My Love Affair With a Store

That's right. Fuck WAL-MART! To hell with TARGET!!

Once again I have found all my desires wrapped up in five letters . . .

As many of you know I'm in love with this store. I always find wonderful deals here. My $8.05 shopping spree last October landed me $127.95 in clothing!.

The deals continued in November when I purchased a $200 12-piece King-size comforter set for the sale price of $99 - 10% coupon = $90 - $15 off in-store offer = $75 + $7.23 Tax.

That's right! I paid $82.23 for a beautiful bedding set!

So... what were the fabulous ball-breaking deals today?

Item #1: Red Denim Jeans

Original Price: $38

Clearance Price: $22.99

Double Clearance Price: $5.74

These just happen to be the most expensive item I purchased today!!

Item #2 & 3: Belted Twill Pants for Mom

Original Price: $30.00

Clearance Price: $17.99

Double Clearance Price: $4.49

Such a good deal, I got her a second pair in grey.

Item #4: Black Jeans w/ Belt

Original Price: $30.00

Clearance Price: Unknown

Double Clearance Price: $3.74

Item #5: Apostrophe Brown Tee

Original Price: $22.00

Clearance Price: $6.59

Double Clearance Price: $2.63

Item #6: Brown Hoodie with Snaps

Original Price: $30.00

Clearance Price: $11.99

Double Clearance Price: $2.99

Item #7: Printed Chiffon Blouse

(Brown w/ Pink Dots)

Original Price: $28.00

Clearance Price: $19.99

Double Clearance Price: $4.99

And last but not least...

Item #8: Short Sleeve Blouse w/ Belt

(Mustard Striped)

Original Price: $28.00

Clearance Price: $16.99

Double Clearance Price: $1.74

That's right! Eat your penny-pinching hearts out! $1.74 for a blouse. That's Good Will and Garage Sale prices!! It's unheard of in a department store!

So the final figures stand as follows:

Origina value of clothing: $236.00

Clearance value of clothing: About $132.00 (Price of black jeans unknown)

Amount actually paid: $30.81 + tax

That's right, for $33 I bought 4 pairs of name brand jeans with coordinating belts, 1 t-shirt, 2 blouses and a hoodie!!!

WOOT WOOT!!!

But just in case you're feeling sorry for Sears for the money they clearly lost on my shopping spree, let me assure you that I dropped a pretty penny into some new tires. Were they the cheapest in town? No. They were about $5 more expensive than WAL-MART. However, nowhere else in town could I save that much money on clothes and get two tires put on my car in 30 minutes!! It was well worth the extra five bucks!!

If you're dying to get in on these awesome savings, check out the Sears website. They have a lot of these clearance items online with free delivery to your store (availability limited). A little free advertising is the least I can do for the amount I saved!

WARNING: Major VENT!!!

TARGET

SUCKS!

Okay, I've never been a big fan of them. However, I've given them a chance a couple of times. NEVER AGAIN!

This week I went to return some gifts that had been taking up space around my house. Namely, I was returning the $100 high chair that Ellie got for Christmas. Not that there was anything wrong with the high chair, just that Daddy Dearest and I had planned on the cheaper space saving model that just sits on a chair.

So anyway, we gather up the items to take to Target and go to the store. Keep in mind that going to TARGET first involves a 20 mile drive to town (we don't just up and go on a whim) and once in town, TARGET is on the opposite side of everything else I need to do. So even when I happen to be in town, it is not convienent for me to just *pop* over to the store.

So, would you like to know why I will never spend another dime in Target?

I took our items to the counter and explained that I knew the high chair was from here, and I wanted to get a gift card so we could get the high chair we wanted and some other items for our daughter.

TARGET WILL NOT RETURN ANY ITEM OVER $20 WITHOUT A GIFT RECIEPT!

I had three items to return (valued at $215 total). I was only allowed to return the $14 baby carrier. I spent the $16 gift card on stuff for the baby, bought 1 jar of formula because I didn't want to have to stop somewhere elseon my way home. The $25 for the formula will be the last time I shop there.

It's really a pity because I was just starting to warm up Target. I like the little dollar rack they have and the last time I was there, they were the only place in town who carried an extra large jar of the formula we use.

Unfortunately, Target does not care about customer service.

Seriously, what is the problem? If they had taken back my items they could have resold them. At least one of them was purchased on sale so they would have made an additional $20 on that item. If they had given me a gift card, I would have gladly spent it in their store. I would also have spent more money in their store. I have a growing child. SHE IS A GIRL!! GIRLS NEED EVERYTHING!! Not to mention the fact that we plan on having more children down the road. DOYOU KNOW HOW MUCH BABIES COST? DIAPERS, FORMULA, BOTTLES, ETC.

I realize that I am just one person. However, considering the way children grow, I would not be surprised if many parents are not happy with this return policy.

They do not allow returns over $20 without a reciept AND they only allow 2 returns per drivers licence per YEAR.

It simply doesn't make sense. I imagine limiting returns is to discourage shoplifting. I also know many stores have similar policies. I simply don't understand why a store would rather I keep an unwanted item AND be unhappy with their store rather than taking the items reselling it AND still getting my money!!

I informed the clerk I didn't care, I knew Wal-Mart sold that high chair and I knew they would be HAPPY to have my business from now on.

It's just STUPID!

Attention TARGET: Don't be STUPID!