Problem with Target gc order (delivery)

[DizMe]

I ordered a $50 gc from Target on Sept. 30. It gave an estimated delivery date of 10/6 via UPS. It is now 10/14 and still no gift card. I called on 10/8 and was told it should arrive by 10/12, which did not happen.

When I look up the tracking number, it says it was turned over to the USPS on 10/2. It says that "this shipment is progressing through the postal system to its final destination." It has said that for over a week.

First, why would you ship a gift card via UPS, especially if it's just going to be given over to the postal system? Second, where the heck is it? It was dropped off in a neighboring town 12 days ago!

Has anyone else had this happen? I'm really nervous it might get "lost" and I won't have any recourse if they claim it was delivered.

 

[Marionnette]

I ordered a $50 gc from Target on Sept. 30. It gave an estimated delivery date of 10/6 via UPS. It is now 10/14 and still no gift card. I called on 10/8 and was told it should arrive by 10/12, which did not happen.

When I look up the tracking number, it says it was turned over to the USPS on 10/2. It says that "this shipment is progressing through the postal system to its final destination." It has said that for over a week.

First, why would you ship a gift card via UPS, especially if it's just going to be given over to the postal system? Second, where the heck is it? It was dropped off in a neighboring town 12 days ago!

Has anyone else had this happen? I'm really nervous it might get "lost" and I won't have any recourse if they claim it was delivered.

I've had Disney GCs from Target take the grand tour of the East Coast courtesy of the USPS. However, I was always able to follow their progress. At this point, you may have to contact Target customer service to report a lost shipment and request a refund.

 

[supersnoop]

There should be a second tracking number, either in the information you've been provided or on the ups page. Or you might be able to use the same tracking number on the usps page. Basically, you'll need to check the usps website, not ups, in order to get accurat tracking information.

 

[DizMe]

Thank you for your replies. I went to the USPS website and put in the tracking number, but it only showed this:

 

[DizMe]

There is no indication that they ever received anything. This is what the UPS site says:


So do I call Target, UPS, or USPS?

 

[Marionnette]

There is no indication that they ever received anything. This is what the UPS site says:


So do I call Target, UPS, or USPS?

You call Target. The shipper is always the one who has to initiate a lost package claim.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Just some extra info, everything that Target has ever sent me including gift cards has always started ups and been turned over to usps. It doesn't make sense to me but that's their shipping method.

Good luck!

 

[Marionnette]

Just some extra info, everything that Target has ever sent me including gift cards has always started ups and been turned over to usps. It doesn't make sense to me but that's their shipping method.

Good luck!

Choose "require signature" when you are checking out and the shipment will be delivered by UPS.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Choose "require signature" when you are checking out and the shipment will be delivered by UPS.

Good to know. Thank you!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Lots of companies these days are shipping to your town via UPS (UPS SurePost) or FedEx (FedEx SmartPost) and then delivering using USPS (including Amazon). Apparently it saves money on shipping. There is a discussion of how it works here:

http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/67899-Pros-and-Cons-of-UPS-SurePost-FedEx-SmartPost

OP, your gift card has taken far too long to be delivered. Contact Target ASAP.

 

[Kies99]

The gift cards are being shipped by Target via UPS SurePost (FedEx calls it SmartPost). UPS ships to your local post office and it is up to the post office to deliver to you. Most likely it gets delivered to your local sort facility first which then has to route to your local post office branch which then has to sort and deliver to you. Whenever I've been shipped something this way, it ROUTINELY takes at least a week from the time it hits my local post office to the time it is finally delivered.

 

[elgerber]

I had that happen with a Disney card I ordered from Target. I called Target, she said it was lost, and she would cancel the order, and if I wanted to reorder she would do it for me right then, with the same discount I had received on the first order.

 

[DizMe]

Thanks so much for all of the information! It's hard to understand how that shipping method saves money, but next time I'll do the signature thing. That's great to know because I don't like things like that sitting in my mailbox.

 

[robinb]

That happened to me. Target ended up sending me new gift cards, but it took a LONG time. I think over a month before they gave up hope that they would be delivered.

 

[DizMe]

Forgot to mention that their "system is down" so nothing can be done for me yet and I'm supposed to call back in a few hours. I actually tried calling back immediately, but got the same answer from another agent I could barely understand. I had to ask both agents 2-3 times what they were saying about the system being down and not being able to access the gift card information.

My trip isn't until December, which is good since it might take that long to get my gift card! From now on I think I'll just get them in store--I'm using Target gc's I earn through rewards sites to buy my Disney cards and thought it would be cool to save another 5%, but I'm not sure saving $2.50 is worth ordering online.

 

[Jankam]

I agree with PPs, that's way too long. Mine arrived within a couple of days.

 

[erij11]

Forgot to mention that their "system is down" so nothing can be done for me yet and I'm supposed to call back in a few hours. I actually tried calling back immediately, but got the same answer from another agent I could barely understand. I had to ask both agents 2-3 times what they were saying about the system being down and not being able to access the gift card information.

My trip isn't until December, which is good since it might take that long to get my gift card! From now on I think I'll just get them in store--I'm using Target gc's I earn through rewards sites to buy my Disney cards and thought it would be cool to save another 5%, but I'm not sure saving $2.50 is worth ordering online.

I earn Target giftcards online to buy Disney cards too and I decided a while back to just buy them in the store. I've just heard too many stories of cards lost in the mail or people receiving cards that were not activated. I even got the Red Card debit card just for this reason and have only used it once in store when I was paying cash for my cards. The other option for me is to get paypal giftcards instead of Target and getting the 5% that way. I might try that next time.

 

[DizMe]

I just got through and they were very good about it. They can't send a new card but they will be sending me a Target ecard for the balance within 2 days.

I earn Target giftcards online to buy Disney cards too and I decided a while back to just buy them in the store. I've just heard too many stories of cards lost in the mail or people receiving cards that were not activated. I even got the Red Card debit card just for this reason and have only used it once in store when I was paying cash for my cards. The other option for me is to get paypal giftcards instead of Target and getting the 5% that way. I might try that next time.

How do you get 5% through PayPal?

 

[erij11]

I just got through and they were very good about it. They can't send a new card but they will be sending me a Target ecard for the balance within 2 days.


How do you get 5% through PayPal?

I use swagbucks so instead of getting Target giftcards, I would get Paypal giftcards. Then I'd transfer my PayPal funds to my checking account that is linked to my red card debit card and save the 5% by buying my Disney cards that way. The only reason I haven't done that before is that it seems to take too long and getting Target cards seems easier.

 

[savannie]

I know you got this resolved, but here's a little info that might help if it ever happens again (or someone else reads this thread). I actually chatted with our local postmaster for about an hour about a lost package like this. Basically, what happened is that UPS claims they gave the card to the post office, but the post office has no record of it. (I'm sure you've figured this much out.) When they make the deliveries, they just scan everything and hand it over. It could be that the post office never got it, and it could be that it's still on the UPS truck. It could also be that the UPS carrier or postal carrier stole it because who would know? You can call the post office, and if it's there, they'll probably find it. Our postmaster told me that he absolutely hates the UPS to USPS system. He said it's the most inefficient way to deliver packages, and the UPS carriers don't treat anything with care. All the blame falls on the post office usually because they're the end carriers. Not saying that's necessarily true; just repeating what he told me.