I purchased (3) Oil of Olay Regenerist face lotions from Target. At $18.98 each, I consider these items to be high-priced. As a mother of two (2), my budget is tight! As a consumer, my expectations are high; for example, if Olay ads promise that this $20 item works just as good if not better than the comparable items sold at department stores for over $190, that's what I expect. I purchased these items using a Mftr COUPON of BUY 2 GET 1 FREE. I went home and tried the products. Although I was disappointed in all three (3), there was 1 item, the Eye Roller, that I hated. On my next trip to Target, I took it back to the store. I had my receipt, I had the item, I was within the 90 day time limit; it seemed like a simple, straight forward return. Unfortunately, the customer service rep. had a different opinion. She said that "since[I] bought the item with a coupon, I had to return ALL 3 items or she wouldn't be able to return any at all." I asked if I could exchange it and she said "there was nothing else I could do." I told her that was ludacris and asked to speak to a supervisor or manager - then she said, "I am the manager!" The following day, I returned to Target with ALL 3 Items. She gave me my money back for 2 of the 3 items and said, "you got the third item FREE, if I give you store credit for it or cash back - it's COUPON FRAUD." I was in shock. Wait so I get nothing? I explained that since Target was still getting paid for the "free" item (by Oil of Olay) they should treat this item as a "regular" item.
The worst part: I returned 3 items & my "return" receipt showed 2 items being returned. I asked her to scan in all 3 items so an employee wouldn't be the benefactor of the coupon I no longer had, she refused. Her explanation was "if I scan it, the register is going to say I owe you more than I really do. Finally, she returned it and the register said I was owed $20.60. She typed in her special codes and the amount went from -$20.60 to -$0.00. I was so frustrated and I asked why the cash register's view of Targets return policy didn't match HER policy. And she had the nerve to say that the system needed to be updated! I asked for the money that I paid in taxes and she said, "there aren't any taxes paid on free items." That comment was the final straw! I couldn't believe that someone with the authority to override the register didn't know that customers DO pay taxes on "FREE" items! As far as I know, they short changed me on the cash I paid to cover tax on the purchase of this "free" item. And since Oil of Olay PAID Target so that I could have the item, they have an item that belongs to me - which is like stealing. The bad attitude and eye rolls were just the icing on the cake for this store experience. |
