I received the following email from reader, Alicia:
I just was at the Gulf to Bay Super Target in Clearwater, FL. I was with my 3 year old son at that time and had to buy a couple of items, plus I had some returns to do from a previous shopping trip there. I got my items and proceeded to the customer service to do my returns. I had my receipts with me for my prior purchases. The clerk at the customer service desk asked me if there were anything wrong with the items, I said no I just did not need the items after all. I was returning (9) bottles of Visine-A, (1) eyeshadow, and (2) bottles of lotion. The clerk proceeded to return the lotions which were on one receipt with no problem. Then after this was done the manager comes up. He asked to speak to me to the side. I said okay, not understanding why but I went ahead and went over to see what he wanted. He told me that apparently the store has had a high number of returns from people that are using a lot of coupons and that it doesn’t look good when a large number of items are returned. It hurts the manufacturers. He asked me why I was returning the items. At the point I was upset since he was starting to accuse me of something. I told him the same thing, that I did not need the items. What I should have said but I was too upset at the time was I researched the Visine-A after I purchased it and found out that it might not be safe for breastfeeding. I am currently breastfeeding my 6 month old son, so I did not want to take a chance. He asked me if I used $2 off coupons on each bottle, I said yes. I did not lie I was completely forthcoming. Obviously if he was asking me that, he knew I did anyway it was on the receipt! He told me I was committing coupon fraud and he could have me arrested. I told him I wasn’t I just didn’t need the product after all and I was not asking for more money back than what I had paid! I informed him I would be contacting corporate about the incident. He threatened me in front of my son and several other people that were in line, shouting would you prefer I call the cops?!?! Then he informed me I was no longer welcome to shop at that store. I spend thousands of dollars a year at your store, up until this incident I LOVED Target. I recommended it to all my family & friends. I however will not be doing so from here on. I was absolutely humiliated.
Thoughts???
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You should not have been treated that way. However, I can understand why a retailer is reluctant to accept such a return. These items cannot be resold & must be destroyed. I don’t understand why you purchased 9 of an item you cannot use. I would never attempt to return such items. I’d give them away, I bet there are a lot of people who would love to have a bottle of eyedrops & can’t afford them.
I guess one question I have is, were the Visine all the travel size? Because if so, likely they were free from what I’ve seen. And if that’s the case, unless you are trying to get the tax back on the purchase, I don’t know why you would try to return them.
If the manager thought this individual was trying to “make a profit” that would explain their concern, although I admit the manager’s reaction was inappropriate.
I’ve worked in retail and there is nothing a customer ever needs to explain as to why they are returning an item. The “is there anything wrong” question should really only be to find out if the item is defective or needs to be written-off.
As for saying the drops are not recommended for breastfeeding – who cares. I know it’s only natural to think of the “what I should’ve said”s but ultimately it is NONE OF THE STORE’S BUSINESS! Returns are a part of business, on every level of retail.
I would tell the woman to continue to shop at the store, a bad manager won’t last too long. They have a way of weeding themselves out.
She should absolutely contact the corporate offices about this incident, and report this manager. There is no excuse for his behavior, even if he did think she was committing fraud. It doesn’t matter if returns don’t “look good.” They happen. As long as the product wasn’t used, has proof of purchase, and is within the allowable time frame – there should not be a problem for returning it for the amount paid. The part about returns hurting the manufacturers is complete bs. The manufacturer will probably never even know, because the store can resell it.
All he had to do was tell her she could only get back the $ she actually paid.
Actually, Target has a policy that health and beauty items cannot be returned AT ALL, receipt or no. I tried to return an unopened box of hair color, and was told I had to instead contact the manufacturer for a refund.
What I’d like to know is why anyone would buy NINE of an item without “researching” it. I’m sorry, but the whole thing sounds extremely fishy to me.
I have returned an unopened box of hair color before, twice actually and it was perfectly fine. Target do not have a written policy that states that you can’t return health and beauty items. I have return unopened makeup before too. It must be your target that was extremely picky about that and made that policy up for their store. You can contact target corp and ask about that policy because that shouldn’t be the case.
