It’s been a while since we had a good Target registry complaint—as readers know, we collect these stories like other folks collect porcelain figurines.
Yes, Target seems to have a dedicated staff at its HQ to think up new ways to frustrate users of their baby gift registry. Reader Alexandra M shares their newest trap: registries that expire like a gallon of milk:
I am writing this e-mail to tell you about our experience with the Target registry. We came very close to not registering at Target because of your review explaining the difficult time some customers had returning registry items. As a result we registered for most items at BRU and left just a few items on the Target registry for those family member who don’t live anywhere near a BRU. We’re glad we did. We made one return before our son was born without much difficulty by printing the purchase log at the store.
BUT we received another round of gifts just after he was born. Since some of the gifts were duplicates my husband took them to Target to be returned. He was told, like before, to print the purchase log (we did not have store receipts). The option for the log was no longer on the screen. After talking to several condescending store reps and telephone reps, my husband was informed that the registry was expired. Apparently the registry expires after the expected due date of the baby. He was told that this new policy went into effect on August 1, 2007. Our son’s due date was August 6 and he was born on August 12. He spent a couple of hours talking to different people at the store and on the phone, but no one could help. He’s vowed never to set foot in a Target again.
We were able to return the items the next day by printing out the on-line gift receipts (we lucked out that both the items we returned were bought on-line). However, that did not make the experience any better. We were very disappointed. We are also writing Target and will share any response with you.
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OMG, yes! I still have a load of duplicate crap in my garage that was purchased off my Target registry online, before I gave birth to my twins, and can’t return, because they were purchased and shipped at different times. Same order, doesn’t matter. If different items are shipped at different times, ie: backordered, you are SOL. The clock starts ticking when the order is placed, not two or three months later when the item is finally available. By then, your “return window” is up. Too bad, for you. But you probably already knew that. Don’t even get me started with trying to return something in the store without a gift receipt…I was told to go find something in the same category…now…no voucher or anything. Wasn’t that the point of returning something? I don’t need something in the same category. I kept the stupid item, and hope to sell it someday. Never again, and I tell everyone I know not to register at Target or to be pretty sure you are not going to want to return ANYTHING, ever.
OMG, yes! I still have a load of duplicate crap in my garage that was purchased off my Target registry online, before I gave birth to my twins, and can’t return, because they were purchased and shipped at different times. Same order, doesn’t matter. If different items are shipped at different times, ie: backordered, you are SOL. The clock starts ticking when the order is placed, not two or three months later when the item is finally available. By then, your “return window” is up. Too bad, for you. But you probably already knew that. Don’t even get me started with trying to return something in the store without a gift receipt…I was told to go find something in the same category…now…no voucher or anything. Wasn’t that the point of returning something? I don’t need something in the same category. I kept the stupid item, and hope to sell it someday. Never again, and I tell everyone I know not to register at Target or to be pretty sure you are not going to want to return ANYTHING, ever.
I also was very reluctant to register at Target, but did at the last minute for only a few things for the convenience of those who dont have a BabiesRUs close by. After my shower this weekend, I had only one item to return without a gift receipt. This item was a clock that was broken (the hands on it were broken). That is the only reason I wanted to return it. I was also told that since Aug you can no longer print your purchase log from the gift registry so that can not serve as your receipt. So the only option I was given to return a broken item, was to use one of my TWO returns for the year. You can only return 2 things without a receipt and they cant be over $20. I immediately deleted everything on my Target registry. I just don’t want anyone else buying a gift from there because if for some reason it is a duplicate I will not be able to return it. My advice to everyone is DON’T register at Target. Returning gifts there is unacceptably difficult and with ridiculous restraints!
I also was very reluctant to register at Target, but did at the last minute for only a few things for the convenience of those who dont have a BabiesRUs close by. After my shower this weekend, I had only one item to return without a gift receipt. This item was a clock that was broken (the hands on it were broken). That is the only reason I wanted to return it. I was also told that since Aug you can no longer print your purchase log from the gift registry so that can not serve as your receipt. So the only option I was given to return a broken item, was to use one of my TWO returns for the year. You can only return 2 things without a receipt and they cant be over $20. I immediately deleted everything on my Target registry. I just don’t want anyone else buying a gift from there because if for some reason it is a duplicate I will not be able to return it. My advice to everyone is DON’T register at Target. Returning gifts there is unacceptably difficult and with ridiculous restraints!
