welcome to contact Target's customer service line.

I did contact that # and 'John's' take on Target's policy was confirmed. I was told, however, that if I wanted to take the cushions off of my furniture, load them into my car, take them back to the store, unload them, return them and repurchase them, then I would be welcome to the new price! How inviting is that policy?

I have never been and never will be in the future a WalMart shopper. I have, however, been a loyal Target shopper. I like the cleanliness of the stores, wide aisles, product blend and Target's policy of investing in the community. If it is worth this ridiculous policy and 30% of $297.15 to Target's bottom line to lose all of my future business ,not to mention me trying to convince as many patrons as possible to no longer patronize Target then so be it. They are certainly smarter and more wealthy than I am. Sears and Woolworth were too. I am less interested in the refund than in changing such a crazy policy. I could get the refund but after having to jump through a bunch of hoops??? Make sense to you??? Thank you for your time. I know from experience that customer service can often be a thankless job and entail dealing with complete idiots. I am not one. Look at the policy! BTW John, the MOD was an ass. I was not and neither was the customer service rep on the 800 line.

Loss of money, frustration with the policy of a decent company

Paul of Lynwood CA (08/17/08)
Sunday paper advertised 12pack of Pepsi soda 4 for $10 dollars + CRV. Got our four 12 packs, got to the register and it came out to $19.82 we asked why and target said because of deposit of .60 cents each. We wondered what the deposit is for and target said we are paying for cardboard and aluminum. So instead of the price that was advertised on their Sunday paper it was actually a total of 19.82 FALSE ADVERTISMENT!!!

Kimberly of Cecilia KY (08/01/08)
I chose between sizes of shoes at Target and noted differing prices on the same shoes (8 and 9 $4.98 and 8.5 $9.98). Since the shoes were identical in every way but size, I assumed these were either priced incorrectly, or the updated tag had fallen off etc... At the checkout I noted that they were the higher price and went to the customer service desk. The customer service lady stated that it was Target policy to price different sizes on different dates and refunded the price. When I contacted Target Inc through email I was told that this occasionally happens due to circumstances beyond their control. This is very much a scam to me, hoping that customers will not notice at the register that each size is a different price range.

C. of Douglasville GA (07/11/08)
At this Target, I have twice had problems redeeming valid coupons for products purchased. I have heard excuses from the cashiers ranging from, these machines don't want to accept the coupons to are you sure you got that item? to, most recently, our manager is going to check to make sure these coupons are not fradulant.

Today I printed valid Target store coupons for Pampers diapers and took manufacture's coupons to use for these items. Pampers and wipes were the only items in this transaction. When the cashier, Carolyn, had trouble scanning the coupons, she called for the manager, whose name I failed to obtain, to take the coupon. He then said that he would be back after checking the coupon. The cashier then asked for me to step aside quite rudely so she could check the customer behind me. I told her that I would wait where I was standing until the manager arrived. I waited for about 8 minutes for the manager to come back and by then my child was crying. This cashier took 2 other customers in front of me during this time.

When this cashier did finally say that the coupons were valid she did not apologize for the wait, just maintained her rude demeanor. Then she had to be told by another cashier that it was okay to accept the Target coupon and a manufacture coupon together for an item. It is obvious that Target staff are not trained very well, but that can't explain the unprofessionalism.

In the end, this cashier did not redeem the valid coupons I gave her and the manager had approved. So I overpaid and left the store. I will be complaining to as many consumer sites as time permits because this is the worst customer service oriented store I have ever been to.

Billy of Murfreesboro TN (07/08/08)
i purchase a madaga azebo at target in march of 08. before i purchase it in the local target store, i was looking at taget website it showed a sale price of 249.99. my fiancee and i went to target the next cday purchase it, on it was for 299.99. i ask the sale associate and manager since it was on there website i should be able to get it fot 249.99

manager stated no because the target website and the store was different that they could not honor the price. even the sales associate could not figure that one out. how could they not honor that and how are they different?

