TARGET customers have been fuming lately over long lines, order pickup debacles, and understaffing.
The big box retailer was criticized for closing its self-checkout kiosks, forcing shoppers to wait on backed-up lines.
Target consumers have made their dissatisfaction loud and clear, posting complaints on X.
One shopper (@lauraanguy) was fuming over a slew of pickup debacles which she said had been going on for months.
The user said Target consistently let her order a product for pickup but would tell her it wasn’t available two hours later.
“That’s bad customer service,” she wrote, noting how she had already paid.
“Instead you offer to ship it in two days which is now three days. Unacceptable. Fix this problem.”
Target replied to the disgruntled customer.
“We hear you! Thank you for sharing your feedback on your recent pickup experience,” the store wrote.
“We will be sure to get your concerns to appropriate teams for better experiences in the future. We appreciate you!”
She wasn’t the only seething consumer though.
WHOPPING WAIT
Another shopper shared two photos of Target’s closed self-checkout stations and a packed line of customers waiting to pay for items.
“Target what did you do?” the user wrote.
“Closing down self-checkout; and understaffing checkout means there’s a 1/2 hour wait?”
X user Basel (@musharbash_b) replied to the user’s post saying the photos were a “tell-tale sign” of eliminating grocery competition.
He said no “competent” grocery store dealing with competitive pressures would make their customers wait a half hour to pay.
Latest self-checkout changes
How retailers are tweaking their self-checkout formula
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
A customer named Chloe chimed in, blasting the store for its curbside pickup practices.
“More often than not they miss half the order and have to go back twice to make sure it wasn’t just misplaced at the front of the store,” she wrote.
She said this had been happening for more than six months.
The U.S. Sun contacted Target to request a comment.
WALMART WOES
Target isn’t the only major retailer facing customer dissatisfaction.
Walmart has heard many grievances from shoppers over its new subscription service called Walmart+.
One customer said they convinced their family to boycott Walmart over an annual $98 fee to use self-checkout.
They also called out the store for not hiring enough people at the checkout lanes.
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