Poll: What's your opinion of Target stores?

[QuarterSwede]

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.

Yeah, that's called bad management. In our region (Colorado) the lights go out (as in pitch black) at 11:30pm and we almost always get out early and NEVER after you're scheduled (no later than 11pm). Like I said, bad management. My cousin worked at one in FL and hated it too. It really just depends on whose running the district and store. Sad really.

 

[Thomas Veil]

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.

Funny you mention that.

My daughter tried working for them about eight months ago. When she showed up her first day, first thing they told her, rather tersely, was that she couldn't park there. Okay, fine, but according to her they were snippy about it.

Then when she went in, "training" consisted of putting her in a little room, tossing a book on how to operate the cash register in her lap, and leaving her alone. Then they put her on Returns and left her pretty much on her own. She cried.

Once I went there while she was on duty, and as soon as my daughter wandered just a few feet from the empty checkout lane she was manning to say hi to me, the manager came scurrying right over to get her back.

Few employees she met there seemed to be friendly or to enjoy their work. Needless to say, it didn't even take her a week to quit.

 

[erickkoch]

I like Target. I like it much better than Walmart but I don't quite know why. They seem to carry the same stuff, more or less.

One of my problems with Target is that I make too many impulse buys there. If I go there to get a toaster oven or socks I also end up buying a DVD and a car accessory of some kind. That's the problem of shopping at a store that has everything.

 

[gonyr]

The second poll option hits the nail on the head. Target isn't great or horrible, but it's definitely a lot less scummy/evil than walmart.

 

[FDX]

Target is clean Walmart dirty, at least in my area.

 

[Abstract]

wal-mart quality going way down.[/b]

That's like being demoted from "prostitute" down to something else.

 

[tMac85]

better than dirty-mart any day

 

[maestrocasa]

Oh, what I'd give for a super-target. But here in the land of wallyworld and mcTyson, it'll never happen. we have a standard target that somehow snuck in when all the walmart guys were on a golf getaway to Branson, but that's it and it's a pretty poor representation of what Target can be. Someday, maybe, but for now I have to hit the WalFart Stupor Center or make multiple stops. Ah, for shame. Convenience is beating out quality right now.

 

[macmama]

Target has at least two clothing lines that are considerably better looking and constructed than any of the clothes Wal*Mart sells – the Liz Lange maternity line and the Isaac Mizrahi women's wear. Much love for those.

I was just commenting to a friend that our local Target now carries a wide range of gourmet and imported chocolates: Green & Black's (the super-yummy organic stuff from the UK), Ritter (from Germany; love it), and Lindt, among others. We don't have a fresh food section in our store, just boxed/canned, but the Archer Farms line has some lovely ethic foods (Tandoori marinade and Morrocan style quinoa salad come to mind) that I imagine are hard to come by in many parts of the US. I think it's great that they're spreading a little diversity around – something Wal*Mart would never ever do.

 

[zap2]

decent, I'll take them over walmart, but I'll take Costco over all of them.

Starting pay, 10 bucks a hour. Hmm...maybe I need to get a job with them!

Plus Costco is cheaper then walmart!

 

[mikeypizano]

I like both stores about the same. The thing is Walmart is right up the road and in 30 min walking distance. Great for me and my friend since neither of us drive. I hate super Walmart with a passion though. Full of idiots who don't know how to move out of the way most of the times!

 

[tMac85]

decent, I'll take them over walmart, but I'll take Costco over all of them.

Starting pay, 10 bucks a hour. Hmm...maybe I need to get a job with them!

Plus Costco is cheaper then walmart!

yeah but who needs 400 pens 6 heads of lettuce and 45 chicken legs all at one time.?????

 

[Unspeaked]

I'm surprised how many current and former Target employees are floating around here, though I guess I shouldn't be with the number of stores out there!

One thing that I find a little amusing is that I sort of consider Target the Dell of department stores. If you draw a comparison to WalMart and HP, it makes a lot of sense:

• Target and Dell are both second in their industry's market share world-wide (behind WalMart and HP).

• The market share race gets much tighter domestically for both companies (in fact, in the last quarter, Dell outsold HP).

• Target and Dell both try to push a younger, trendier image than their larger competitors.

• Target and Dell both push the clean, minimalist design and layouts.

• Target and Dell both try to price themselves firmly as middle-class to upper-middle-class brands, not trying to be the absolute cheapest brand available, but not offering the super high-end.

• You could even go a little further and say Dell's purchase of Alienware and moves of that nature are similar to Target's exclusive clothing and cosmetics lines - a little something special for niche markets.

In the scheme of things, Apple would probably be a Macy's (I would have said Nordstrom, but I think they've grown too large in the past few years for that comparison to hold up).

 

[Stridder44]

Spending more than 7 dollars on a shirt is gross.

Said the guy who bought a $3,000 computer.

Seriously, some of us would rather have quality over quantity. Nice clothes are awesome, but are not cheap. You guys are Mac people, so I know you know what I'm talking about. You know you'd rather pay the little extra to have the nicer, better built, and more attractive looking computer (Mac) than some run of the mill PC.

 

[latergator116]

Said the guy who bought a $3,000 computer.

Seriously, some of us would rather have quality over quantity. Nice clothes are awesome, but are not cheap. You guys are Mac people, so I know you know what I'm talking about. You know you'd rather pay the little extra to have the nicer, better built, and more attractive looking computer (Mac) than some run of the mill PC.

Actually, I'm the guy who bought a $600 computer.

 

[Patrick425]

yeah targets pretty nice. if im looking for some sort of electronics i usually will stop by target since they sometimes have good sales and such.