TARGET IS FUCKING FIRED
---------------------------------------
To Whom It May Concern,
I am 25 years old. I am your average working class woman. I make all my purchases from clothing, household items and food at my local target. I have been a loyal customer to Target for numerous years. I always choose to give Target my patronage over any other store. I am writing you this evening, Not to complain, but to express my dis concerns with the customer service department of one of your locations. I will explain the experience to you in full, that way you may have a clear understanding of where I am coming from.
In December of 2006, A week or so before Christmas, I made a purchase. The purchase was for a bathing suit, the top was $19.99 and the bottoms were priced $17.99. This was not even a $40 purchase. I turned out that I did not need bathing suit, nor does it fit me to even keep it. I searched all over for the receipt and could not locate it. One day I stopped by the customer service center. I asked them if I could return it without the receipt. They explained it me just bring my check card and I can be refunded my money.
I don't have a car. It caught on fire back in October of 2006. I take the light rail Downtown in to work. My schedule is very busy. I work full time and I am taking 3 classes this semester. I am sure you understand that my time is limited. So while I was out running errands I stopped by Target. I went in to make the return. There was an issue, the purchase was not showing up on my check card. So I asked the lady could it be because I got a new card issued to me? I said it was the same checking account, just a new card. I reported my card lost or stolen after the new year. She told me that I would have to bring in one of my bank statements with my old card number on it. ( My first problem is that I do not believe it is right for a customer service person in a Target to request my bank statements. Those are confidential financial records. Second, I felt like I was of no importance and being brushed off.) So I took the liberty to call the bank on my cell phone. ( This is something I should not of had to do). Not to mention I had spent 40 minutes on the phone with the bank getting them to release information to me over the phone. At this point in time the original lady assisting me was gone. A new lady was going to assist me but the young lady who was there when the other lady was insisted on helping us. I believe her name was Katie or Kellie (something along those lines). I gave her the number to the old card and she entered those in. Still the order did not come up on the account. So I offered for her to try and swipe my check ( maybe I payed by check). I know for a fact I didn't not pay with cash on anything around Christmas time. Still nothing came up. The lady who was assisting the other customer ( I believe her name was Sharon.) She asked what the problem was. I explained to her everything you had read in the above. She told me, " Well of coarse it is not going to work, that card number is deactivated. It is not going to show up valid in our system." ( OK, so why did someone tell me to get the old card number in the first place. That was obviously a waste of my time. Quite an amount of it.) I asked if I can just get store credit. The lady said yes, if I have a drivers license. So I go to pull it out, thinking everything is good to go. Then I am informed oh, well you have to go to the same department you got these in and exchange them right now. I explained I didn't have time for that. ( I had been there for over an hour). The lady said because the purchase was over $10 they couldn't do it. I spend Eight times that amount every time I am there. So I asked to speak to this ladies supervisor, she told me " I am the supervisor". I explained to her, No.....I want to speak to your supervisor, there is someone above you. I would like to speak to them. So the lady left. Meanwhile, as I am standing there waiting through this, I saw 3 people get turned away or leave angry and unsatisfied with their service. Either because something wasn't registering in their system anymore or because they didn't want to put forth the effort to help these people out.
Finally, a young man approached me. Not behind the counter, in front of it. He stood in front of me face to face, he did not greet me, he did not shake my hand and introduce himself. I felt very uncomfortable. The only reason I knew his name was because I saw his name tag, it said John. He came up to me and said " Whats the problem?" I had to ask him if he was the supervisor. For all I knew he looked like a young stock boy, that was sent to do the work that someone else did not want to handle. I explained to him everything I had previously mentioned. The whole time he would only apologize to me and say " I'm sorry mam but that is are policy". OK, thank you for having manners and being kind. I appreciate that. However, I do not appreciate the fact that he could not look at me in the face and kept looking down from me. The fact that he was not behind a counter and was in my face I couldn't tell if he was looking at the ground or at my person. I felt really disrespected and really uncomfortable. All I kept asking for was an explanation. I understand this is not coming up on my card, I now know why. The question is " Why did someone tell me to do these things to begin with?" " Why were they brushing me off, like every other customer, in hopes I would leave and come back another time"? " What is the difference between me purchasing something from one department in the store than purchasing it in another"? " Why can't I get the store credit to use the next time I am available to come in to the store?" ( I was not given any answers except, well you can bring them back another time. However, my 90 days are almost up. Then I kept hearing the same thing over and over about store policy.) I asked about customer service. Why I was not receiving any, why I kept hearing the same recording over and over from what was supposed to be management and appeared to be a trained machine. How people expect to give accurate customer service to customers when they have customer service assistants working behind the counter wearing inappropriate clothing where her buttocks is peaking out of her pants and I can see her midriff? I was told it was irrelevant. I beg to differ.
