It Looks Like Target Lost Another Good Customer

"There is a K-Mart directly across the street and a Super Wal-Mart
down the road."

So go to one of them if you don't like Target! Problem solved.

BTW.... get angry at the thieves & shoplifters for the RIDICULUS
policy, not Target. Their only protecting themselves by restricted
returns & exchanges without receipts. What's Target supposed to do,
continue losing money? Businesses don't work that way.

I felt like you were really 'drilling it in' with the 'APOLOGIZE' bit.
You were on your own little war against big corporations, and as a
child of the 80's, I dig that.

However, just as you stated, you have a K-mart across the street and a
Super Walmart down the road. I'm sure they'll be happy for the extra
revenue.

As for the "!!@#$%" -I tried to figure out what that meant. We're you
trying to be less rude by not ACTUALLY swearing but implying that you
were just as angry? Or did you simply mistype? Either way, when
writing a professional letter you might want to stay away from the
theatrical monologues and swearing/yetnotswearing.

I'm glad you were able to vent.

Where to begin...this letter irks me, like so many others on here, not
just because of the theatrics (the over the top "Apologize" bit, for
example) and the "I swear I'll go somewhere else." Not just because of
the curses thrown in at the end, or the "responsible shopper" rant in
the beginning. But because the OP wants special treatment.

I am all for using this forum to complain about being treated poorly,
or being lied to. I am not about people whining because they were told
that there is a policy, and because of that policy, they can't have
what they want. A return policy for a major corporation like Target,
that deals with scammers and shoplifters on a daily, if not hourly,
basis, is completely reasonable. It protects them and helps keep them
open and able to keep their prices down. Sure, it sucks for those
among us who are honest, but it is what it is, and I prefer that
they're fair and treat all of us equally by enstating such a return
policy.

It is not your fault that you were given gifts with no gift receipts.
It is not your fault that you've returned things without receipts
before, but were unaware of the policy. It is not your fault that
people scam Target by stealing things and returning them. But none of
that is Target's fault either, so why should they pay for it if you
won't?

Returning a swimsuit? That's usually not allowed under ANY conditions
in most (if not all) states based on state and local health codes
(even if you swear they haven't been worn- it's a blanket LAW that the
stores have to follow or they get prosecuted, have to close the store,
then we ALL lose).

If they gave the managers the option then you'd have people
complaining about being "unfairly" denied. There are rules and they
will be followed. And as others have posted most stores have such a
policy.

Thats unreal!! I never even knew they had policies like that. I
would be furious if I was you.

Thanks for posting this info, I will surely not shop at Target anymore
due to this information. Walmart will work for me, I have never had
problems with them.

I'm sure the others stores will be gratefull to hear they have a
customer like you shopping there. BTW you only get 2 at walmart as
well. So in another year you might have to move on to the dollar
store.

It's the soccer moms, the Girl Scout leaders, the Sunday school
teachers, the softball coaches, etc

wow that is possibly the most annoying group of people ever created.
also the ones that tend to buy use and return when they feel like it.

Please watch your spelling when submitting a complaint.

RIDICULUS??? Try ridiculous next time.

I think Target is much better than the alternatives, but I understand
your point. It is frustrating...and difficult to hang on to receipts
for every purchase one makes.

If your son did recieve the bathing suits as a gift, then why are you
throwing such a fit? It's not as if you, as a "soccer mom, Gril Scout
leader, Sunday School Teacher, or softball coach" is out any money.

There's something you're not telling us. People don't get all angry
and self-righteous over "principle"

I would suggest donating the !!!@#$% swimsuits to charity, or selling
them on ebay if you need the money so bad.

Most stores around here have such a posted policy.
You can't return swimwear or unpackaged underwear. A 3-pack of Fruit
of the Looms, yes. One pair of boxers on a hanger, no. This may be a
local or state law, not just a Target policy.

As someone else pointed out--eeewwww! You are even supposed to wear
undergarments when trying on swimsuits.

This would fall under the "Other restrictions may apply" portion of
the return policy, as posted at Target.com.

And I'm sorry, but for all we know, the manager is the one who decided
this.

