On the front of Yahoo.com, there is a news story about “How to Save Money at Target.”
Of course I clicked on it, because well, who doesn’t want to save money at Target? It’s my favorite store!
I was blown away on how inaccurate the whole article was. I check Yahoo.com every day and read a lot of their “news stories”. You would think that they would make sure that their writers have the facts.
I don’t write about money-saving deals or coupons a lot here, but I sure knew enough about shopping at Target to know that article didn’t even get a lot right.
Here’s some corrections:
First, Target offers dozens of printable coupons online, with no printing limit. So, you can print 500 coupons for toothpaste if the deal is just that good! If you’d prefer to save your computer’s paper and ink, you can even print coupons at Target stores at the Registry computers. You can also sign up to receive mobile coupons straight to your phone.
Okay. Target DOES have dozens of printable coupons online. But they have a printing limit and have for as long as I can remember. There has never been a way to print 500 coupons.
In fact, Target has just updated where they will show you if you have reached the limit of printing a specific coupon, like Couponing to Disney has reported.
Here’s an example:
Yeah, I’ve printed this coupon more than once. So I like handbags, what? 😉
While Target doesn’t have a rewards program, there are a lot of ways to get additional savings at the discount retailer.
Now this is true. Technically, Target doesn’t have a Rewards program. But let’s do some research and tell readers about the Target REDcards, which provides rewards and savings!
Target offers a Target Visa, which can be used anywhere that takes Visa Cards.
Target also offers a Target Debit Card. You can connect the card to your bank account and they money will automatically be deducted from your bank account. It can only be used at Target stores and not Target.com.
When using both of these cards, you will save 5% on every purchase. That’s a pretty cool reward.
But wait! There is also a Target Pharmacy Rewards Program.
Use your Target Credit or Debit Card to buy your prescriptions and for every FIVE that you fill, you’ll earn 5% off a day of shopping at Target. And guess what? You can STACK that with the 5% you save every day!
So that’s 10% of savings.
Target also offers a program called Take Charge of Education.
When you have a Target Credit or Debit Card, you can choose a school and Target will donate up to 1% of your purchases to that school. Every time.
Take a look at the checkout lanes. There should be a card showing what schools in your area are getting how much money from Target.
The author also talks about Target’s Coupon Policy. Scanning through it, it appears to look correct, but here’s a link to Target’s Coupon Policy from Target.com if you want to take a look at it.
Target does offer rain checks on out-of-stock items, except gift card promotions. Target rain checks expire 45 days after issue.
This is partly true. Target does offer rain checks but make sure to look at the fine print. It’s not just gift card promotions they don’t offer rain checks on.
Many items, like Seasonal items are not offered rain checks. In fact, in the ad that came out today for the Back-to-School supplies, it says No Rain Checks Allowed.
In addition to gift card promos, Target has a national markdown schedule. Every two weeks, items will continue to be marked down until sold out or until the discount reaches 75 percent. You can find these items at the clearance racks, typically on the end caps of aisles.
Target does have a markdown schedule, but it varies GREATLY by store. Items will not be continued to be marked down every 2 weeks steadily. It depends on the store, how much they have, what they have in their backroom and MORE.
I’m not claiming to know everything about Target, but it bothered me on how incorrect this article was.
Do you have anything you’d like to add?
Disclosure: I no longer work at Target but I used to. My husband currently does work for Target. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
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Thank you for shedding a little light on this! I work in the corporate office of a major retailer, and inaccurate info like this is just inexcusable from a site like Yahoo.com – although I’ve seen a lot on Yahoo that is just BAD info. Just shows you have to take everything you read with a grain of salt! You really just have to educate yourself from several sources if you want good info.
Articles like this result in customers jumping up and down yelling in the stores insisting that they are right, when they’re not. It leaves the store employees in a really bad situation. Very irresponsible reporting.
That really disappoints me on the lack of accurate info. You would think a huge site like that would make sure everything is correct.
I can just imagine if I still worked at Target, guests coming in and saying, “But Yahoo! said it….”
As a long time Target fan I am glad you posted this! I didn’t know about the pharmacy rewards. Thanks!
