Target: now just the lesser evil.

Y’know when you’re mad at nothing in particular except injustice? There’s big injustices in this world all around us and we care about them… but it’s the little injustices that happen right in front of our eyes that make the biggest impact.

Take, for example, my recent visit to Target. 2 or 3 weeks ago I went to Target and bought lots of stuff including a long-awaited iron skillet. I bought the better, bigger, enameled one so my girlfriend could cook those chickens she wanted. Great, so I take it home and before I even take it out of the packaging I notice the upgrade: the enamel was badly cracked under the handle. No problem, I thought, I’ll just exchange it next time I go… well 2 weeks later it was beginning to annoy me in the back seat so I make a special trip to Target.

2 problems occurred: first, I didn’t have my receipt. I know that helps but I’ve really never had a problem with an unopened unused exchange without a receipt in any store I’ve ever been in. That wouldn’t have been a problem if I’d only used a credit card, then they could find the transaction in their enormous database of transactions. But I chose to pay cash. That still is legal, right?

So with no receipt and having paid cash, I wait in line for customer service and nicely explain that all I want is another skillet that isn’t defective. I don’t need a refund so why is this a problem? Something about their “system” and their “policies” and a $20 limit for items paid for with cash. (mine was $27) Somehow explaining to them that I only wanted an EXCHANGE didn’t help. They stuck to their buerocratic guns and so did the manager.

Now, this injustice really isn’t going to harm me too much. I’ll just live with a chipped and damaged skillet for the rest of its’ (very long) life. No huge deal, the food will taste the same. The problem is that the taste in my mouth for Target has soured badly. And not because they won’t make an exception for me… but because that is their policy and no one seems to be able to balance “policy” and “customer service”. I was going to spend at least $100 today in there! I never leave that store for less than that and I didn’t feel like shopping after having been shot down over something so, yes, stupid. I’m a little ashamed complaining about it but it’s not the skillet that I’m really concerned with. I already can’t shop at Wal-Mart, where am I supposed to get my cheap Chinese stuff? I liked Target because they seemed different. Now, sadly, at least to this lone shopper, they don’t.

Oh yeah, Wal-Mart is still worse… but now Taerget is just the lesser Evil.

justin

PS: I’m not exactly sure this fits into the political debates of this blog, but I’m sure the connection is there!