Target Coupon Police at my store!

[thomascaldwell1]

Ugh! I was doing a few more of the Nabisco/Kraft, Pringles deals tonight after work since I won't be able to shop tomorrow (last day of Target Q's)... I went to cash out and was already aggravated I got the same cashier as last week who was very snippy like she knows everything... Anyway- I put everything on the conveyor, put my stack of coupons by the Debit/Credit machine, and she grabs them before she even scans the items... She starts picking through the stack of coupons, sorting them out, staring at my goods on the conveyor. Meanwhile, the line is backing up (only 2 registers were open) like there's no tomorrow...

She gets to some coupons where the Target Q was for $1/2 and I had 2 Mfg Q's for $1/1. She was having the hardest darn time figuring it all out... She said 'Ma'am, you have too many coupons for what you are buying.' I said 'No, ma'am.' I began to speak my next word and immediately got cut off with 'LISTEN! I'm going to tell YOU!' she says (DH giggles like a little school girl because he knows I want to put this lady in her place SOOO bad- trying to tell ME how to use coupons... Oh, please!). She tries to walk her brain through it, and says 'you have 2 coupons too many'. I pointed to the products sitting right there on the conveyor and said 'No, ma'am. Right here.'

'Oh. Target is really cracking down on their coupons, so I have to make sure everything matches up and you're not trying to abuse the system.' DH is almost on the floor with laughter at this point- he has to walk away from the register!! It's a mix between being aggravaged with this sudden Target Coupon Police-lady and knowing that I was beyond aggravated with someone trying to tell ME how it is... Then, I set my $5 gift card on the counter that I got from my last transaction. She grabs it and puts it on her register as she finishes scanning coupons & items. She tells DH (I have turned my attention to DD4 who is DYING to get out of the store at this point) to go ahead and put his debit card in to start that proccess for when she's finished scanning. He does so. She never takes off the darned gift card!! She hands me the receipt and I asked DH if she scanned the gift card as he was putting away the receipt. He said no, I checked the receipt and she hadn't. I asked her for it back and she said 'I thought you were going to use it for your payment'. Yeah- until you FORGOT TO SCAN IT!! DH has to step in at this point, but she gave it back when we showed the receipt to her where she had NOT applied the gift card to the order. (I'm a little short-tempered when I'm already stressed about other things and people are being obnoxious...).

I'm very sorry for the vent, but this was just absolutely ridiculous! If you want to 'crack down' on couponers, fine. But do it with a pleasant attitude- and think before you speak... Going to tell ME how to coupon... Ugh! I really hope this style crack-down is not taking place at all stores- I'm not nearly AS happy, but economically, I'm okay with shopping at Wal-Mart just the same... Same distance from the house! Thanks for listening!!

[cheapcheap]

Man, I hate it when I let a register operator -- and they are just that -- ruin a good day! I don't shop at Target much; most my problems come from Publix. After standing firm on my coupon matchups week after week, they are starting to mellow a bit. One of them even said "you go, girl!" when my OOP came out to $3.

[southsider]

It sounds like she may have intentionally not scanned the gift card and was intending to keep it for herself. What makes it suspicious is that she grabbed the gift card right away and yet forgot to take it off. Then to boot she asks for proof that she didn't take it off. Did she have card sitting right on top of the register? If taking the gift card before finishing a transaction was part of her procedure then she should have looked at the top of the register before even making you produce your receipt. If she didn't look at the top of register first that makes her actions even more suspicious.

Personally I would have marched to the service desk and complained. I would have told them she was acting funny and you think she might have been trying to steal your gift card and tell them exactly what happened.

[swanstafa]

I had a very similar thing happen at my Target, I actually wrote an email to the corporate office, and low and behold, the store manager of my Target sent me an email with a lengthy appology, he mailed me a $25 gift card. Complain to the corporate office.. you can find the email link on the Target website. They really do care and want to hear about nasty cashiers. You have the receipt, it will always be more affective if you put the transaction number. This trans. number has all the information in their computer system. They will know what cashier is losing them customers.. But, also, when you have a great experience make sure you write about that..
Swanstafa

[shashabell]

I'm glad everything worked out for you in the end.

Lesson learned - don't pull your coupons out until everything is scanned. Don't pull your giftcard out until it's time to pay. Never swipe your debit card before you know the total after coupons and giftcards.

I agree with PP - she was going to pocket your giftcard.

[Ronald1]

I'm glad everything worked out for you in the end.

Lesson learned - don't pull your coupons out until everything is scanned. Don't pull your giftcard out until it's time to pay. Never swipe your debit card before you know the total after coupons and giftcards.

I agree with PP - she was going to pocket your giftcard.

I sooo agree!! As my 50+ items were being scanned, the Target cashier asked if paying via cash or cc and told me to go ahead and scan my card while she was ringing my items. I declined, and said that I'd prefer to wait. The cashier insisted that it wouldn't charge me until the end and that way I wouldn't hold up the line. I still declined and said that I would prefer to wait until the order is complete. She looked at me like I was from Mars!

Funny, she ended up being the one holding up the line as she scrutinized all of my coupons and my gift cards (getting one back while using a couple toward payment).

Sorry, I never insert my card and rarely give my Q's in advance. If they are not taking a certain Q - I want to wait and see how things go before paying....like void the item and/or get the Q back. I don't want to have to go to customer service and wait in line and explain the situation again.

[thomascaldwell1]

You're all so right! I have yet to complain to corporate (I've been out of town for the holiday weekend). Typically DH will hold off on putting in his card until everything is completed, no matter how much they insist that he do it in advance. I think he was just more than ready to get out of there after she stared down every last word on my coupons... I left my coupons on the payment counter (you know, next to the debit machine) as I always do, along with my gift card, while I unloaded the cart. She grabbed them while I was unloading... And stared, and stared, and read, and read, and questioned... It's just so obnoxious! I understand there are some folks out there in this world that may try to take advantage of the couponing system, or perhaps do it on accident (I will be the first to admit, I have had an instance go by where the size did not match up exactly, but I did not realize it until I got home)- but scrutinizing every coupon? Why not scrutinize ONLY the ones that beep? That makes more sense to me, and would allow your line to continue to flow a lot faster... ... ... Anyway- thanks very much for listening folks!