Target Frustrations

[Toad_Passenger]

Since most people post their secrets online, all it takes is a quick search of some shopping/couponing/ forums to find out what the best deals are. Then you just clip your coupons

Oh coupons are easy enough. I'm talking about the people who plan out several days at CVS in order to gather 10 shampoos so they can get 6 CVS Bucks, which they then use to roll into 5 cases of soda for more CVS bucks, and so on, and so forth. That kind of stuff seems very time consuming for what you may, or may not get out of it.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Do you mean getting the $10 extra bucks for pepsi, using Electrasol coupons to get $10 more, then rolling the $20 into free Cottonelle and getting $10 more to do the Pepsi thing all over again next week? That's alot of free or cheap daily items for the 15 minutes of work involved.

As for price matching, I'll do it on very rare occasion at Walmart. If everyone price matches, then the stores with the lower prices will go out of business, forcing everyone to shop at Walmart. We all know what happens once Walmart drives the others away, hang on to your wallet.

 

[thinkerbell]

I don't see how Target is the bad guy here IF you don't have the CVS card that is asked for in the ad.

Now if the OP had the card and was valid, then yeah they should match.

But from how I read it (could be wrong) the OP picked an ad from cvs that she did not qualify for, then complains when Target won't match it.

Sorry but in that case they should not.

OP here- I DO have a CVS card. They still would not match. What does it really matter though? To get the deal at CVS, all you have to do is sign up. Anyone is eligible--they don't check my credit or anything. All I did was drive right over to CVS and get it there. They are in the same parking lot. About the same hassle as having to separate all my items and go to two different registers to pay for my goods at Target. Not calling them a bad guy. They can do whatever they want. It just isn't worth the hassle to me. I'll get it at Wal-mart.

As far as taking time from my family to get good deals-- I read the paper anyway. The ads are right in front of me. Really doesn't take that long. It seriously doesn't take me any longer to do that than it does to post on this message board. I see it as saving me time--and money too!! I don't have to go around to several different places to get the good deals. If it isn't just a price match kind of thing I do use CVS and Walgreens to make sure I get the best deals even though I may have to use some bucks the next week.

 

[Hannathy]

Because CVS is getting info with those cards and Target isn't. When you use your CVS card they track what is selling and where etc, that is why they discount the item for card holders. Target isn't getting that info and feel the only reason CVS has it on sale is to gather the info.

 

[Straitlover]

Glad your Walmart will price match. My local one does not price match anything at all, even though they play fifty zillion commercials on the TV saying that WM price matches!

 

[CPT Tripss]

For me personally, Walmart would have to match and then give extra off for me to even set foot in that store. Others may have nice Walmarts, but our here are disgusting. Dirty people, nasty employees and never enough cashiers open for anything. I don't care when you go, there is at least 10-12 people ahead of you. I actually was there while DH was picking up something from another store in the strip mall, I was in a line with about 15 people a head of me, and this was the shortest line. I stood there for a very long time and never moved. I just left my cart there, full of food. I figure too bad, they can deal with it. I went down to my local Publix and got the same things, half of which where actually cheaper than Walmart was was out in no time. I honestly don't know how that place stays in business.

They stay in business because they are cheap and because they run other retailers out of town.

Target gives 5% off if you use their credit card . . . does anyone really expect a competitor to accept a Target CC let alone give them an extra 5%? match

 

[mhsjax]

They stay in business because they are cheap and because they run other retailers out of town.

Target gives 5% off if you use their credit card . . . does anyone really expect a competitor to accept a Target CC let alone give them an extra 5%? match

True about the first part, they run businesses out of town. I love Target personally, even though I don't have a credit card, that would be dangerous. lol

I would rather pay more than shop at Walmart. OUr grocery store actually matches target coupons.

 

[mhsjax]

OP here- I DO have a CVS card. They still would not match. What does it really matter though? To get the deal at CVS, all you have to do is sign up. Anyone is eligible--they don't check my credit or anything. All I did was drive right over to CVS and get it there. They are in the same parking lot. About the same hassle as having to separate all my items and go to two different registers to pay for my goods at Target. Not calling them a bad guy. They can do whatever they want. It just isn't worth the hassle to me. I'll get it at Wal-mart.

