topic Re: Target Today: New experience in Community Chat

Target Today: New experience

granddi — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 23:49:58 GMT

I was in Target today. Everytime I passed an employee working/stocking he/she spoke to me. They said something simple like "hello" or "are you finding everything?"

My husband was in another area and when I found him an employee was helping him find an item. When she could not find it, another staff said tried to locate it by her app.

I don't think this was just a random experience. I think Target is trying to up its game.

Re: Target Today: New experience

panda1234 — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 23:58:40 GMT

I had the same experience. I find it annoying when random people keep speaking to me, I loose my train of thought. On the other hand, when I need help no one is around.

Re: Target Today: New experience

grandma2pkmh — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:00:55 GMT

@granddi I am going to sound grumpy here but I don't like it. After 8 or 10 times of being asked if I need help, I'm ready to just walk out. I like to walk around and see if I find anything interesting. I feel like they are following me. I would rather go to them if I need assistance.

Re: Target Today: New experience

sandraskates — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:09:18 GMT

Interesting.

We went to Kohl's today for the first time in ages and the register associates were really friendly. And they didn't bug us at the end of the transaction about taking a survey.

Re: Target Today: New experience

GSPgirl — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:16:05 GMT

@granddi wrote:
I was in Target today. Everytime I passed an employee working/stocking he/she spoke to me. They said something simple like "hello" or "are you finding everything?"

My husband was in another area and when I found him an employee was helping him find an item. When she could not find it, another staff said tried to locate it by her app.

I don't think this was just a random experience. I think Target is trying to up its game.

Is that where all the employees are? They certainly aren’t at the cash registers at our Targets. I’ve stopped shopping there for most groceries because they want me to go through the self Check aisle and I won’t do it.

Re: Target Today: New experience

Q4u — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:31:28 GMT

It's about time Target upped its game. I hadn't been in there for years until earlier this year. But one time I was shopping with my Mom and we had to scour the store for an employee that would make eye contact and asked if they had any more whatsits.... we were told that if we didn't see it on the shelf it wasn't there.

That was enough for both of us...

That wasn't the first or only awful experience in there... and recently I went in there for an advertised item.... on sale. Didn't ring up at the advertised price and not enough employees to go back and check on it... It was an effort and a half with me finally going back to the item and ripping their sale sign right off their shelf and bringing it to them at the register!! AND THEN... I had to go to their service center (with no employees) and wait and wait and wait for a refund of the overage I paid!!

No more target. Even if everything becomes free...

Re: Target Today: New experience

chrystaltree — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:32:51 GMT

They are trying to improve the shopping experience.

Re: Target Today: New experience

QVCkitty1 — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:36:52 GMT

I'll tell you what I would appreciate in stores,if they wouldn't block the items when stocking shelves. I know that shelves must be stocked, but at Walmart it seems to be an ongoing process, and no one moves if you need to get an item off the shelves . Save the hellos and let me shop. Rant over.

Re: Target Today: New experience

TenderMercies — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:37:54 GMT

@Q4u wrote:
It's about time Target upped its game. I hadn't been in there for years until earlier this year. But one time I was shopping with my Mom and we had to scour the store for an employee that would make eye contact and asked if they had any more whatsits.... we were told that if we didn't see it on the shelf it wasn't there.

That was enough for both of us...

That wasn't the first or only awful experience in there... and recently I went in there for an advertised item.... on sale. Didn't ring up at the advertised price and not enough employees to go back and check on it... It was an effort and a half with me finally going back to the item and ripping their sale sign right off their shelf and bringing it to them at the register!! AND THEN... I had to go to their service center (with no employees) and wait and wait and wait for a refund of the overage I paid!!

No more target. Even if everything becomes free...

Why did you need to get a refund? Why did you pay for the item when you knew the price was wrong when it rang up?

Re: Target Today: New experience

JaneMarple — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:46:58 GMT

Plain and simple it's a directive from the Corporate office, this is nothing new. They feel tht it's better customer service to be helpful.

