Target: Ripping Off Coupon Users?
In the last few months, I’ve received many emails from Hip2Save readers stating that they have experienced issues redeeming coupons for their full value at Target. Check out some of these emails below…
Have there been people having coupon issues with coupons at Target? I typically have lots of coupons to use there at once (due to your awesome site!!). The person at the register appears to be putting them all through even if they flag otherwise and doesn’t say anything. But it doesn’t seem like I save as much as I should and when I get home to further look at the receipt, it appears some have not gone through. I’ve wondered before, so I’m checking more carefully now. For example, I have my receipt for Target here when I tried to get the BIC deals-got 2 packages of pens, at $0.99 each, and they took off the target deal for $1.00 off but I can’t find where the $1 off manufacturer coupon was taken…I hate to stand there and make a fuss and/or figure it out when I have so many coupons there, so I just wondered if you have had any problems or complaints.
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I don’t know if you’ve noticed all the comments regarding coupons being automatically (and incorrectly) adjusted down at Target. (For example, the $5/2 Benadryl coupon adjusting to the price of one of the purchased items rather than the full $5–even when no overage is involved.) Well, I thought it was a glitch, and I stopped to inform the manager of my local Target, but he is standing behind the automatic deduction, which surprises me. Why would I go to Target and get less than face value of a coupon that I can get the full value of at Wal Mart or Kroger?
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I was wondering if you are experiencing any of problems using coupons at Target. I keep having my coupons value reduced at checkout by the computer. Seems to be only when you are supposed to save so much on two or three items. The computer is automatically reducing coupon value. I emailed Target and informed that I keep getting ripped off. They apologized and said they would investigate it. I have never checked receipts before and am wondering how much money I have lost when I thought I was saving 🙁
Clearly, this is an issue that is happening at Target stores across the country. In fact, there was recently a CBS news station out of Minnesota that broadcast a story entitled “Target Accused of Ripping Off Coupon Users.” Check out the full video here. Apparently, Target is currently investigating the problem so hopefully, it will be resolved soon. In the meantime, I would encourage all of you to review your Target receipts carefully. If you notice an error, be sure to bring your receipt to the customer service desk. You can also contact Target customer service at 1.800.440.0680 or by completing the form found here.
*There is also an online petition available to sign called “Target Corporation: Fix Your Register Software!” There are currently over 1300 signatures and 5000 signatures are needed to submit the petition. Be aware that when you sign the petition, your full name, location and comment will be displayed publicly. On a side note, I am not familiar with Petition Buzz (the site hosting this Target petition) and not exactly sure how the whole process works, but felt that it was still worth mentioning.
(Thanks, Tiffany and Pam!)
Okay all my fellow Hipsters, I have a new idea for this problem. What about each of sending this link to our local Television stations, and perhaps Target would listen to them. If not then perhaps we would have at least alerted all those unsuspectiong customers. Either way we should start to hit target in the pocket book,a nd maybe they would finally listen.
I also thought, we could all post something on our facebook pages too, perhaps that and other unwated publicity will get it fixed.
I was sort of sceptical at first reading this post, so I went to Target today. I could not find any of the deals with coupons that were mentioned, so I just bought a few other things that were on sale and were a good price. I bought two boxes of the Market brand pasta. The reciept took off the discount price for one and not the second! I know it is only 25 cents off but I am going back and get my discount on the second one and ask why that happened. Colin, I think you should work your magic on Target like you did with Walgreens and Walmart!
I guess that explains why my total always seems higher than it should be at Target! I did notice, for instance, I had bought a bottle of Suave shampoo with a MQ for a free Suave shampoo, and though the coupon appeared to have been accepted, when I looked at my receipt later, there was no where on it where a $1.88 (the price of the shampoo) was subtracted! Petty, I know, but it’s the principle!
Just returned my recalled crib to Target- had receipt from when I purchased it 3 yrs ago for $199 and they gave me $264 in store credit! Customer service said they didn’t know what was going on, but there was nothing they could do so she had to give me the overage- Yeah!! But I also returned 2 receipts, plus my receipt from that shopping trip to get $14 back from coupons not being taken off. I am finding that it seems to be the ones that I use a store coupon with and mgf. Bought 2 diapers use 2 $3 mgf and 2 $3 sc and it only took $6 off even though it showed a total of $12 off. Another was buy 6 gum get $4 off mgf. Had Target buy 1 get 1 free coupons and my mgf coupon showed up as $.00. Also bought two shampoos used 2 $2mgf and 1 $3/2 sc and it never took off my mgf coupons. I am starting to check my receipts before I ever even leave the store.