Target most certainly DOES accept health and beauty item returns. I am not sure where that came from, much less the items have to be destroyed. These statements are just NOT TRUE. Whenever something like this happens, write down names, time and store # (if possible). Go home and document everything that transpired, be specific. Contact corporate during business hours, they are based in Minneapolis (Central Time) and use your notes for reference. If you do not get a satisfactory answer, call at a different time and talk to someone else. Keep going higher if necessary. I worked for their corporate department store division. They do not take complaints like this lightly!!!
I know they destroy any food item that gets returned and won’t resell it…. Seems a bit off to me that you would stock up on 9 bottles of eyedrops and then research them.
Food items are destroyed. But as far as I know all other items are accepted.
Coupon fraud? Really? Since Target will redeem and receive the $2 for each bottle of Visine she purchased, that’s a bunch of baloney.
Sounds to me like he was annoyed that she was returning.
I had a cousin this happen to also!! Call corporate immediately.
It would have been one thing if she didn’t have the receipt,then coupon fraud could have been a fact but it wasn’t clearly here.
Again this is why I don’t shop Target but thanks for the coupons I can use at a store that doesn’t accuse people of such a thing.
So sorry to hear that happened!!
This lady was trying to commit fraud, why would you buy 9 visine and return them what for just getting a few cents back that she paid for tax. People like her ruin it for other people. If she found out she could not use visine while breastfeeding she should have just waited till she has finished breastfeeding, it is not like she was going to be doing it for the rest of her life. I hate to be the bad person here to point it out to her. NEXT TIME DONT BUY ANYTHING YOU CANT USE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A COUPON FOR IT. Leave it for others who can actually use it.
That is completely unacceptable!!! I would contact corporate like pp stated. When I purchase items with coupons at target it clearly states on the receipt what the refund value will be. Im guessing this is done to avoid coupon fraud. Unless you are asking for the full amount in return there is no reason to be accused of something like that. It seems to me that couponers are getting a really bad rap recently,almost like we’re trying to steal things by using coupons!! (I blame some of it on TLC’s extreme couponing show but thats a whole other topic) I hope she gets some kind of apology for being treated that way.
I am sorry but I seriously cannot side with this customer. Not sure why someone would buy 9 bottles of Visine unless these were the travel ones that were free after the coupon. If that is the case, why are they being returned?…If they are free just give them away…but I think it’s wrong to use a coupon to get an item free then turn around and return it and get the cash for it…..I am pretty sure the employees (managers, cashiers) are held accountable at times for wrong coupons entered or cases like this, so I don’t blame the manager….maybe I am being harsh but situations like this give couponers a bad name….
This return does seem a bit extreme and a little fishy. However, the manager should not have acted like he did. I would definitely call corporate, explain the situation, and see what they have to say. Sorry for your experience.
You should never returned a lot of products in 1 time like that? However I don’t think the store manager acted like that unless you’ve done this many time before.
He shouldn’t have spoken to her like that but the problem I have seen with a number of couponers (and Extreme Couponing just seems to highlight that) is that many just get things because they are FREE. Really she should’ve investigated it before hand.
I am also breastfeeding but I don’t and get all of these allergy meds and pain meds and every other med the drug stores throw at you just because it is free. I don’t want all that junk in my body!
Just my 2c
Very strange story. Nine?Don’t buy it if you aren’t going to use it. Sounds like she wiped out the whole stock in o e fell swoop just because it was on sale. How many people came in to buy that product who actually needed it only to find it was out of stock and couldn’t use their coupon? Further to that, don’t print coupons you aren’t going to use (assuming these coupons were printed). That means people who could have really used that coupon couldn’t because you were a coupon hog and the manufacturer ran out. Ask ask. Coupon rules will only get more strict when everyone abuses them. Don’t be a hog and ruin it for the ones that really need the break.
I think both parties were in the wrong. The manager clearly does not have people skills or good customer service. But why return all that? Why not just keep it or give it away. I wouldn’t say the lady was committing fraud. But why go through all that trouble returning something that was basically free?! My goodness.
I live in Tampa Fl and Clearwater Fl is just 10 minutes away from me.
I cant really say I can side with this customer and here are the following reasons why-
1- As a person who does couponing I do not recall a recent sale on the Visine that it did not either end up free or extremely discounted at Target.
