This used to be my favorite target- what is not to love, it's big and has everything you could possibly want in a target, multiple entrances (one on the first floor, and two on the second- an entrance from outside and one from the mall). To clarify before setting the stage, I understand loss prevention is a thing in every store.
With two days left until Mother's Day, I came to Target with no idea about what I was going to possibly get for my mother, but thought I would surely find something. Honestly, I shopped for myself a bit in the shoe section first. Now, I took longer than humanly normal to shop for shoes today- But why you ask? Anyone who has been to this Target since it's remodel can testify to that fact that it's women's clothing and shoe sections are freaking disastrous. Good luck finding any shoe that's your size, or in its original box. It's so disorganized, I probably looked up and down the aisles 3 times looking for a specific shoe in my size. Scratch that idea, because after almost 20 minutes of looking, I gave up and remembered the reason I was there in the first place. I stopped by the card section, read a few and picked out the perfect one. At this point I noticed an employee heavily eyeing me but brushed it off. Since the lower level is mostly clothing, food, and toiletries I headed upstairs to the gold mind of home decor, positive I'd find something for my mom upstairs. This is when things got wild (not really but it made me super uncomfortable).
After meandering through the hella cute home decor, I made my way to the kitchen aisle where I decided on a knife set for my mom. This is when I noticed a "security" guard following me around the aisles. After he realized there was no way I was shoving a huge box of knives into my small little purse he left, but it wasn't long before tweedle dumb (aka a second security guard) starting following me again. I had nothing to be paranoid about but my "eff politeness" mentality has taught me to be aware of my surroundings when it comes to big dudes following you around...ANYWHERE, yaknowwhatimean? Honestly, at this point I tried to just laugh it off as a coincidence and I went on to find a gag gift. Eventually the giant went to find someone else to follow around, but while looking for the car stuff aisle, I noticed two more employees eyeing me as I searched for a sunshade (again- gag gift for my moms new car) while rummaging through their tiny car improvement aisle. At this point I was over it, and contemplated just dropping everything and leaving. I gave none of these people any reason to be suspicious of me while shopping. Was I taking my time looking around? Sure, the quality control of your aisles is disastrous, and I was taking my time because guess what? SHOPPING AT TARGET IS THERAPEUTIC, as I'm sure all the mommy's and some of the daddy's would agree.
I decided to give Target the benefit of the doubt and head to the cashier. On my way out the front door, I was stopped by one of the tweedles who had been following me around earlier. He asked me to see my receipt and when I asked if he was stopping everyone he said "no I just see merchandise, so...". So? Guess what- I didn't buy a bag because YOU CHARGE FOR BAGS, and I don't need a bag for my 1 box of knives and my car shade. I showed him my receipt as other customers without bags walked out he door without being stopped. Guess what? I'm not even legally required to show you my receipt, especially when you have no probable cause to believe I was stealing.
Again, I understand that loss prevention is a thing, and as lighthearted and humorous as I attempted to make this review, I was ultimately completely humiliated today. I felt uncomfortable being followed around the store without reason, and even more humiliated being the only person stopped at the door for a receipt. I really used to love shopping at this Target but this experience is enough to make me go back to shopping at the nightmare of a parking situation over on Beach and Heil. Do better Target, and treat your customers with dignity and avoid humiliating them when you have absolutely zero reason to believe they were stealing. As a corporation, if you truly believe someone is stealing while shopping in your store, approach that person right away, but do not, I repeat DO NOT ask your grown ass men (employees or security) to follow around a 5 foot, 100 LB girl to the point where they are uncomfortable. This is completely inappropriate, and honestly scary. read more