Today’s Chicago Tribune has an article about the coupon situation at Target. After so many comments from readers this week, I brought this to their attention, and many thanks to Greg Karp at the Trib for writing about it so promptly! It’s a good read, and several readers of my blog are quoted in it too:
Target Shortchanges Shoppers With Certain Coupons
Update: 10/29/10 – Over 20 newspapers and media outlets around the country have since picked up this story:
The Los Angeles Times: Target shortchanging coupon users
Consumerist.com: (Consumer Reports): Target Shortchanging Customers On Coupons
Minneapolis Star Tribune: Customers clipped on coupons at Target – story updated with a local blogger’s experience with the gift card issue
Pittsburgh Tribune: Target coupon users may be shorted by computer glitch
Charlotte Observer: Target coupon users shortchanged – Retailer blames computer glitch
New Mexico Business Weekly: Report: Target has a coupon problem
Sacramento Bee: Target glitch’ shortchanged coupon users for months
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) Target glitch shortchanged coupon users for months
The Morning Call (Allentown, PA): Target coupons miss the mark
Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT): Target coupons missing the mark
The State (Columbia, SC): Target ‘glitch’ shortchanged coupon users for months
Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, KY): Target ‘glitch’ shortchanged coupon users for months
Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, WA): Target ‘glitch’ shortchanged coupon users for months
The Republic (Columbus, IN): Target ‘glitch’ shortchanged coupon users for months
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO): Target ‘glitch’ shortchanged coupon users for months
Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT): Glitch shortchanged coupon users at Target
Dayton Daily News (Dayton, OH): Target faces anger over coupon glitch
Richmond Times-Dispatch: (Richmond, VA): Target glitch shortchanged coupon users for months
Florida Today (Melbourne, FL): Target Blames Computer For Short-Changing Customers
The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC): Target coupon users shortchanged
TwinCities.com: Target knew of coupon ‘glitch.’ Problem seen in Aug.
Ohio.com: Target Corp. shortchanges coupon users
OurVoices.com: Target’s coupon problems not adding up
WSLS NBC 10, Roanoke, VA: Target glitch shortchanged coupon users for months
KENS 5, San Antonio, TX: Shopper Alert: Some Target coupons not tallying up (TV clip)
WBBM CBS 2, Chicago: Target Not Hitting Bullseye With Coupon Clippers (TV clip)
And that’s just a partial list that doesn’t include the numerous coupon sites, blogs and messageboards that carried it as well. Here in Chicago, CBS, WGN, NBC and Fox News have all covered the story as it continues to spread.
noel1262 says
They told me yesterday I was the only one who had called about the problem with the razors! The more negative press -the more likely they will fix it! Thank you for helping the millions of couponers!!
quirkybunny says
I have no idea whether it was intentional or not, but they certainly made no apparent effort to fix the error when it was brought to their attention. Now that the media has gotten involved, I bet they quickly fix this problem that they’ve known about for months. I find it very sad that it takes bad press for a company to stand up and do what’s right.
SahmShopper says
This has been going on for months. Every coupon purchase I made at Target this summer they short changed me, including on their $5 gift card offers. This is to big of a retailer to not know about the problem and to take months to still not have it fixed. Who wants to take a bet they will get this fixed by Black Friday???? I am done with them this year, I won’t be helping them hit their holiday revenue goals. They don’t deserve my business. To bad for them, I did a lot more than coupon shopping with them. Very, very short sighted of Target to not get this problem fixed and make their customers go to this length. Since I keep all my receipts I might just take the time to pull them all together to submit them to Target and the Attorney General. Thanks Jill for pushing this one, needed to be done.
tnovak says
Target has become “Too Much Trouble Target” for me. It is really unfair and I do not see how we can be compensated for it in the long run. On the other hand, I am really glad that it is being addressed. Thank You.
