An extremely unsatisfied EX-customer

Their policy is very clear and has been for the years they have had
this policy in place. I understand the fact you have children, but
Target has a company to run. Many years ago, they would allow people
to return things that were 10 years old, no receipt. They would give
the price of something comparable. How do you think companies lose
money? You had THREE MONTHS to return the item, but chose to wait.
I'm sure in those 93 days, you had time to go shopping for other
things, go out for dinner or lunch or even breakfast, right? You did
not remain a hermit did you? I doubt it. During one of those
outings, you could have gone back to Target to return your item.

Sorry, but Target is right and needs to uphold their policy,
otherwise, if they make the exception for you, they have to make it
for everyone else that comes in. 90 days is more than enough time to
get the item back to the store for return!

Get out your checkbook calender again. 93 days is not 90.

I used to work at a Mom and Pop type of hardware store. They had a 90
day return window also. If the customer still wanted a return, we
would call the owner's son-in-law because he would usually make an
exception, but he would word it in such a way that the return desk
people would not look like jerks. He'd say something like "that is our
return policy and they are only doing their job, but I'm one of the
owners and I'll let you return it this one time." He was always very
nice about it and made both the employee and customer feel good about
the transaction. And no, very few customers took advantage of it.

same thing happened to me with sears. i wasn't thrilled, but i
figured....you know, it does say it on the back of the receipt. too
bad i'm a procrastinator. take it as a lesson learned and put the darn
curtains on ebay.

So you bought other merchandise within the last 90 days but didn't
bother to return the curtains?

Target is so in the right for this:

Return policy is 90 days, you stated yourself it had been 93 days.
Sucks for you but it is your fault and I applaud them for holding up
their policy and I hope you don't get your money back.

Exceptions shouldn't be made on policy's that are in place (they are
written on the back of receipts and often told to you at the register,
and on signs around the store).

Sell the unused curtains on eBay and then go buy you some new ones.
Stop being petty, it was your own fault for not paying attention...and
perhaps you should have purchased curtains when the room was done
first.

Sorry I don't sympathize.

So, wait- you didn't have any time within 90 days to check these
curtains and drive over to Target to return them, but now all of a
sudden you have all this time to drive to multiple Target stores, make
6 phone calls, etc.?

Return policies are clearly stated for customers. They told you 90
days and you said it had been 93 days. 90 does not equal 93. The rules
state 90 days... get over and pay attention next time.

This probably wont surprise BUT, you wont win this one. If you do,
then I'll be very happy for you. I've had probs with Target in past
regarding refunds. Getting one when you're not within "Thier rules" is
next to impossible.

Le sigh....

Target's return policy is clearly communicated to customers through
in-store signing and also is printed on the back of your receipt for
the curtains, as well as on the backs of the receipts for the $3,000
worth of merchandise you're threatening to return.

You were only three days late, but late nonetheless. Target is not
rude for consistently enforcing their own stated policies.

I would have let somebody else return the curtains without the receipt
and took a credit. When people need to precise they ain't. I don't
think it was a big deal to return the unused curtains, like it the
worst thing for them to do...

This is, unfortunately, what happens when you deal with large
corporations. You might save a few pennies by going to Target, but
that Ma & Paw curtain store down the street would have given you your
money back.

i guess if target still says no....
there's always the option of donating them to charity, claiming the
value on the tax return.


might not be what the OP really *wants*
but sometimes the sideways path works just as well

To be fair, you complain about being denied at 93 days, but you had 90
days, or three months in which to return the curtains. I understand
your frustration, but understand also this "90 day" policy is actually
one of the more generious of big box retailers. Sometimes you just
have to suck it up and understand those are the rules.

They print the return policy on the back of the receipt.
This rule applies to you, me, the Diverse PFB community, and every
other person who may set foot in their store, first time customer or
daily customer.

I don't see why they should make an exception for you. You were
clearly outside of their guidelines.

"a store manager with a heart"
The store manager may have a heart and feel for you, but the manager
is still obligated to follow company policy. If Target wants to be
strict, then they may not empower the manager to override the
corporate policy, or there could be disciplinary consequences if it is
done.

I can not believe that you went to 6 different places hoping to get a
different answer. Or that you have argued here that you did not want
an exception made, your actions have shown that is exactly what you
wanted.

I have 5 children as well, when I don't make a return on time, I
really just chalk that up to my own fault and list is on craigslist or
sell in a garage sale.