2- When your a new mother you research before the child is even born what you can or can not intake during pregnancy and breast feeding. So I would think if she went to buy 9 bottles of some thing she would at least researched it I can understand maybe picking up a bottle of some thing and then realizing oh I cannot use this but she planned it all out before hand seeing how she had to print those coupons 9 times she could have taken a moment out too see if she could even use the product.
3- If she was only getting less than a dollar back or even a dollar with change she should have just donated it to her local church or charity.
Any time you return a abundance of 1 item your going to raise red flags,the reason for this is that people who are doing things they are not supposed to are not doing it alone which is why loss prevention in retail focuses more on actual employees than customers and if i had some one bring in 9 visine for a return my first thought would have been what cashier helped her to do this scam. Because believe it or not at least in my area it is common as I in my earlier years was a Customer Service Supervisor with a retail chain.
I do not agree that the manager got as aggressive as he did with her having a child with her,But you have to take into account that some managers do take pride in their store and take such actions personally. I think with incidents like these and with that show extreme couponing on TLC more changes will be coming to retailers coupon policies and may be even coupons they offer out as when some thing gets attention and focus change is inevitable.
Last I checked Visine-A is the allergy drops, which I don’t believe come in a travel size, so she had to pay something for them. Just because someone uses a coupon on something doesn’t mean that they have to keep it, if it doesn’t work for them. Target will get their money from the manufacturer. Also I’m not aware that Target limits customers on the number of like items they can purchase. And when is it acceptable to confront someone in the manner in which the store manager did?
When said manager suspects that some thing of suspicion is being done…If a manager never confronted any one on any thing then you could just walk in to the store and do what you want. I mean realistically speaking some times things like this will happen if you have no reason to hide any thing then you have no reason to get upset.
Like I said before, Visine-A is the allergy drop formula, which was not free. I didn’t see anywhere in the post were she wanted the money back for her coupons, just the money she paid for the items. Nor did she just walk in and take the items, like you seem to be suggesting. Also, how is buying nine of the same items with coupons a “scam?” A manager had better make damn sure he is correct before confronting a customer, especially if he is going to do it the way in which he did. Just because a manager takes these, “actions personally” doesn’t give him the right to harass her in the manner in which he did.
Visine does come in travel size and the coupon was for $2 which made it free. So she only paid the tax which I dont know how much is it but cant be more than 20 cents max. You cant just see it from one side. Each story has 2 sides to it.
I agree with you Lily and the customer in some cases is not always in the right, I know a lot of times people do not like hearing that but it is the truth.
I wasn’t aware that Visine-A came in a trial size. She clearly states she purchased Visine-A, so she must have paid something besides tax.
Elizabeth–thank you for pointing out that Target will get their money from manufacturer. I think that everyone who says this woman is committing “fraud” is forgetting that. TARGET GOT THE COUPON MONEY FOR THE PRODUCT. They are NOT getting ripped off in any way.
So she decided not to keep the eyedrops. So what?
I think the manager was out of line in his aggressiveness and I would report him to corporate for that, but let’s look at the total return – why would someone be returning 9 bottles of eye drops PLUS two bottles of lotion, and one eye makeup??? That makes no sense. It’s not as if it was clothing that didn’t fit when you got it home or milk that was spoiled. Don’t buy lotion and eye makeup if you don’t intend to use it/keep it, and don’t buy 9 bottles of anything at a time esp. with a good coupon. It just screws it up for everyone else. I think she hoped to get the entire amount back and was angry when she was called on it.
I agree with you, she was hoping that she would be able to get the entire amount back.
She should get the entire amount back because she lost access to the coupon and Target has already been reimbursed the coupon amount.
The $2 off coupons were Target coupons not manufacturer coupons.
Actually, it doesn’t say whether they were target or manufacturer. I assumed it was man. coupons.
If the Target coupon doesn’t state manufacturer that means it’s Target. That’s why people were able to stack with manufacturer coupons.
If they were Target coupons then the price she paid on the receipt would reflect that amount. Target coupons come directly off at the register. For example if the item was $10 and you a had a $2.50 target coupon, the purchase price on the receipt would show up as $7.50. She this person wouldn’t be able to return the item for $10. So this person couldn’t get the $2 back in cash.
