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Poll: What's your opinion of Target stores?

What's your opinion of Target stores?

  • I love Target. They're always one of my first choices to shop at!

    Votes: 38 40.4%

  • Target is OK. If nothing else, they're better than WalMart!

    Votes: 51 54.3%

  • Target is bad. They're no better than WalMart, KMart and other mega-department stores!

    Votes: 5 5.3%
  • Total voters
    94
Unspeaked

Unspeaked

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Dec 29, 2003
2,448
1
West Coast
What's your opinion of Target stores?

Some people love them, enjoy their funky commercials and exclusive brands and think of them as a wonderful alternative to WalMart.

Others think they're no better than WalMart - a giant corporate chain driving out small business - and are even worse in some ways by hiding behind a "cool, trendy" image.

Feel free to discuss...
 
Most of the time when I shop at Target it is because I know where things are, what they have to offer, and it's close. But most of the time there are better choices somewhat close if I want to take the time.
 
I like Target a lot. I don't love it, but I don't think it's just OK, it's a cool place. I won't step foot inside a WalMart knowing Target exists.
 
I prefer them ANYDAY over Wal-Mart. I can't @#$%# stand that place. 90% of the American stereotypes come from that dump. Every time I leave there I want to shower and use some mind bleach to forget I had to go inside. *shudder*
 
I like Target, and have been shopping there for many many years. I go there first for most things, but usually not for clothes and food. If I need something random, I usually check Target first.
 
Target stores are appealing visually. The products that they carry are actually pretty cool and have a nice design style. They're also not energy sapping like a WalMarts are. A Target store somehow usually feels warm and welcoming...unlike the sterile, cavernous depressing stores that Wal-Mart has.
 
Can some of the fans care to elaborate on why they think Target is better than a run-of-the-mill department store?

Personally, I do like Target but I'm just as likely to shop somewhere else, so I'm really curious about the appeal. The quality and price of goods seems really similar to other stores, it's the aesthetic and image that seems to set it apart.
 
Since I've actually worked for them for 9 years I have a different view than most. Target is one of the cleanest stores you can shop in (especially the new ones) with a pretty good layout. I can definitely tell you that they go to great lenghts to improve the "guest" experience. If you've ever realized that people at Target are generally helpful and friendly (definitely depends on the store and region) it's because Target's core philosophy is to make sure the customers are well taken care of. You'll find that Target generally does the opposite of what Wal*Mart does in an attempt to improve things (even if I didn't work for Target I STILL wouldn't shop at Wal*Mart. I hate the lines, how crowded they are and the extreme lack of service no matter which one I shop at ... plus the entire management philosophy is piss poor which explains two out of the three).

While the return policy definitely can piss certain people off what they don't understand is how many people have ripped them off when it was looser and how many STILL rip off the stores daily.

As far as how it is to work for them, well, that all depends on the store you're in and who runs it. Unfortunately some store managers get lazy and hire the wrong people. Fortunately for me I work for an excellent store manager and crew. We're known as the best Target around and people will literally pass other Targets to shop at our store because they know we'll provide good service and be friendly.

I know I sound like I'm singing the praises of Target but let me tell you that the higher up you go the more politicking goes on. That's really their downside.

Target certainly doesn't provide all the goods you could ever want (what store does) and there is certainly room for improvement in a lot of their systems but they do continually strive to improve them (since I'm in one of their favorite test markets we get to try out a lot of "ideas" they have ... some great, some not so good).

In the end, working in retail sucks, period. It's the people that make the job worth it and since I've been extremely fortunate to work in two great stores, that's why I still work for them.
 
i don't mind target the way i mind walmart, and i do shop there.

it does make me uneasy, because i know how similar it can be to walmart, but they don't seem (seem i said) to be as bad for the most part. for example you'll find no Walmart in the city of chicago, only in the burbs because the big box stores have to pay a premium to operate here, and target has plenty of stores in the city, which goes to show that walmart is all about the bottom line.

i shopped at walmart while i was in college, thats just about the only choice out there, and there is certainly a quality difference in some of the goods that each carry. target seems to have better furniture and clothes compared to walmart's selection, while neither are the best, they make do.

also target is cleaner, but for the super targets they could use a better grocery section.
and i don't shop electronics there ever, piss poor selection, but passable for most people.
 