It’s rather sad to see so many comments regarding Target and the fact that so many of you are loosing pennies on the dollar when the government Local, State, and Federal are ripping each one of you by thousands of dollars and no one comments. Keep posting so the world can read your thoughts and soon you’ll be the ones paying taxes on all the benefits you receive from coupons. For the folks who can’t figure out their receipts I suggest bringing a calculator and for the folks that don’t review their receipts prior to leaving the store shame on you. Obviously some of you are processing so many coupons in one transaction you can’t handle when a few don’t go your way. Do you honestly use all the hundreds of items your getting for a reduced price or for free? For all the coupons which don’t work in your favor I’m sure you have been reciprocated by those which have worked in your favor – it all balances out in the end. Restaurants by far overcharge their consumers and yet we pay the bill and move on. Gas stations rip you off with their liberty to charge as they please, you pay and move on. Target by far is one of the easiest places to shop when compared to other retailers in addition the majority of their workers can speak the English language. You choose to shop at Target so deal with it – they may decide one day to limit the amount of coupons presented as some retailers have opted or may cease to accept coupons period. I haven’t seen one comment regarding the fact that seldom does a cashier stop and scrutinize each coupon as how the largest retailer demands of their associates – think of all the time your saving shopping at Target. Did you ever stop once to think why manufactures provide us with so many coupons? – it’s to compensate for the smaller contents with the same pricing. Complain to the manufacturer – we shouldn’t have to use coupons for every item we buy. We don’t live in a perfect world. Be thankful you live in a country that allows you to choose where you shop and spend your dollars and retailers aren’t run by the government.
You serious??…one of the most stupid comments I’ve ever seen. Why are you on this blog if you don’t care about saving and it “all balances out in the end.” Take a hike.
The point is that Target receives the FULL value of the coupon from the manufacture, plus 8 cents. So on Targets part that would be dishonest or stealing, fraud, whatever you want to call it, but it is wrong. If you handed the cashier $10 for $5 worth of goods, you would expect $5 back. If she only gave you $3, and stuck the other $2 in her pocket that would be wrong.
Oh, as far as using items you can get from couponing, you should try a charity like a food bank or a woman’s shelter.
Anonymous – I do understand where you’re coming from. There has been such a vehement response to Target when there are other stores who have the same policy. Should anyone make “extra” money off coupons? No. However, it seems people are mad that they aren’t getting free money. Target lets shoppers have some pretty good deals by allowing stacking of Target and manufacturer coupons. Why isn’t anyone acknowledging that?
Wonderful. It is shameful that these people call it a “loss” when they are unable to maximize the discount.
Nonetheless, they never mention what they do with all of the product they buy …. MANY RETURN IT AND GET CASH……. Ultimately they are converting coupons into cash. That is the real fraud.
I doubt that these shoppers use the crates of shampoo and toothpaste that they buy.
Example: Buy 2 toothpaste @ $2.50 / tube. use a BOGO … return one tube the next day get $2.50 … return the other tube the day after get another $2.50 ….. NET RESULT $2.50 in the shopper’s hand and 2 tubes of toothpaste in the trash because they can not be resold.
couponer ripped Target off for $2.50 and 2 tubes of toothpaste.
The coupon rules are implemented to protect the retailers and manufacturers so that they can keep providing the coupons to you.
Considering that you can’t return items to Target without a receipt, I don’t see how anyone would “rip Target off” by buying things and returning them. The point is, when you decide to buy something using a coupon — and use it honestly — you expect the value of the coupon to be honored. Especially since Target gets the face value of the coupon + 8 cents back from the manufacturer.
Are there people out there who are dishonest about the whole coupon thing? Yeah, probably. But I resent the fact that you’re making it sound like everyone who has a problem using coupons at Target is buying huge quantities of items and stocking up on things they don’t need. I use coupons because my family is on a very fixed budget, and I’m sure that’s the case with many people. I used to earn close to six figures, and got laid off because of the economy. I’m just buying the necessities, believe me. And it’s an awful lot of work to do the whole couponing thing in the first place. Target gets paid back, they could at least honor the value of the coupon since they are getting reimbursed. Now THAT’S coupon fraud!