I do not want to shop somewhere that claims to be a "family oriented store, to meet family needs". When they couldn't even meet mine. Like I said I am a loyal Target customer. Now I am questioning why I begun to shop there to begin with. I was given a 1800 number to call. I called it immediately when I left. Unfortunately, those customer service people are only open Monday thru Friday. So here I am sending an email, hoping to get a logical explanation for this. I went into to target today expecting to spend 5-10 minutes tops. I left over an hour later. I was almost late for a hair appointment. I was practically pushed away and told to come back. I put forth the efforts to call my bank and get the info they said I needed, all so I could get turned away again and again and again.
I went to my Hair appointment. They lady shook my hand, she introduced herself to me. She asked me what it was that I was looking for, than proceeded to ask me if I wanted any coffee, water, or tea. I know this is not the typical customer service tactics of a store such as Target, however even the slightest bit of compassion and courtesy for customers helps them walk out the door feeling a little more appreciated and better about them selves and the fact they spent their money at that particular location.
I am hoping that you are reading this letter not only with my interest in mind but your own personal interest as well. I know that any person who would of or has been in my shoes, would feel the same way. I am hoping that you can find away to settle this for me and restore my faith in your establishment. I would hate to be one of those people who go around with nothing good to say about the company and recommend highly against it. Especially since the majority of my family, friends, co workers and acquaintances shop there.
Again, I appreciate your time and assistance in this manner. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
-ME
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry for your frustration with your attempted return of the bathing suit you purchased in December. Since the attempted receipt look-up did not find the purchase, the store correctly offered you an exchange in the clothing department. To receive a cash refund or store credit on your purchase you would need to have your receipt.
Our return guidelines require a receipt for any return, but we also wanted you to have the chance to find another clothing item that you're sure to love. That's why our store team member offered you an exchange for similar items of equal or greater value from the same product category. We also need your photo ID to do any exchange because we track and limit these exceptions.
I regret that you are disappointed with your return experience and that you were misinformed by the team member about using your old checkcard number. Your feedback is a big help to us, and I'll make sure to share your comments with our executives. I will also send out two Target coupons for the misinformation at the service desk.
Thanks for shopping with us. We hope to see you again soon at Target.
Sincerely,
Mary
Target Guest Relations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for the reply. However, that is all I get? The same thing they did to me? I did some winter cleaning yesterday, I found my reciept. The reciept that says I purchased my items with my Visa check card. I was there telling the truth, trying to work with customer service and was just getting pushed away. Now I am getting a response 2 days later via email, saying the same thing they told me. I know what they told me, I know what the policy is. I am asking for an explanation. Instead I am being blown off and being told I am having coupons sent in the mail. Do you really thing that is going to take away the fact that I was a loyal customer, who was trying to do right and was hassled. I just wanted to know why they were making everything a big inconvienience. I was told all these things and then told different. I was told to get my old card number. Then I was told that wouldnt work. ( after I stood ther eon the phone for 40 minutes). Someone should of told me that to begin with. i was told I could have store credit if I had my ID. Ok I did, but after I agreed to that, I was told I have to go back to the same section and exchange it right then. I already spent an hour in there, I had to leave. Why didnt they say that when they offered me store credit? They should of told me that to begin with too. I specifically asked why. Why, cant I get something from another department. Maybe I do not fit into targets clothing? Maybe that is why i was returning the swim suit. Does anyone have any consideration of these things? What if I wanted to spend that money on household cleaning supplies? Why can I not do that? I specifically ask for customer service and I get the same thing over and over again. I explained this to you in email. Now Im getting the same response back that the customer service department at the location gave me with the added, I will send you two coupons. How does taht make customers feel? I bet if you were the customer and I said these things to you....You would feel the same. Maybe if I just send you some coupons you will shut up and forget about it and make my job easier.