Target has a very generous return policy, one of the longer ones I
have seen.

If you want to speak with someone not in India that is fine, I would
like to as well. However, you and anyone else you has a problem with
this shuold look into WHY this happens. Not only has our goverment
made it harder and harder for companies to keep there buisness here,
people demand low prices. If you truely want our companies to have
call centers here, and do all the manufacturing here, be prepared to
pay more. But this is not what people want...the want to pay less and
get more. It is the reason mom and pop and main street went out of
buisness. It does not work both ways.

If they made an exception for you they would have to make one for
everyone. Then what would the point of the 90 day return policy be?

Next time, finish the addition/room, choose the paint and apply it to
the walls....and THEN go buy the curtains for said room.

Why you bought something for a room that wasn't going to be finished
for three more months is beyond my understanding. Didn't you think
this was jumping the gun a bit?

If you waited, you could've saved time and gas. You wouldn't of needed
to make two trips - one to buy the curtains...and one to fruitlessly
attempt to return them (not including the numerous extra trips to
other Target stores trying to sneak under the return time limit).

In addition, why you wouldn't be very saliently aware of the
near-universal retail limit of the need of a customer to make a return
within 90 days of a purchase is also baffling to me.

I honestly understand your frustration with this situation but
unfortunately Target has a very strict 90 day return policy.
Sometimes it is difficult to accept why policies aren't more flexible
and why an exception can't be extended when you're only 3 days over
the limit and have had other things going on in your life that are
more important than keeping track of a return policy.

This really isn't a matter of poor customer service or a lack of
integrity - - it is a matter that Target corporation has put this
return policy in place and has directed their team members that they
are not allowed to make any exceptions .... period.

You obviously enjoy shopping at Target and I would not write off this
retailer because of one incident where they would not bend their
return policy.

Because NO equals Rude. Used to be that NO equaled NO. Now its just
down right rude to tell some one No...and mean it. And its rude to
not bend (break) the rules "just this one time" (everytime) cause I
have been such a great customer (I have never shopped in your store
before) and if you dont comply with my wants then I will never shop
there again.

I love Target. They have the best customer service around (even when
they tell me No) and I prefer them to WalMart any day of any week.

Why does everybody automatically that the OP took NO as rude?

We weren't there. We didn't talk to customer service. Hmmm perhaps
they WERE rude?

another example of NO does not equal RUDE. I understand you were
barely out of time, but out of time none the less. If target makes an
exception for you what does that say to every other PFB member who
wrote a similar letter to target? policies are in place at the
companies' discretion. you should be glad they even accept returns, no
law says they have to. they were not being rude, they were protecting
their bottom line, everyone is doing that nowadays

I probably would have let it slide and made a case for you to a
manager. But I don't work at Target. I'm glad my company's return
policies really allow for some flexiblity. I think I would go nuts
working for a place with such rigid return policies. I understand why
retailers have them and why Target needs to be strict, but sometimes I
think they take it too far.

There are just some conditions I would have followed. The merchandise
has to still be in our system for the original price and it shouldn't
be a looong time over the 90 day mark. Three days? No biggie. The only
problem is that after a while (sometimes right at the 90 day mark) the
receipt is pretty much erased from the local systems unless you used a
credit card. If that happens, my hands are pretty much tied and I have
to turn away the customer. :( Or offer them store credit, but they
won't get all of their money back. I imagine something similiar
happens at Target...after a certain period of time, information
probably gets erased.

It's too bad they couldn't make an exception.

but I check out the returns policy always when buying online.

I assume, when shopping in person, I can return most new, off the
shelf, items in new condition for some period of time. I keep all my
receipts just in case.

If an item turns out to not be what I wanted/needed, I try to return
it within 2 weeks. That way I am almost certain to be able to for a
full refund. Some unique places have had a 7 day window, but that is
clearly marked on the receipt.

So I can say that while I don't make it a point to know the returns
policy when making purchases in person, I assume the policy will be 14
days or less just to be safe.

ok, here's what you do...you pack up your curtains, go to the store,
tell them you know your receipt has expired, offer your drivers
liscense and ask for a no-receipt return.