I went to Target today (9/10) to pick up several items. When I reached the register I had 3 coupons. One coupon for $0.75 off Wishbone salad dressing (a Target Web coupon), one coupon for $3.00 off ThermaCare back pads (printed from the ThermaCare website), and one coupons for $1.00 Method Cleaning Product (a Target coupon I received in the mail). My total rang up and I thought it seemed off. I took my receipt and noticed only ONE coupon had been used – the $1.00 off Method cleaning product coupon. I politely asked the cashier where the other two coupons were on the receipt and he said, “I scanned them.” I said, “Well…they didn’t show up on the receipt.” He replied, “I scanned them.” I said, “Can I please have the coupons back?” He dug through his drawer and handed me back my two coupons that didn’t get scanned. I said, “I’m going to take these up to Customer Service and have them adjust my receipt.” He didn’t say anything.
Now…I hate to gripe and complain…but I am SO SICK OF THIS! I cannot tell you HOW many times I have caught the cashier not correctly scanning my coupons and just throwing them in the drawer. The two coupons he didn’t scan properly totaled $3.75 and I’m sorry, but that’s a BIG deal to me. I cannot afford to just throw that extra money away if I have a coupon for it. I love shopping at Target, but this is getting to be such a problem and a hassle that it makes me not want to shop there. What really pissed me off was the fact that the cashier didn’t care. He looked at my receipt and it CLEARLY shows only ONE coupon was scanned, but yet he stood there and said, “I scanned them.” SORRY! NO YOU DIDN’T! I am FED UP. Of course, I went upstairs with all my bags and Customer Service scanned my coupons and refunded me $3.75 in cash. THANKS TARGET! GRRRR!!!
The cashier may have actually scanned them. Some coupons will scan but the register will determine a value of $0, which goes back to this being a computer/system issue.
Sometimes they scan them, but have to press a button or enter the price manually. If they look at their screen after they scan each coupon, they will see which ones need “further input” from the cashier. If they don’t look at the screen and keep on scanning, they may in fact scan several coupons that never even register in the computer because it is still waiting for them to hit enter or OK.
I have had not so pleasance experiences at Target with coupons, but surprisingly today was one of the best. I put all of my non-coupon items on the counter first and kept the others in my cart. The cashier noticed that I had coupons and asked if I could place the coupon on top of each item. This went amazingly well. It was easy for her to see the item I was trying to use the item for – if it didn’t go through she could quickly and easily push it through without having to search for the item already tucked away in a bag. It also allowed me to keep a closer eye on the total. Since we both knew that each item going through at the end was a coupon, we kept an eye on the total. There were some that came up as 0.00 when scanned, but they were reducing the total. In the end, I still couldn’t make sense of the receipt but I was confident my coupons had been deducted correctly.
I’m NOT the only one being ripped off! I use to shop target several times a week (it’s walking distance across the street). I kept getting ripped off, employees making there own coupone rules, etc so I rarely shop there now. Some of the last times I noticed the register automatically reducing coupon values. I knew my total was higher than what it should have, brought it to customer service & they gave me the cash back. You should NOT have to go to customer service. Each coupon needs to ring up for the face value. This REALLY makes me mad because so many people are being ripped off! We need to figure out something as a group & let it be known what they are doing! My husband continually tells me to go in with a video camera & tape while checking out & put together an investigation so target stops ripping people off! I am headed there now & I will definitely be double checking my receipt!
Someones comments said to send the issue to the press/newspaper- I think this would be a great idea to expose this little scheme Target is pulling! It’s so wrong for a big corporation to be taking advantage of us coupon users! Urghhhh!
I have run into many problems at Target too. So my sister and I came up with a helpful way to understand you reciept. FIRST: Put up your coupons with the Item and then tell the checker to take them off as you go. This will subtract the coupon right under the item so its alot easier to figure it out. Nothing is more fustrating then looking at the the bottom of your reciept and seeing man discount about 10 or more times. And SECOND always watch the scanner, even when it beeps it doesn’t take off the coupon. And if you have a checker that doesn’t care they wont notice either.
This doesn’t change the way the coupons show up on the receipt. The computer still reorganizes the bill by department, not by the order the transaction was ringed.
I had a Target coupon for $3.00 off of pampers and I grouped it with $2.00 manufacturing coupon when I also purchased wipes. I did’nt notice that at the register for some reason they just gave me $2.39 cents off of the wipes making it free along my $2.00 extra coupon, but didnt deduct the extra .61 cents the coupon would of given me. I was side tracked from the receipt when I was given an additional Target coupon for $4.00 off the combination of another purchase of diapers and wipes. I could’nt resist the temptation of savings especially when I still had another manufacturing coupon I could group it with in the amount of $2.00. The very next day I went back and the register didn’t even take the $4.00 off so I had to go to customer service for a refund, and later that night I noticed that some bathroom tissue I purchased was on sale for $14.99 but I was charged full price $17.29. This is causing me some unessesary upset, Target is like twenty miles away from my home. Just want it to be known it’s happening here in Hiram Georgia!