You’re actually incorrect about the two item limit. ALL companies have this policy, Target just makes theirs known. You are allowed to return up to $75 worth of items without a receipt each year. Other companies may have different limits, but they have to have a limit and this policy in place it’s a law to protect the company itself from fraud. (Such as people walking around the store and grabbing items and attempting to return them.) All you have to do is print the registry and take it with you to make returns, you’ll get the money back on a gift card to spend later. They scan the registry, and all the items that are still on it, and were ever on it are recorded within that barcode to make returns easy.
While on the topic of the Target returns policy, I had a recent frustrating experience when I tried to return four unopened packs of diapers (size 1’s). I had purchased the diapers a couple months before the baby was born, and I had kept the receipt for two of the diaper packs. Well, my son was a large baby and grew out of the diapers by one month of age. I attempted to exchange the diapers for a different size, but Target refused because my receipt expired after 90 days. I wish I hadn’t bought so many packs of diapers and more importantly, I wished I hadn’t bought them at Target.
While on the topic of the Target returns policy, I had a recent frustrating experience when I tried to return four unopened packs of diapers (size 1’s). I had purchased the diapers a couple months before the baby was born, and I had kept the receipt for two of the diaper packs. Well, my son was a large baby and grew out of the diapers by one month of age. I attempted to exchange the diapers for a different size, but Target refused because my receipt expired after 90 days. I wish I hadn’t bought so many packs of diapers and more importantly, I wished I hadn’t bought them at Target.
When I had my baby (just 6 months ago), the registry expired after 3 months. It really doesn’t make since to expire it on the due date, because many people buy gifts *after* the baby is born. It also would make sense to warn the parents that the registry is about to expire so that they can buy the items on it that weren’t given to them as gifts. I guess Target wants to lose money on both counts?
When I had my baby (just 6 months ago), the registry expired after 3 months. It really doesn’t make since to expire it on the due date, because many people buy gifts *after* the baby is born. It also would make sense to warn the parents that the registry is about to expire so that they can buy the items on it that weren’t given to them as gifts. I guess Target wants to lose money on both counts?
Dear baby bargains,
I am writing because of the horrendous experience I have had with target and their baby registry. I would advise people to NOT use their registry services.
I received 3 of the same item, of which i only got receipts from 1 person, and they will not take a return back that costs over $20 without a receipt, even when it is in the box untouched, and is reflected on the registry that 3 of the item I registered for 1 of were bought.
I was given a phone number to call, kept getting the same trained response, “it is our policy”, nothing could be done, then asked to speak to a supervisor about how 3 of the same item could be purchased off a registry and that it was their fault, and I was transferred to a non-working number. I was not only disgusted by the way they were at fault for letting this happen, but the way I was spoken to on the phone and treated.
I was told too bad, now I am stuck with the 3 bouncy seats waiting for friends to have babies so I can pass them off.
So advice to others, either register at Target and make sure to be tacky in telling your family/friends to include a receipt with your present, or don’t register with them. I would never advise anyone to register with them given they can’t regulate it, and everyone blamed it on a “system glitch” that nothing could be done about. Plus, they were rude and I felt I was being talked to like a child.
Sincerely,
Amy Hurley
Dear baby bargains,
I am writing because of the horrendous experience I have had with target and their baby registry. I would advise people to NOT use their registry services.
I received 3 of the same item, of which i only got receipts from 1 person, and they will not take a return back that costs over $20 without a receipt, even when it is in the box untouched, and is reflected on the registry that 3 of the item I registered for 1 of were bought.
I was given a phone number to call, kept getting the same trained response, “it is our policy”, nothing could be done, then asked to speak to a supervisor about how 3 of the same item could be purchased off a registry and that it was their fault, and I was transferred to a non-working number. I was not only disgusted by the way they were at fault for letting this happen, but the way I was spoken to on the phone and treated.
I was told too bad, now I am stuck with the 3 bouncy seats waiting for friends to have babies so I can pass them off.
So advice to others, either register at Target and make sure to be tacky in telling your family/friends to include a receipt with your present, or don’t register with them. I would never advise anyone to register with them given they can’t regulate it, and everyone blamed it on a “system glitch” that nothing could be done about. Plus, they were rude and I felt I was being talked to like a child.
Sincerely,
Amy Hurley
I recently purchased Shermag’s Hudson glider and it came without instructions. I was just wondering if anyone else on here who has registered at Target may have purchased the same chair and if you might still have instructions! I have also contacted the manufacturer, just waiting for a response. Thank you!
I recently purchased Shermag’s Hudson glider and it came without instructions. I was just wondering if anyone else on here who has registered at Target may have purchased the same chair and if you might still have instructions! I have also contacted the manufacturer, just waiting for a response. Thank you!