Target's Inconsistent Customer Service

I don’t have a problem with them checking my bag. However, I do have a
problem with a cashiers dirty hands searching my new handbag after
touching other items all day long. As a Doctor, I can assure you that
many germs are contagious. Everyone should demand that cashiers wear
gloves to prevent the spread of germs before they do the search!

Curtis I worked in Target's guest service area for almost 3 years and
yes they are VERY racist. The "race card" is not something you're
playing it's something you live by being black in america and by
shopping at Target. It's really ridiculous! In most Target stores
where they do have those few token African American employees they're
usually only working at the register or in the food area. They rarely
promote African American employee's and thats only when they decide to
hire us. There's been a lot of conversation in the comments about
theft but in my experience majority of the theft has not been from
minority groups. Target stores around the country make hundreds of
thousands of dollars a day they can afford to lose a dollar of three.
Target also known as one of the second most racist corporations right
behind nike has no value or appreciation for MINORity employees or
guest.

You know I work at Target and I for the most part love my job, but I
hate it when peeople like this try and play the poor victim card. Oh
poor me. Let me tell you I have been working in a small college town
at Target for a little over a year. We have found thousands of
dollars of merchandise that have been hidden in other boxes and were
waiting to be purchased when the person thinks they will get a way
with it. This in no way represents all the merchandise that has left
the store. The truth is that people are stealing everwhere right and
left and it adds up and you know where the money is made up, that's
right by honest hardworking people like me. I have to work even
harder to get that reaise so that I can buy the things I need that
keep going up in price.

It is also people like you that complain when they have an expired
receipt and don't have a receipt. When you buy something it is stated
on your receipt (in full length on the back and posted at guest
service) that in order to do a return you must have a receipt dated
within the last 90 days with the original packaging and tags and the
item in like new condition. You get upset when we won't bend the
rules they are there for a reason to stop the people that are
committing fraud every minute.

Oh and one other thing, when you complain that to corporate that
someone did something that they were trained to do like ask if you
need help and insist on helping you when you are doing something shady
or unsafe, or because they removed all the paper from inside your bag
and looked inside, they laugh at the complaint trhow it away and send
the store and sometimes the team member a compliment letter from the
Executive Vice President saying good job for enforcing the policies.
After they receive the same complaint from the same person more than
twice they don't even look at it. It is either deleted or thrown
away.

I work loss prevention at Target and people like you make not only us
laugh but every other guest shopping there laugh...Pulling the racial
card isn't going to help..Good try....It is policy and every retailer
does it...RELAX..how much time did it take away from you...(1
minute)....Keep waiting for the appoligy letter becuase you will never
get it...AGAIN, we laugh at people like you for making little things
into big things...

All retail workers are told to search inside bags, purses, etc. It
has nothing to do with race...

Curtis, I'm as WASPy as they come and everytime I've ever purchased a
purse, duffle bag, etc, the cashier has opened it and checked that
there was nothing inside. What makes you think it's inconsistent? Have
you seen other people purchase these items and NOT have them opened?
I'd be very surprised.

Enough with the chip on the shoulder act...I get the same treatment
from more than just Target...and I am "European American."

I would absolutely laugh my butt off if this joker "accidentally" set
off an alarm because the cashier did not check his purchase and there
was an item in it that he was unaware of. It would be even funnier
because, and I don't know this guy from Adam but I'm just guessing, he
would turn right around and make a stink and probably sue Target for
getting him into a jam. Because he's African-American, don't ya
know!

I'd LOVE to hear him throw the race card to THAT Judge!!!!

Let me tell you a little secret, they do that with everyone. Quit
trying to use your race.

And I'm going to use it for the second time....


What-EVA!

Your complaint has no validity since you're clearly playing a race
card.

Troll Alert !!!

Oh here we go! The race card again!

It's standard policy to search through items being purchased that can
possibly contain other/stolen items. Not only at Target but other
retail stores.

People can put items inside trash containers they buy as well as
travel bags, etc.

I can almost guarantee you that you were not the ONLY person they did
that to that day. I also can guarantee you that some of the other
people were of other national origins.

I must be odd--I like it when they go through the bag and take out the
paper for me. It saves me the trouble of throwing it out when I get
home!!