pattycakes says
Just found this link. I think you will find it interesting.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Target-from-Coupon-Fraud-and-make-them-fix-their-Registers/164505406906741
What is so maddening about all of this is how little it would take to correct the problem. Jewel, Walgreens, CVS, and even Dominick’s have registers that can correctly deal with coupons. What is Target’s excuse??
onceuponacoupon says
it’s not worth the effort to make sure they all scan correctly adn then the time to go to CS if they don’t. Honestly I’d rather pay a bit more somewhere else than deal with the hassle at Target.
smartshopper7 says
I went into the Target in Munster, IN and they told me you could only use one coupon per day on an item. You can not do duplicate items with matching coupons. I was shocked. The manager said there had been coupon scams. I wanted to get the two Creamate creamers on sale for 1.50 but they would only let me get one. I was so disappointed.
Coupon savings says
Too bad they did not keep the comment on how much money Target could get a week, but hopefully people can figure that out.
kolder says
It looks like the news media picked up on this story also, FOX Good Day Chicago has a piece that they will be airing this morning. Good job Jill!
saylors4hire says
I was just reading this Chicago Tribune piece, when I heard a commercial on TV announce that CBS 2 Chicago news is airing a piece on Monday night about this Target debacle. I think this will be hard for Target to ignore now.
Outlander says
I went to Target yesterday and for every coupon I had she had to manually approve. Each one beeped with a message on the register ” Cashier, make sure the amount on the coupon is entered correctly”. Not exactly like that, but just about. And I had no problem using multiple Qs. I used 13 Taster’s choice coffee $1 Qs, and 7 pack boxes are $1. She only had to ask someone else, if that’s OK, since the Qs would make them free. So the other lady said yes, but I only have to pay tax. I said of course. So, I guess, that’s their way of fixing the problem.
karmah says
The Philadelphia, PA area started running stories/investigations on this back in September. So far nothing has changed at Target. Seems as though they just don’t care. I haven’t shopped there since I, too, had a problem with $3/2 coupons begin used on two $2.99 priced items. The way that I was treated in the store was horrible. They lost a customer that used to spend about $60+ a week there. That’s a minimum of $400 in lost revenue so far.
Here are two of the Philadelphia stories:
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2010/09/22/3-on-your-side-issues-with-target-coupons/
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2010/10/12/target-stores-still-failing-to-honor-some-coupons-correctly/
theresa1740 says
Last night there was a short spot on this Target isssue on one of the stations Chicago either CBS, ABC or NBC is doing a piece on this tonight for the 10pm news. Was flipping around for the weather do not remember which, but one of the we investigate–SOO maybe it will put the pressure on Target
august1212 says
The law firm Glancy Binkow & Goldberg is currently investigating the problem with Target’s coupons and the firm may file a class action lawsuit against Target. If you’re interested in learning more about the firm’s investigation, you can e-mail them at consumercomplaints@glancylaw.com or call them at (888) 773-9224.
Kirab529 says
I was at the algonquin location today at 10am. I purchased various items along with 20 glade products. I had 10 glade coupons for $1.00 off the purchase of two. When I arrived home I was looking over my receipt and noticed only 4 of my ten coupons came off. I drove back to the store and they removed my coupons from the register. The lady at customer service was very helpful and gave me money that was owed to me. She seemed very aware of the computer problem. She complained to corporate and was told the problem was fixed.
I will no longer be coupon shopping at target. Any advice on contacting corporate?
I hope that you fix this problem and stop taking advantage of your shoppers.
armymom says
.. in Crystal Lake. i bought 2 Crest mouthwash, on clearance for $2.50 each. i bought many other items, but this was the icing on the cake.
