Target’s 'hidden' return policy

April 29, 2008

If you try returning something to Target without a receipt, there’s the retailer’s posted 90-day return policy and then there’s its unwritten return policy.

According to the posted policy, you’re simply out of luck if you don’t have a receipt and Target can’t verify the purchase through its electronic “receipt look-up” system, as might be the case if you paid cash or received the item as a gift.

But for items costing up to $20, there’s another “hidden” option that you won’t see on the store’s posted return policy. Customers can get store credit, provided they show a driver’s license or other government-issued identification and haven’t already used this option twice during the year. This option actually has been around awhile, although it initially allowed no-receipt returns for items valued up to $100, an amount subsequently reduced to $40, and reduced again last year to $20.

“It is something we look at as an accommodation above and beyond the policy," says Target spokesman David Fransen. "It’s not publicized or advertised.”

We wonder why Target simply doesn’t tell shoppers this. Even better, we wonder why it doesn’t adopt the no-hassle policy of its largest competitor, Wal-Mart. Customers who return products to Wal-Mart without a receipt can get a store credit, even for high-priced purchases. And for purchases of less than $25, customers have the option of taking cash. As with Target, Wal-Mart’s return policy is 90 days for most products, although it’s shorter for computers, digital cameras and camcorders, and some other electronics. What’s more, Wal-Mart recently loosened its return policy for holiday gifts that fall under the shorter return policy. The return period starts on Dec. 26, even if the gift was purchased as early as Nov. 15.

But even Wal-Mart has its limits. If you return more than three items without a receipt within 45 days, transactions will need to be approved by a manager, and your account will be flagged for the next six months. The flag will disappear if there are no more returns during that time period.—Anthony Giorgianni

Target Fires Security Guard For Stopping Shoplifter

(For what Tarbutt pays I wouldn't clean it up either!)
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Why would you want to work for a store that cans you for doing your job??

Taken from http://www.consumerist.com/

Usually our shoplifter stories focus on being detained illegally or held at knifepoint by a rabid senior greeter who demands receipts*, but Target in Milwaukee toes the line when it comes to dealing with suspected theft. That's why they fired a retired cop (warning: video) who stopped a teenager he saw stealing liquor for the second time in a month.

He told her he'd seen her take rum a few weeks before and asked her what was in her bag this time. She showed him. He called her father. Target fired him because the store policy is that only certain managers can intercept shoplifters. We admire his attention to detail and desire to help, but we're glad to see a Big Box retailer following its own policy.

Babcock seems like a nice guy, and we hope he finds a more suitable job soon. We also hope that when Babcock was on the force, his partner's name was Goobcock, because that would make any reasonable criminal have a good laugh.

"Target Security Guard Fired After Stopping Shoplifter" [Fox 6 Milwaukee]
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Another Target site with 'Directives' is: http://groups.msn.com/TargetAPDirectives2008/homepage