Billy of Murfreesboro TN (07/08/08)
i purchase a madaga azebo at target in march of 08... before i purchase it in the local target store , i was looking at taget website it showed a sale price of 249.99 ..my fiancee and i went to target the next cday purchase it, on it was for 299.99.. i ask the sale associate and manager since it was on there website i should be able to get it fot 249.99 manager stated no... because the target website and the store was different that they could not honor the price...even the sales associate could not figure that one out...how could they not honor that and how are they different?

Anthony of Grand Rapids MI (07/06/08)
I selected a Zune car audio product marked with the price $39.99, product scanned for $79.99. Store refused to sell the product for the price indicated on the sticker indicating they have the right to refuse sales to anyone. This occured on July 6,2008 around 1:30pm. Store representitive removed the sticker price and took product away. Product was not purchased as a result.

Sue of Broken Arrow OK (06/26/08)
I purchased a Madaga gazebo at 8:00 PM on 06/24/2008. The purchase price was $349.99. Several items in this department had been marked down by 30%. The sales person never suggested that this item was going to be marked down.

The next day, I was in Target and this very item was marked down to $244.88. When I took my receipt to customer service, I was told that they do not refund the difference on clearance purchases. I called their Guest Relations number and escalated 3 levels of personnel. Nobody was willing to credit me the difference of $105.11. I have never heard of such a ridiculous policy.

Why would the sales person not inform me that the next day my purchase would be 30% less. I don't need this kind of Guest Relations! From now on, I will take my business to Wal-mart or K-mart where they still treat the consumer with respect and appreciate a customer that spends thousands of dollars each year.

With tax, the difference should have been $114.06. This is the amount that should have been refunded and was refused.

Scott of Dallas, TX (05/10/08)
On 5/09/08, I stopped at Target to purchase some groceries. Among the items that I purchased was a can of Hill Brothers French Vanilla Cappuccino. I had purchased the same item there about a week earlier, and recalled that the shelf label had said the price was $3.49; but when I got home, I saw that I had been charged $3.69. This time, I made a point of checking the shelf label -- which did, indeed, say $3.49. At the register, when the item scanned for $3.69, I informed the cashier of the difference; the cashier suggested that I was mistaken, and had either misread the label or had read one for a different item, clearly implying that I was either senile or retarded. When I did not relent, she called for an associate to check the price. He came over and took the item -- but what I watched him do, instead of walking back to the grocery section to check the shelf label, he went over to a different register and scanned the item, then came back and announced that the shelf label said the price was $3.69. When I still insisted that was incorrect, he told the cashier to ring it up for $3.49, which she apparently proceeded to do. After I got home, however, when I looked at the receipt, I saw that I had been charged the $3.69 price anyway.

This is not the first time that I have caught Target Stores charging a different price at the register from what is displayed on the shelf label; and their employees display an attitude of contempt and disdain for any customers with the temerity to object to this ongoing corporate petty fraud.

Ramon of North Brunswick NJ (03/17/08)
I was at the cash register, I told the cashier what my articles were and she started to charge also for the items of my girlfriend that happened to be behind me. I told her that we were paying separate and I also requested $40.00 dollars cash back. She went ahead and tried to void the transaction and I ended up with an extra $40.00 dollars. I saw my receipt and I was concerned so I went back and I told her and she called the manager and the manager said that, everything was fine and not to worry about anything. A week later my girlfriend got charge for the $40.00 dollars so she had to call Target to complain about it and after another week she got refunded. Then few weeks later (about a month), they went ahead and charged my credit card with the $40.00 dollars. I understand it is their money but how about if by the time they take the money out, I have no funds. People can't just go ahead and play around with other people's money and/or credit card. I will never shop again in Target.

I had no economic or physical damage, it is just the fact that, once a credit card transaction is done in the store and the store already have the information they can go ahead and do anything they want without notifying the person and that is wrong.