Cashier scans my B1G1F Crest mouthwash. It beeps…trys again,,it beeps…she scolls the screen to look for the the Crest,,,not there! Huh?..The cashier then prints out the reciept…not there!???
i watched her scan the 2 Crest,,,she remembers scanning the 2 Crest! Well since neither of us could see it on the physical reciept…i hand it back to her and she proceeds to scan the Crest, twice. ok. So then she scans the B1G1F man.Q. i pay up..load up and go to the car. I then looked over the reciept…and it shows..3 Crests mouthwashers @ $2.50 each!!!! But the B1G1F manf. Q DID scan and took off…$2.50 AND $1/2 manf. Q ALSO! huh…again???..i go BACK to CS and show her everything…i told her,,,the cashier AND i did not see the the Crest on the original reciept..so she scanned it again..and it rang up 3 and took of 1!!!! PLUS..another $2.oo Q!…which i did not even HAVE!..well cs was very nice,,,gave me back $3.00!..
the system at Target needs a lot of work…and in the meantime…EVERYONE go over your reciepts!!! It was just too weird ! Never had this happen!..
SOOOO…study those Target reciepts!!!! < +>
BeeJayHolk says
I was at Target, Streamwood (Sutton Rd) I was buying a .97 Tide and had a $1.Q I explained to the cashier that in the past they change the amount of the coupon to .97 The cashier tried telling me they can’t take a manufaturers Q for this item and tried showing me the computer screen. So, I took it to the service desk and she told me they can’t change the amount of a Q. The man at the service desk looked at the Q and told me they can’t take the Q because it’s a travel size. I asked if he could show me that on the Q because I didn’t see it. He said it’s not on there, we just can’t do it. So I looked up the policy myself on Target web site…why doesn’t Target teach their cashiers about Q’s? I mean really Target, it’s not Rocket Science!!
sinjin063 says
Today I spent over an hour between customer service for the red card and the stores customer service trying to explain and figure out why you do not recieve the the whole 5% off when using the red card. I spent a total of $6.38 with a free $5.00 gift card and only recieved .07 off for using the red card. Which I know doesnt sound like much to complain about but yesterday I had a reciept for 117.00 and after looking at it the total off for using the card was only 2.01. The only thing the store customer service could think of to explain was that I was using coupons and recieved a few free items and a free gift card. Red cards customer service told me to go get my money!! I think she was also going to double check her reciepts. So please beware and double check your savings as I will be checking all my reciepts for the last 2 months.
P.S. They did give me 2 sorry coupons for $3.00 each!!!
Greatdog86 says
Target is still scamming customers. They informed me today that one coupon per purchase means I can use one coupon on my entire cartload of groceries and they don’t have to take anymore. When I pointed out that was not the case and I had shopped at Target before they said “well we reserve the right to limit quantities”. I called their corporate office who backed them up. If you intend to use 2 coupons, don’t bother going to Target.
I hope the media follows up with the Target problems. They are by no means fixed and Target is still not using manufacturer coupons as they are intended. I will just go to Walmart.
Kirab529 says
I went to Target in Algonquin yesterday. I bought 4 bags of Purina dog food . I gave the cashier 4 $3.00 off coupons. I made the mistake of not looking at my receipt before I left. When I got home I noticed only 2 of the $3.00 coupons came off. I returned to the store and explained it to customer service. The clerk went to the register and pulled out all 4 of my $3.00 coupons. She gave me My $6.00. I will make it an effort to check my receipt before I leave from now on. I just can’t believe they still have not fixed the problem. The crazy thing was that I saw them come off at the register.
Pollysmom says
With the Whiska’s cat treats earlier this year, I printed off 2 $1/1 coupons, bought 2 bags at $.89 each and the cashier scanned both coupons. The register only gave me $1 off. I pointed it out to the cashier and she corrected it, but really?!? Come on, they should be able to get this fixed! I now watch the register like a hawk.
angelbabies4 says
I went yesterday to the Target in Elgin and had the same thing happen to me. I had used a store coupon stacked with a manufacturing coupon, both at $5 ea, and only one rang up. Good thing I looked at the receipt as I was walking out and went straight to CS. They went back to the register, took out my coupons and sure enough it was in there. She gave me my $5 back in cash, but point taken…WATCH YOUR RECEIPTS WHEN SHOPPING AT TARGET!