We have been a fan of Target for years but that is changing

This is our opinion, we are so disappointed with shopping at Target that we want to share it.  Our changed opinion has been formed over a period of 5 months from October 2010 through February 2011 during which time we made a total of maybe 20 visits to our nearby store in New York City.

Friends of Target no more.

 We have been fans of this retailer since the last the last century but our opinion is changing rapidly. No in-store customer help, poor stocking of Target stores overall and especially poor stocking of advertised items. Continual out-of-stock items in Target Grocery sections and shelves that are not arranged and stocked with items that are supposed to be on the shelves.

Target has changed their business model to include significant grocery sections in many stores nation wide.  This increased our shopping frequency at first but it has now driven us away.  These subsequent photos were taken on a smartphone yesterday as we decided we've reduce the frequency of our visits.  The individual photos reveal common circumstances at my local store in Elmhurst, Queens NY.  It is a 2 floor layout with pay for parking lot as part of the structure

We have been disappointed, annoyed and angered too many times.  What was a 3 to 4 times a month frequency of visits to Target will now be maybe 4  times a year or less

First, One Compliment

• The target check out associates are always polite, kind and accommodating. And they are apparently well trained; a rarity in NY and elsewhere these days.  Target has apparently empowered these associates to make small price adjustments when there is a variance in the stored computer price and the price the shelf
• Exception to this compliment:  It took 10 minutes to for the checkout associate to adjust a price on the last visit  .

Complaints and problems

• "Guest Services" has been outsourced and jobs shipped overseas, lost American jobs to employees who have no vested interest in Target or in America and who speak English poorly.
• Target recently achieved record profits but these are the consumers experiences and this increase seems to be at the consumers expense.
• The shelf price is often not the price you will be charged at the check out - This problem was found in almost every one of my 20 visits.  Examples: Pillsbury Biscuits shelf price $3.19, charged $3.69, If you buy 10 items, it is likely one of prices will not match the charged and shelf price
• Some Advertised items are frequently, as a matter of fact, almost always out of stock - see the photos below.  This has happened on every one of my visits and all times of the day and almost every day of the week for multiple items- see the photos below, taken on Feb 9 2011 on just one visit
• Target offered free bread coupon in October - November as they began heavily promoting the advent of expanded groceries.  The item was out of stock during 6 visits.  Even the employees reported they could not get the item
• Empty shelves abound, see below.  It looks like Target is going out of busines
• End Cap Promoted Items have large price signs but the price is not related to item
• Sale Price Flags on the item shelves are often for items for which the sale period is expired, usually for last week or more than a week
• Target claims to check thousands of items a week to be competitive.  Maybe but not to be competitive in the NY area.  Example (see picture below) 1 gallon milk is listed at $3.69 at Target on Feb 9, The equivalent or the same brand was purchased at another prominent NY Grocery Chain at $3.39 the same day and found  in a very large Chinese supermarket at $3.19, again on the same day
• There is no item pricing - Target offers aisle end scanners to check prices - there are far too few.  Even at slow times there are lines of customers just waiting to check prices.  At busy times it is impossible to get a price check
• It is impossible to find help in the department.  I was looking for canned mushrooms on one visit.  It was one o'clock in the after noon. It took 20 minutes to find someone to help. That help was able to use their handheld computer to identify that, indeed, this store did have canned mushrooms but it took another 10 minutes to find the location.  The canned mushrooms location was completely inundated with one unrelated product which covered up where 10 products should have existed. This occurrence was apparent on every visit over 5 month
• The photo take on Feb 9, below, shows Hunts Tomato Sauce dominating 5 shelves where there also should have been other varieties too, Whole Tomatoes in several brands, diced tomatoes etc
• Excess stock is apparently and frequently placed on shelves (completely out of their department) were other items should be calling home
• Finding an employee with knowledge about the grocery department is impossible.

Click a picture to see a larger view.