Wow, yet another letter about how rude, un-helpful, anti-customer
service, blah, blah, blah...we all are at Target. And of course, the
dis-satisfied guest NEVER raises their voice, gets angry, tosses
rudeness around, or anything of the sort. Yes, I hear it all when I am
at the Guest Service deesk. I didn't make the policy, but Target pays
me to enforce and utilize it. I am empowered to stray from the policy
based upon my own judgement. I do stray from the policy sometimes. A
huge thing is, you get what you give, and no,the customer isn't always
right. Why, oh why, is it such a hard fact for some people to just
accept that everything in every store isn't going to make them happy?
Heck, Ross didn't refund in cash a dress I purchased with cash, a
dress that I returned with a receipt, because their policy is 30 days.
I returned it 35 days after purchase adn received a gift. Would I have
perfered my cash? Of course, but that IS THEIR POLICY.......

I'm not a regular Target returner so I could be wrong, but couldn't
you just return them without a receipt? I think they let you do one or
two a year and get a store credit? You said you've bought thousands
there in the last 90 days, so a store credit seems like something that
you would use!

Also, no doesn't = rude. You might not KNOW the policy, but once it
was explained to you, it was probably stated on your order form (since
I'm well aware you bought them online), and it was posted at all of
the Targets you attempted to make your return you need to accept that
it is a 90 day window. You're not within the window. It doesn't matter
how close you were to being within the window because you were NOT. I
appreciate when companies stand by their policies. If I was nice to
the person at Target that declined my return and the customer behind
me yelled at them, asked for a manager, and then was allowed to make
their return I'd be VERY angry that they didn't stick to what was
posted for everyone! It's time to accept that you own ugly curtains
that you might try to return unreceipted, or sell on Ebay.

I know that I don't need to say to you that technically Target is
right. They have a 90 day return policy and don't make exceptions to
it. On the one hand I understand that - they, as a corporation, don't
have to worry that they will be accused of favoring one person over
another when determining the exception.

However, I agree that there could easily be some standard exceptions.
One of them, IMO, would be when the itme is still currently stocked,
not clearanced and in condition that it can be resold. It would cost
them nothing to make these sorts of accomodations and go a long way in
creating good will with their customers. Even if they only offerred a
store credit.

Over the last few years there have been a few gradual adjustments to
the Target return policy - making it a tiny bit less rigid than it was
before. Who knows, enough feedback may influence greater change.

I don't think they should just blindly take back anything - but do
agree that in an effort to cut off people operating dishonestly,
genuine customers get frustrated and end up taking their business
elsewhere.

I'm glad you took the time to write, even though it probably won't get
you the resolution you want.

Good point.

However, as you've pointed out, people in "other countries...will work
for pennies on the dollar." Which means that the cost of providing
customer service with US staff would be many times more expensive.
Which means that Target would either need to raise their prices,
decrease customer service, or do something else to make up for this
additional cost.

For example, where I live, there is a local business that will custom
make curtains for you. She charges a ton more than the mass produced
stuff from Target, but you can get exactly what you want. And, since
you can speak directly to her, there's no need to call customer
service on the other side of the world.

But it comes at a price.

Oh, and she has a "no returns" policy, unless she goofed up.

n/t

Ok so I realize that writing a letter and posting it online is going
to of course bring negative feedback and comments thrown back and
forth and that's fine.

When I wrote my letter last night I was extremely angry and have
cooled off a little bit but still the same issue does irk me so let me
elaborate since you all seem to be jumping on me.

As I said in my reply to Richard, when I ordered the curtains to begin
with I ended up going through a personal crisis which delayed my
forethought to act on the purchase to begin with... certainly not the
fault of Target so I digress.

The fact of the matter is the following though... no, I didn't know
Target's return policy until I went to return the curtains. If I did,
I certainly would have made sure i got in there prior to day 90 and
not on day 93.

My beef though is that I'm not a habitual returner... I almost never
return anything and Target can check this by scanning your license. I
had my receipt to prove that i had purchased the item and they still
sell the items so they can certainly resell them. I would have even
been happy with a store credit, I would have been happy if they
charged me a restocking fee and gave me a store credit for the
balance. It's the principle of it... they can look up every single
credit card I've used there and know that I'm a decent customer, they
can scan my license and know that I don't return things there yet they
could really care less.

Worse than the fact that they could care less is the fact that they
outwardly come across like they could care less and that's where the
lack of customer service and integrity come in because they really
could care less. For me... I really didn't know the policy and frankly
when I went in there I never sat and counted the days and I was
appalled that they would do nothing but I didn't stand there and yell
at anyone, nor was a rude, I just said "ok" and left and then
eventually tried a few other targets and got the same attitude
everywhere I went.