David of Alhambra CA (02/27/08)
There was an ad for a record to dvd recorder a short time before Christmas. The ad ran the item for $169.99. The same day as the ad broke, the item was sold out, and 2 other stores in the area were also out. I asked for a raincheck and was told that because this was a seasonal item they would not be getting more of them and so a raincheck would do no good. After Christmas, in early January, I noticed that they were still carrying the item, but now the sale price was $279. after popping into the store as I frequently do (or as the case is now, DID), I inquired about the price, and the associate assured me it would be that sale price again. It never has been. If in fact the item was not ongoing, I would obviously have to accept that a raincheck was not possible. Now since it is an ongoing item, the right thing for Target to do would be to honor the price. I work retail, and in a situation like this I would absolutely do this for the sake of good customer relations. Clearly this is not how Target does business. I will not shop there again. It is a shame that they have grown so big that the loss of one customer is of absolutely no consequence to them.

After 3 phone calls to corporate customer service, I was simply told there was nothing they could do. WHAT? I think there certainly is something they can do. And it is so simple.

Tammy of Perry AR (02/17/08)
My son's House and contents were taken in the Feb 5, 2008 tornado in Hattieville Arkansas. They lost everything. They have a 9 month and a three year old. The insurance paid them and we decided to go to Target as they were the only place we could find a baby bed as we had been to Toy's R us, both the Little Rock and North Little Rock Stores and they were out. We picked up out the Bed, Dresser, changing table and rocking chair to replace what was lost. We went to check out, they would not take my daughter-in-law's check because it was a temporary check, so I wrote out a check from my account for the total amount $989.55 but they said they could not take my check. I could not understand this as I have written checks to this same store a dozen of times. I got upset and asked why and they said I had to call a number on the back of my check.

So I contacted Certegy 800#, it was automated the 1st time and it stated it was protecting me from Fraud. I have never had any checks stolen, and they saw my Drivers License. I called back and talked to a live person, she stated she was sorry, but to protect me they could not reverse it, I told her this was my account, the account had been open for years, and she stated it has nothing to do with account, my balance, they were just protecting me from fraud. I said, so what you are saying I'm a liar and stoled my own check and license and my Granddaughter can go without a bed.

We are still looking for a bed, she is sleeping with her parents. We were embarrassed, humiliated in front of dozens of people when the cashier stated we can not accept your check.

Julie of Covina CA (01/19/08)
I purchased 3 items ane 2 out of the 3 items rang up for more then the price listed on the shelf.

I would have been over charged if I was not paying attention.

Robert of Madera CA (01/02/08)
On 12/22/07, I was shopping online when I saw the stocking holder that we had been looking for and it was marked down 50%. It did not state that it was only on sale on the net and gave me the address to the closest Target store. I went there and noticed that it wasn't marked down so I took the item to the customer service desk and the employee scanned the item and told me that it wasn't on sale at there store yet but if I would keep the receipt and come back in after it goes on sale that they would refund the difference. I took the receipt into the same store that I purchased it from today with my receipt in hand and explained what had happened and what I had been told. The employee behind the counter pointed to a wall that was covered with papers and memos and said that it was in their return policy that refunds only are given on sale items and not for items put on clearance. This store is approx. twenty five miles from my house and I sure wouldn't have driven back and fourth for a $12.50 refund if I hadn't been told that it was a sure thing. Very, very poor customer service and I don't plan on shopping there again.

I wasted 100 miles in travel.

Ambra of Owasso OK (12/08/07)
I was going to purchase a 62 piece tool set that was on sale for $19.00. This was clearly marked on the SALE sign. The 62 piece tool kit rang up for $59.99. They called for someone to check the price. They said the one that was $19.99 was a different one. They asked if I wanted the one on sale, and I said yes. When it was brought to the front it was a drill. I explained to them I wanted the 62 household tool kit set, and they went to get the kit that was on sale. They brought up a 161 piece tool kit set. I explained that I wanted the one that was on sale which was the first one that I brought up to purchase. They would not honor the sale sign and said it was a typo. I asked for the store manager who, of course, was not there.

They gave me their 1-800 number, and I called to complain. I asked the manager on duty if I could have a copy of the sign so that I could show the error to the district and store manager because I was sure that they would correct the error after I had left. I was in the store for more than 45 minutes waiting for them to get it right which they never did. The manager on duty would not make a copy of the sign for me. She said it was Target property and that she could not make a copy. I cannot believe that I was treated so badly. I was given horrible customer service and bad excuses!