As far as taking time from my family to get good deals-- I read the paper anyway. The ads are right in front of me. Really doesn't take that long. It seriously doesn't take me any longer to do that than it does to post on this message board. I see it as saving me time--and money too!! I don't have to go around to several different places to get the good deals. If it isn't just a price match kind of thing I do use CVS and Walgreens to make sure I get the best deals even though I may have to use some bucks the next week.

Some people are good at deals, I think it takes practice. FWIW, I see you live in SC. I don't know where, but I do have realtives up there (lucky people) and we do go to Walmart when we are visiting. Their Walmart is clean and the people are friendly. Very unlike ours.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I live in an area where all the major stores are no more than a mile apart. I'll gladly go to the store that is advertising the sale to save myself the headache of price matching.

 

[bicker]

They stay in business because they are cheap and because they run other retailers out of town.

Indeed, they run other retailers out of town because they're cheap, and they're cheap because consumers want them to be. It takes "two" to tango. Consumers collectively want low prices, regardless of what that might mean, in terms of impact on local retailers; regardless of what that might mean in terms of the safety, reliability, and durability of what we buy; etc.

 

[mhsjax]

Indeed, they run other retailers out of town because they're cheap, and they're cheap because consumers want them to be. It takes "two" to tango. Consumers collectively want low prices, regardless of what that might mean, in terms of impact on local retailers; regardless of what that might mean in terms of the safety, reliability, and durability of what we buy; etc.

This is one area where I have always agreed with you 100%. Many people, not all, seem to want cheap at all costs. It doesn't matter what it took to get the price down and how good the quality of the product is.

I seem to remember we have had this conversation about airline fares. It boggles my mind that people think the fares we have now are expensive, Where as I wonder how does the airline actually maintain the safety and afford decent pilots on the fares that they charge. Sorry off topic.

 

[bicker]

This is one area where I have always agreed with you 100%. Many people, not all, seem to want cheap at all costs. It doesn't matter what it took to get the price down and how good the quality of the product is. I seem to remember we have had this conversation about airline fares. It boggles my mind that people think the fares we have now are expensive, Where as I wonder how does the airline actually maintain the safety and afford decent pilots on the fares that they charge. Sorry off topic.

That doesn't take us as far off-topic as you might think.... the answer to your question is (perhaps regrettably) regulations. And that carries over to Target (and Wal-Mart, etc.) If you want these retailers to operate differently, then get practically everyone to agree with you, on one of two approaches: (1) agree to stop patronizing them as long as they continue to operate that way, as I alluded to in my earlier message; OR (2) throw away the free enterprise system and have business policies dictated by referendum vote. If you can't get practically everyone to agree with you on either of those two (including the case where you, yourself, don't agree with either ), then these retailers are doing the "right thing" by offering that for which consumers reward them the best.

 

[sbell111]

In some cases this is done because there there are one or two specs that are different to make the item cheaper. For example one retailer had a laptop on sale for I think $299, but part of the reason why it was that price was because it didn't include a built in webcam. That is something that can be easily overlooked by the customer.

You see that alot with stores that sell appliances. The store may say that they pricematch, but the appliance must have the same model number at both stores. Apparently, what they don't announce is that some of these major retailers have agreements with appliance manufacturers for appliances to be made 'special' for that retailer. Their appliances may indeed be identical to those sold by other retailers, but they have a different model number, so they will not price match on them.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Target gives 5% off if you use their credit card . . . does anyone really expect a competitor to accept a Target CC let alone give them an extra 5%? match

Using my Red Card at Target is the easiest discount. 5% off everything for me, plus another .5% goes to my kids' school. My only problem is that I haven't had the card long, so they haven't upped my credit limit yet. I would shop there even more if I could always use the Red Card.

You see that alot with stores that sell appliances. The store may say that they pricematch, but the appliance must have the same model number at both stores. Apparently, what they don't announce is that some of these major retailers have agreements with appliance manufacturers for appliances to be made 'special' for that retailer. Their appliances may indeed be identical to those sold by other retailers, but they have a different model number, so they will not price match on them.

