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no options

Posted Mon February 11, 2008 9:48 am, by Tracy S. written to Target Corporation

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On Sunday February 10, 2008, I walked into Target to return a pair of yoga pants my husband had purchased for me 2 weeks prior. I informed the girl at the counter that I did not have the receipt but I was wondering if I could either get Target store credit or exchange the pants for something else. She asked me if I had the VISA card they were purchased with to which I replied, No since my husband had lost that card and the bank had sent him a new one. She told me there was nothing she could do to help me since the register would not let her give a refund for anything over $20.00. I again explained that I didn't want a refund, I just wanted either a store credit or to exchange the pants for another workout type clothing item. She basically kept repeating the $20.00 refund policy, which is not printed either on a receipt nor in the customer service area. She told me I should call my bank and get the old credit card number and she could key it in the register to put the credit back on the card. I explained that wouldn't do any good since we no longer have that account. She told me that there was nothing she could do to help me.

While I understand the strict return policy of Target, since I have returned items there before always with a receipt, I feel that you should give people more options. I don't understand why a store credit could not be given, nor could a exchange be done for another pair of pants from the same department. I am now stuck with a $24.99 pair of pants that I can't do anything with. Being a small business owner and all the money I spend at Target for supplies and personal items, I feel like I should at least get the $24.99 credit to spend back in your store. I feel like that is a win-win situation for Target. You are getting back the new pants with the tags attached that you can resell to someone else and I get to put $24.99 back into your store.

Sincerely,
Tracy


Reply



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by alie Posted Sat March 15, 2008 @ 10:28 PM

u didnt have the card they were on and were exchanging them for the
same thing smaller or biger size correct you had a receipt for the
item right. all she had to do was return the item then scan the new
item to sell it back to you if there was a price diffrence or she owed
u then she could have just put it on the gift card if u have a vaild
receipt they can take it back

Reply
by shannon m. Posted Sat March 15, 2008 @ 2:23 AM

I read this letter because it's almost identical to the situation I
have. I'm almost afraid to send a letter due to all of the backlash
that seems to come from Target employees that frequent this site. "if
you don't use them it's on you?!" What in the world do you do with
pants that are too big? Clearly Target employees are perfect and have
never bought something and changed their mind, received a unwanted
gift or lost a receipt-ever. I suppose "keeping costs down" is number
one for Target but that policy is flawed and honest people are getting
screwed. I won't shop there because even though things are cheap you
are paying for it one way or another.

Reply
by moejo Posted Thu March 6, 2008 @ 2:36 AM

a win win? you are sadly mistaken.

FIRST, you greatly benefit from Targets LOW prices and HIGH quality to
feed your business.

SECOND, Target does not benefit from having to restock and resell your
pants. too many people steal the pants or buy them from someplace
else and return them to target for the 'store credit.' why would they
want to pay 24.99 for your pants and then sell them for 24.99? that
is zero profit.

you obviously have no idea how much fraud goes on. ending that fraud
ensures you can have your cheap pens for your business.

Reply

by Keith C Posted Sun February 17, 2008 @ 7:41 PM

I've seen this topic come up several times in just the past week or
two.

PFB regulars can bash the customer all the want, but be aware that:

1) Most people who are unhappy with this policy are not going to even
be aware of PlanetFeedback, let alone write to Target via PFB. They
sadly won't have the benefit of the (uh) "collective wisdom"
of PFB'ers.

2) The OP and others in this situation may not stop shopping at
Target, but if they even "think twice" about where to shop
or about buying a particular item, it's costing Target.

3) People who have a bad experience with a company will tell others.
Whether or not it makes a huge or direct impact, it contributes to
brand erosion. Target is HUGELY aware of the value of their brand, and
they should be equally concerned about brand erosion.

4) This is the big one. The number of complaints that I've seen about
this indicate to me, that Target has a problem that they need to look
at. This is not even remotely an isolated incident.

