Coupon Inconsistency at Target

Words cannot express how disappointed I am with Target. I hoped that
they would contact me back on this issue. I have waited patiently
with no response except to let me know they have forwarded it to the
correct person. Target if you are listening, my husband and I were
faithful shoppers for many years. The way you have responded and NOT
responded is very discouraging. I truly had hopes that you had a
resolution for all of us coupon shoppers. I followed the proper
procedure. I spoke with the head cashier, the manager, e-mailed the
corporate customer service obtained a copy of the corporate coupon
policy, spoke with the corporate customer service which confirmed your
policy, went back to the store spoke with the manager, called
corporate customer service and placed the manager on the phone was
granted one time ONLY exception, called corporate customer service and
was told ACTUALLY it is up to the store manager's discretion after
being told several times it is up to corporate's coupon policies. I
filed a complaint with planet feedback where I received an e-mail
apologizing for my frustrations and notification they would forward
this to the appropriate person. I have yet to hear back. This is how
you lose customers Target. I still hope that you can make this right.
The various comments I have read all over the internet shows that
this is not just an isolated issue of coupon inconsistency that Target
is having. You are reimbursed from manufacturers for their coupons so
why are you giving your couponers such push back. Let me reassure you
manufactures want you to purchase their products with their coupons or
they would not issue them.
Sincerely,
A frustrated and disappointed coupon shopper

I was having a terrible experience at my Target today (it got
resolved-see later, but not after some effort) - they won't accept
coupons greater than the item price (e.g. a Joint Juice bottle was
$0.97 and the coupon was for $1.) They were very rude to me, accusing
me of trying to get "free stuff" in front of all the customer, even
though I have brought other stuff totaled over $25, I even showed them
the official Target coupon policy e-mail but they completely ignored
me. When I was storming out of the store without those "free" items,
two person came up to me and said that they too, were upset about the
situation and they talked to the manager about how upset they were to
see their poor altitude towards me, that showed how rude they were to
me!

I called customer service and they have someone call the store RIGHT
AWAY to correct them. When I got home I called the store again and
talk to the manager, and she apologized. She didn't even know that
they could adjust the value of the coupon!!

I want to urge everyone who have problems with Target to call their
"guest relations" line. With our collective effort hopefully things
will change for the better and they know to train their staff better.
It worked for me, but it took a lot of trouble and agony (I had two
little kids with me), but at least (I think) I should have no problem
at that particular Target now. I hate that their ways of handling
things is totally dependent on the manager!!

I had the same experience at the same Target here in West Jordan Utah.
First experience was on 4/20/2009 and they would not let me use 2
coupons on 2 of the same items because it states 1 item per purchase.
Which I explained I am purchasing 2 items and here is 2 coupons for
those 2 items. They advised me that if I want to use the other coupon
I will need to walk out of the store and walk back in and purchase the
other items. I was like that is so ridiculous to humilate a customer
just because we are using another form of payment called COUPONS! That
is straight DISCRIMINATIONS against coupon users!! Uggh and I had
called Corporate again and again. I decided after a month and a half
to go back to the same Target and i got the same attitude!! :( The
manager makes up their own policy's depending on how they feel that
day!! They need to be more consistent. If not how are they making
their quotas or revenue when we the consumer are the one that puts
them in business and the way the economy is, people are using coupons
to shop. All I can say WTF!!

Hello all,
Sorry I have been away for a while. I got a response from Target
which is listed below. I hope that they will make this right. I am
keeping my fingers crossed. I have not returned to any Target at this
point. I am continuing to wait for their response.

"Dear Jamie Q.,

Thanks for contacting Target via PlanetFeedback about your recent trip
to our Brighton Target store. I'm sorry to hear we didn't meet your
expectations.

We know the importance of having well-trained team members. And I know
it can be frustrating if you receive inconsistent information about
our services. Hearing your comments is very important to us and I've
shared them with the Store Leadership team for further review. It's
just one way we can keep working to provide you with the experience
you've come to expect at Target.

We appreciate your feedback because it helps make Target even better.

Sincerely,

Heather
Target Guest Relations"

I've never had a problem with coupons at Target. Seeing all of these
letters about coupon use at Target, I'm just wondering if something is
being left out of a few of them. How many coupons are people trying to
use on one item? Is it really that many instances of customers being
refused one coupon on one item?
I've got a couple manufacturer's coupons for a free yogurt when you
buy one. This weekend I'm going to use them at Target and see what
happens!

The company has a coupon policy but then they let managers ignore it.
It doesn't make any sense at all.

I think processes should be consistent across the board for chains,
however that not always the best approach to customer service.

All of us who have part of the PFB community have seen the letters to
Target about their return policy. Target is/was very strict with
their return policy and many customers were unhappy because of this.
Many suggested the manager should have discretion to bend the policy.

In this case, it seems just the opposite. Target gives the manager
the discretion for coupon policy at their own store and then problems
like this arise because of difference between stores.

I don't know the answer but there are negative customer service
implications for both strict and loose policies. I though this was an
interesting juxtaposition for two common Target letters on PFB.

Ditto, ditto, ditto. I had a similar experience and completely agree.
Thank you!

There have been so many complaints about coupons at Target over the
last few days. What's happened? Surely, with so many people
complaining... and with this happening all over the country... Target
has issued some sort of official change.

Coupon use problems are not new, but the number of complaints makes me
think something is up.

Thanks for the letters of support! I still have not received any
contact back from Target. I did however receive a book of coupons in
the mail, which I believe may have been because I am on a complaint
list. It is kind of ironic they sent me coupons, would they accept
them???

The two coupons I was referring to that I attempted to use were two
manufactures internet printed pup peperoni dog treats. I was going to
pair them with the one Target printed coupon. I was told though that
for future reference that they would not accept two manufacture's
coupons for two items regardless internet printed or clipped from the
newspaper.

The source of my frustration comes mostly from the inconsistency. I
can handle poor customer service it happens in the best of stores. It
is not okay with me that when I go into this nationally recognized
store that the coupon rules will change based on what the manager's
discretion is that day, which is what has occurred here. Exactly, why
have a corporate customer service when each store will operate under
their own set of policies?

they should have their policy written clearly out for all to refer
to.

i agree, constancy is something stores like that should be keeping

Were you using the Target Web Coupon for $1.00 off Chex Mix?

Please, say it isn't so. Is this how Target is going to make up for
modifying the exchange policy?.. tightening up on coupons?

I'm wondering though, was the problem caused by the item being free
after coupon? How many were you trying to use?

There should be one policy for all Target stores, and it should be
posted at the customer service desk. Leaving it up to the managers is
just another way of saying they can do whatever they want, which will
ultimately lead to unfairness and LOTS of complaints.

I think you showed far more patience than I would have.

Exactly why i wont shop at target. i had a coupon once for one dollar
off any pasta, they would not allow me to use it on macaroni, as they
did not think it was pasta!

Dont rule out all Targets for being idiots about their coupon
acceptance. Two Aurora Targets have recently been the same way, as
well as the new one in Centennial!! Quincy Target will now page "loss
prevention" when we pull out a coupon.

If a customer left a bunch of items on the belt in front of me, I'd be
tempted to hurl the box of Chex and hit him or her in the back with
it.

I think you got the answer - coupons are at the manager's discretion.
That manager probably tries to be consistent within the store, but
from store to store, it is ultimately up to the manager. It sounds
like after speaking with several people, you did get the answer.