So what's the deal with Target? - Page 2

[miss_sonja]

'cause everything is so tempting and cheap and the stores are clean and pleasant to browse. For me, it's just being tempted by "plenty". I'm glad we don't have Super Targets here...

I avoid Target unless I specifically need something that they offer the best deal on, and I try to get it and get out. Best is if I have a time constraint!

[miss_sonja]

Originally Posted by lanamommyphd07

It's clean, and the people working there typically have all their teeth.

Do they provide health insurance to their employees? That could make a difference.

[jjawm]

I Love love love Target! The fact that they have a Starbucks inside doesn't hurt, either. The people are super friendly, and things are so much easier to find than in Walmart.

[ZippyGirl]

Originally Posted by lanamommyphd07

the people working there typically have all their teeth.

That made me cringe.

[sweetcheeks]

Originally Posted by miss_sonja

Do they provide health insurance to their employees? That could make a difference.

Yes, they do. Even part time employees. I worked there for 5 years while in university and I lost my health insurance after my dad passed away. I was able to get coverage through Target and it was awesome coverage . . . and I was only part time (20 hrs/week, max). Now, when I left, they were changing their plans/providers so I'm not sure what the coverage is like now but a few years ago, they provided some of the best (if not *the* best) coverage in the retail sector.

Back to the OP, Target is deadly. It's a good thing we don't have them up here in the Great White North b/c, yeah, our budget would be shot. DH dreads when we go down to the States to visit family b/c I always have to get in a "Target fix," as I say, and usually walk out at least $100 lighter in the pocket book. My kids just got $50 in Target gift cards that I'm trying to figure out what to order for the kids online. They're seriously burning a hole in my pocket! I'm counting down the days until I get to step foot into a Target again . . . 29 to be exact.

The marketing is truly genius. My goal was, had I stayed States-side after getting my degree, was to make it into the marketing dept at Target HQ b/c I so admire their marketing strategies. They think everything out to the very last detail.

[Woodland]

wow im really surprised. I hate target. It doesnt help that I am od'd on target, there are 2 in a ten mile radius to my house. ugh. i dont like the clothes there, the shoes are all cheap, the food at my target super is gross (all frozen, junk) I went in for a big water jug and all they sold were small bottle of water. Their decor is overpriced junk too. sorry but target really annoys me. every once in awhile i'll find something good but its rare.

[robynlyn80]

i hate target too, but its because their return policy is just ridiculous. i once tried to even exchange something and they wanted me to PAY THEM MONEY because i didn't have a receipt (it was a gift) and the item was currently on sale. my mom recently bought $150 worth of items, had a $25 gift card (incentive from work, she never goes there either), and paid the rest in cash. She had to return something for $30. They gave her the $25 gift card back!!! How ridiculous. now she has to go back to target.

[TchrGrrl]

I live 2 blocks from Target. It is better to just keep myself from going there ever.

[ustasmom]

I'm not a big fan of Target, too.

I don't like the bulk MIC piles of $1 junk that sits next to the front door. I don't like the smell of popcorn that assaults you as you walk in the door. And I wouldn't buy their clothes.

Admittedly, it is cleaner and brighter. The fact that they can look up a purchase with what debit/credit card you used is helpful. But I think that their items are expensive.

[AGlimmeringHope]

Oh, I forgot about their home decor!!! We plan to be in our own place before June. God help me, I'll have a home to decorate and our Target card will be paid off. :x DH may need to hide the card and go online and change our account password (because I'm known to look at old bank/cc statements to get our card/routing numbers when I need to make a purchase and can't find the checkbook or cc).

[MommyErin]

Originally Posted by xmysticprincessx

i think its the bright lights and clean stores. i dont feel like i'm going to get diseased walking in there (like i do when i walk into one of the walmarts in the area.)

This is so true! Bright, clean, airy ... makes it easy to part with one's money!

[PajamaMama]

Originally Posted by MommyErin

This is so true! Bright, clean, airy ... makes it easy to part with one's money!

But at what cost to society? Where does all that cheap stuff come from and where does it end up?

I am really shocked by all the pro-target here on a NFL board.

[MommyErin]

Originally Posted by PajamaMama

I am really shocked by all the pro-target here on a NFL board.

That's how I feel about Walmart. I was surprised at how many MDC mommas shop there.

