0 stars for the treatment we received today under the guise of "Covid" after we witnessed inconsistencies in enforcing their own alleged "laws" (aka store policies) including by their own Target employees.
Today I went to this location and attempted to buy a Starbucks drink before my trip, as I've done countless times at various Target locations, as well as brought my own drinks in including during Covid.
The Starbucks employee I encountered first (we didn't catch her name, but she was a shorter female with dark hair working on the Sunday shift between 2:30-3pm) refused to serve us after I had just told her I'd comply with a nearby Target store member's request/new policy claiming that if we brought a drink INTO the store we could keep it in our cart providing we didn't drink it. I let her know I'd buy my drink, walk out, then go back in; which would be fully in compliance with their request. We had already waited 10ish minutes in line before being informed of this new "rule" after overhearing a few customers ahead of us be informed of it as well, which prompted the Target worker to come out and explain it. (It should be noted that at the time of this incident the signs on the cash register did not display this rule; rather, it just said it's a grab and go location with no sitting in their cafe).
Anyway, the Target employee (Chico) let us (as well as nearby patrons) know that Target no longer allowed customers to buy a drink and proceed to shop in store, however, if we walked into the store with a drink we could keep it in our cart, providing we still didn't consume it in store. Seemed ridiculous and confusing, as while we were standing there having this conversation we observed customers at the checkout *consuming* beverages and we observed *employees* who had reusable water bottles at their checkout stations (indicating they were drinking at their checkstand). They claimed nobody could consume beverages in the open space which was clearly a lie. Loss prevention standing at the front also had their reusable water bottles sitting on their desk. Still, as ridiculous as the policy was we agreed to leave the store and return, simply because we'd already waited in line anyway and it was a busy day, long line behind us. No big deal.
A different Starbucks employee (Kayla) was kind enough to allow us to purchase our drinks as we had already agreed we'd comply with their new rule. Leave the store and return, not consume it in the store. I appreciated her service!
Another Target employee then claimed they were enforcing "laws" and that if we consumed our drink we'd be breaking a law, and putting the store at risk of being closed down. Again, during this time, another customer walked by with a Starbucks drink actually drinking it yet they said nothing to them. We pointed this out to him which he ignored, going on to say that they were essentially going to be patrolling the store and if someone was caught consuming a beverage they'd be refused service and asked to leave. We briefly walked around but felt harassed as this employee somehow was walking by nearly every aisle we were on, even after we jumped from baby section, to women's clothing, to cleaning supplies in a matter of minutes.
Overall this encounter left a bad taste in our mouth and we left for good without purchasing any merchandise from the store. The employees are not watching those who come in with improper face coverings (such as noses exposed), will claim they are enforcing "laws" when in reality these are store specific *policies*, and they will harass people purchasing a drink from their new Starbucks location.
We will not return to this location. read more