That’s only true if the cashier is paying attention. If you briefly look around the internet you’ll find people who’ve gotten away with returning items for full price when a coupon (store or manufacturer) was used. In fact, people were doing so with this exact deal. My comment was in response to “Target has already been reimbursed the coupon amount.” No they haven’t. The $2 off WERE Target coupons.
Are you smoking crack? Where do you see that it says they were Target coupons and not manufacturer? “He told me that apparently the store has had a high number of returns from people that are using a lot of coupons and that it doesn’t look good when a large number of items are returned. It hurts the manufacturers.” How would the manufacturers be hurt if the coupons were from Target?
I 100% agree with Debra.
How is it anyone’s business what other people return? Also what business is it of others why someone returns something? It sounds like everyone is jealous of the fact she was able to get at least nine coupons for the Visine. I have access to four computers at my house plus both of my parents allow me to print coupons on their computers as well. I’ve frequently purchased multiple like items on one transaction without a problem. I’ve even returned multiple bottles of lotion. I once purchased multiple bottles of a new lotion only to have it not work out. I have sensitive skin and this formula was supposed to not irritate it so I purchased several bottles only to get home and have a problem with it. I had purchased four bottles and I returned the three unopened bottles without a problem. I threw away the used bottle but didn’t want to complete waste my money on something that didn’t work for me but maybe someone else could buy. I’ve also returned unopened eye make-up after getting home and having my husband tell me I already have too much make-up. So really, it’s not anyone’s business what or why someone returns something.
It became every one’s business when it was posted on a blog that ASKED us for our thoughts. I do not think it is jealousy I’m pretty sure more than a few of us were able to get the Visine when it was available the issue in question is if said person needed 9 bottles of said product which she did not because she then returned them which hey that is fine it is your right to return but do not have an issue if they question the legitimacy of your return because it is a red flag for customer service people. It is a hard Economic state right now and people are just trying to do their jobs and make sure they are not making mistakes because jobs are not easy to come by and if you make a mistake on a return trust me it is on the cashier.
The issue is not about whether or not the person needed nine bottles of Visine. But judging by your grammer, lack of sentence structure, and overall lack of proof reading before posting; I would have to say you probably will never be able to comprehend the real issue. And I don’t think Elizabeth was referring to general jealousy over getting a limited coupon, but jealousy over the fact she has the ability to print more than two coupons.
Yes, we are all jealous of someone’s ability to commit coupon fraud @@
Does AB stand for Absolute Bulls**t? How is this women committing coupon fraud? Don’t respond with accusations unless you know what you are talking about.
It is everyone’s business if the original poster put it out there for public comment. I have just come from a Publix where they are cracking down on coupon usage because people are abusing coupons. No longer are they going to allow multiple competitors or store coupons. The reason given is because people are buying so many of the same item with the same coupons. I like to save money and get a good deal, but the extreme couponing that a few are doing are hurting the multitude of normal everyday couponers.
My publix as well has stop accepting competitor store coupons AND has stopped doubling their coupons here in tampa fl because of the same situation…a few shoppers abusing coupons to an extreme.
Janette, I think you are missing the issue. Do you mean to tell me you have never returned an item with a coupon? If you as you say are a “normal everyday couponer” who doesn’t do anything wrong then this shouldn’t affect you. Stores are not trying to crack down on the average coupon user. Also it sounds like Publix is coming out with a new coupon policy. Store have the right to amend their coupon policy as they see fit.
I dont think Janette is the one “missing” the issue.
Well, Michelle for one thing we were talking about Target not Publix. Also no one else seems to be saying whether or not they have ever returned a product purchased with a coupon. It’s not fraud to return an item purchased with a coupon and expect to get back what you paid for it, (Retail price minus coupons) no matter how many items were purchased at the time. Likewise, as long as you are returning an item or items within a stores return policy it should never be a problem. I’ve read Target’s return policy and nowhere does it say anything about the number of items being returned. It does says, “The refunded value for each item returned will be reduced to reflect the value of any free gift or discount.” Here’s the link if you want to read it for yourself: https://www.target.com/Refund-Policy-Returns-Refunds-Help/b/13685491?ie=UTF8&ref=br_bx_Target%20Stores%20Refund%20Policy
Elizabeth I was talking mainly about the topic at hand, I merely stated my own experience in reference to some one else mentioning Publix and gave my opinion on that. I’d like to clarify and state that in no way am I trying to spat about the discussion but give my thoughts on it, I realize not all will agree with me and I respect the thoughts who do not share my view, we all are on this blog because we are part of a community that shares a same interest so from you and every one else who has posted their thoughts on here I learn some thing. I feel their are 3 sides to every story Hers,His, and the true event. I never said the amount of items were an issue it just seems odd that she would purchase them before researching them or not knowing it before hand seeing how she has a 3 year old. In what you have just said and mentioned do you not think there are some shady characters out there whom will try to return items they never intended to have any use for just to get the cash back? Not accusing her,but merely saying there is that possibility. I just think it opens a new door that can be sticky in my opinion.