And, regardless where I shop, I make a consciencious, concerted effort to not buy things MIC.

Many of the things I buy at Target could be purchased at smaller, local venues but I am continually shocked and disappointed at the bad service I've received at these other stores and the rude treatment so I tend to wind up back at Target. It's the same reason I shop at Whole Foods and not at the local HFS.

[cloudswinger]

Target's got organic, fair trade stuff. But I noticed that those things tend to not sell as well, and I buy them on clearance. Target's clearance stuff is awesome, I got organic Gaiam yoga gear for 75% off. They have had organic bamboo sheets, sleeping bags made from recycled soda bottles, etc. Right now their organic cotton sheets are on clearance. People obviously don't care that much about it. I find it nice to be able to buy organic housewares for cheaper. My dh and I regularly cruise the clearance racks. If we see something we like on clearance, we tend to wait until it goes down to 75%. And if we see something we like that's not on clearance, we'll wait until it goes on clearance Like I've got my eyes on those organic cotton sheets! I missed out on the organic bamboo sheets.

[carolm22117]

Well, my 18YO son (who happens to have his full-set of teeth) worked there part-time as seasonal help. This was only his 2nd job, 1st time working retail, and, honestly, I was not all that impressed with how Target treated him.

It was an eye-opening experence for the both of us. I have much more compassion and patience with retail-workers now who frankly, teeth or no teeth, are working their behinds off for very,very little $$. I read "Nickled and Dimed",but that was nothing like seeing and hearing about it first hand via my own child.

In my own very,very humble opinion, Target is not all that much better than any other store, it's just been able to maintain a much prettier image.

[Black Orchid]

Originally Posted by carolm22117

In my own very,very humble opinion, Target is not all that much better than any other store, it's just been able to maintain a much prettier image.

and discriminatiry to boot. i applied there for extra money in sept... they require a drug test within so many hours/days of being hired. my dd got sick and i forgot in the confusion to go. so the next day i called them to let them know and they told me that it was too bad and i would not be able to apply for several months because a no-test is considered a positive.

luckily this was not a life-or-death situation and i was able to go without working until i found somethign else... but man... where is the compassion? anyway, i do know how hard it is to work in retail, i did it for years and i was not looking forward to doing it again. i found some office work later on and it is better...

the american obsession with "Stuff" not only causes the victimization and mistreatment of people in other countries, but also here, in the stores... and especially around the holidays...

i think those shocked about pro-target comments here shock too easily. i mean really? just because you strive to live naturally and practice certain life and parenting philosophies doesn't mean that you can never think covetously about material goods... really.

[FiddleMama]

In my own very,very humble opinion, Target is not all that much better than any other store, it's just been able to maintain a much prettier image.

This is very true. Target has plenty of human rights violations that help me with my resolve not to spend my money there.

[SugarAndSun]

Originally Posted by carolm22117

Well, my 18YO son (who happens to have his full-set of teeth) worked there part-time as seasonal help. This was only his 2nd job, 1st time working retail, and, honestly, I was not all that impressed with how Target treated him.

It was an eye-opening experence for the both of us. I have much more compassion and patience with retail-workers now who frankly, teeth or no teeth, are working their behinds off for very,very little $$. I read "Nickled and Dimed",but that was nothing like seeing and hearing about it first hand via my own child.

In my own very,very humble opinion, Target is not all that much better than any other store, it's just been able to maintain a much prettier image.

I am not a fan of Target and actually don't shop there anymore, but I am wondering why how your son was treated badly. My dsd works there and loves it, though she has no knowledge of worker's rights, etc.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by lanamommyphd07

It's clean, and the people working there typically have all their teeth.

So people with dental issues shouldn't have decent jobs? :

[shayinme]

Originally Posted by lanamommyphd07

It's clean, and the people working there typically have all their teeth.

Lack of dental care speaks to larger social issues, like the fact that so many low wage jobs offer either no benefits or they offer them but they are not affordable to many of the workers. More and more middle class folks also do not have access to dental care via jobs but generally are in a better position to scrape up the resources to see a dentist. Its not fair to judge folks by their teeth.

As for Target, yeah on the surface it looks better than Wal-Mart but IMO they really are not that far apart both strive to seperate you from your money buying things you often don't need. It just looks better.

Shay