I'm convinced they do something similar with more everyday merchandise, too. Not for price matching, but cheaper quality goods for stores who insist on cheaper prices. I bought deoderant at Walmart (same brand and type I buy at Costco, Target, Safeway or King Soopers), and the plastic was so flimsy it actually broke off when I tried to advance the stick. Sure, it was cheaper, but it was definitely a case of "you get what you pay for". The few times I've bought clothes there, they fall apart within a couple of washings, too.

 

[scrapquitler]

---"Performing price matches at Guest Service allows us to get all our guests through the checkout lanes faster. We don't match prices with a competitor that requires you to have a loyalty card to get the lower prices. I apologize for any frustration.

So no price matches from virtually all grocery stores, eh? What a PITA.

 

[gillep]

When I worked at Guest Service at Target only employees trained at Guest Service even had the options available on the computer terminals to do price matching, it is one of the many ways that they reduce employees trying to scam the company by only having a limited number able to do these and other types of transactions (or so the training video said). Also you would not have to wait in both lines as the person at guest services could have done it all in one transaction if you had known to go there first.

 

[mamacatnv]

Indeed, they run other retailers out of town because they're cheap, and they're cheap because consumers want them to be. It takes "two" to tango. Consumers collectively want low prices, regardless of what that might mean, in terms of impact on local retailers; regardless of what that might mean in terms of the safety, reliability, and durability of what we buy; etc.

We the consumers are responsible for the success of Wal-Mart.

Honestly, I don't see why any store really should price match. Target is IMO a far nicer environment than Wal-Mart IMO and someone has to pay for that. If I choose to shop at Target IMO it is not reasonable to expect Target to then allow me to pay Wal-Mart prices.

 

[thinkerbell]

When I worked at Guest Service at Target only employees trained at Guest Service even had the options available on the computer terminals to do price matching, it is one of the many ways that they reduce employees trying to scam the company by only having a limited number able to do these and other types of transactions (or so the training video said). Also you would not have to wait in both lines as the person at guest services could have done it all in one transaction if you had known to go there first.

I do understand what you are saying but when Target does it this way, it just discourages customers from trying to play the price match game and just makes it frustrating. No use in having a price match program if you really don't want your customers to take advantage of it. I do wish we would have gone to the customer service desk first so that I could have left them ALL of what we bought instead of just the price match stuff. The girl at the register said we could not take all of our items there--I wondered if she really knew what she was talking about but she also called over a manager to ask her about the price match thing and I asked her also if we could take it all to GS and she said no. I honestly think they were just trying to make it difficult so that we would not even do the price match. It worked! I won't go back.

 

[kwelch10377]

We the consumers are responsible for the success of Wal-Mart.

Honestly, I don't see why any store really should price match. Target is IMO a far nicer environment than Wal-Mart IMO and someone has to pay for that. If I choose to shop at Target IMO it is not reasonable to expect Target to then allow me to pay Wal-Mart prices.

The inital reason that retailers starting price matching was as a way to keep customers loyal to their store, espically for big ticket items. Retailers realized that while a lot of customer want to be loyal to just them, pricing sometimes over took loyalty and as a way to make sure that didn't happen they started price matching.

Things have kind of backfired and a lot of consumers have just made this a "game" and for many they will just shop where it easy and who they get get the best deal from.

I recently read an article about the increase in people using smartphones to check pricing of items elsewhere. They will be in Best Buy looking for a TV and use their phone to check and see what the price of that TV is elsewhere. I am very interested to see what happens in the next several years with this. It may change price matching or it may change retailers overall strategy when it comes to price. A lot more retailers may have the same exact prices.

I personally have never priced match and really just can't be bothered too. I shop at Target because that is where I like to and will regardless of price. I can't stand Walmart and don't care if they are half the price I still won't shop there. If I am shopping online I might check prices, but often stick to the same stores, even if a little more expensive.

 

[surfgirl]

Things have kind of backfired and a lot of consumers have just made this a "game" and for many they will just shop where it easy and who they get get the best deal from.

This is why B&N has two different prices on-line and in b&m stores.

B&M: they compete with Borders (who is having financial difficulties)
oneline: they compete with amazon.com

Essentially two different competitive models and therefore, two different pricing strategies. It will be interesting to see if it works or not -