Target — Local services in New York

I'd like to speak to the store manager about so called "store policy" regarding touching/carrying locked products to the register. Normally I love shopping at this store, but I had not one but two incidents at the store today that I really wanted to address. I don't normally call out stuff like this, but it was pretty obvious today that something was wrong. I asked to see an electric toothbrush that is locked in the case. The first store rep that I asked made me walk all the way over to the case to show her. Then told me that she couldn't help me because she didn't have a key. Then why walk over there if you don't have a key?

The second store rep that shows up opens the case. I ask to see what model it is and she tells me that I can't touch the box because of COVID restrictions. I' wearing a mask and not coughing or anything but I can't even touch it to make sure that it's the right model. The store rep can't find the model # because she doesn't know where to look for it. I decide to purchase it anyway and she tells me she has to take it up to the register and I can pick it up there. Store policy, right? Ok. But wait, there's more. I decide to not buy it just then and do a little test. My wife goes back about 30 minutes later and asks for the same item. She is allowed to not only touch the box, but she can also walk from the downstairs to the upstairs registers with it in hand. If this sounds strange, let's clarify, I'm black, my wife is white. I'm wondering which is the true store policy, because I have had to do the "pickup at register" many times before.

Also, check the website for your purchases before you go because there can be a $5 difference for items that you pick up in store versus purchasing in store. I noticed this on two dental waterpiks that I was interested in and they were unwilling to change the price.

Why are they always out of milk? Monday afternoon, Wednesday night, Sunday night, it doesn't matter. Out of every milk except for chocolate, soy, the Lactaid or the 1/2 gallon organic. Makes the shopping...

UPDATE: The staff is not cleaning the self checkout stations between customers. You might want to use the full service checkout or shop at a different store.

Also, a lot of necessities are not on the shelves (toilet paper, Lysol, organic milk etc). They are having inventory issues. Maybe you won't need to checkout if there isn't anything to buy.

This is a small Target. Does not carry the full line but it is new and shiny.

(TARGET DURING THE PANDEMIC) Target has really come through. It regularly stocks high demand items such as hand sanitizer and brand name toilet paper during the pandemic.

It does not price gouge and even price matches the online prices. For example, I found Charmin toilet paper at Target for $14.99, the clerk adjusted it to $12.99 (the online price). Morton Williams charges $26.99 (lower from $29.99 they were charging 2 weeks ago) and Rite Aid charges $18.99 for the same item, if you can find it.

Target was selling 8 oz bottles of generic hand sanitizer for $2.49. The deli on Second and 69th offered something half the size for $10.00.

This is the way to build...

Target makes a lot of sense in the suburbs or exurbs where you need to drive to any store, and having a single large store with all of your basic needs is convenient. This Target on the upper east side of Manhattan doesn’t serve any purpose. It has some food, but there are full supermarkets less than two blocks away in two directions. It has toiletries and cosmetics, but the streets are already dotted with Duane Reades. It has housewares but the apartments here are so small you don’t need much, and it’s easier to buy online and have things delivered. And there’s some hideous clothing made with synthetic materials, but come on, this is Manhattan. The only play I can see is to try compete with the Duane Reades and bodegas, but the store is too large for that, and no one is going to go out of their way when you can get the same generic...