Target — Local services in Wheaton

I’ve always had a positive experience with Target and their 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. In the past, if I didn’t have a receipt, associates were always helpful and would simply scan my ID to issue a merchandise credit. However, my visit to the Target in Wheaton today was nothing short of frustrating. I went in to return two bags of dark roast coffee beans, which I didn’t realize were dark roast when I originally bought them. Unfortunately, my body doesn't respond well to dark roast coffee. I could not find my original receipt, but I know that Target provides at least merchandise credit if a customer doesnt have not a receipt. I called Target customer service ahead of time to confirm that the return policy hadn’t changed, so I wouldn’t waste my time coming in if the policy was different or changed. Customer service reassured me that nothing had changed and that I should be able to receive a merchandise credit.

When I arrived at the store, I spoke with Sophie, the team lead, who seemed entirely uninterested in helping. When I told her that I called customer service ahead of time to confirm this policy, she informed me that "Target customer service online is not relevant to Target stores," which made absolutely no sense to me—Target is still Target, regardless of whether you’re shopping online or in-store. I then called customer service again while in the store, and they reassured that I should be able to receive a merchandise credit, I just need to provide my license or ID. When I went back to Sophie with this information, she responded in an incredibly rude manner, saying, “We are a private establishment, we have the right to deny a refund. You will not be getting a refund or credit today.” There was no attempt to even listen to my explanation or consider an alternative solution.

What was especially frustrating was that Sophie wasn’t willing to help at all. Typically, a team lead or manager would at least try to offer some kind of assistance or flexibility. Instead, Sophie made it clear that her goal was to ensure I left the store without merchandise credit, almost as though she took satisfaction in denying me. I even reminded her that Target has previously issued merchandise credits for items without receipts. Just a few weeks ago, there was another item I could not find the receipt for, and they offered me a merchandise credit. She rudely responded with "well that store was not following policy". Even if you go on the Target website now, it still states the return policy for items without a receipt "If you don't have the proof of purchase (examples include receipts, digital barcodes, packing slips), you may receive a refund in the form of a merchandise return card."

After my experience, I called Target Wheaton to express my frustration, and they were also surprised by Sophie’s behavior. They told me that their return policy had indeed recently changed, but if that’s the case, the managers and team leads should be more flexible and offer exceptions for loyal customers, especially for newer policy changes because customers do not know this or were not informed. The right form of action that Sophie should have followed in this situation was to offer a one time exception but inform me that moving forward, the policy has changed and that I will not be able to do this again.

Instead of making an exception, Sophie’s behavior only served to make me feel dismissed and frustrated. No customer should ever be treated like that, and no team lead should act with such authority, especially when a reasonable solution could have been reached.

Sophie does not deserve to be in any customer service role, let alone as a team lead. Her actions were uncalled for, and I’ll be escalating these comments further to Target corporate to ensure Wheaton Target is held...

Grocery section has a frustratingly limited selection on a LOT of things. Some things, like saltine crackers, only have TWO varieties available: cheap store brand and expensive name brand. If the store brand sells out, and often does, it leaves you SOL. Also has a lot of trouble keeping the regular Dr. Pepper half-liter 6-packs in stock and doesn't carry pea soup at all for some reason (?!) or the 300-count bottles of regular Ibuprofen gel caps. Can't say any of this comes as a surprise since they didn't build this one as a Super Target, but still irritating since I otherwise have to drive much farther to Pete's, Mariano's, Trader Joe's, etc. This particular store also just stopped carrying 48 oz. bottles of canola oil, too! WHY?! They still have vegetable oil available in the same quantity, and smaller bottles of canola oil. They still stock these products at other stores! I hate this because it just DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. They also dropped the 3-pack of deodorant I liked to buy entirely, so screw that, too.

Produce section feels quite lacking as well, though they do have good prices on boneless skinless chicken breast. As for the rest of the store, it uses a more compact version of Target's new layout that they started rolling out a few years ago. Personally, I hate it. I actually prefer the Target in Wood Dale which still uses the older layout from a decade ago. I only shop here because of the short commute. Would much rather shop elsewhere if I had closer options. The shopping center used to have an Ultra Foods as well, which probably had better grocery variety, but that closed a few years ago, recently replaced by a Vasa Fitness.

Miserable checkout experience, too. They have like 10 staffed checkout lanes and 12 self-checkout lanes, but whenever I go, they literally have like a THIRD of that total capacity available. Usually they'll have all of TWO lanes staffed, forcing most people into self-checkout. Only 5 of the 8 main self-checkout lanes actually work. They've had 2 out of service for months, now 3. They have 4 more self-checkouts on the other side of the store, but I've legit NEVER seen them operational and in use. They actually have the entrance to them blocked off with a merchandise display. A quick Google search shows a self-checkout kiosk costs around $30,000. So with 7 of these things not working, they've wasted $210,000 to install these things and NOT USE THEM.

I really hate shopping here, honestly, and only do so because of the convenience, since I only have to drive half a mile to get here. The decent pricing on some things, IF they have them in stock, helps, too. Otherwise, I'd much rather shop elsewhere....

This is the most useless Target store in the suburbs area. I always end up driving to the Warrenville location despite living 2 minutes away from Wheaton. They are constantly out of stock of anything I shop on the weekly basis, products that are very popular and on high demand and that are always available at every single other Target location. Or they stop carrying things that were very popular and every other store carries it. Or on the app it shows that an item is available in several quantities at the store, you drive there only to find an empty shelf and indeed it is out of stock. The store workers would just tell you the app just shows wrong information which is again never the case in any other Target store and if it says the item is available it always is. Definitely poorly managed store that I started to avoid it and just either order online or drive to...