Tim of Louisville KY (11/28/07)
My wife called me and said she had seen I-pod Docks that plug into your car lighter for $49.95 at the Springhurst Store. I went to get one for her as a Christmas gift. When I got there, they were clearly marked $49.95. At check out, it rang up as $89.99, but I didn't notice because I was fumbling with the card reader.

As I walked out the door, I looked at the receipt realized it was wrong and turned back to the cashier. At this point there were several people in line so I went to customer service where I was told the product had never been $49.95. I went back to electronics and found the rest of the dock stations (4) had been removed from the shelf. When I told customer service that they had pulled the mislabled item, the rep said, well we just can't leave them on the shelf when they are mismarked. I was told that they would give me a 10% discount.

It was embarrassing as hell, and I was late returning to work, and was late for an appointment due to their error. I paid more than I bargained for and later decided I should have just returned it, but have too much time invested in the transaction.

Arlene of Canton OH (11/23/07)
My daughter and son-in-law stood in line at Target on black Friday from 2:30 am until opening to get me a psp bundle. Mike, the manager assured them they needed no line ticket as they had plenty of psp bundles. When they went running back to electronics the sales person handed my son-in-law a psp when he asked for the sale bundle. When all three of us met up with each other and went to checkout, we had the wrong psp pricing at $199.00 with no game. The sale was psp with five games for $169.00. We pointed out to Mike that he was not matching the $169.00 price unless he included the five games with the system. There was no swearing, but we were upset since we were in line so long and assured we would get the system. Upon continuing to try and explain to him, he turns to me and stated, if you want to complain then leave my store; I can called security over.

My daughter was crying and all upset. This was uncalled for. I will never again go into Target. I even carry the Target Visa. However, never again. I was humiliated in front of numerous people. The manager was not any better. What happened to common respect for the customer?

Margaret of Columbia MO (11/07/07)
The day after a recent trip to the Target in Columbia MO, I noticed a $59.98 item on the receipt. I knew I had not made any purchases in that amount. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the cashier had rung up the $29.99 pair of shoes twice. I called the store and told them I had been charged twice for the same pair of $29.99 shoes. I offered to fax the receipt to them so they could investigate and credit my debit card accordingly.

The Team Member said that I had to bring the receipt and my debit card in and they would be able to take care of it. They said it could not be taken care of over the phone because I had to be there to enter the PIN for the refund. I bring in the receipt and am told that since the item is over $20 the matter has to be turned over to AP (I am assuming that means asset protection.) and they would contact me. AP would not be able to investigate until the next day.

I asked to talk to a manager and explained that it was going to be a great inconvenience for me to make a 2nd trip across town and that I didn't understand why when I called the first time they couldn't allow me to fax the receipt to them so they could at least start investigating it. The Manager very condescendingly tells me that the original receipt is needed for them to start the investigation (I could see that it would be needed for them to issue the refund, but needing it for them to start looking in to the matter seems a little extreme).

I asked if after AP reviewed the security tapes if there was anyway that I could get the refund without making another trip perhaps by crediting it as a credit on the Visa debit card or mailing the refund to me. I was told in a very sarcastic tone that they were very sorry, but I would have to make another trip because AP has to...(I just know that there is going to be a long line when I go there).

Up until this evening, I spent a lot of money at Target. I had purchased all of my cleaning products, laundry products, paper products, toiletries, make-up, table linens and bedding, stationary, DVDs, cat food and cat litter for 3 cats, storage and organization products both for the home and for our business as well as gifts for neices and nephews. I also purchased a lot of snacks from Target and usually got at least one clothing or accessory item for myself or my signigicant other on each visit (I go approximately once a week).

Had they resolved the matter or assured me that I wouldn't have to go to the Guest Service counter a 2nd time I would have taken the opportunity to stock up on cat care items. Instead I did my shopping elsewhere. Within 4 miles of my house, there are 2 different Wal-Mart Supercenters, Staples, Lowe's, Sam's Club, Kohl's, and 2 grocery stores. I drive by all of these places on a daily basis. There is no need for me to drive out of my way to shop at Target.

