I recently received an e-mail from a reader who had a problem using a coupon at Target and she was not sure what she should have done or even should do. I was able to address her issue and hopefully now she is ready to know how to handle things should the same situation arise again. Here is her question:
Do you shop at the target at like I35 and 169 by the great mall? I have had so much trouble with these cashiers yesterday the young girl wouldn’t let me use their store coupon for the bottles because I beeped I explained the coupon was a one cent overage that this was the reason she refused it. I asked for the manager she said she was the manager so I asked for her supervisor she refused so I walked out without my purchase, as I walk away she apologizes to the lady behind me for me using coupons.
-Tammy
I responded to let her know that the manager should have reduced the $1.00/1 coupon to $0.99, but that I would prefer to contact Target so that the answer would be directly from them and we would have it in writing for future reference. I did just that and here is what Target sent to me:
If you have any questions about a specific coupon or experience using a coupon at Target, we want to help! Please give our Guest Relations team a call at (800) 440-0680. We’ll do the best we can to help you as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, I’d like to share with you some information about our coupon policy. When accepting coupons, we use the following guidelines:
– We accept two kinds of coupons: Target-issued and manufacturer-issued.
– We’ll accept one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits it.
– We can’t give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item; in this case, we’re able to adjust the value of the coupon to equal the price of the item.
– We can’t accept coupons from other retailers, or coupons for products not carried in our stores.
– All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier while you’re checking out.
Thanks for writing. Give us a call if there’s anything else we can do to help!
So, I was correct that the manager should have reduced the value of the Target coupon to $0.99 in this instance. Unfortunately, Tammy had already left and wasn’t able to cash in and save what she should have.
When things like this happen, the best advice I have is to stay calm and don’t lose your cool. I know it is very hard and very frustrating when you know you are not being treated in the nicest way. However, you will certainly get further if you can.
I do recommend that you print and keep copies of each store’s coupon policy with you at all times, so that you can pull it out and show it to the cashier (or even manager) to remind them that what you are doing is per their own policy. If anyone would like a copy of this Target policy, you can click Contact Me at the top of this page and will be more than happy to forward it directly to you.
Lastly, if you are getting no where, kindly ask the manager if you can contact Customer Service and discuss it with them and many times, they will even have the manager get on the phone to explain the situation and help you get what you are entitled.
While I am saddened Tammy had a bad experience, I hope that some of you were able to learn from what happened to her so that it doesn’t happen again to any of you. Thanks for letting me share your story Tammy!
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