Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Breakin' Up is Hard to Do

My Dearest TARGET,

I went to hang out with you again today and left disgusted. As much as I love spending time with you, it kills my soul to subject myself to your return policy. Without a receipt, you refuse to give me store credit or even allow me to find items of equal value. Instead, I must buy ONE item from the same department as the item I return and it must be equal or over that value.

Are you kidding me?

You know me. I am the type of person who will eat the wrong order just to avoid a confrontation. I will answer to the wrong name to avoid embarrassing someone. But, you my friend, have pushed me to the limit. I can no longer sit back and allow you to hurt innocent people.

I've finally had enough. Call me a tattle-tale, but someone had to take a stand. Tonight, I called your "parents" to complain. I've talked until I'm blue in the face and explained things in the most diplomatic of ways. And still, the ridiculous policy stands in the way of our relationship.

With a sad heart, we must once again part ways. It is over. I can no longer tolerate your lack of indifference to my buying power.

Yes, it is true I have broken up with you in the past.

We always seem to get back together. The problem seems to lie in your persuasive merchandise and chic clothing. So maybe "break up" was too strong a phrase.

Maybe we can just take a break.

44 comments:

Sarah said...

B. and I have broken up with Target too--we're always weak in the end and come back. But I do think if I could stay strong, a lot more of our paycheck would stay in the bank!!

Good luck on your "break."

And I linked to you--stand ready and waiting to make friends!! :)

Melissa said...

From one former lurker to another, welcome!

I've mostly broken up with Target, too - mainly because it's across town. Now, if I could just break up with Wal-Mart we'd be all set! :-)

Christy said...

you had me rolling-I went to return a movie to Target that I got as a gift. HA! They told me I could only exchange it for the same movie... huh?

We are currently broken up as well. However, I have also dumped Walmart and both places are calling my name...pleading...begging... and they are about to get in new clothes at Target...

sigh.

Corinne said...

I was just sitting here thinking I've never had that problem - then I realized I've always had a receipt when I've returned something. Thanks for the warning. And welcome to bloggy-land!

Jenny said...

Brittani- you are a stronger woman that I. Breaking up with Target seems like it may be downright impossible for me. I can't handle Wal-Mart, I start breaking out into hives the minute I walk in there! Welcome to blogland, I will stop by often!

melanie said...

i whole heartedly agree....i am daniel's mom and kristen's mother-in-law. they worked at fellowship and are moving to ruston. don't know if you know him. anywho, i also blog. www.jimandmel.com

welcome to the world of blogging!

oh i'd love to totally break up with target. it's 50 miles away, so that's really not too hard. walmart thought.....that's another thing. would love to break up with them too. :)

Mindy said...

Hi. I found you via Sarah's in the midst of it.
Just wanted to say AMEN to Target's return policy.....ugghhh. Once my daugther's received two games for Christmas that they already had. I thought for SURE I could just exchange them and get a game we didn't have.....So, they say yes - you can exchange it. I go pick out a game that is more expensive than the other two and the guy tells me that the exchange has to be the exact same price....
HUH? I want to pay you MORE and now i have to get less? WHAT?
THEN - I go find a game that is the exact same price as the other two combined and come back and the guy says "I guess you didn't understand that you have to get two games since you had two games."
I think I gave him a death stare and finally he relented and let me get just the one game.......UGGHHHH! I have lived hoping I would never have to exchange anything with them again.
Nice to meet you!
In HIM -
Mindy

Unknown said...

Welcome to blogging!!

I agree that they've gotten a little strict. Especially if I am returning a Circo brand--um, where else would I have gotten it?

I try to stay on a cash system, but I have learned that if you use a debit card, that "counts" as a receipt because they can look it up.

Deidre said...

Hi Brittani - I'm over here from Sarah's blog.

Wow, you are brave. I, too have been upset with Target, but I just don't know how they will stay in business without me?? Can they?? :)

Good Luck on the break.

I love your blog!

Lisa Kay said...

Welcome to blogging. I'm new, too!

I have a tidbit to share about Target. (I love Target!)

When I buy anything at Target, I always pay with a credit card. Target keeps that info on record for 90 days (!), so if I decide to return it, I just bring the item and pull out my credit card. They scan the item and my credit card, look up the transaction, credit my card and I'm out in less than 2 minutes.

Hope this helps!

P.S. You have a beautiful boy!

