Target price-matching policy (or lack of, in most stores).

[griffin]

(topic has changed - ignore the 'help request' and just have a read of this first post and the follow up post)

More of an alert to members here who try to price-match stuff - Target is not the place you can rely on for price-matching. It was even confirmed by one store I spoke to, that each store has its own policy, and some stores change it depending on which manager is on. (no, seriously)

I actually enjoyed doing this. It was a lot of fun to get such an odd and varied range of responses to something, every other national store chain has a set policy on.

I rang up 13 Target stores in Brisbane, plus 3 in Sydney and the one in Perth that price-matched for one member, but then refused to do it to another member a few hours later.

Each time I said the exact same thing:

Hi there. I'm just enquiring to see if your particular Target store currently has a price matching policy.

(note that I asked about their store, not Target in general)

The responses are below, but first - how you can help.
As you will see below, obviously Target are in need of a set, written, national policy on Price-matching, to prevent all this confusion and frustration they are causing the customers.

Look up the phone book, or the store locator on the www.target.com.au website, and ring up some of your local stores (or any store if you want), and ask them what I quoted above. Write down what they say, and post it up here so that members know which stores to avoid, and which are best to price-match. We'll also be able to see if any store contradicts itself if you call a store that has already been called.
How does this help?
Well, if the stores each get multiple calls from customers asking about a price-matching policy, they might just do something about it, so that they have a set response ready. Even if it means they decide not to have one at all, at least we'll know to avoid wasting time with that store-chain.
ALSO, in a separated topic in the OZ news section, is a reference posting on what the current Price-Matching Policies are for Australian National Store Chains - and if Target finally decide to generate an official policy, I can add it to the posting for the rest of you to benefit.

Now, onto the rather interesting (amusing) list of responses I got.

QLD

CBD - No

Carindale - Originally 'No', then 'only on Toys during the Toy Sale', and then told to talk to Store Manager when he eventually returns to the store.

Mt Gravatt - No

Browns Plains - Yes, but only items that are instock in their competitor's store, AND has to be featured in BOTH Target and the competitor's CURRENT catalogue.

Buranda - No

Chermside - No electronics, but yes to items instock at competitor's store.

Capalaba - Yes, but only in a store within 5Kms, and must be the exact item.

Indooroopilly - Sometimes, but not often (I swear, that is exactly what they said)

Ipswich - Depends on which manager is on at the time (I'm not making this stuff up!)

Mount Ommaney - No, and tried to convince me that it was their national policy, and that no Target store price-matches.

Redbank - Yes, but only against items instock in stores within the same shopping centre (it isn't a big shopping centre).

Springwood - Only on toys during the upcoming Toy Sale.

Mitchelton - No.

NSW

Liverpool - Yes, but needs to be in the competitor's catalogue and on sale (not regular prices) at both stores at the same time.

Miranda - Yes, but will only check against stores within the complex (so even if every other BigW in the state has a particular item in stock, if the Miranda BigW doesn't, you're out of luck).

Castle Hill - Yes, but only against stores in the centre, must be a regular price (not a sale price), and must be in stock at that competitor.

(so Liverpool will only match sale prices, while Castle Hill will only match regular prices... ???)

WA

Bullcreek - Depends on the item. You must bring in the competitor's catalogue and they will only match sale prices. And if it is BigW, they will ring to see if it is instock, and will only match if it is.

I will be ringing up the head office on monday to see what they have to say about this weird price-matching policy Target seems to have. They're supposed to be a national chain, but they're worse than a franchise.

[blackie]

i just sent a text to a mate of mine who works in the toy dept at my local target, so we shall see what he says

i cant believe that kmart has one and target doesnt....

[griffin]

They are separate entities now, just owned by the same company (Wesfarmers), who made them more independant of each other. They are even encouraged to compete against each other, to improve market share and profit, hopefully at the expense of BigW. But I think it was more in case they sold of Kmart (their original plan when they bought the Coles Group), which would have been messy if Target and Kmart were still working as one company.

