How do you deal with Target's Return Policy?

[mimiohara]

Target's policy has not been in place for years. And typically I do not have an issue with exchanging without a receipt using a cc look-up. However, I do not buy gifts at Target period! I do not save my receipts, But I have felt like a criminal when I have used a gift card and they can not look up the information and having to be lectured on using 1 of my two chances. I guess when I hit two I stop buying at target.:

 

[allison443]

Also, it isn't the same item. It is the same movie but a different item. If it was the same item, she wouldn't need to return it.

You are right!

I guess OP has to decide if it's worth the extra money/hassle to get widescreen-is regular screen that much worse? We usually get widescreen but why do they even make regular screen if it's so bad? Not criticizing the OP-just wondering since our dvds are widescreen too.

 

[dragonflymom]

DH loves buying DVDs on sale and he noticed that even if the title is on sale at Target, it is sometimes only the full screen version on sale and not the widescreen. The last title I remember that he ran into this problem was the movie Dreamgirls. As other posters pointed out, it may not be an even exchange if one version was on sale and another wasn't. Who knows why they don't discount both versions (maybe a stocking situation?), but they have a right to put whatever item they want on sale and enforce a return policy that discourages abuse. I guess having grown up in a country where one can only return defective items or make same item size exchanges and not for changing one's mind, even with receipt, has made me so grateful that I make sure I always follow any store's rules. The flip side is that I think I end up spending more money since at the back of my mind I tell myself I can always return this or that and end up keeping it. Whereas if I really have to think twice on each and every purchase, knowing all sales are final, my house will definitely be less cluttered!

 

[pbharris4]

I have never had a problem, ever. Never the 2 returns w/o a receipt thing, or any other problem. Most of the time, I return things within a week and they look it up, but I have had a few times where it was a gift and I didn't have the receipt. I also retuned for my DD as well (she's only 12). So it may just deoend on the person and the store.

 

[ReneeQ]

If she can go with you, and she put it on a credit card, they can look it up. Then you can exchange it for the one you wanted.

Good idea, but MIL only uses cash or check, she doesn't "believe in" credit or debit cards.

 

[ReneeQ]

I always pay by debit/credit card and have them do a receipt look up. It's a wonderful thing

I do, too, but MIL made this purchase.

 

[ReneeQ]

I guess I don't see where the issue lies. Could you not have gotten the $14.99 at a credit towards the one he wanted at least?

I suppose I could, but as MIL already paid $19.99 for the movie, I didn't want to pay an ADDITIONAL $5 for it. BOTH versions (regular, and widescreen) are currently $19.99 at Target, so it would have been an even exchange.

 

[ReneeQ]

She doesn't want the exact same item. She wants a different item. Same title but different item, different item number,etc.

True, it's a different ITEM, but both items are currently the same price. And I'm not asking for money, just an exchange.

 

[ReneeQ]

Let me see if I understand the OP's compaint???

You hae no proof that you purchased the item there, but you would like them to give you the 'non sale' value?

Why?

The truth is that they don't do this to protect us. Therer are lots of folks who buy and return just to "pocket" the difference. Thereby ripping Target or whoever off. So they would buy at $14.99 wait until it goes OFF sale and then return without a receipt. They then get the $5 in their pocket. That just increases prices all across the board.....

True, I could pocket $5 IF I WAS ASKING FOR A REFUND. I was asking for an exchange.

 

[nicolemm]

I had this same problem with Target after having both of my kids. I had so many duplicate clothing items, etc. given as gifts, still had Target tags on them. I went in and was not aloud to return them, because I had returned more than two times in the past without receipts.

On the other hand, Babies R Us was amazing, as long as there tags were on it, they would return it, they are the only place I will buy someone a baby gift. In the craziness of having a baby, even when people gave me a gift receipt, I misplaced some of them!

I will not buy a gift in Target and I rarely shop in there anymore.

 

[jessica52877]

I too rarely shop target. I have never had a problem with their return policy and for the most part think it is pretty good. I love that they could look something up if you don't have the receipt. I am actually surprised they even considered allowing the dvd to be returned for the $15, but in this case I really don't see why they didn't even exchange it since they were offering to return it.

I know 90 days is a long time for returns but often stores with 30 days or less I avoid, we don't go out often and honestly are lucky to hit the same spot within 90 days. I think walmarts policy is way to lenient as I know tons who take advantage of it and I feel as if I am paying a higher price for it.

 

[rparmfamily]

Have you been to BRU lately?? I know TRU has the worst return policy I've heard of and I assume that maybe BRU is the same.

As for the poster who said it hasn't been like this for years, yes it has. Their policy is not even near a new one. Just maybe you've never ran into the problem.