I, NANCY RAE NITZBERG, HAVE BEEN A TARGETS CUSTOMER FOR 10 YEARS AND
ESSPECIALLY PURCHASED MY DOG K'S NEEDS INCL. PEDIGREE LAM RICE AND
CHRISTMAS TOYS IN 2005 AND 2004 ETC.......I HAVE FOUND AND COMPLAINTED
ABOUT BELITTLING, NAUGHTY, JUDGEMENTAL, RUDE, INSULTING, BOSSY,
CRITIZING CUSTOMERS TO EMBASSE THEM RUDELY.....AND I HAVE FILED
COMPLAINTS NUMEROUSLY WITH GUEST SERVICES FROM FLORIDA AND WHEN IN MAY
DROVE UP TO MARYLAND TO BURY MY BELOVED K......FILLED COMPLAINTS
AGAINST 5 MARYLAND STORES FOR THE ABOVE......STILL DISTURBED ABOUT
SAVATION ARMY NOT ALLOWING CHRISTMAS KETTLES OUT SIDE OF THEIR STORES
WHICH THE HOLIDAY TRADITION ...................THEY NEED TO FIRE AND I
FOUND OUT THEY DO FIRE EMPLOYEES.....I TOO HAVE NEVER RECEIVED AN
APOLOGY LETTER ....... YES, I HAVE COMPLIMENT - BUT MOSTLY FILLED
COMPLAINTS NUMEROUS - THEY NEED SOME HOUSE CLEANING ETC......BOX
547051 - SURFSIDE, FL. 33154 - AGE 64 WHITE AND JEWISH LADY.....

I doubt that they searched your bag like that because of your race.
Target has really high security and they can't afford to lose any
money. Who knows, a little kid could have been playing around and
could have put some other merchandise in the bag. I used to work at
Target and I have my reasons for not shopping there too.

Hmmm I'm an innocent looking WHITE FEMALE and they search my bags like
a "common criminal" gee maybe I should pull the racial discrimination
card too.

if you think they think your a criminal because they searched it..
then the place i work at now thinks EVERYONE is. I was taught to look
in every briefcase,backpack,etc. that is probably their rule to. So
don't go and think their its just because your black that they did it.
they SHOULD check it. someone could have put something in there, and
that you didn't want to purchase, and saved YOU money.

So you wait a year to complain about a common loss prevention
technique? How would you feel if someone else stashed a high end item
in the bag you were going to buy, the cashier doesn't check the bag
and you set off alarms leaving the store. Think the police would be
so understanding?

Find something real to complain about and don't throw the race card.
Loser.

You know it is really your fault. Why do you shop at target? They are
extremely bad in returns and customer service. Go to Walmart.

I work in a high end retail store that sells storage boxes/baskets. We
even look through it just to make sure that nothing is in there. It
isn't that we think our customers are stealing (even though it does
happen once in a while) a lot of times we are making sure that it was
not used for a display and has paper, sand, rocks, etc in it. It's
more for a piece of mind for everyone the customer so they do not get
home and have a dirty box/basket and for us just to make sure there is
nothing "hiding" in there.

Wow! 1)Is this letter fake? You're kidding me! 2) Why'd you wait a
year to write the letter? In case you forgot Target exists to make
money, not have it walk out the door. I'm in retail and at my store we
sell gift sets that come in purse like bags. People try and stash
other merchandise in these bags all the time so they under-pay.
Sometimes we'll walk into the area when they're trying to stash things
in these gift sets and they put the bag down. Another person then
walks in, picks up the gift set, and brings it to the register. Do I
think they're stealing? No, but someone prior to them might have
tried. Target's protecting their business, and preventing you from
setting off the alarm on the way out. Seriously throwing race into
this comprimises your integrity. And if you were so convicted about
not doing business with Target you might want to stand your ground a
little better. Send a short white girl in to buy a bag and see if they
look through it before you charge them with inconsistency.

Without anything more to go on but the fact that you are
African-American, you decided that you were the victim of racism
because the cashier checked your purchase. Did you make this
complaint in the hope of receiving a gift card or some free stuff from
Target?

You, sir, are one more reason why when REAL cases of racism and
discrimination happen, people are very skeptical of the victim's
story. Too many have played the race card like this.

YOU owe every true victim of racism an apology.

I'm a short white woman and it happens to me too. The race card, what
is that??? Trust me, every cashier is trained to search inside
containers for items that might have gotten placed inside. This is a
general rule, not just for Target. These items may have been placed
there by unsupervised children, board teenagers, or even irresponsible
employees. Do you visit stores such as Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club
etc.? They check my receipt as I exit their store as a rule, so
should I not shop their either?

Don't you hate it when "tall African American males" go looking for
racism?

Anytime an item you purchased that was not searched was actually
inconsistent customer service because it is policy with any company
for the cashier to thoroughly look thru the item.