When I called yesterday I wasn't rude or obnoxious, I didn't yell at
anyone yet the first person I spoke with when I asked him "how do I
return something I bought more than 90 days ago" he said "oh we have
another department for that" he gave me the number and then
transferred me to a person who said " you can't"... I mean why do they
even have a department for that?!?!

I was treated both in store and on the phone like I was a second class
citizen, I was treated in a way where they assumed this was a habitual
thing for me and/or that I was lying and that is where the problem
lies.

I'm sure there are many, many people who make a living out of doing
things like that but I am not one of them and for a company to assume
off the bat that you are and treat you badly is appalling.

In the long run I will give my curtains to anther mom that I know
could use them and learn my lesson and not shop at Target any more.

The most humorous part of this whole thing is that I could take the
damn curtains in and say I don't have a receipt and get a store credit
so in the long run Target rewards for dishonesty and not honesty

By the way, with the $3K return you plan to make, that can make it
flagged so you're unable to return things ever again, and not just at
Target, but at other stores.

There's now an interstore/interchain database that tracks these
things. For real.

The same thing happend too me, I had cutains also (a gift for my
wedding)which was on our registry all wrapped up they were a
beautifull rich burgandy color when we opened them and the sun came
through they were almost hot pink eww discusting. So I thought I
wouldn't need to ask my aunt in illinois for the receipt for like 14
dollars worth plus they were purchased off my registry and the
packaging had a target logo on it. They wouldn't even let me exchange
them for a diffrent color. Absured!!! I got the DM's number and
called. They sent me and $25 dollar gift card. I since used the gift
card to buy diapers and I will never shop there again!I'm sorry you
had such a bad experience especially since you WERE such a loyal
customer

Yup, beyond the 90-day return window. Why buy them so far in advance?
I know it's easy to get excited and carried away, but surely you knew
of the 90-day return policy (it's been around for eons) and should
have taken that into account when you were timing your puchase.

Why didnt you take the curtains out of the package right after you
purchased them to look and check the quality?

Sorry Kim, but I'm on Target's side on this. I think a 90-day return
policy is more than fair and generous considering many stores only
give you 30 days. Target's policy is also well posted both in the
store and on the receipt. I understand you didn't see it as you didn't
feel you had a need for it, but it's still there. That's another
reason why I'm on their side.

No, Target doesn't make exceptions (and managers are not able to
either); other letters on PFB have shown that time and again. However,
I don't see this as a lack of customer service or integrity. It's fine
that you're giving your feedback though, and if you want to return $3k
worth of merchandise, go right ahead.

Oh, and I don't work for Target. But if you find that I do, please let
me know. They probably owe me a lot of money. :)

Sticking to their policy doesn not make for a "lack of customer
service and integrity." The fact that all those you contacted said
the same thing is actually a sign of their integrity, you just don't
like the answer.

As others have pointed out, they set the 90 days as a line in the
sand. Otherwise, you have people showing up a year, 2 years later
with out of date merchandise that they don't really "love" and
expecting Target to eat the cost in the name of "customer service."

How would you feel if you owned a small business and a customer tried
to make a return outside of your stated policy? Would you be so quick
to reach into your own pocket just to make them happy?

90 days is actually pretty generous by industry standards - many are
just 30 days! But it could always be worse. Would you like to see
them change the policy to ALL SALES FINAL?

Ninety days is ninety days, not ninety-three. I find that to be very
straight forward and very fair.

Sorry, but I think you're being unreasonable. Ninety days is more
than enough time for even the busiest person. The return policy is
not indefinite, even with a receipt.

And I'd think twice before returning all that other merchandise.
You'll only be spiting yourself. Sometimes you just have to take
responsibility and cut your losses.

were known to you before you bought them brought them home.

But that is immaterial. You are outside the return window. Did it
occur to you that all of the people in all of the stores you spoke
with were on the same page? In other words, Target has a consistent
(and also well advertised) return policy, and you are no longer
eligible for a return.

You sound really indignant that Target is applying the same returns
policy to you that they do to all shoppers. I believe it is printed
right on the receipt. You don't take responsibility for your actions,
and seem to want to lay blame for your situation on building a house,
your hectic schedule, and people in India. "No" is not equal to
rude.

I'm wondering if you are a VIP of some sort, perhaps related to
someone in management. In any event, you are not owed anything.