So work yourselves all up in to a lather, blame the OP , and expect to
continue seeing these complaints just the same.


Reply

You know I by T. C. Sun February 17, 2008 @ 10:33 PM

by 11 weeks... Posted Fri February 15, 2008 @ 11:22 AM

2 weeks ago those pants were $24.99. Today they may be $22.99 or less.
Just because you paid $25 doesn't mean that the store can resell older
merchandise for that price. They are most likely going to have to
lower the price and take a hit. That isn't fair is it?

Reply

Nope they were still the full price, she scanned them by Sydney Tue February 19, 2008 @ 7:17 PM

Re: no options by Holly M Wed February 13, 2008 @ 5:33 PM

at my store.. by Angelic Princess:) Thu February 14, 2008 @ 11:30 AM


True and by ~Fiƒi-la-ƒlea~ Fri February 15, 2008 @ 10:09 AM
by Holly M Posted Fri February 15, 2008 @ 12:56 PM

Returns are credited back to the original card of purchase, then
transferred over to the correct account. It really doesn't take a long
time for that to happen.

And I don't know when the $20 rule went into place, but I had to take
something back to Target a month or so ago and didn't have the
receipt, I just needed a smaller size. They let me exchange it for the
smaller size with no problems. Now if it was for a completely
different item, I don't know if they would have let me do it, but I
got to exchange without the receipt with no problems.

Reply


She apparently by ~Fiƒi-la-ƒlea~ Fri February 15, 2008 @ 10:08 AM


by MA Cunningham Posted Tue February 12, 2008 @ 6:18 PM

that in 2 weeks you just happened to lose the very card these pants
were born on.

I also have to wonder why you had them for 2 weeks,knowing you could
not use them, and failed to hold on to the receipt. Why cant you use
the yoga pants? Are they too small? Too large? Surely you can use
them for SOMETHING. If you choose not to use them, thats on you.

But regardless, Target has needed to very stringently enforce their
policy regarding returns because of fraudulent returns. Yes, it is
not marked anywhere about the $20 courtesy return, but if you want to
stick to the facts of the situation, their policy DOES say that no
returns without a receipt at all. End of discussion.

So again, instead of complaining that they wont bend because you dont
want the pants, use this as a lesson to be more careful. If you arent
going to use something, or arent sure, keep the receipt.

Reply


WHOOPS! by MA Cunningham Tue February 12, 2008 @ 6:51 PM

Why? by Keith C Mon February 18, 2008 @ 4:38 AM


Because that is typically by MA Cunningham Tue February 26, 2008 @ 4:30 PM

Didn't know I couldn't go on vacation by Sydney Tue February 19, 2008 @ 7:22 PM

by Nate269 Posted Tue February 12, 2008 @ 3:51 PM

Tracy S.-
They have a policy. It says at customer service and on the repeipt- No
Receipt, No exchange/refund/credit. You need the receipt.

You knew this when you purchased the pants, so why should they make an
exception for you if you lose your receipt? The policy applies to you
too, Tracy.

Reply
by Richard S. Posted Tue February 12, 2008 @ 1:33 PM

Since the sales associate said all you need is the credit card number,
can't you get this off an old statement? You can then bring it to
Target and get your refund. The refund will go to the old credit card,
but your credit card company will transfer that credit to the new card
or you can request a check to zero out the credit balance on the old
card.

You do have some options. It might cause you a little extra work but
at least you can get your money back.


Reply


Yes, but.. by Adam D Tue February 12, 2008 @ 8:42 PM

Reread by Richard S. Wed February 13, 2008 @ 2:25 PM


You might want to re-read yourself by Adam D Wed February 13, 2008 @ 5:58 PM

Given... by Richard S. Thu February 14, 2008 @ 1:45 PM


by SiouxFan Posted Mon February 11, 2008 @ 11:55 PM

And no matter what situation you are in, you always have the option of
calling Guest Relations.