I agree with you that there are people out there that buy items with coupons intending to return them and get the full retail value back. On this particular scenario, it doesn’t seem to be the case though. Everyone seems to be hung up on the fact she was returning nine like items, along with a few other things. Plus she states she admitted to using coupons and the coupons show up on her receipt so it wasn’t like she was trying to hide anything. I’m merely trying to point out that everyone seems to be stuck on the fact she bought so many items. Would people’s thoughts be different if she had purchase only three or four, or is she only allowed to return items that she purchased singularly? I also wanted to point out that she didn’t purchase the regular “original” formula eye drops that were free when you bought them in the trial size. The ones she purchased were the allergy formula that only come in the bigger sizes which cost more than $2. I’m not sure the price of the allergy eye drops at Target, but if they cost her a $1 out of pocket that $9, plus tax, on something for which she has no use. It sounds like she has a small family and every bit of money helps, even if it’s only nine or ten dollars. She could use that money for diapers for the baby. I just don’t think it is fair someone should be stuck paying for a product they find they can’t use. I also think she was unable to use the drops because they were the allergy formula, and those extra ingredients not found in the regular formula are harmful for the baby.
I worked retail for many years, and I understand what the manager was saying. However, he obviously went about it the wrong way. Stores get “in trouble ” from corporate for allowing fraud to take place. However, as long as you get your money back minus the coupons, I don’t see the problem. The problem starts when people are trying to get the entire amount back and hope the cashier doesn’t notice.
Manufacturers are there to make money, and if people are abusing the coupons that they themselves make available, they have every right to create rules to protect their profits.
I enjoy saving money, but I don’t want to ruin it, so I play by the rules!
Also, I have never understood why people boycott an entire store chain just because of the bad actions of one employee. Just report him and move on.
10000LatinasFbk expired
I don’t know why you bought all that stuff and then wanted to return it.
I would give the items away before I thought to return all those personal care items.
In this day and age safety is a priority at the stores and they can’t put personal care products back on the shelf because it might have been tampered with. I remember the Tylenol scare way back when before tamper proof packages.
As for lotion give it away if you get it for free or for pennies. Make up gift bags at Mother’s Day and birthday with items you aren’t able to use.
To me it sounds like coupon fraud and this makes it hard on us that try to follow the rules. I mean the store would have to reimburse the products company the money for the coupon, give you back a coupon and any monies you paid to actually set everything straight.
Lesson… make sure you can use the product( or give it to someone in need) before you buy it even if it is free.
WHY would you buy 9 visine in the first place? From my computer, I can only print out target coupons twice… unless it wasnt a $2 coupon from target. Sounds fishy to me. I dont blame them. This is what makes companies not take coupons.
The amount of bottles isn’t really the issue to me. What the issue to me is that the target manager went on a power trip and handled the situation completely inappropriately. Yes, sometimes managers need to confront customers about issues – but the manner in which they do it matters. If he TRULY believed fraud was happening, then he needed to work with his loss prevention team to document the transaction. They have to be able to build a case against the fraud. They can’t prosecute what they can’t prove. After it was finished, they could have detained her/called the cops. As it was, he threatened to call the police in order to intimidate her. The police couldn’t have done anything, because she hadn’t actually made the transaction with the questionable items. As a manager, he would know that.
If all he meant to do was block the transaction, then all he had to do was say no. Instead he went the public intimidation and humiliation route, which is completely inappropriate.
As far as buying multiples of items when they’re on sale – it’s a fine line. At what point does it cease being “stocking up” and turn into selfish hoarding? It’s a case by case, item by item scenario.