You search every bag or box no matter what race, sex, religion, how
stupid they are..and so on. In order to decrease theft you must give
everyone the same customer service, whether you believe they may be
stealing or not. You can't tell if someone is going to steal just
because they are tall, black, american, and male.

Get over yourself.

OHHHH race card...MY pet peeve....fasten your seatbelt Curtis...it's
gonna be a bumpy ride.
It happens to all of us.

It happens in retail every day. The cashier is doing his/her job.
Keeping this thing called "Shrinkage" from causing prices to go up for
everyone who purchases there. You can GASP now. Roll your eyes and say
"this tall whitie don't have any idea what i'm talking about he has no
clue what my experience is"

Shrinkage is a term universally used in Retail that basically means
reduction in profit margin due to theft, merchandise abuse and
breakage and "Shoplifting" It costs them nothing to check and when
they DO find something, it keeps the cost of the bag you bought a year
ago for your nephew's registry from costing you possibly much more.
Instead of complaining you should be thankful.

So what did target do to make you feel like a criminal? Call the cops?
Cavity search? Interrogate you in a room with a one way mirror and a
bright light? What? Shackle your feet and arms to your waist and carry
you off to be booked? Twisted your arm into signing a confession?
Point and laugh or ignore you? what discrimination happened? If the
cashier were black (tall or short) would it be discrimination too?????


What exactly did a cashier looking in a bag do to make you feel
discriminated against? Do you have verifiable conclusive evidence that
Target Targets tall african american males for searching through their
own merchandise? (you had NOT paid for it yet had you so technically
it was Target's Merchandise. Do they not have the right to check their
own stuff before it leaves the store?) eThey have the right to check
your bags if that's their policy.

Two years ago in April or May I can't remember, I went to a Sports
Authority Store and they MADE me leave my bags (things I PAID FOR AND
OWNED and had receipts for in a cubby compartment with a ticket BEFORE
I shopped. Incoveninet? Yes. Discrimination? I'm not too sure....it
WAS an african american woman who checked my bag in. Racial Profiling?
again maybe yes. Rise to the level of spewing off a letter demanding
policy changes and an apology? NO. I dealt with it. I waited in an
extra line to retrieve my bags while people passed by me. And I went
on my way.

I'm Italian American so the distinct possibility that i'm in
organized crime could possibly been involved. Afterall we all know all
italians are in the mafia Watch Godfather movies goodfellas and
Soprano's for evidence.

Yes Stereotyping and Racial Profiling DO happen and it IS wrong.

So it took you a whole year to get around to writing this letter
pointing out your preconcieved notion. What an eggregious negligent
attitude on your part!! What an injustice to all people of your race,
especially tall males. How many have shopped at Target over the year
not know what's in store for them?(according to you). How many felt
the sting of discrimnatory practices and wrote letters? How many
didn't even THINK of race?

My advice would be to continue to shop at Target. And take notes of
how the cashiers treat ALL people. Perhaps apply for employment there
and get a different perspective. Lighten up Curtis. All of us of all
races are just trying to get by day to day and not everything rises to
a racial issue. Really think things over, take note of companies
hiring practices and how people of all backgrounds can work as a team,
yes even in a store like Target, contribute positively to the world
and possibly make things easier, possibly become a role model for
others.

Playing the Race Card just because it's an option is just as
discriminatory and prejudiced as a real racially motivated
incident...and it dilutes the response to REAL problems when they do
occur.

If I saw this as a racial issue, i'd be with you a hundred
percent...but it just isn't.

I just bought a pair of cute chocolate brown tennis shoes at target.
The checkout person open the box and felt inside each shoe. A few
weeks ago, I bought a purse for my mom, a canvas book bag for myself,
and a bag for my new job. Each bag was opened and checked. This is
standard operating procedure for Target (and all other stores I shop
at).

Curtis, I hope this makes you feel better. You weren't discriminated
against because you're black. You were treated like a potential
shoplifter merely by being human, same as the rest of us. Welcome to
the club. Next month, we're handing out special beanies.

And how do you know that Target only does this to black customers? Did
you see any white customers purchase sports bags or rubbermaid totes
without the cashier opening them?

It is a very common trick of shoplifters to stuff rubbermaid totes or
luggage with expensive merchandise. Then they just pay for the tote
and walk off with the stolen merchandise stashed inside. Had they not
checked your bag, and had there been merchandise insdie placed by a
shoplifter, you would've been the one arrested. And I imagine you
would've played the race card.

People like you are really insidious because they minimize the real
discrimination that continues to go on. People hear about it and just
shrug their shoulders and say "Oh geez, they're playing the race card
again."