Aunt Boo said...

Welcome. I still have a problem with not knowing what to talk about.

I will put you on my favorites and come back often.

Amanda

Boomeyers said...

Hi Brittani! I'm here from Sarah's blog! Welcome!

I wrote a rant about Target on my blog last October: http://boomeyers.savingadvice.com/cpanel/entry_edit.php?entry_id=15086
Your right, the corporate office stands behind everything and won't budge!!
Instead of breaking up with Target, I USE Target, only buying things that are cheaper and CONSUMABLE. I won't buy clothes, but I will buy milk, cereal, etc. Then I don't have to worry about returns. I really like their Target brand toilet paper. I'm sure that is something I won't return! :)

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

Coudn't agree more with you about Target. I gave up on them a couple of Christmases ago when I was on a mad quest for an oh-so-popular toy. My Target didn't have it, but called around for me found another store that did, and after I drove 45 minutes to get it, said toy wasn't in their inventory (computer glitch, they said) but the store that SENT me on this quest actually had TWO in stock. Argghhh.

Welcome to the blog-o-sphere! Glad you're here!

Dawn said...

I agree with you, yet can't seem to stay away from Target for very long....

I've enjoyed your blog already - thanks for delurking!

Ginger said...

Do you have Burlington Coat Factory where you are? I never shop there because their return policy is even worse - 30 days with receipt for store credit only.

Big Mama said...

Welcome to blogging.

And as for Target, you can't ever really break up with Target because they treat you so badly, but then lure you back in with promises of fabulous housewares at unbelievably low prices.

Tricia said...

Welcome to the bloggity world.

And yes, Target and I have a very unhealthy on again off again relationship.

We need therapy.

Do they sell therapy at Target?

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Hi, Brittani, here by way of Sarah/In The Midst Of It. ;-)

Welcome to blogging from this side.

As for the sin of your former lurking: You are forgiven, my child. Go and lurk no more. ;D

Target and I are acquaintances, but not best buds. I've encountered their unreasonable return policy in the past and it soured our burgeoning friendship. ;-)

Jennifer said...

Great post! Welcome to the blog world!

Erin said...

Hi, Brittani!!! I am a good friend of Sarah's from college. Sarah has mentioned you to me in lots of conversations. I am so excited to get to know you myself!! Any friend of Sarah's is an automatic friend of mine! Welcome!!

boomama said...

*waving arms*

HEY, BRITTANI!

Sarah sent me. :-)

Tamara said...

I totally agree with you...maybe if ALL of us here in BLOGGYLAND call his parents...we might get somewhere??? If you call Tyson Chicken, about their leaky package (TWICE), they at least send coupons!!!

mombo said...

Hi, I'm Lisa, and I'm a dirty lurker. ;D Stay strong Brittani! Hold those boundaries! Here, like so many others, through Sarah.

Donnetta said...

Welcome to blogging!!! Here via Sarah.

I recently took a return to Target and they put the amount back on my credit card. Glad I didn't have to go through that headache!!!

Again, welcome and I'll be back!!

Ami said...

Welcome to bloggityville!

OkieRiverMama said...

Hi Brittni!!
I too found my way here from Sarah. See now I have to totally disagree about target, I bought one of those loverly dual car dvd players and we are on our 3rd one since march...they have exchanged them twice with no reciept, and this past weekend gave me a full refund for the one i had including the 20$ for the extra warranty and offered me 10% off the next model up since they didnt have mine in stock currently.
I also buy everything there on my debit card and have had really good luck overall with them. Would rather stick a needle thru my eye than make the trip to wal mart however.
I recently began blogging myself even tho I have been reading regularly for about 7 months.
Steff

Unknown said...

Welcome! I popped over here from Sarah's blog to say hi. I am sort of a lurker at her place. I've commented about three times in the last 8 months. So, be prepared. This thing is dangerously close to addictive. OK, it IS addictive.

Unknown said...

Forgot to say that the policy at TARGET ticks. me. off. I agree with you completely.

pinkmommy said...

Sent here by Sarah as well.

Sorry, but I do love me some Target. I just never take anything back, because I can't bear to get my heart broken. That way, I can pretend that they love me as much as I love them...or it.

Jen said...

Welcome to blog land! Amen on Target!! My husband has complained to them many of times. Unfortunately, I can't stay away from that place too long!

Karla Porter Archer said...