Now that I have the reciept I can go make the return with out any problem. That is unless they tell me they need the card it was purchased with. Am I going to go in there and are they going to tell me this? Are they going to tell me that i can only get store credit? Are they going to make me do things that are really irrelevant. I am really disgusted and one nerve left of sending an editorial out to all my local and regional newspapers on customer service and the types that are provide such as my local Target does.
-ME
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry if you feel our last e-mail reply wasn't satisfactory. Now
that you have found your receipt you should not have a problem returning
the suit as long as it was purchased less than 90 days ago.
As for your inquiry about our return guidelines, Target return and
exchange policy has been established by our executive officers. That's
why we're unable to make exceptions to the established guidelines. Of
course, your feedback about our policies and your experience is always
important to us, so I'll be sure to make your additional comments
available to our executives.
Thanks for your comments. I hope we'll have another chance to give you
the great guest service you've come to expect from Target.
Sincerely,
Mary
Target Guest Relations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You still did not answer any of my questions.
You said that the policy was made by executive officers.
Ok, then forward my email to them.
Maybe they will be able to give me more insight into these "policies".
I ask questions because I like to know the answers to them.
I am basically getting the response, "because I said so".
My job revolves around Customer Service.
I would NEVER treat customers the way I have been treated.
Customer service is based upon meeting the needs to customers in a
satisfactory manner.
You are supposed to meet or exceed those expectations.
If a customer ask questions you are not suppose to brush them off.
If you do not know the answers to their questions you find someone who
does.
I don't appreciate getting generalized responses.
I have never had a problem so intensive as this with any other shopping
establishment.
Thank you,
-ME
---------------------------------------
To Whom It May Concern,
I am 25 years old. I am your average working class woman. I make all my purchases from clothing, household items and food at my local target. I have been a loyal customer to Target for numerous years. I always choose to give Target my patronage over any other store. I am writing you this evening, Not to complain, but to express my dis concerns with the customer service department of one of your locations. I will explain the experience to you in full, that way you may have a clear understanding of where I am coming from.
In December of 2006, A week or so before Christmas, I made a purchase. The purchase was for a bathing suit, the top was $19.99 and the bottoms were priced $17.99. This was not even a $40 purchase. I turned out that I did not need bathing suit, nor does it fit me to even keep it. I searched all over for the receipt and could not locate it. One day I stopped by the customer service center. I asked them if I could return it without the receipt. They explained it me just bring my check card and I can be refunded my money.
I don't have a car. It caught on fire back in October of 2006. I take the light rail Downtown in to work. My schedule is very busy. I work full time and I am taking 3 classes this semester. I am sure you understand that my time is limited. So while I was out running errands I stopped by Target. I went in to make the return. There was an issue, the purchase was not showing up on my check card. So I asked the lady could it be because I got a new card issued to me? I said it was the same checking account, just a new card. I reported my card lost or stolen after the new year. She told me that I would have to bring in one of my bank statements with my old card number on it. ( My first problem is that I do not believe it is right for a customer service person in a Target to request my bank statements. Those are confidential financial records. Second, I felt like I was of no importance and being brushed off.) So I took the liberty to call the bank on my cell phone. ( This is something I should not of had to do). Not to mention I had spent 40 minutes on the phone with the bank getting them to release information to me over the phone. At this point in time the original lady assisting me was gone. A new lady was going to assist me but the young lady who was there when the other lady was insisted on helping us. I believe her name was Katie or Kellie (something along those lines). I gave her the number to the old card and she entered those in. Still the order did not come up on the account. So I offered for her to try and swipe my check ( maybe I payed by check). I know for a fact I didn't not pay with cash on anything around Christmas time. Still nothing came up. The lady who was assisting the other customer ( I believe her name was Sharon.) She asked what the problem was. I explained to her everything you had read in the above. She told me, " Well of coarse it is not going to work, that card number is deactivated. It is not going to show up valid in our system." ( OK, so why did someone tell me to get the old card number in the first place. That was obviously a waste of my time. Quite an amount of it.) I asked if I can just get store credit. The lady said yes, if I have a drivers license. So I go to pull it out, thinking everything is good to go. Then I am informed oh, well you have to go to the same department you got these in and exchange them right now. I explained I didn't have time for that. ( I had been there for over an hour). The lady said because the purchase was over $10 they couldn't do it. I spend Eight times that amount every time I am there. So I asked to speak to this ladies supervisor, she told me " I am the supervisor". I explained to her, No.....I want to speak to your supervisor, there is someone above you. I would like to speak to them. So the lady left. Meanwhile, as I am standing there waiting through this, I saw 3 people get turned away or leave angry and unsatisfied with their service. Either because something wasn't registering in their system anymore or because they didn't want to put forth the effort to help these people out.