As for the OP--I'm sorry it's such a hassle. I'm sure I'd be ticked as well but I guess from working retail (heck, I worked at Target in my college days) I know totally understand why retail establishments have return policies.

I'd try Walmart personally.

 

[JackJack08]

As a whole, their return process has been the same for many years BUT they have added a few new policies in the last few months.
I think if you got the right customer service associate she/he would exchange the DVD for you....noting it is a different format, NOT an entirely different product. Using common sense, could remedy the problem and keep a customer happy. Just too bad some people don't have any....common sense that is.

 

[kbkids]

I'm one that loves to shop at Target BECAUSE I don't have to keep my receipts since they can look up my credit card. That being said, I've recently started keeping them anyway. I spent $89 on a rug that I didn't like once I got it home. When I took it back, it didn't show up. I knew without a doubt which credit card I had used, but I gave her both just in case. Still didn't show up. Luckily, I was able to dig through the trash and find the receipt. When I took it back, they couldn't even do the return with the receipt. The girl ended up having to call a manager over, who actually had to call somewhere else to get an approval to credit my card back. She even had to argue with whoever she was talking to, as I overheard her say, "Look, I'm staring at the receipt right now!!" Nobody had an explanation for why it happened, but had I not found the receipt, I'd have been ticked!

 

[npmommie]

The movie would have cost $5.00 not $25.00!

ummmm no the movie will end up costing them $25.

MIL buys it for $20
Target refunds OP $15 ( target pockets the additional $5 from original sale)
OP rebuys the item for $20

so the end result is the movie cost $25!!!! yeah the OP is only out $5 OOP but the movie still got $25 for target when they could have just done an even exchange and made the customer happy.
but that is a lost art nowadays.

 

[pearlieq]

I strongly dislike the return policy at Target. And the thing is, I very rarely return items. I just find it adversarial and not very customer friendly. It's part of why I don't feel welcomed or valued there and why I don't shop there that often.

It's strange that Wal-Mart, with rock-bottom pricing and slim profit margins, has a generous return policy that gives their customers the benefit fo the doubt and Target, which has fairly high prices and offers higher-end items with bigger profit margins, is very strict and ungenerous.

 

[JackJack08]

I'm one that loves to shop at Target BECAUSE I don't have to keep my receipts since they can look up my credit card. That being said, I've recently started keeping them anyway. I spent $89 on a rug that I didn't like once I got it home. When I took it back, it didn't show up. I knew without a doubt which credit card I had used, but I gave her both just in case. Still didn't show up. Luckily, I was able to dig through the trash and find the receipt. When I took it back, they couldn't even do the return with the receipt. The girl ended up having to call a manager over, who actually had to call somewhere else to get an approval to credit my card back. She even had to argue with whoever she was talking to, as I overheard her say, "Look, I'm staring at the receipt right now!!" Nobody had an explanation for why it happened, but had I not found the receipt, I'd have been ticked!

Did the sale show up on your statement?? Wouldn't that be nice!! But not likely.....

 

[kaytieeldr]

You all can blame, among other things, shoplifters and scammers - NOT the stores, which are merely protecting their own interests (and bottom lines, and stockholders if applicable...)

 

[carmie3377]

When DS was born almost 2 years ago, I received a gift from a friend. She bought 0-3 months, but I already had so much in that size. I didn't have a gift receipt and they would only give the a recent sale price even though it wasn't currently on sale. I told them that I was getting the exact thing, just in a bigger size. Still, they refused. I tried explaining it, no budging. That's the one thing I hate about Target! Okay, may Target rant over. Other than that I Target!

Same thing happened at JCPenney with a baby gift. I was just exchanging for a larger size. They were supposed to just give the recent sale price, leaving me owing $2 for the same merchandise in a bigger size. The associate said "that's a stupid rule" and over rode it. I didn't even ask due to my experience at Target.

 

[emh1129]

I strongly dislike the return policy at Target. And the thing is, I very rarely return items. I just find it adversarial and not very customer friendly. It's part of why I don't feel welcomed or valued there and why I don't shop there that often.

It's strange that Wal-Mart, with rock-bottom pricing and slim profit margins, has a generous return policy that gives their customers the benefit fo the doubt and Target, which has fairly high prices and offers higher-end items with bigger profit margins, is very strict and ungenerous.

I agree. I really don't like Target's return policy. Somehow I received two of the Dirt Devil cones (yes- I wanted this ) for my birthday and tried to return one to Target (where it was purchased). They wouldn't take it back without a receipt because it had a value over $20. I guess I could have asked my Dad for the receipt, but he would have been a little crushed to know that I needed to return it
Wal-Mart has a much better return policy.