Welcome to blogging!!

I've never had a Tar-jay addiction to break... there was never one close enough to where we lived to get sucked in. Even now, my car somehow always manages to point in another direction.

After reading this and their cruddy return policy, I am very glad, because I am the Queen of buying the one broken item on the shelf.

Blessings,
Karla

Linda said...

I have come from Sarah's blog to welcome you. It looks like you're already off to a wonderful start. I sort of lurk at Sarah's as well, but I do have my own blog and do comment on others.
You sound like me - I don't like to make waves. But you're right - a girl has to take a stand every once in a while.
This was really a fun, well-written post. I'm so glad to meet you.

Girl Raised in the South said...

Good luck breaking up with Target - when the only alternatives are the grocery store or Walmart, you find yourself going back and back and back. But their return policy does stink.

kittyhox said...

Oh my gosh. Are you my long lost twin or something?

Target and I used to be a couple. We broke up for the same reason. We've been on and off again ever since. I recently started having a relationship with WalMart, which I swore I never would do. Now we have a love-hate relationship.

Looking forward to visiting your blog!

KirkKrew said...

Amen Sister! Target and I have had a love-hate relationship for many years. :) I've come over here from Sarah. I'm looking forward to lurking :)

Stacy P. said...

Hi! I am a friend of Sarah's, too! I think you go to FC also unless I am thinking of a different Brittani? I love the Target post...I have the same issues with them and I agree it is a ridiculous return policy
!
The scrambled egg post really got me thinking! Thanks for sharing your perspective. Take care! I will be back to "lurk" again! :o)
Stacy

Stephanie Kay said...

Here from Sarah's. I agree on Target. I had to return a baby item that was ordered via the web as a gift to me. After the ordeal I swore never to order from them again. And I haven't.

Autumn said...

I am a looooser! Holy cow you have a dang huge audience. 37 comments!!!! Don't leave Target. If you do I might feel obligated to follow and I just don't have the will power :D. Love ya!

Brea said...

Ha ha ha, your Target post cracked me up! I'm here by way of Sarah and I can already tell that your blog is going to be a great read -- you're a natural! :)

*carrie* said...

I SO get that--my husband refuses to shop there anymore. Alas, I must go alone. It really is shocking that a store with such great merchandise and such popularity has such a strict, non-customer-friendly policy.

On the other hand, Bed, Bath & Beyond (granted a different kind of store, but still) has gone out of their way to make returns easy for us. I recommend them for wedding registries--they rock!

Jenn @ Knee-Deep in Munchkin Land said...

That was hysterical! Great writing! And I, too, abhor the return policy there. =)

[Found you through Erin at Embracing My Cup.]

Jody said...

Carrie (With All That I've Been Given) sent me. Although I understand your frustration I understand Target's side,too. Theft rates at some stores are very high and people were returning items that had been stolen for cash or credit. Free money for them. And rules have to be uniform at all stores. I know it isn't fair to those of us who aren't thieves but I don't know that there is a fair answer that would please everyone.

And, no, I don't work for Target... :)

Anonymous said...

I found you from In The Midst of it... I was sitting here reading this post and I had to laugh. I can't tell you how many times I've answered to the wrong name just so I don't embarrass someone or eaten the wrong order because I can't put up a fight saying I ordered it this way!

TheRagan3 said...

found you thru In The Midst of it and after reading your Target post, I feel we are kindred spirits. What a ridiculous return policy they have. over a year ago i tried to return a baby outfit that was given to me for my son. He was a preemie and the outfit too big. It was obviously a Target item. I was told that without the receipt or gift receipt (which wasn't given to me) I was stuck with the outfit. In no uncertain terms. I asked for the manager to no avail and then got the # of "big" guy. grr.. at least I got it off my chest.
And another - my sister bought a string of Christmas lights. Got them home and the lights inside didnt match the light picture on the box. Of course coulnd't find the receipt. Took them back, all she wanted to do was get a box with the right lights. The teeny-bopper at the service desk was oh so short and mean to her. Told her too bad. I stepped in and asked for the manager. Fought with the manager for a good 20 minutes about what I thought was a simple request. Finally they consented - probably tired of dealing with a pissed off customer.

Sigh, but I like you am in love and can't go a week with out my Tar-jay fix. When will I learn? I just try and keep all my receipts now.

Keep up the blogging - It's a great read!