Target is 8 miles from my house and 2 round trips is going to cost me about $6 for gasoline.

Quynh of San Diego, CA (09/30/07)
Tonight was the third time I have had the same problem with this particular Target store. It seems that either all employees there have been trained to over-charge or its scanner/computer has been programmed to do so ever so often.

Tonight, I bought 2 of one item and was charged for 3.  A similar thing happened the other two times. When I caught it and came back to the customer service counter, I asked if it could be reported to management so it would not happen to me the fourth time. The lady there said they knew about it.

I have lost a lot of time checking my receipts and having to drive back to this store, to have the matter manually corrected. More importantly, I have lost faith, trust, and respect for this Target store.

Shirley of Fayetteville, GA (05/27/07)
I have been a Target customer for over 20 years in two states. On May 4, I purchased a gazebo for $349.99. In the May 27th sale paper, this same item went on sale for $249.99.

I went to my local Target expecting a $100.00 adjustment.  Much to my surprise, I was told no adjustment after 14 days. However, I can return the unopened merchandise within 90 days for a refund!

Now I have to hire someone with a vehicle big enough to transport this item back to the store, refund it and then re-purchase it at the sale price!

Carlos of Brooklyn NY (04/15/07)

I went to the Target store on Queens Blvd. and attempted to purchase two TruTech 20 flat televisions for $99.99. They were out of stock and I requested if they could call another location for me.  So I traveled 5.5 miles to the Gateway store. When I arrived at the Gateway store the television I wanted was on display with no price sign. When the televisions were scanned their price came up as $139.99 each. I explained to the salesperson that the price listed at the Target location in Queens Blvd. was $99.99. I then requested to speak to a manager.
She told me the only thing I can to was file a complaint with their headquarters.
 

Susan of Riverside CA (03/06/06)
On two seperate occasions I have purchased a pair of shoe at Target and on both occasions the scan price does not match the price of the shoe. The first occasion was corrected at the register and an adjustment was made. this time on 03-04-2006 I did not notice until that evening at which time I made a call to the store who offered a refund of the $2.00 over charge when I return with the receipt.(It will cost more in gas to return for the $2.00 than the amount.) I then contacted the consumer line at the 8004400680 #, at this time I was told that the store had been contacted and the only thing that could be done for me is the return of $2.00.

When a grocery store scans an item and the marked price or shelf price is different you receive the item free. Target contends that this is not their policy and cannot offer me anything else but to mail my $2.00 to save me the trip back to the store.

Phil of Livermore CA (02/28/06)
On three separate visits to the store, signs were advertising an item for sale at a certain price. When ringing the item up, the price came out higher than what the store sign said. First it happened with a pots and pans set we bought. Then on another occasion it was a bedspread. Today, it was just plastic dishes, with a sign that said sale 1.66, but that rang up as 2.00. The bedspead was advertised at 50% off, but changed to 30% off when it was rung up. They said they would honor the 50%, but then rang it up at a higher price anyway, even after agreeing to it. Today I also saw a shelf marked clearance 75% off, but the items really were more like 30-40% off when I calculated the actual discount.

Margaret of Atlanta GA (02/18/06)
About three weeks ago, Target on N. Druid Hills in Atlanta had a sale on Feline Pine Cat Litter. There was nothing on the shelf. An associate gave me a chit to purchase (a purchase promise) 9 bags of the same litter at the sale price, or a 17% discount on replacement litter, for 45 days. On February 5th, I went back to Target and they still did not have the litter on the shelf, although the sale was still on. I had to speak to four different sales associates - I was shunted from person to person -- before another associate found a few bags in the back. Today, Feb. 18, I went in and they STILL did not have Feline Pine, so I picked up four bags of another brand.
Aside from the fact that the check out clerk had no idea what to do to give me 17% off on the four bags of litter; Once they FINALLY checked me out (about 10 minutes), they tore up the purchase promise slip -- so I will no longer be entitled to the other five bags of litter (remember, the purchase promise was for nine bags). Unfortunately, the clerk tore up the slip before I had a chance to ask how I was going to get the other five bags and without giving me the option of getting five additional bags.