This just happened to me the other day…So annoying! Glad this is here and I hope something gets resolved!
I had a problem today with M&Ms! I purchased two bags at $2.50 each. I used two 50-Cent Manuf coupons and a $1/2 Target coupon. My total should have been $3, and instead was $4. I didn’t realize until I got back in my car. Frustrating.
The last time I was at Target I used a lot of their fresh produce coupons. Their banana was priced .19 cent each and I bought five. I bought other produce as well but the fresh produce Target coupons only got used on the five banana. So I went to customer service yet again, and the manager was nice enough to readjust the amount and credit me any owed me. I was told that only one unique target coupon can be used per day per transaction. So if you are trying to do a deal to get a gift card forget about it, like the last one on glade products.
I work for Target as a cashier and it gets frustrating when people use a bunch of coupons at once. I dont question them though, I usually put them through. One thing I will say it if you have a $5 off coupon and the item is only $1 target WILL NOT give you $4.00 back / credited towards the rest of the items. They see it as you are getting the item free. This is actually stated in their coupon policy. My advice if you want the overage would be shop somewhere else (I can honestly say I shop at our biggest competitor because of this), and I work for target.
I purchased 2 cucumbers, 1 french bread loaf and some bananas and provided the cashier with 2 Target generated coupons – $1 off fresh product and $1 off any bakery item.
I am glad I read these posts b/c the register only gave me $.49 off in produce!! I went to customer service and pointed out the glitch. The Customer Service rep had to pull out her calculator and then tell me that it was b/c the bananas were less than $1 and that the system gave me just a portion of the coupon (???!!!). I politely advised that I also purchased cucumbers and that line item was above the $1 coupon and that I should have received the full discount (seriously though, the coupon doesn’t state that if one purchases less than $1 value on produce that it would only give you a portion of the coupon – lol!).
She had to refund my $0.51…not much money, I know, but it was their mistake!
Review your receipts closely all!!!
The same thing is happening to me here in Delaware. Coupons are not coming off when I watch them being scanned. I have on numerous times gone to the service desk and complained. I am sorry its happening to everyone but yet I am glad to see its not just my local store.
I work for Target and as far as I’m concerned, coupons are the most frustrating pieces of shit to have ever graced the retail industry. Target’s system for taking coupons is very defensive for Target’s purpose because like everything, SCAMMERS lower the bar and in turn create a negative experience for everyone else. You wouldn’t believe how many people try to pull scams on coupons, and unfortunately this is what causes the registers’ software to be extremely rigid.
Here’s the purpose of a coupon: to get you to try a given manufacturer’s product at a reduced rate. They are not credits toward other merchandise (see: NO CASH VALUE printed on all coupons) nor are they valid (according to the MFR) on even slightly differing product details (ounce, size, etc.). So, if the item is $5.00 and you stack a MFR and Target Coupon totaling $6, you don’t get the extra dollar back in cash, or toward other merchandise if you were purchasing other items. On a similar note, if Tide wants you to try it’s 150 oz. detergent at $1.00 off, and you try and sneak by with the 50 oz. bottle, the register will correct for this and adjust appropriately because you have not complied with the coupon requirements.
Most coupons in question are the result of a given guest not reading them properly and following the guidelines on them. There are, of course plenty of instances where there are legitimate system errors and the coupons are not properly deducted, but more than often it’s an error (maliciously or not) on the consumer end.
I had a lady come through the other day and dropped no less than 100 coupons on me after all of her stuff was bagged. She had 4 coupons for $10 off when you buy ink and a printer. She bought the ink, just no printers, which obviously was the largest part of the coupon. She was just hoping they’d scan through and she’d profit. Additionally she had laundry detergent of the inappropriate sizes, and many other similar instances. She is why the registers are designed to provide extra scrutiny.
With the internet, of course comes plenty of fake coupons as well. There was one floating around for a free bag of Doritos. Well established brands like Doritos dont need to give their product away for free with no other caveats (i.e. free w/ purchase of something else). So, obviously those coupons were denied by the register software. But internet coupons could be a topic of their own.
Either way, I’m more sympathetic with the consumer to be honest, but I had to get in our perspective from the disgruntled retail employee side of life.