Are people now only buying items with coupons so they can return them to make a profit or is that even possible? Not saying that is what she was trying to do, but I would have been humiliated if that happened to me and asked to never return! I think people may get suspicious if you return an abudance of any item.
As someone who deals with coupons, coupon manufacturers, and the grocery business on a daily basis, I don’t see a problem with what this lady has done. As it has already been said that Target will get their money back from this sale no matter that the sale was returned or not, I won’t go into that. I will, however, say this- if that manager were working for us, and we found out about an instance like this, you can count on the fact that he/she would be either 1-let go or 2- written up for their actions. There is a time and a place for this conversation, and the sales floor is not the place. Unless this customer is coming in on a daily or regular basis and returning items bought in bulk, what’s the big deal? Can everyone who replied to this post honestly say that they have never bought more than one or two of something with a coupon because it was a good deal? I can’t say that. As a mother, when you have your first baby, you look up everything before you do it, but when you already have 1 kid or more, you may forget. New products come onto the market daily. I’ve researched a product after I bought it and then decided it wasn’t for me. It happens. It is people, like this lady, who make our stores run, and without them, no one would be in business. It sounds to me that Target lost a great customer.
That is absolutely rediculous! I notice that I always get a nasty snare from associates and managers when I enter the line with coupons in hand. They always examine them so carefully as if I’m trying to get over and I feel like that is rude and disrespectful. It’s incidents like these that make me want to stop couponing all together.
It’s unfortunate that this person has been treated so harshly like this. However, I have to agree that it seems very suspicious to buy 9 boxes of visine without researching in advance.
I worked with guest returns and coupons on a daily basis, and I find that there’s a growing trend with people cashing in their coupons by buying the items listed in the coupons, and returning them the next day for the full refund plus the amount of the coupons.
Groups of guests would come in just for the sole intention of buying bulk items of razors, expensive toothbrush, and basically health and beauty items, then theyll return them the next day. They would also purposefully ask for gift receipts so that they wouldn’t have to show their receipts, which would show their purchases and the coupons used.
I can see that Target isn’t losing money because they cash in their coupons, but it’s still unethical and disgusting for people to be doing this coupon fraud, and makes other regular couponers look bad.
I’m very sorry you were treated that way though.
The only thing I have a problem with is the people bashing and juvenile language that comes out of Michelle’s mouth when someone doesn’t agree with her. Please try and respect others Michelle.
I am so sorry Michelle, I meant Marie. Please accept my apology.
Okay one thing I would like to clear up is these were NOT travel size Visine! They were the 1.0 oz bottles which do cost $5 something a piece. I bought (9) because it was a good deal and would have used the product. Yes I agree I should have researched the product first, however I had no idea that it contained a decongestant until I brought it home. All I was asking for was my money back minus the coupon deduction that is NOT coupon fraud.
It states on her receipt how she paid for it. Alicia used her receipt to return the merchandise. The customer service cashier looks at the receipt, sees that she used coupons, scans the receipt, deducts the coupon discounts, and pays her back what she “actually” paid for the items.
How is this in any way shape or form an attempt at fraud? She did not change the receipt in anyway. She did not try to conceal that she used coupons. If she was trying to commit fraud, don’t you think she would have tried to get a refund using another verification source? Like a credit card for a transaction look up where the coupons would not be evident? Or a gift receipt?
This was woman was a clear victim of poor customer service… and stupidity on part of the manager that made blind accusations (and with her child present in her arms! – infuriating! If my wife had been treated like this…I won’t go there.)
I don’t coupon often, but when I do, I stock up just like Alicia did. I did it for diapers. For cold medicines, cosmetics for my wife. I’ve had to return products in the past as well, and it’s true… if you return several like items, they treat you like a criminal. It’s incredibly off putting.
Based on this story, and a number of absurd interactions with Target managers in my experiences, I will not be shopping at Target this holiday season or any in the years to come. In fact, I think the only time I will shop at this store is when I can use high dollar manufacturer coupons! I may even be tempted to return coupon merchandise in bulk, just to prove a point to show the world how some retarded Managers at the 2nd largest US retailer treats customers with honest, authentic, and legitimate claims for refund.
I’ll post again when I get my youtube channel set up — “chris.vs.target” so we can all see target stupidity in action.