I looked in the mirror and checked. I'm white and today Target looked
into a backpack I bought.

Maybe they hate Cub fans too. I did have my Cubs hat on.

Coming from both a retail background and Security Retail Background
this is normal training of all associates to check any object that
might contain hidden merchandise.

Here is a couple of things for you.

#1 even though you might not have put items inside the bag a child or
even a shoplifter might have already filled the bag.

#2 Import items might shock you. I know one time a handbag was opened
that contained a next of mice!

So go look in the mirrow and repeat after me. Target Associate was
only doing his job. I over reacted to a normal routine thing that
happens at any store that care about its bottom line...and does not
wish to give away its products.

Actually, there are three acronyms for how to search for potentially
stolen items or not paid for items.

LISA-Look InSide All (not sure about the A)
BOB-Bottom Of Basket
PETER-I forget what this one means. I'll ask my boss tomorrow.

This wasn't a racist thing. Every cashier is required to do this to
every customer. It doesn't necessarily mean that they think you're
stealing. Oftentimes, customers have an item inside another item (or
on the bottom of the cart) that they forget is there.


I was at work today and something relevant to this complaint happened.
A girl wanted to try on a pair of jeans. The fitting room employee is
supposed to check the clothing that the customers are trying on before
allowing them to enter the fitting room but this particular customer
thought that the fitting room employee was harassing her so she let
the customer go in without a thorough check. The girl stuck a pair of
earrings in one of the pockets of the jeans that she was trying on.
She then took them out of the package, put them in her own jeans
pocket, and walked out the door (in other words, she stole them). And
you know what, this girl was also white. Racist policy? I think not.

As an african american/puerto rican female I am appalled that you
would even THINK that this was racial profiling.

It is has been done to every bag that my mother (who is puerto rican
but looks caucasion) bags for AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. (I can still
remember things that happened when I was 3 and I am 30 now, and still
get the bags checked when I go to buy them and do not mind as I have
nothing to hide.)

I believe that was the first step in trying to curb shoplifting, now
not only do we have bag checks, but also the completely unflexable
return policies trying to stop the same thing.

Do not blame it on the store, blame it on the people who shoplift.

When I used to work a register it was procedure to check in any bags,
pocketbooks etc, things zippered closed. It didn't mean the person was
stealing or sneaking stuff out, although it could, but rather checking
to make sure that little children didn't place items in it, be it
jewelry they were playing with while mom was shopping and they could
reach over, etc. Kids put things in stuff too. And it could be
merchandise. The person at the register isn't going to call the
police. It's treated as an accident when they find things in there,
and they do find items in there.

Are you talking about when you checked out??? There seems to be
something missing here and I can't understand why you are lodging a
complaint a full year after the fact.

There is a standing rule at just about all retail stores today (not
just Target) that all bags/open boxes/containers be searched to ensure
that there is nothing inside that shouldn't be - and it's a policy
that is in place regardless of your race.

The other reason that they search the bags is because many times, the
manufacturers fill the bags with a bunch of paper or silicon packets
to make the bags appear full and more attractive. The Team Members
take all the paper/filler out to compact the bag some and be able to
put it in a shopping bag for your convenience.

Like I said though, I get the impression you left out something
critical that happened here. I am highly doubtful that you got jumped
by Assets Protection as you left the store and were forced to empty
the contents (or lack thereof) of a brand new bag because you are
African American.

I hate to be the one to tell you, but I wouldn't hold my breath
waiting for that apology, Curtis.

Why, for the love of GOD, must the race card always be thrown up in
these situations?

The bag was searched, you weren't stealing, nothing was in the bag. SO
WHAT???????

It wouldn't have made a difference if you were black, green, white,
purple or pink.

I'm a 5'6, white, 30 something, average looking woman. Anytime I buy
something similar to what you describe, the bag is searched. I don't
steal, so I'm not offended.

Shall I create some 'disadvantage', so that I can write a letter FULL
of entitilement to the company?

You wait a year to complain about this and pull the race card? Every
bag or purse I have ever purchased, be it from Target or Nordstrom,
has been "searched" to make sure nothing else is in it - - and I'm
female, tall, skinny, white and over the age of 50 - - so I think I'll
cry age discrimination. Target does not owe you an apology and you
letter is just plain ridiculous.

well everytime i buy a book bag, bag, or those plastic storage
containers, it always gets searched, maybe it is because i am latin.
did you complain last august or are you complaining now. will it make
you feel better to go do the registry if they apologize. stop being so
paranoid it has nothing to do with the fact that you are african
american.

