Was this Target return in poor taste?

Anonymous
I can't imagine going to Target to return $15 worth of items.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read the whole thread, but has anyone questioned the insanity of a store just throwing away unopened items?


No. I don't want to go to Target and buy OP's returned travel items which may or may not have been used, and were likely exposed to extreme heat or something else along the way that impacts the quality.


They are sealed dumdum.


Exactly. People in this thread acting like the stock on Target shelves is coming straight out of a clean room or something.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read the whole thread, but has anyone questioned the insanity of a store just throwing away unopened items?


It’s not insane at all, it’s just a calculated business decision. They wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t the most efficient way for them to operate.


Well then it’s the business being wasteful, not OP.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:The reply should be "I didn't know that, and will be more careful in the future".

We are a very frugal household that hates waste, so usually we manage to use up our stuff. My husband is very good at doing that. He will literally shower with all the various shampoos and soaps DD tries that she doesn't like. He will finish any leftovers as long as they're not running away on newly evolved legs. Stomach of iron, that one.


Then I imagine you are also not a household that would go buy random small toiletries for travel.

I mean seriously, it's 2024, anyone buying mini shampoos and things is hard to deal with. How do you not have small travel containers for your items by this point? And how do not feel bad buying such unbelievably wasteful products? Those have 20 times more plastic than product. And I'm not an environmental nut by any standard.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe next time, instead of being cheap about $15 (when you have the money to travel), you could take the leftover supplies to a women's shelter or some other donation location?


Nope. I'm getting my money back. Try and shame someone else.


Maybe plan ahead? Why so many left over? Don’t you know how many people are in your household and count how many travel toothpastes and shampoos you need?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine going to Target to return $15 worth of items.


Anonymous
This is going to become my new ice breaker upon meeting people. I'll give them the facts and then ask for their reaction. Because I definitely would not want to interact with some of you based on your answers because it says a lot about the kind of people you are.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They probably donate their damaged/used/returned health and toiletries to the local food pantries and Salvation Army then write it off.


Unlikely that liability would allow this. If it's safe (as they define it), they can sell it.


My parents work for a food pantry. Target is a weekly pickup and they pick up these types of items regularly. Some are broken packaging, some clearance items, some items that there is nothing obviously wrong.

So then the cashier lied to me? Why would she do that?


Maybe she knew the item couldn't be restocked but she didn't know it could be donated?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I just don’t get the “you should donate” comments.

So no matter what we buy, we have to donate it if we decide we don’t want or need it? Everything? Is there a price point where it’s acceptable to return something vs donate it?


If OP were squeezed for cash she wouldn’t have overbought travel sized toiletries by $15

I’m not squeezed for cash, but I would want $15 back if I overestimated a purchase.


Why wouldn't you just keep the stuff for your next trip? Now this process will begin all over again the next time OP goes away.

I mean, I don’t have a “next trip” planned. Toothpaste expires and things like lotions and deodorant begin to separate and turn yellow and smell funky after a period of time. You do realize this stuff expires, correct?


Then you should just buy what you need. Check what you have and then buy what you need. If you still overbought, donate or give away. Returning consumables and perishables is selfish and dumb. Same people who eat something and decide they don’t like it, and get a refund at Trader Joe’s or Costco. You guys are the reason places like LL Bean and Eddie Bauer are going back on their long standing return policies.

Well, now I know and will do better going forward. And it seems this post has informed others, so I’m doing better already.


That’s great, honestly. Hopeful others will do the same.


I won't. I would have made the return and reported the employee for unprofessionalism.


We know you would. Feel free to also report my post to Jeff.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe next time, instead of being cheap about $15 (when you have the money to travel), you could take the leftover supplies to a women's shelter or some other donation location?


Nope. I'm getting my money back. Try and shame someone else.


Maybe plan ahead? Why so many left over? Don’t you know how many people are in your household and count how many travel toothpastes and shampoos you need?


Planning ahead is making sure that you have enough so that you don’t run out while you’re on vacation and it’s more inconvenient and expensive to buy additional products. So nothing wrong with buying a few extras just in case. Additionally, you cannot control whether or not your family members decide to use hotel products instead. That would also throw off the quote Estimate”. The rigidity of some of you is astounding.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My time is worth more than what it would take to return $15 worth of items that will just get tossed.


100%

These items could just have been used by OP at some point. I get free samples of products with purchases all the time. I didn't want or need them but they showed up so I will use them either for travel or at home as a one-time thing. Why wouldn't you just use shampoo or some other toiletry?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine going to Target to return $15 worth of items.




Roll your eyes all you want. If you want to defend driving to Target to return $15 of items that will be thrown away, go ahead.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe next time, instead of being cheap about $15 (when you have the money to travel), you could take the leftover supplies to a women's shelter or some other donation location?


Nope. I'm getting my money back. Try and shame someone else.


Maybe plan ahead? Why so many left over? Don’t you know how many people are in your household and count how many travel toothpastes and shampoos you need?


Planning ahead is making sure that you have enough so that you don’t run out while you’re on vacation and it’s more inconvenient and expensive to buy additional products. So nothing wrong with buying a few extras just in case. Additionally, you cannot control whether or not your family members decide to use hotel products instead. That would also throw off the quote Estimate”. The rigidity of some of you is astounding.


Ok, if you can't figure out how much toothpaste you would need for a trip then buy extra and use it later!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I just don’t get the “you should donate” comments.

So no matter what we buy, we have to donate it if we decide we don’t want or need it? Everything? Is there a price point where it’s acceptable to return something vs donate it?


You are looking for the wrong solution. The correct one is to BUY LESS STUFF.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Before our vacation I went to Target and grabbed a bunch of various travel toiletries, went home and we all filled our Ziploc bags with whatever we wanted to bring. There were leftovers, either things we decided we didn’t really need and/or that didn’t fit. Today I stopped by Target to return the leftovers, about $15 worth. The woman at the return counter asked me if there was anything wrong with them to which I replied no, we just bought too many. She huffed and said we “shouldn’t do that” because all health items just get thrown away when returned, and “what a waste” it was.

Were we wrong? I don’t know why I’m allowing myself to feel anything about this or let it take up space in my head.


You wasted your time and even gas for a rather low class $15 return? You hard up for a couple bucks? I’d be pretty mortified to make such a return. I’d have just thrown it away or used it on later trip.
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