[foor]

I rang the local Target in Palmerston, Darwin. I spoke to ... someone. Not the manager, but this person flat out told me they don't price match. I tried to argue and say there's proof other Targets in Australia are matching, and she wouldn't budge. Said that was up to the individual Targets to do so, but they don't. Ever.

[Doubledealer]

I went to Target Indooroopilly today and tried to get them to price match Jetfire with a printout of the receipt someone here uploaded whereby a Big-W price match was honoured (at the Liverpool, Sydney Target).

A lady came over from customer service and said that they don't price match. I queried her as to why one store would when theirs don't. She looked like I had just asked her the meaning of life, after recovering she then asked the store hand to ring out the back and see what they think. I then got the response saying they only price match during their toy sale which is coming up soon. Roooiight. What's their motto again? 100% miserable?

[jaydisc]

A few weeks ago I saw clear signage at Target for the upcoming toy sale stating that they'd price match any items on layby. I looked for the fine print as I didn't fully understand it, but I couldn't find it. When i went back the following week, the signage was gone, and I can't find a trace of it anywhere now.

[Doubledealer]

I actually asked the lady at Indooroopilly Target if I could laybuy Jetfire then price-comparison him during their sale. She said no, you commit to pay the price on the item at the time of doing the laybuy. :/

[sanbot]

Castle Hill - Yes, but only against stores in the centre, must be a regular price (not a sale price), and must be in stock at that competitor.

Well at least they told u the same thing they told me when I went yesterday.

I actually asked the lady at Indooroopilly Target if I could laybuy Jetfire then price-comparison him during their sale. She said no, you commit to pay the price on the item at the time of doing the laybuy. :/

Again another example of the inconsistencies with Target. I remember when I layby'd Masterpiece Optimus before the sale and I asked if I could get it at the sale price when it starts and the guy there was like no problem! When the sale came and I took it off layby the person serving me said nope you can't get it at sale price! Luckily the person who told me I could in the first place was there at the time.

[griffin]

As recommended by nettie!, I rang up the head office and asked them if they have a price-matching policy. (this was a bit funny) She answered a definite NO, but, then started rattling off the conditions of price-matching (huh???)

So getting past the contradiction within the one sentance, this is what I was told:

It has to be currently advertised in both their (Target) catalogue and the competitor's catalogue, and has to be instock at both stores, BUT, price-matching is only honoured at the Store Manager's discretion.

Sooo, they have an unwritten* price-matching policy, but there's no guarantee that they will honour it at any store, at any time.

(* she told me that it was not something officially written anywhere.)

--------
While I had her attention, I also asked something that had been bugging me for quite a while now - why does Target only restock after lengthy periods of time instead of when the actual stock runs out?
She asked me if I was a customer, because 'customers don't ask that sort of question'. True, to an extent, so I told her that I run a site that monitors and tracks toy stock levels across the country, and Target had been known to not restock for ages after their items sell out.
She then told me that they wait until all their stores require stock before ordering in new stock from the supplier and ship it to stores. So if your Target store sells out faster than most, you'll have a longer wait for new TFs stock.
That is just a brilliant strategy to keep longterm customer loyalty...

I also gave her some feedback on stores not fully capitalising on the TFs movie while it is at its peak demand for toys. I said that I thought it was strange to not try to sell as many toys as possible now at full price, but instead was hearing that stores were holding them back until after the movie dies down and try to sell them at about 30% off during the toy sale.
She told me (rather rudely) it was just my opinion, and the toys will still sell. And with that unfriendly response, that was the end of the conversation.
It's not like I was a competitor, so I don't see why she needed to be so hostile. If anything, this site would be helping promote them, if they tried to live up to their claim of aiming for '100% happy'.

(no offense to the front line employees at Target. I only have a problem with the corporate decisions you guys have to deal with, and the cranky customers that results from it)

[nettie!]

Good work!!!

And they are total tools when it comes to their "100% happy" claim

in all my years at target I've never once thought to ask about the time between restocking... Very lame excuse! - I'll talk to the toy bm at my store over the weekend and see what he says lol