Looking into bags being purchased is common practice. You were just
looking for a reason to complain and, further, to play the race card,
weren't you?

Inconsistent customer service practices? Excuse me? Do you know for
a fact that you and only you get your bags searched, while other
customers do not?

Didn't think so.

Letters like this make me nauseous.

Every single time I buy a purse, bag, carryon or tote, it is searched
to ensure that there is nothing in it. I think that this is because I
am 5'5" with blonde hair and have some freckles. There can be no other
REASONABLE explanation, can there? I have heard that horrible, evil,
racist Target especially hates freckles.
However, much like you, this does not bother me until a year later,
and THEN I get hopping mad about it.

OMG! I had the same thing happen to me and I'n a short, fat,
caucasian woman! Evil, racist Target!


Sorry, you have not been slighted. The same thing happens to
everybody. You are not being singled out. Get a life.

Balderdash!!

Target does it, Wal-Mart does it, K-Mart does it... I bought something
just this week and the cashier opened the box to make sure there
wasn't anything in there that shouldn't have been, as well as to make
sure the RIGHT thing was in there! Did I get offended and feel like I
was doing something wrong? Nope!

I am a tall Caucasian female, and I appreciate them doing their JOB.

This is my response to the Target employee at the top of the Reply
list (I decided to share it with everyone):

You are not even consistent in your response regarding respect for
humanity and diversity. As your vocabulary indicates in your
statement, "people like you make not only us laugh but every other
guest shopping there laugh." Really, every other customer laughs too.
Your connotation is 'black people like you, red people like native
americans, yellow people like asians, or brown people like mexicans.

If you could come down from your high horse, you could put yourself in
my shoes (the customer), and could see the situation from my
perspective. I know more now about Target's Corp., and policy and
your remarks have educated me further. Target is the only retail
establishment where I have had this type negative customer service
experience.

It's unbelievable and unfortunate you represent the Target
Corporation's Loss Prevention Team. Your remarks really were offbeat,
and did not relate to the context of the situational details I
presented in my customer service feedback. I was not busted for
shopping lifting; I was a paying customer. I don't play cards -- race
or otherwise, and I don't consider racism a game or laughing matter.
It was not a game or laughing matter to the 600,000 Americans who kill
each other during our civil war.

I wish I did live in an America where I could give a questionable
racial situation the benefit of a doubt. However, this is not
possible because of the historical legacy of racism, and its
persistency today. The American Government, Military, and CIA have
even taken their racism offshore to places like Central America, Cuba,
Viet Nam, and the Middle-east. Just take a hard look at how the USA,
Britain, and other countries have interfered with sovereign
Middle-eastern nations, and have contributed to Middle-eastern
instability for over 100 years.

Do you really speak for the whole Target Corporation's Loss Prevention
Team? Can you really speak for all Target customers/guests? Can you
really speak for all retail organizations? I think not, and I thank
God for that.

I actually already received an apology from Corporate Target, and this
gentleman requested that I let him know the store location where I had
this experience. Don't worry; I don't plan to pass your remarks on to
him. However, if I hear from you again, I will, and you can count on
it.

Let me share this with you: a few years ago when I was working on my
MBA at the University of Dayton, I was in the very last course (the
capstone). There was a Caucasian American female, who made open
statements in the classroom discussions like this one: "black people
didn't ever deserve to be in management positions at the Regional
Transit Authority." This is where she worked. This was a team-taught
course, and the two supposedly distinguished professors were like deer
in the headlights as this woman ranted.

After that class, I consulted with one of my classmates, an economics
professor, and a Catholic Father. Then I provided feedback to the
professors of this capstone course. A few days later, I received a
telephone call from the male professor, and he apologized for both of
them for not taking control of the racially charged situation. In
this conversation, he also stated, 'it is unfortunate that there are
rednecks like this woman.' This is a racist remark by any measure.

It was shocking that this was the best response I could get from 2
distinguished professors. The female professor was from a Washington
Think-tank and other government agencies, and the male was a Vice
President type from the Mead Corporation.

I did not make any trouble for the misguided classmate at the place of
her employment, which would have been a simple matter of contacting
the HR manager and CEO. Also, I did not make any administrative
trouble for the 2 distinguished professors who could not handle a
classroom racial situation. Making trouble for them would have been a
simple matter of providing documentation to the Chairman, Dean,
Provost, and President.

I only tried to educate them, and if I succeeded a little bit, America
and the world are better for it.

Oh, for crying out loud. You should be happy they do that. If someone
had put something in there with one of those things that set of an
alarm you would have been accused of stealing. And I'm sure you would
have played the race card then, too.