I don’t have a problem not getting overage on a coupon, but I also don’t think it’s right for a company to get that overage, If the price is automatically adjusted to the price of the item, the cashier should write that amount on the coupon. Target and other stores who adjust coupons down to the price of the item are MAKING money that was intended for the consumer..
Also, my MAIN issue with Target is not even with coupons. It’s that there is constantly a problem with things being on sale, but when you check out, the regular price is charged. I’ve been to Target twice in the past two weeks and both times, I had sale items not correctly priced in their system. I’ve had this problem with Target for years. It’s so frequent that I really find it hard to believe it’s an error.
The only one saying that “the company” gets overage is you. BTW, even if they are it is not your concern. That is a beef between Mfgr and retailer. As consumer you already received the discount you are entitled to. You do not know what arrangement there is between Mfgr and retailer.
I love shopping at Target. I shop there several times a month, but I too am extremely frustrated by the coupon problem. Just to be fair, I am not a “hard core” coupon user. However, I will use between 3-12 coupons depending on the size of the transaction. I don’t try to get overages or free stuff. I am a brand shopper and when I get a high value coupon for an item I use (like $2 off Cheer), then I expect to get the full value. I understand the fraud problem and the reason that the scanners are “rigid”, but that should not be a reason to short me (a legitimate consumer) for the full value of the coupon. Fraud is a huge issue almost everywhere. I work for a financial institution and just becuase there are a lot of fraudulent checks out there, doesn’t mean that we don’t take checks or give you the full value when you make a deposit. Just my humble two cents.
I’m sorry, but you crazy coupon ladies need to realize that a line needs to be drawn. You cannot be getting “FREE MONEY” from devaluing an item below its price of purchase.
So if you have such a problem with the “crazy coupon ladies'” comments, why are you here reading what we have to say?
If this is your entertainment, then you really should get a hobby dear.
Just at Target today in Texas, I used the $1.50 off purchase of 3 chunky soups & they reduced the coupon so it is still happening. It’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing.
Btw, loved the video on CBS.
Patti
This happens to me and my mother EVERY time we use coupons at target. As much as i love target im hardly going now because i don’t want to “waste” coupons that could be used other places! I know i am only one person but they have lost a good chunk of change considering i went to target almost every other day!
This just happened to me today!! I thought I was being paranoid, but when I read this I realize that I’m not crazy. This is the second time this has happened to me. I’ve checked my reciept, and realized they have taken my coupons without giving me the discount!!! Today I had 2 $2/1 California pizza Kitchen frozen pizza coupons, and the register only deducted one! I know it is only $2, but I was counting on that coupon to make my grocery budget stretch farther! If I would have know they wouldn’t credit the coupon value, I would have used it at a different store!! This happened to me over the weekend with Huggies diaper coupons…they took my coupons, and the discount didn’t show up on the receipt!! I was so mad, I went into the service desk right away, and explained the situation. Thankfully they adjusted my receipt for the coupon discount that I should have received! I hope they resolve this soon, or I will not be going there as often…the “great deals” aren’t so great when they pick and choose which coupon they will take with out even letting you know that you aren’t getting the discount!
I have stopped using coupons at target about 6 months ago. For me, It’s just too much trouble for me to shop there anymore because I have been told so many times that I cannot use this coupon or that coupon because I would be getting the product “for free”. Hmmm…… Yes, that’s right, I would be getting if for free.I have made numerous complaints to corporate and I just feel like it’s a waste of my time and effort in shopping there to save some money. There are other stores to shop at that I never had a problem with coupons. I feel that Target just needs to train their employees properly about coupons. I am not a scammer, just a person that is trying to live better by saving money using coupons!
Target is just trying to stop from being ripped off. When you return the item you got “for free,” and you “lost” your receipt … How much will you get on your gift card as a return?
It happens every day.
This problem is still happening. I was at Target on Tuesday and tried tried to use a $1 off 3 trident gums. The coupon scanned for .48. Luckily, I caught it before I completed the transaction,and the cashier adjusted it to the correct amt. This is the second time this has happened to me. I love Target but this is ridiculous!
I just had the same problem with the $1/3 Trident coupon, but my Target refused to adjust the amount, even though I bought 3 for a total of $1.44! I contacted the Corp. office and they agreed with me and were very apologetic and said reports would be sent out to try and fix the problem. Later, I spoke with the my local Target’s chief manager and he apologized for the problems and also told me that he would try and fix the problem. I guess I will see next time I try to use coupons @ Target. I really like Target, I just hope that they get this problem fixed.