Finally, a young man approached me. Not behind the counter, in front of it. He stood in front of me face to face, he did not greet me, he did not shake my hand and introduce himself. I felt very uncomfortable. The only reason I knew his name was because I saw his name tag, it said John. He came up to me and said " Whats the problem?" I had to ask him if he was the supervisor. For all I knew he looked like a young stock boy, that was sent to do the work that someone else did not want to handle. I explained to him everything I had previously mentioned. The whole time he would only apologize to me and say " I'm sorry mam but that is are policy". OK, thank you for having manners and being kind. I appreciate that. However, I do not appreciate the fact that he could not look at me in the face and kept looking down from me. The fact that he was not behind a counter and was in my face I couldn't tell if he was looking at the ground or at my person. I felt really disrespected and really uncomfortable. All I kept asking for was an explanation. I understand this is not coming up on my card, I now know why. The question is " Why did someone tell me to do these things to begin with?" " Why were they brushing me off, like every other customer, in hopes I would leave and come back another time"? " What is the difference between me purchasing something from one department in the store than purchasing it in another"? " Why can't I get the store credit to use the next time I am available to come in to the store?" ( I was not given any answers except, well you can bring them back another time. However, my 90 days are almost up. Then I kept hearing the same thing over and over about store policy.) I asked about customer service. Why I was not receiving any, why I kept hearing the same recording over and over from what was supposed to be management and appeared to be a trained machine. How people expect to give accurate customer service to customers when they have customer service assistants working behind the counter wearing inappropriate clothing where her buttocks is peaking out of her pants and I can see her midriff? I was told it was irrelevant. I beg to differ.
I do not want to shop somewhere that claims to be a "family oriented store, to meet family needs". When they couldn't even meet mine. Like I said I am a loyal Target customer. Now I am questioning why I begun to shop there to begin with. I was given a 1800 number to call. I called it immediately when I left. Unfortunately, those customer service people are only open Monday thru Friday. So here I am sending an email, hoping to get a logical explanation for this. I went into to target today expecting to spend 5-10 minutes tops. I left over an hour later. I was almost late for a hair appointment. I was practically pushed away and told to come back. I put forth the efforts to call my bank and get the info they said I needed, all so I could get turned away again and again and again.
I went to my Hair appointment. They lady shook my hand, she introduced herself to me. She asked me what it was that I was looking for, than proceeded to ask me if I wanted any coffee, water, or tea. I know this is not the typical customer service tactics of a store such as Target, however even the slightest bit of compassion and courtesy for customers helps them walk out the door feeling a little more appreciated and better about them selves and the fact they spent their money at that particular location.
I am hoping that you are reading this letter not only with my interest in mind but your own personal interest as well. I know that any person who would of or has been in my shoes, would feel the same way. I am hoping that you can find away to settle this for me and restore my faith in your establishment. I would hate to be one of those people who go around with nothing good to say about the company and recommend highly against it. Especially since the majority of my family, friends, co workers and acquaintances shop there.
