Pro tip: If you download the target app, you can look for anything the store carries, see how many are in stock, and exactly where it’s located in the store.

Many other store including grocery stores have this too.

Anonymous wrote:I agree OP it's ridiculous they want your money but don't want to help you at all. All the while pocketing the cash. They get away with it because they can because people/sheeple are ok with using AI and bots and didn't say no, "No I draw the line at this." I mean people were excited when self-check out opened now at giant if you have more than a few items you're not allowed to use it because you might be selling. The retailers are having their cake AND eating it too.

What? Self checkout and “selling”? What are you trying to say

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I almost exclusively buy from Amazon. I spend a fortune on things I really don't need and didn't know I wanted, and I also order all my groceries from them. I deal with their AI and bots all the time. What I want from a store that is in my neighborhood is to interact with a human being. Otherwise -- I already have Amazon. Just give me this one thing that Amazon doesn't have -- speaking with a human being if I call. Just one tiny thing they can do that Amazon can't.

What sorts of things are you calling about?

This is OP. I almost exclusively buy from Amazon. I spend a fortune on things I really don't need and didn't know I wanted, and I also order all my groceries from them. I deal with their AI and bots all the time. What I want from a store that is in my neighborhood is to interact with a human being. Otherwise -- I already have Amazon. Just give me this one thing that Amazon doesn't have -- speaking with a human being if I call. Just one tiny thing they can do that Amazon can't.

I mean you can literally go on the target website and shop for pickup-- not sure why this is a problem?

And people working there have better things to do than wait by the phone for you to call

Anonymous wrote:I agree OP it's ridiculous they want your money but don't want to help you at all. All the while pocketing the cash. They get away with it because they can because people/sheeple are ok with using AI and bots and didn't say no, "No I draw the line at this." I mean people were excited when self-check out opened now at giant if you have more than a few items you're not allowed to use it because you might be selling. The retailers are having their cake AND eating it too.

Selling or stealing?

They already answered the phone and are helping another customer who has about an hour's worth of questions about inventory.

I agree OP it's ridiculous they want your money but don't want to help you at all. All the while pocketing the cash. They get away with it because they can because people/sheeple are ok with using AI and bots and didn't say no, "No I draw the line at this." I mean people were excited when self-check out opened now at giant if you have more than a few items you're not allowed to use it because you might be selling. The retailers are having their cake AND eating it too.

You shouldn't be calling that often, OP, to get irritated over telephone non-response. Something is wrong with your executive functioning if you feel the need to talk to someone every time you're thinking about making a purchase, or picking up an item.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to speak to someone? I am able to use the bots to get everything I need

Me too. I get better customer service from a bot than from some random dude at a store picking up the phone

How often are you calling these places OP? And why, use their website.

You’re trading one giant, evil corporation for another. If you want to impact local people and make a purchase where it will have an impact, shop at small businesses. They care and are grateful for your support.

If you want to find out if target or another big box store has something in stock, go to their website and see if it’s available for pickup. If it’s out of stock or very low stock, you won’t be able to purchase for pickup. It will have you choose delivery. That’s probably as accurate as describing an item and expecting someone to manually check for stock.

Why do you need to speak to someone? I am able to use the bots to get everything I need

Alas, it's no longer the 80s and 90s. These companies also have their own online shopping store target DOT com for example and their online customer services assistants. Try reaching someone online to help you. Or visit a brick and mortar store and speak to a staff in-person.

Why don't brick and mortar businesses ever answer the phone? The only thing they have going for them over Amazon is customer service i.e. interacting with a human being who is actually there, and the ability to buy what I want right away. If I want to buy something right away, rather than wait a few hours for Amazon delivery, I need to know if they have it in stock. So why do businesses like Target, Petsmart etc. NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE??? It literally just rings and rings then disconnects. Fine, I'll use Amazon then. But WTF brick and mortar-- how stupid can you be!! It's the ONE THING you have going for you and you can't be bothered. Do these people not understand that?