Heartless? Soccer moms? Put your violin back in its case. I needed
a Kleenex after reading your letter.

They have a posted policy, and now you seem to understand it. You
have the choice to abide by it, or go somewhere else.

"You should give each store the ability to look at each individual
case..." Another person who feels the rules don't apply to them.
What the heck makes your "case" stand out? You're standing there
telling them a story. What's to say you didn't just get done packing
the clothes out of the store in your purse? "Oh, your son just
received them for his birthday? That is so special, or course we'll
take them back." What planet will that happen on?

So, Target should give the best story tellers the benefit of the
doubt? Why should they take back ANY items without a receipt each
year?

Why don't you give the swim suits to charity? It would be a great
example for your son. Now, where did I put my meds?

I can understand your being upset over Target's return policy and your
opinion that two returns in one year without a receipt is not, in your
opinion, excessive. However, Target has strict policies and they have
drawn the line at two items per year without a receipt.

If it were me, I would simply pick up the phone, call the person (or
persons) that gave your son the bathing suits and asked if they by any
chance still have the gift receipts because the bathing suits didn't
fit and you'd like to exchange them. I don't know - - seems pretty
simple to me.

Oh believe me, I can handle differing opinions, after all I work
retail!

Once again, someone attacks me personally and not my argument. Looks
like you're the one who needs to "grow up."

to have you as a son. You always behave in a respectful and
professional manner. Many of the letter writers and some of the
commenters could learn a lesson from you.

Paula,

While you might not realize it and you might not think its a big deal,
there are a LOT of people out there that find ways to scam by doing
returns. I used to see it every day when I worked for Target.

Returns without a receipt are not a right - believe it or not those
things actually cost the store money and can drive prices up. 2x
might not seem like much, but if you multiply that by the number of
other people who also do the same thing - it adds up.

To be honest, Target is one of the easiest stores to deal with
returns-wise. They can look up the item by your credit card or even a
check if that's how you paid.

Regardless of your return history, I have never heard of anyone taking
back bathing suits unless there was a manufacturers defect.
It is unsanitary and just really gross to wear a bathing suit that
someone else has worn.
One way to curb this next year, is to ask your son's friends not to
buy him swim suits.

Ask your husband or someone else who doesn't return anything to Target
to return them for you. Problem solved. Just like with alot of other
things in the world, the honest are penalized for the actions of the
dishonest.

To all who have posted your thoughts on my use of the single
expletive: piss

I apologize. I had no idea that there were so many sensitive people
still left in the world. I'm actually relieved. I am confronted
daily by rude and unhappy people. It's nice to see that there are
still people left in the world who have delicate sensibilities.

Having said that, I think I should make something clear. This letter
was never meant to change policy. I never expected Target Corporation
to drop at my feet. This letter was for me. I was angry, I wrote a
letter, I hit send, and I let it go. It was much cheaper than a
therapist and no one got hurt. Get it? There's no need for you to
get upset. Besides, if the CEO of Target can't handle the phrase
"piss off" then he does need to change the policy or get a new job
because I'm sure he reads a lot worse than that.

The real letter is the one I wrote to the store manager. He's the one
who is losing a customer. Problem is, I can't figure out how to give
it to him since I publicly vowed never to step foot on Target property
again. Oh well. I'll figure that out later.

Also, to the kind Moms who recommended that I teach my children how to
give to charity:
My children have accompanied me on a monthly basis to donate either
time, money or clothing to one of many community service projects and
charities that I belong to. One of which I run. I volunteer 5 hours
a week; I have 2 jobs that I work at night and on the weekends. So, I
know you were just trying to be nice, but my son doesn't need a lesson
in charity. He needs a pair of shorts.

I think it is always better to try and help the customer. As long as
the shorts were in new condition exchanging them would make the
customer happy and be possitive for what Target should want to do.

I also think the letter is poor. Saying things like piss off in this
context doesn't seem appropriate.

I just think it's weird that a kid got several bathing suits for his
birthday. I assume that means several people bought him swim trunks.
I know quite a few kids, and it never occurred to me to buy
swimsuits/trunks for them as gifts--it seems very much like a "mom"
kind of purchase.