PlaceofDis said:
also target is cleaner, but for the super targets they could use a better grocery section. and i don't shop electronics there ever, piss poor selection, but passable for most people.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. If I were their buyer I'd definitely do things differently in Electronics and Grocery is good for most things but crappy in Frozen and Produce in my opinion.
 
QuarterSwede said:
Totally agree. If I were their buyer I'd definitely do things differently in Electronics and Grocery is good for most things but crappy in Frozen and Produce in my opinion.
Click to expand...

frozen is passable at times, but could use some more, and definitely more produce, there is virtually none. and things like cheese/butter/etc aren't well represented, nor meats. just some big names and standard stuff instead of a full selection. passable for quick pick-ups, but can't really do full grocery shopping there at this point, which would be nice since it'd then be the closest grocery to me.
 
target is the best of the big box stores, great food selection with a bunch of organic food and we got a bunch of our latest round of furniture there. super target seems more pleasant and homey, compared to wal-marts, especially nowadays with wal-mart quality going way down.
 
Super Store Targets + Starbucks = the best

Love the groceries and electronics

nothing clothes wise..i refuse to buy a shirt for 7 dollars or clothes at target..thats gross

targer is more higher end then walmart

plus i love archer farms food at target (chocolate chip muffins are amazing)

to bad there not in Canada!
 
I like them more than walmart. Ususally less trashy customers and employees.

I do find the red color everywhere stressful and overwhelming though.
 
I'd much rather shop at Target than Wal-Mart. Sure they're a chain, but sometimes you can't really avoid it, you know? Target at least has some soul and it's actually a little enjoyable to go there. If it got bigger than Wal-mart, I'm sure Wal-mart would change a little due to competition and everyone would win.
 
Speaking of Target.....

While we was on a vacation in Punta Cana, we met a couple who told us that they refuse to shop at Target because they said it was a French company..... and they were boycotting French businesses because of.... well.... some stupid reason. Freedom Fries!

I asked them why they thought it was French, and they said: "Why do you think it's called Targét?"

I told them that it's an American company from Minnesota, and the reason people call it Targét is to make fun of the fact that it's a cheap store. By calling it Targét, it makes it seem like it's a better store. But they wouldn't believe me.

Ignorant people are funny.....

Anyway... I don't shop there often, but I will if I think they may have something I need. For example, this past weekend I needed beach chairs, a beach umbrella, and beach towels, and I was able to get all of those things for $9.99 each.

For some reason I feel better about shopping at Target than at Walmart, but I'll bet that's because of PR, the image that they have, and the bad press Walmart gets. I do agree with an above poster who said that Target stores are really clean- cleaner than the Walmart stores I've been in.
 
I go clothes shopping there once a year, it's OK I suppose.

In a small town like this, when you want to do something with your friends, pretty much the only place to go is Wal-Mart, and that's where you end up...:(
 
I go there occasionally. But right next to the store, there's a Marsh supermarket, a Best Buy, a furniture store, and a Kohls. Target is where I go for a quick trip, but the other places have better specialized selections.
 
Eric Lewis said:
plus i love archer farms food at target (chocolate chip muffins are amazing)

to bad there not in Canada!
Click to expand...
Archer Farms marketing sucks but most of their products are surprisingly good (I get to test a lot of it). A lot of it better than brand names actually.

There is a rumor going around that Target is looking to buy out some Canadian store chain. As of now Target is a US only retail store.
 
QuarterSwede said:
Archer Farms marketing sucks but most of their products are surprisingly good (I get to test a lot of it). A lot of it better than brand names actually.

There is a rumor going around that Target is looking to buy out some Canadian store chain. As of now Target is a US only retail store.
Click to expand...

they were going to buy i believe Zellers
 
I have a love/hate relationship with that place.

I worked there in high school. Saying I hated my job is an understatement. Management at that place was the worst I've ever seen, and turnover was extremely high. Most of my managers were lazy jerkoffs and all they did was tell us to push those f**king Target Visa cards on people like we're a bunch of dirty used car salesmen. We'd get yelled at when we didn't get any apps, and when we did get an app, we'd get yelled at because it wasn't enough. We'd be there till 1 AM some nights because the store was never clean enough for them. Crap like that. I HATED that place.

Yet, as a customer, it's a hell of a lot better than Wal-Mart. I wouldn't say I love it, like some people do, but given the choice, I go to Target.
 
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