Target clearly had no intention of making the litter available at the sales price and they refused to honor their own purchase promise. This is faulty advertising.

Joel of Baldwinsville NY (12/3/03):
Target Direct had advertised on the Internet a Toshiba 32" HD flat-screen TV model number 32HF73 for $279.99. I went to Target to see if they had them in the store at that price. I asked two Target employees and each of them could not help me. I then went home and ordered it online. A while later I got a confirmation number with a total balance of $407.53 (shipping/tax).

I checked back to see when it was going to be shipped and it said 1 available and will be shipped. I checked again a couple of hours later to find the order was canceled due to wrong price. In the ad it had list price of $1199.99 crossed out and had "our price $279.99 -- you save $920.00 (77%)." Guest Relations offered me a $20.00 certificate to use online. Is this legal? I know in NY if something is price marked wrong they have to sell it to you at that price. I have copies of all said transactions and have forwarded it to their corporate offices.

Ryan of Layton UT (8/3/03):
I was doing some routine shopping at my local Target store. And I wandered into a "Clearance" area for some of their outdoor items, including gas grills. There were several large signs that said "Clearance, priced as marked" I saw a "floor model" of a grill that I was interested in. It was obviously scuffed, had a few minor missing pieces, etc. and I was hoping to get a good deal on it, however I did not see a price tag anywhere.

I then saw a customer service representative from the department. I asked her how much the grill was since I did not see a price. She pull a flyer card off of the grill, scanned it, and said that the grill was $179. That sounded like a good deal to me, so I wanted to go ahead and buy it before someone else did, but I wouldn't be able to pick it up until later that afternoon. She checked with someone else, said that would be fine, and then helped me roll the grill to the front of the store to check out with it and pay for it. I paid for the grill, they printed a copy of my receipt, attached it to the top of the grill, wrote my name on it, and said that they would see me later.

Later that afternoon, I arranged to borrow a friend's truck to pick up the grill. When I arrived at the store, and told them I was here to pick up my grill, the girl at the customer service counter refered me to see someone else. This lady (wearing no nametag) explained to me that after I purchased the grill, she realized that the picture on the price tag did not match the grill that I had bought. That $179 was NOT the price for the grill and that she had replaced the clearance grill that I was supposed to pick up with a different grill. I told them that was not acceptable, that I checked with multiple employees of the store, they then sold me the grill for $179, it was MY grill and I was just here to pick it up...not some other grill.

Some guy named Kevin (who wouldn't give me his last name) came up and explained that he was the manager. He explained that the grill was actually a $500 grill (brand new in the box price) and that he wasn't going to give it to me for the $179. I said that I was sorry if his employees had made a mistake, but I had to make special arrangements to borrow a truck to pick this up, I had paid for it, I wanted MY grill. He offered to sell me the grill (that I had already purchased) for 20% off of the $500 price. I declined, as I had already purchased the grill, and asked if I had taken the grill with me at the time of purchase, would he have come to my house to either repossess the grill, or to try to charge me more for it? He said that they would not do that.

I then asked if since I already purchased this grill and it was rightfully mine, perhaps I should just take it out of the store with me regardless of what he said. At this point he called a Target "rent-a-cop" security guy over ... it was quite unprofessional. I ended the encounter by telling Kevin to have the store general manager call me to resolve the issue. Either Kevin decided it wasn't important enough to bother with the general manager, or the general manager decided that I wasn't important enough to deal with, but either way no one has gotten in touch with me, and the issue is unresolved.

Target has my money ($179+tax), they have the grill that I rightfully purchased, and they inconvenienced both me and my friend by making me borrow a vehicle which would end up being worthless.

Ryan is right. It's his grill and the store should immediately turn it over to him. If he doesn't, Ryan should go to Small Claims Court and also report the store to his local consumer protection office.

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