1-800-440-0680
or
1-800-303-0308

What's the worst that could happen, that they would tell you the same
exact thing? What if they had more information? Isn't it worth trying?

Reply

by RedheadwGlasses Posted Mon February 11, 2008 @ 7:57 PM

Wow, apparently even pretending to swear by typing the symbols on the
number keys is too much. So I"ll say it again:

For the millionth time, keep your receipts, people! It just is that
simple.

Reply


She had the receipt, but no CC by Adam D Mon February 11, 2008 @ 9:47 PM

ACTUALLY.. reread it.. by Angelic Princess:) Mon February 11, 2008 @ 9:50 PM


My fault, I read that wrong, I thought she had the reciept but not the card, good catch! by Adam D Mon February 11, 2008 @ 11:00 PM


I do feel for the OP by RedheadwGlasses Mon February 11, 2008 @ 11:13 PM

by Jeffrey Posted Mon February 11, 2008 @ 11:48 AM

There's been a ton of debate on this topic, but this is the first time
that I've this this particular aspect.

First, let's be clear about the $20 policy. It's not written anywhere
for customers. What is written is a more strict policy: no receipt,
no return, no exceptions. The $20 thing is a then making an exception
to a stricter policy.

Here is Target's policy: "Please note that all returns to Target
must include either the original receipt or a Gift Receipt. If you do
not have the original receipt, Team Members may be able to locate the
original receipt information if you purchased the item with a credit
or debit card and if you present this card at time of return."

This last part is what's tripping you up, Tracy. You don't have the
credit card any more.

This presents two issues. First, you don't have the card number any
more. You do, at least I hope, have an old bill or something that
contained the number. So it should be easy for you to get the number
to give to the cashier.

The second issue is that the refund will go back to the card. You
fear that since that account is closed, no refunds can go to the card.
Actually, this needn't be true. When the card was closed, it's not
really closed forever. You are still responsible for legit charges to
the card and the bank is still responsible for getting you any legit
refunds to the card.

A call to your credit card issuer will allow you to handle this. Let
them know that you have a refund coming, from Target, and that you
want to know how to handle it. Likely, they will say that they will
accept the refund and will allow to write you a check.

If they DO say that the account number cannot be used any longer, then
ask that they provide you a letter, on their letterhead, that states
that the card was lost and that the number has been deactivated. The
bank should request, in their letter, that Target issue you a refund
via some other mechanism OR to call them. A supervisor's phone number
should be provided for Target to call if they have any questions.

While Target's policy can be frustrating, especially for a case like
yours, there are solutions.

Reply


Great response! by SiouxFan Mon February 11, 2008 @ 4:09 PM


Question by Jeffrey Mon February 11, 2008 @ 4:27 PM


Good to know. by BellaSera Mon February 11, 2008 @ 5:59 PM

I was just going to say that! by Michelle O Mon February 11, 2008 @ 9:15 PM


Why get it put on a gift card? by RedheadwGlasses Mon February 11, 2008 @ 10:06 PM

probably no good reason :) by Michelle O Tue February 12, 2008 @ 11:45 AM


Good point about the credit card "credit" taking a while by RedheadwGlasses Tue February 12, 2008 @ 1:23 PM


Thanks Again, Jeff by Gino Mon February 11, 2008 @ 11:46 PM


by BellaSera Posted Mon February 11, 2008 @ 10:52 AM

You're not the first person to write a letter about this, and you
certainly won't be the last. Target's policy is no return/exchange
after 90-days without receipt and no return/exchange for anything
under $20. While the first part of the policy is fair, the latter has
caused a lot of controversy. Though I love Target to death, and will
choose them over Walmart any day of the week, I do think the
no-returns/exchange-over-$20 policy is too restrictive.

I do see your point here, and I think your letter is better written
than most on this subject. I'm just not sure how much good it will do
since retailers are getting more strict with their policies.

Reply




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