Are you saying that "the soccer moms, the Girl Scout leaders, the
Sunday school teachers, the softball coaches" aren't ever the
shoplifters? Seems a little misguided to me. Managers should, and
often are, able to look at individual cases and make a decision. This
manager probably did - he decided not to take your return, which he
had every right to do. Working in retail, I've seen people with very
convincing sob stories who looked completely "decent and hard-working"
who were actually trying to scam me. That's why the policy is in place
at my store, and I'm sure Target has encountered similar problems.

Anyone can come in and say that they are a responsible shopper, they
can also claim they can work hard that may not always be true, they
could be too lazy to work an cheat the system, that is why they have
these rules in place. You say that you know why but you don't, and all
stores are like this. Where are you going to buy your clothes when
they all go against you. Also they do not owe you an apology. You are
lucky they are allowing you to even return a bathing suit, most stores
do not allow that. Did you know that they were willing to make an
exception for you, or are you one fof those people that has to have
everything going their way or else, even if people give in to you half
way. Also was you that wrote this letter or was it something your
child wrote, because the ast part ""Oh, and let me exchange my !!!@#$%
swimsuits."" sounds very childish and like something I would have
written when I was ten a few years ago. Go to Kmart and Super
Walmart down the street. I am sure they will please you until you
have a slight problem.

Unfortunately, retailers have to apply a policy like this to everyone.
For example, the manager lets you slide and then the person behind
you in line has a sinilar issue. If they don't do the same for that
person, it is discrimination; but if they bend for that person too,
where does it end?

The policy is the policy and the stores have an outside company that
monitors this. Due to high retail shrink, this has become a hard
reality, but one you can control.
1. Get a receipt
2. Get a gift receipt.
3. Donate the unwanted items and teach your children charity.

Due to the tone of your letter, it will be ignored. Using "piss off"
and symbols for profanity is chidish and will get you no where. They
weren't changing the policy anyway just for you and now they probably
don't care if you shop with them again.

from what I believe, all stores are "cracking down" on excessive
returns and excessive returns without receipts. I know the OP doesn't
do returns alot like she mentioned, but there is NO reason why people
should make excessive returns. At the store i work at.. one man made 5
returns.. within the SAME DAY. So I told the manager, but the thing
was.. he had a reciept for all items. Turns out, he was pretty much
trying to screw the company over. He would buy something.. go to
another store.. secretly take the same exact item off the shelf and
try to return it. We would pretend we coulndt do returns because the
"system was down". One time.. his "partner in crime" came in.. beeped
on the way in.. and she KNEW we were on to her.. so she just went
right back out. Ever since he got the hint we were on to him.. we
haven't seen him since. *SOME* people these days are STUPID... (and
no.. i'm NOT saying the OP because clearly she is NOT)

Thanks to the OP, it is far more likely that I will shop at Target.
Why? Because they've established a policy that will keep down their
costs, which in turn will help keep their prices down -- which
directly affects me and other consumers.

You wrote, "I understand why the policy is there. I get it." Then why
are you whining? Do you think you're special?

Another plus on the side of Target is that, according to the post,
there's a good chance I won't run into the OP -- who is best described
as a nasty, potty-mouthed loser.

this is why its always a good idea to add a gift receipt

The policy does make sense. The receipt proves that it was purchased
from that store and the price at which it was purchased.
What's to stop you from buying 2 swimsuits "buy one, get one free"
from Wal-Mart and returning it for a full refund at Target?
They have to set a limit somewhere. If you add up all they losses they
have from the returns like this I bet it is substantial. To any
company you are a number, not a soccer mom. They have millions of
customers so they cannot know who you are and cannot discriminate
because you are honest.
If you owned a small craft store and earned $30,000 a year, I doubt
you would allow $5000 a year in returns like this for products that
you did not sell or else you sold a year ago. Now mulitply that number
of returns that Target takes. They are a business to make money.

Why on Earth should they apologize for having a policy and insisting
that employees follow it?

