Target and not stocking shelves

[canadianhockeymom]

Well, I have never ranted, and truthfully don't know if I want to rant or laugh about my reply back from Target.

I had a rain check for Glad bags 48 count. Everytime I have went in to the nearest location, they never had them in stock..ever! I went in on a regular basis.. well the 29th day of the expiring raincheck, they still didn't have them (and while on the topic of rain checks, why must they write one for each box, 5 rain checks instead of one raincheck for the quantity of 5 boxes).

Hubby and I went in 2 days ago and it was a ghost town, perhaps 15 people in the store including the employees. The shelves were so barren, I would have thought they were going out of business had I not known better. If it were for items where coupons could be stacked, fine I understand as there are many of us couponers out there, but it wasn't.

I decided to write and question they're restocking, mentioned how excited I was about Target coming to Canada, but my first impression, unfortunately is not good. I do find I have never been able to go in and come out with everything I want as they are verrrrrrry slow to restock.. and many times I come out with nothing.

Well this is part of the email I received back:

I know it's frustrating when you can't find what you're looking for during your visit. At Target, we do our best to make sure our shelves are always full of the things you want and need – when you want and need them.

Sometimes the popularity of a sale item will exceed our expectations. We may be able to issue a rain check to help you get the same value. This guarantees the sale price of an item if and when it comes back in stock.

Remember, rain checks are valid for 45 days after they’re issued and can only be used at Target stores. If you have more questions, ask any team member or give us a call at 800-440-0680. Either way, we're here to help.

Thanks for asking about the services we offer at Target.

Sincerely, i won't reveal her name

I had to read it a couple times, as the store I go to does not offer 45 days for a rain check, and hello???? only valid at Target..that made me laugh. There to help? lol..help me buy the items that I go in to buy, by stocking your shelves. I have never ran into such an issue, not at Walmart, or Zellers..well..certainly never to this extent.

I hope that not all locations are like this, but I must say, to go out of my way to shop there for one or two items that I can (hopefully) get, even if it were using stacked coupons is not worth my time nor gas (even though there are never lines ups because it is never busy lol) Very disappointed in Target.

[Kwala]

The Target closest to me is bit out of the way. I have been there 4 times so far and only purchased 1 item (Cover Girl Mascara). Any time I go there, I find their shelves are pretty empty and can't find the stuff I am looking for. Was there last Sunday, looking for Honeywell Fan but they didn't have it. I went to Cosmetics as well just to check what they had but their wasn't much selection as they were out of a lot of stuff.

[luckbealady]

I actually have an answer for empty shelves!

I happened to be at a Target checkout the other day, when a couple in front of me asked if they could order 40 of a certain kind of towel.

Turns out the stores don't have any control on orders or stock. Corporate chooses when to repopulate shelves. So a shelf could sit empty for a long time before they get more stock.

[cheekysaver]

^^you mean they could... ohhhh lets say ride out any rain checks before restocking shelves? No other stores are having ANY trouble getting glad products in. That is just bad business practices.

[brennen7]

I was just in the Target in Orillia to find some of the Glade products and I found their store really stocked up! There was some scents I have never seen at any other stores and it was hard to find one item missing from the whole shelf.

The 3 stores I find bad with keeping stock is Metro,YIG and believe it or not...WALMART! Sometimes I think our walmart is hiding items that they are losing money on because of price match

[luckbealady]

^^you mean they could... ohhhh lets say ride out any rain checks before restocking shelves? No other stores are having ANY trouble getting glad products in. That is just bad business practices.

Pretty much! Whatever corporate wants to do. Explains why I can never find the products that are a good deal with coupons.

[DianneS]

I find my Target store is well-stocked. However, I made a trip to Walmart last night because I needed some $5 gift cards for trading. Lots of shelves were barren. Someone had spilled fresh blueberries at some point during the day and there were four aisles that had squished up berries all over them from people tracking them all over the place. The egg section was almost empty and a dozen broken eggs were lying on and dripping down the shelves. And there were no carts or baskets out front. The place was a hell-hole! I am happy with my Target but I think for both Target and Walmart -- what you get is probably dependent on the store management. Some stores are well-managed and others are a nightmare.

[luckbealady]

...Sometimes I think our walmart is hiding items that they are losing money on because of price match

I completely believe that. Those razors that were on rollback that would have been free with coupons - never saw them on the shelves in my local Walmart. Would check online to see their stock - always showed them being in stock. I fully believe they were just keeping them in a back room until the rollback was over.

[janetta]

Perhaps explain to the store's customer service or manager the situation and ask for them to extend the rain check.
Most likely they'll just rewrite it. Just make sure to get the person's name to hold them responsible if anything happens.

[torontogal12]

We used to do exactly this back at Zellers. Extending the rain checks are usually no problem.

Perhaps explain to the store's customer service or manager the situation and ask for them to extend the rain check.
Most likely they'll just rewrite it. Just make sure to get the person's name to hold them responsible if anything happens.

Is your Target new and they are working out the kinks?

I quite like the Target that I go to when I visit my parents. Wish we had one closer. Large aisles, clean, low traffic, shelves stocked, employees who go out of their way to help. Compare it to the Walmart a few minutes away and it is a dream. That place is overrun with people and always out of stock of everything

[canadianhockeymom]

Perhaps explain to the store's customer service or manager the situation and ask for them to extend the rain check.
Most likely they'll just rewrite it. Just make sure to get the person's name to hold them responsible if anything happens.

I went to customer service and asked very nicely but they would not budge even after I explained the situation.. they just said sorry but it's only good for 30 days. I never thought I would miss Zellers..lol.

This target has a Walmart less than 5 minutes away so I just price match there. I have always had good service at this location, and this Walmart is always well stocked plus I have never had an issue with couponing there.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

[veebee]

you could get a raincheck for those razors and pick them up later. The person I talked to said that she was only supposed to write them for items in the flyer, but when I mentioned it was on their website, and on roll back and not clearance, she wrote one out for me.

I completely believe that. Those razors that were on rollback that would have been free with coupons - never saw them on the shelves in my local Walmart. Would check online to see their stock - always showed them being in stock. I fully believe they were just keeping them in a back room until the rollback was over.

[anisa]

I keep reading stories about targets not being well stocked, but the 4 that I go to always seem normally stocked.
I wonder if this is a geographical phenom.

i was shocked, even the sonia kashuk was fully stocked with everything when i went a couple of days ago. and that is one thing that definitely was lagging.

[luckbealady]

you could get a raincheck for those razors and pick them up later. The person I talked to said that she was only supposed to write them for items in the flyer, but when I mentioned it was on their website, and on roll back and not clearance, she wrote one out for me.

I asked the first time I checked, she wouldn't do it. She told me that because they are on rollback, the sale lasts longer than a flyer sale, so they don't issue rainchecks for rollback items.

[veebee]

Even if they are getting restocked and they shelf has none of the ones you want?