Again, I appreciate your time and assistance in this manner. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
-ME
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry for your frustration with your attempted return of the bathing suit you purchased in December. Since the attempted receipt look-up did not find the purchase, the store correctly offered you an exchange in the clothing department. To receive a cash refund or store credit on your purchase you would need to have your receipt.
Our return guidelines require a receipt for any return, but we also wanted you to have the chance to find another clothing item that you're sure to love. That's why our store team member offered you an exchange for similar items of equal or greater value from the same product category. We also need your photo ID to do any exchange because we track and limit these exceptions.
I regret that you are disappointed with your return experience and that you were misinformed by the team member about using your old checkcard number. Your feedback is a big help to us, and I'll make sure to share your comments with our executives. I will also send out two Target coupons for the misinformation at the service desk.
Thanks for shopping with us. We hope to see you again soon at Target.
Sincerely,
Mary
Target Guest Relations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for the reply. However, that is all I get? The same thing they did to me? I did some winter cleaning yesterday, I found my reciept. The reciept that says I purchased my items with my Visa check card. I was there telling the truth, trying to work with customer service and was just getting pushed away. Now I am getting a response 2 days later via email, saying the same thing they told me. I know what they told me, I know what the policy is. I am asking for an explanation. Instead I am being blown off and being told I am having coupons sent in the mail. Do you really thing that is going to take away the fact that I was a loyal customer, who was trying to do right and was hassled. I just wanted to know why they were making everything a big inconvienience. I was told all these things and then told different. I was told to get my old card number. Then I was told that wouldnt work. ( after I stood ther eon the phone for 40 minutes). Someone should of told me that to begin with. i was told I could have store credit if I had my ID. Ok I did, but after I agreed to that, I was told I have to go back to the same section and exchange it right then. I already spent an hour in there, I had to leave. Why didnt they say that when they offered me store credit? They should of told me that to begin with too. I specifically asked why. Why, cant I get something from another department. Maybe I do not fit into targets clothing? Maybe that is why i was returning the swim suit. Does anyone have any consideration of these things? What if I wanted to spend that money on household cleaning supplies? Why can I not do that? I specifically ask for customer service and I get the same thing over and over again. I explained this to you in email. Now Im getting the same response back that the customer service department at the location gave me with the added, I will send you two coupons. How does taht make customers feel? I bet if you were the customer and I said these things to you....You would feel the same. Maybe if I just send you some coupons you will shut up and forget about it and make my job easier.
Now that I have the reciept I can go make the return with out any problem. That is unless they tell me they need the card it was purchased with. Am I going to go in there and are they going to tell me this? Are they going to tell me that i can only get store credit? Are they going to make me do things that are really irrelevant. I am really disgusted and one nerve left of sending an editorial out to all my local and regional newspapers on customer service and the types that are provide such as my local Target does.
-ME
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry if you feel our last e-mail reply wasn't satisfactory. Now
that you have found your receipt you should not have a problem returning
the suit as long as it was purchased less than 90 days ago.
As for your inquiry about our return guidelines, Target return and
exchange policy has been established by our executive officers. That's
why we're unable to make exceptions to the established guidelines. Of
course, your feedback about our policies and your experience is always
important to us, so I'll be sure to make your additional comments
available to our executives.
Thanks for your comments. I hope we'll have another chance to give you
the great guest service you've come to expect from Target.
Sincerely,
Mary
Target Guest Relations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You still did not answer any of my questions.
You said that the policy was made by executive officers.
Ok, then forward my email to them.
Maybe they will be able to give me more insight into these "policies".
I ask questions because I like to know the answers to them.
I am basically getting the response, "because I said so".
My job revolves around Customer Service.
I would NEVER treat customers the way I have been treated.
Customer service is based upon meeting the needs to customers in a
satisfactory manner.
You are supposed to meet or exceed those expectations.
If a customer ask questions you are not suppose to brush them off.
If you do not know the answers to their questions you find someone who
does.
I don't appreciate getting generalized responses.
I have never had a problem so intensive as this with any other shopping
establishment.
Thank you,
-ME