Target — Local services in Alexandria

I used to love shopping at Target and, more specifically, this particular Target location. However, since the summer (at least), there has been a precipitous decline in customer service, particularly at guest services. But my most recent interaction/issue at guest services sent me over the edge.

I tried to make a purchase at a register using gift cards, but they wouldn’t load into my wallet on the app. So, I was told — rudely by the cashier— to go to guest services for help.

At guest services, the first person I talked to asked if my wifi/phone service was working (it was). I updated the app myself bc I thought maybe that was the problem. Nothing. A second person came over and checked the app for issues— turns out it was the app, not me. Ok, cool. So I ask if they can access my gift cards on their end using my wallet barcode. Nope.

I then get referred to the manager for help. The manager says there’s nothing they can do. So, while standing there with the manager, I say, “what if I place an online order for the items I’m holding? To pick it up now?” She says okay, so I place the order. I tell her I placed the order and she tells me, “okay now you have to come back when it’s ready in two hours.” Wait, what?! I’m standing right there with the items in hand and I have to leave and come back? I ask if there’s any way she can help me and bypass the wait. Apparently, there’s no work around the system, according to the manager. (So why did she say ok to go ahead with the online order?) I ask to speak to anyone in fulfillment or the store director to see what could be done. Manager says no, tells me to calm down. Cancel the online order bc the second self-generated solution isn’t gonna work.

So, now I try the third self-generated solution: check target.com. I access my profile on my browser on my phone— all while still standing in-store, being stared at by all three people I’ve spoken to so far— and pull up my gift card on the website. Great, I can finally make my purchase and leave! Nope. Now I need an access code. Except the website isn’t popping up an access code or providing any indication of where it might be… and the team members in-store staring at me don’t know either. Instead, the manager tells me I have to call corporate guest relations to figure it out. So I do that… all while still standing in-store.

Guest relations on the phone shuffles me around, when the last person I speak to says, “have you checked your email for the access code?” No…and no one in-store knew to check email either!

I finally pull up the access code and use the gift card to make my purchase, when the first guest services person I spoke to decides to tell me I’ve been rude and passive aggressive despite them doing “everything they could” and goes on a personal diatribe.

Ok fine, call me out for being rude, but maybe also recognize that I was also incredibly pissed off because of the lack of true customer service. I was in-store for over an hour trying to make what I thought would be a quick purchase and I was the only person coming up with multiple attempted solutions. Doing “everything they could” means actually being educated and knowledgeable about how the online systems relied upon actually worked and going above a beyond to make the situation easier which did not happen. The systems are clearly the problem and being beholden to them, blaming the customer, relying on poor training/management, calling names, and telling me to call corporate only made (and continue to make) it worse for everyone involved.

Extra note: this was not the first time at this location that I was told to call corporate for an issues or information that could have been resolved or provided in-store. So be aware for anything beyond a basic return...

My family and I went to target and everything was amazing. After shopping we decided to go to Starbucks and we had a bad experience. WHAT A BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE with the people who were working on today’s shift, 08/22/2025, my family and I went at at 7:15 and we had to wait for 5+ minutes in line to wait for the girl to take our order, mind you… they weren’t doing nothing. The boy that was there was just standing acting like he was doing something when he wasn’t! The girl was like “organizing” something and she was in the front and this lady was asking her if the Starbucks was still open and she had to repeat herself because the girl (worker) probably didn’t hear her but she didn’t even get up to talk to the costumer so the lady just left because she saw us waiting for someone to take our order. When they finally started taking our order the girl was not even being nice to us, she had an attitude, I understand if she had any problems but she should still act professional!! My aunt asked for an ice coffee, and that I’ve know, ALL ICE COFFEES BRING MILK, RIGHT?? And if doesn’t, I think the worker should offer or even ask if they want to add milk. We got our order and my aunt told me to ask if it didn’t bring milk and the girl knew Spanish so she understood what my aunt had said and she talked back to my aunt so rude! she said “that doesn’t bring milk, you had to add that when ordering” LIKE?? Why would WE DO your job? After we got the rest of our order someone else came to buy something and the Starbucks was left ALONE! Both workers were in the back doing i don’t know what, I worked at a restaurant and I have understand that the store can’t be left alone AT ANY TIME! So the man who wanted to buy asked my family and I if someone was working so we said yes but they are in the back! And he was calling them and they wouldn’t hear him! Please do better with your Starbucks worker! Work with that...

This review is from February 8, 2020:

Store # 1076 is Nasty and management does not care!

If what I captured in photos is what we CAN see. Can you imagine how nasty the warehouse or storage rooms are?

This store is disgusting.

But let me go back... to the beginning.

About six months ago, a friend and I were in this store and I couldn't help but notice how disgusting the fridges were that held the milk and ice cream. I reported it to the customer service desk. The client services desk supervisor told me then there wasn't much they could do about it because the crew that cleaned came in at night. It was an African American male and an African American female. The male seemed to be the supervisor and the female the manager. The male got on his walkie talkie to get someone to address it.

I felt good that something would be done. HA! Fast forward until today, I walk in to get the new Starbucks creamers and I am met with the most disgusting fridges. Shelves. Doors. YUCK!

Last time, it was just the doors that were disgusting. This time, everything in view seemed dirty and disgusting.

This time, I pull out my phone and take pictures. As with the previous incident, I go back up to the front to the Client Services desk, and report what I've seen.

This time I'm met with MJ. Sweet girl. She seemed astonished at what I showed her on my phone, so she calls over her supervisor, Michael, who looks like the same male "supervisor" the cashier called over the last time I was there.

I show him the pics. Total stoic face.

He does nothing. He encouraged me to report it to corporate. You. Read. Right.

Michael just shrugged his shoulders like "Oh well!"

I mentioned the coronavirus and how it's important to keep things clean and sanitary. He just "mmmhmmed" me. I shook my head and ran to Yelp. I will not be back to this nasty...