Post #268 - Target (USA) + Starbucks + Facebook = Free

Shwa Girl · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 09:20 AM

Here's Guelph

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Shwa Girl · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 09:22 AM

Guelph has groceries too.

And, Starbucks at the Guelph store, is part of the hoopla

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luc_anna · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:12 PM

So exciting, I can't wait till ours opens this summer.

Ciel · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:21 PM

Thanks for sharing the opening day photos, ShwaGirl! Cart cup holders--not aware of anyone else offering them for shoppers.

Ladybug2011 · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:41 PM

A bunch of us from work decided to go over a bit earlier to avoid the lunch time rush, turns out that it couldn't be avoided. I've never seen the parking lot so full not even at Christmas time when Zellers was there. Even the parking lot for the Canadian Tire next door was overflowing. Luckily we decided to walk over.

The layout of the store is somewhat similar to the Zellers that was previously there, minus the restaurant but now there is a Starbucks. There was no big promotion or sales happening. There was nothing that seems to be a great deal. I found their prices to be comparable to other places like Walmart, Food Basics etc. Some items were on a "Temporary Price Cut" but even this was not as good as what you would get on a regular sale price somewhere else. For example KD on a price cut was $1.33.

I overheard one sales person saying to a customer that they are not going to have any sales until their grand opening in April and that this was just a test opening to train their employees. I asked one of the employees about price matching and he wasn't sure so he got his supervisor on the walkie talkie to ask. I specifically wanted to know about price matching an online price but the supervisor at the other end of the walkie talkie said that it will have to be a printed ad. I'm not fully convinced that this is how it will be. I think this is just one person's opinion.

I didn't see any tearpads or coupons of any kind. I didn't purchase anything. For now I'm just going to wait until April to see what the sales will be like.

Ciel · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:45 PM

Another SCer posted her review of Milton's store.
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/343806-...a/#post5308501

roseofblack25 · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ladybug2011

A bunch of us from work decided to go over a bit earlier to avoid the lunch time rush, turns out that it couldn't be avoided. I've never seen the parking lot so full not even at Christmas time when Zellers was there. Even the parking lot for the Canadian Tire next door was overflowing. Luckily we decided to walk over.

The layout of the store is somewhat similar to the Zellers that was previously there, minus the restaurant but now there is a Starbucks. There was no big promotion or sales happening. There was nothing that seems to be a great deal. I found their prices to be comparable to other places like Walmart, Food Basics etc. Some items were on a "Temporary Price Cut" but even this was not as good as what you would get on a regular sale price somewhere else. For example KD on a price cut was $1.33.

I overheard one sales person saying to a customer that they are not going to have any sales until their grand opening in April and that this was just a test opening to train their employees. I asked one of the employees about price matching and he wasn't sure so he got his supervisor on the walkie talkie to ask. I specifically wanted to know about price matching an online price but the supervisor at the other end of the walkie talkie said that it will have to be a printed ad. I'm not fully convinced that this is how it will be. I think this is just one person's opinion.

I didn't see any tearpads or coupons of any kid. I didn't purchase anything. For now I'm just going to wait until April to see what the sales will be like.

I'm sad to see the restaurant go in the Guelph Zellers

It was all retro and cool looking (though I never ate there it was just cool to look at)....

Shwa Girl · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Ciel

Another SCer posted her review of Milton's store.
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/343806-...a/#post5308501

Thank you for the link.
I hope the SCer emails Target directly, so they know and so they may be enticed to make some changes.

Shwa Girl · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ladybug2011

A bunch of us from work decided to go over a bit earlier to avoid the lunch time rush, turns out that it couldn't be avoided. I've never seen the parking lot so full not even at Christmas time when Zellers was there. Even the parking lot for the Canadian Tire next door was overflowing. Luckily we decided to walk over.

The layout of the store is somewhat similar to the Zellers that was previously there, minus the restaurant but now there is a Starbucks. There was no big promotion or sales happening. There was nothing that seems to be a great deal. I found their prices to be comparable to other places like Walmart, Food Basics etc. Some items were on a "Temporary Price Cut" but even this was not as good as what you would get on a regular sale price somewhere else. For example KD on a price cut was $1.33.

I overheard one sales person saying to a customer that they are not going to have any sales until their grand opening in April and that this was just a test opening to train their employees. I asked one of the employees about price matching and he wasn't sure so he got his supervisor on the walkie talkie to ask. I specifically wanted to know about price matching an online price but the supervisor at the other end of the walkie talkie said that it will have to be a printed ad. I'm not fully convinced that this is how it will be. I think this is just one person's opinion.

I didn't see any tearpads or coupons of any kid. I didn't purchase anything. For now I'm just going to wait until April to see what the sales will be like.

Thank you for the review.

Walkie-talkie. Hmmm. That's new.

PurpleBunny89 · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Shwa Girl

Guelph has groceries too.

And, Starbucks at the Guelph store, is part of the hoopla

Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea? Sure its definitely cool but I assure you that those "cup holders" won't be borrowed and will be more like stolen or thrown about the store. Its disgusting sometimes what seems to be stolen but I assure you people will definitely take these as they are something new I've never seen and are kind of cool if I must admit.

beetwelve · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 01:21 PM

I swung by the Guelph Target at about 11 a.m. It was a total ZOO... there were almost no parking spaces to be had in the huge lot, and I literally saw one lady get out of her car and SPRINT to the doors, like if she didn't get there in under 10 seconds they might close the store and not let her in! (Shwa Girl... was that you??? kidding

)

As other posters have mentioned, other than the slick new entrance, the Starbucks, and the nice women's clothing displays on the right when you walk in, the layout inside is pretty much like Zellers. I browsed a bit but didn't notice any particularly great deals yet, and nothing was really on sale other than a few "temporary price cuts" that weren't even very low. They had a price matching policy posted (the usual "show us a cheaper advertised price and we'll beat it", so that's good news). I also overheard a sales associate telling a lady that they are currently working on getting online ordering of furniture, etc. that you can get shipped to the store for free - like they have in the US). They have lots of Archer Farms food, and I was really excited to see the "Threshold" home decor items... they have some really nice stuff at decent prices! If not for the 60+ people in line to check out, I might have bought some photo frames, and an accent rug... and a wooden side table... and maybe a few baskets...

For the most part I think the prices were comparable to Wal-Mart, but the selection in most departments was much better - the clothes way nicer, the food more "gourmet"-looking, more sophisticated home decor items, etc. Not quite US Target, but definitely much nicer than Zellers!

I'll go back in a couple of weeks once the excitement (and crowd of people) has died down a bit. I had to remind myself that it will all still be here then - and hopefully with some sales as well!

Shwa Girl · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by beetwelve

I swung by the Guelph Target at about 11 a.m. It was a total ZOO... there were almost no parking spaces to be had in the huge lot, and I literally saw one lady get out of her car and SPRINT to the doors, like if she didn't get there in under 10 seconds they might close the store and not let her in! (Shwa Girl... was that you??? kidding

)

Ha ha. No, that was not me. I am really bad with crowds. I don't do Boxing Day sales any more either.
Thanks for the update on this morning! Helps.

FrugalKris · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 01:47 PM

ooooo Price Matching is encouraging...

sjw80 · Tue, Mar 5th, 2013, 02:34 PM

I'm more interested to find out if they'll carry the same items as in the US. I knew that the prices would be more expensive (especially right off the bat) but I really like some of the stuff that target in the states carries. There are lots of companies that only make items specifically for target that can't be bough anywhere else.