Re: Target Today: New experience

juperier — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:50:00 GMT

@grandma2pkmh wrote:
@granddi I am going to sound grumpy here but I don't like it. After 8 or 10 times of being asked if I need help, I'm ready to just walk out. I like to walk around and see if I find anything interesting. I feel like they are following me. I would rather go to them if I need assistance.

Geez, you're more tolerant than I am. By the third time I'm trying not to snap at them. I'd have walked out long before the eighth time. Store will likely make a MUCH larger sale if their employees will just let me enjoy myself browsing.

Re: Target Today: New experience

september — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 01:22:03 GMT

I can’t, for the life of me, understand why anyone gets perturbed when employees are doing their jobs and trying to be helpful. If I don’t need the help, it’s so easy to smile and say “thanks, but I’m good”.

Re: Target Today: New experience

suzyQ3 — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 01:59:05 GMT

@september, I know. I guess they're darned if they do, and darned if they don't.

Re: Target Today: New experience

GCR18 — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:03:20 GMT

It's a rare event I go to Target. It has to be a really good sale. If I see any employees, they say something to me. Usually I don't see any. Then the checkout is long, no self serve.

Re: Target Today: New experience

drizzellla — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:13:14 GMT

I have not shopped in Costco in ages. So I was surprised when I checked out last week, the person asked me if I found everything OK. Not sure if she was prompted to ask because it was months since I bought anything or were they told to say that to everyone.

I have not shopped in Target in several years. Seems like more often than not could not find what I was looking for but ended up buying stuff I didn't need and ended up donating.

I think stores are hurting and this year determines how they will go forward in the future.

Re: Target Today: New experience

Daysdee — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:16:30 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
I'll tell you what I would appreciate in stores,if they wouldn't block the items when stocking shelves. I know that shelves must be stocked, but at Walmart it seems to be an ongoing process, and no one moves if you need to get an item off the shelves . Save the hellos and let me shop. Rant over.

I've had that same problem at Target on my last three visits--blocking the aisles. I think some of the "hellos" and "do you need help finding anything?" can be overdone. Got that at BBB this weekend too. Same at my grocery store, but only one person checking since they (like Target) want us to do self-check.

Re: Target Today: New experience

ValuSkr — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:23:20 GMT

The new initiative probably won't hurt but Target has to do more to avoid the path of its moribund competitors, Macy.s, JCP, and Sears.

Re: Target Today: New experience

Foolywooly11 — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:27:25 GMT

I agree with @panda1234, but, having said that, & after many years in retail, they're just doing what they've been told to do. I think a smile, eye contact, or even, "If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know" is a nice alternative. You're letting the customer know you are there, & that you're approachable/available.

Re: Target Today: New experience

truffle — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:53:49 GMT

I sometimes lose my train of thought too when someone suddenly greets me all cheery. I realize it's for good c/s but I prefer to see them around the aisles when I need them. Often they're not around when I have a question.

Re: Target Today: New experience

juperier — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 02:54:26 GMT

@september wrote:
I can’t, for the life of me, understand why anyone gets perturbed when employees are doing their jobs and trying to be helpful. If I don’t need the help, it’s so easy to smile and say “thanks, but I’m good”.

And I can do that up to a point. It just gets old really fast when one employee after another tries to "help." Of course there are times when I know what I want, get it, pay for it and leave. Other times I've done my research and simply need to compare items and determine which best fits my needs. I may need to see an instruction manual or two after I've narrowed my choices, in which case I'm fine with intiating a conversation. But most of what I enjoy most about shopping is kind of being in my own little world, looking at what I want to look at, comparing things, seeing what's new...and maybe finding something I wasn't expecting that's just perfect. I likely have a general idea of things I'm looking for, but sometimes I truly am "just looking." Sometimes I'll find little or nothing to buy. But I may also end up spending quite a bit.