I'd be a lot more interested in hearing an apology if they followed
your suggestion and gave the sort of people you think are upstanding
special privileges that they don't give everyone else.

Every time someone makes a return without a receipt there's a risk of
Target losing money. That's why they have the policy. And I doubt
they'll be losing customers until there is no-one left to frustrate,
because a higher proportoin of the people jumping ship and going to
K-Mart and Wal-Mart will be exactly the sort of people from whom these
policies are supposed to protect honest shoppers than exist in the
general shopping public -- meaning that other stores are going to have
to adopt the same rules in order to protect *their* customers from
those people.

Unless you expect that people who oppose these policies are going to
start making the products they currently buy at Target themselves --
from swimsuits to George Foreman grills to roach spray -- they're
going to have to buy somewhere, and Target is a perfectly reasonable
place for them to make those purchases.

::sigh::

I feel like a broken record, ya'll, sorry.

I am TERRIBLE about saving receipts. Because of this, I've often found
myself in the postion you're in. The difference, I accept it as *my*
responsibility if the store won't work with me on an exchange.

Still, I wouldn't have been bothered by your letter so much if you
hadn't veered off into an entitled, overly-dramatic rant.

Sure, you have every right to let them know that you're less than
pleased with their policies. But for Gods sake, next time take a
breath or two before you write. No company will take a letter like
this seriously.

I'm a "soccer mom" myself and there are no complaints from me
regarding this policy. I see it like this, if stores allowed everyone
to return items without receipts, then prices would go up even higher.
So what's going to keep more customers, lower prices on a daily basis
for everyone or one extra return a year for customers who can't follow
the rules? Target did not have to allow for the first 2 returns
without receipts. They were kind enough to do so however, per their
policy. As others have stated, gift receipts are provided to each
customer. Your party guests could have chosen to give those to you
but they did not. Why not consider donating the swim suits to a local
charity or find a local "free" group where you can give them to
someone else that could use a swim suit.

You're going to see this type of policy more and more. It's
unfortunate but retailers were just losing too much money of
fraudulent returns.

Is it possible you could ask the gift giver for a gift receipt?
Target always gives one. I make it a habit to tape the gift receipt
to the gift or I attach it to the card. This way no one has to feel
bad about asking me for it.

I would suggest calming down before writing a letter. This letter
does not make you look responsible, it makes you look irrational.

I have no problem whatsoever with a company's return policy. I'm sure
you could ask the person who gave these gifts for a reciept. Problem
Solved.
Ask any felon with two strikes on their record. History is
established.

The "Apologize, Apologize...soccer moms, church...heartless
corproration..apologize or .....Girl Scout Leaders...Sunday School
Teachers...softball coach" solliloquy and the proximity of the
competition is a bit hard to read.

Does this mean that trash truck drivers, athesists, exotic dancers,
politicians, football players and wretches like me who pay taxes and
school taxes aren't worthy of mention, or don't spend money?

The proximity of the competition does nothing to help you get your
products exchanged. Or for that matter to change policy. The swear
word, I'm sure will certainly expedite your letter getting the
attention it so deserves.

Maybe a re-do might be a better way to get results.

I would have almost been sympathetic to your plight, but the tone of
your letter draws a very poor picture of the writer. I would further
suggest using language which is more becoming of someone reasonably
educated, than that of "piss off" or "exchange my !!!@#$% swimsuits".

Target's policy is two "no-receipt" returns per year. They also print
out gift receipts at the registers, so your gift giver could have
easily given them with the gift (a great idea for everyone!). This
policy was instituted as a cost-saving measure, due to the HUGE amount
of no-receipt returns they processed, many of which were not even
purchased at Target. You'd be suprised at the appearance some of the
scammers; they look like decent college students, Girl Scout leaders,
soccer moms, etc. So they instituted the policy for EVERYONE, so no
one can say they're being picked out or "profiled."

I understand your frustration, but next time wait until you're a
little calmer, so your letter looks like it came from a responsible
adult, not a sarcastic, profanity-laced rant.

A responsible shopper doesn't return things without a receipt.

End of story.