Thanks for reading! 😉
The pharmacy rewards are awesome, especially if you have monthly prescriptions! Or when it’s cold and flu season! 😉
They should check their facts before they post something! Thanks for sharing the real scoop!
Thanks for reading! 😉
That’s pretty lame that they would have so many inaccuracies. Like you said, for a site as big as Yahoo, how hard is it to actually get facts right?
My only addition is that my Target doesn’t stop at 75% off. I’ve had the jaw-dropping fortune to be at Target when they had just changed aisles of toys to 90% off… let’s just say that it was crazy shopping madness! 😉
That’s what really frustrated me, that it was on Yahoo and the front page!
90% for toys!? Oh my gosh! There is one store in our area that usually gets to that but it’s an hour away! Usually all ours are picked over at 75%. Nice deals!
We buy our groceries at Target every week. I think I need to look into their REDcards!
You definitely should! Even the debit card, it comes right out of your bank account anyway and you save 5% every time!
I think you have the insider advantage here, and Yahoo just didn’t take the time to do their research all that carefully. It’s a shame, but honestly, I’m not surprised. What do they really care?
I hope you get a HUGE discount!
It was frustrating, because I worked at Target 3 years ago and I got a lot of that stuff from Target.com, double checking it was the same. So, how could they not do it? It’s crazy!
Not such a huge discount! 🙁
Yes, you’re not the only one who has noticed that the Yahoo homepage often provides inaccurate information in those articles. I happen to take issue with most of the advice they offer on car buying and I’ve noticed that every 3 months or so a writer decides that it’s the best time to buy a car. I ask myself, “how is it possible to have more than 1 BEST time do do something?”
Hopefully Yahoo will work toward doing a better job of screening these articles and selecting their writers. It sounds like you’re knowledgeable enough to take on the task. It would be nice to see someone such as yourself who is both passionate and knowledgeable, instead of the uneducated clowns they’re using now.
Yes, you’re not the only one who has noticed that the Yahoo homepage often provides inaccurate information in those articles. I happen to take issue with most of the advice they offer on car buying and I’ve noticed that every 3 months or so a writer decides that it’s the best time to buy a car. I ask myself, “how is it possible to have more than 1 BEST time do do something?”
Hopefully Yahoo will work toward doing a better job of screening these articles and selecting their writers. It sounds like you’re knowledgeable enough to take on the task. It would be nice to see someone such as yourself who is both passionate and knowledgeable, instead of the uneducated clowns they’re using now.
Great article. It saddens me that people will read that article and miss out on all the wonderful savings opportunities to be had at their local Targets.
I know I never would have guessed that Target could save my family so much money. It took learning from “underground” sources to figure out the ins and outs. I love how clearly you spell it all out here! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing the post Heather, I really appreciate it! 😉
I’m thinking I need to write more insider posts about Target!
I use to work for Target. Some stores will also go 90% if the product is not selling well. Also, only some stores will except only 2 coupons. One internet and one manufacture and that is it. it is based on the soul discretion of that store manager.
Yes, products will definitely go 90% if they aren’t snatched up right away! 😉
Thank you everything you said was things that most couponers are aware of but how about the people who dont’ have time to keep up on these blogs. The bad thing is just that they will go and think they can get all this stuff and in reality they are just as limited as the next store. I love shopping at Target for deals, but falsifying how to save is negligent.
Thanks for stopping by Kelly!
I don’t really write about coupons and deals but that is exactly what was worrying me! Most shoppers and couponers know, but what about the average customer that just read that article?
My husband works for Target and I can just imagine the stories he would tell me! People coming in and saying, Well, Yahoo! said…..
The Target in our area marks things down twice and then donates them to the local Goodwill. I can’t tell you the amazing deals we have gotten on new still-in-the-box toys with the Target clearance sticker still on them.
Yes, that is something I love about Target! Every week, Goodwill will pick up all items that go salvage!
Hi, I enjoyed your article and stumbled, have a nice day.
Amee at http://www.madamedeals.com
I stumbled this too! An excellent recap of just how wrong some of our ‘news’ sources can be! Wow.
Thanks so much! It just really rubbed me the wrong way! 😉