Target has made a big change to one of its most well-known policies after customers abused it for years.
Their return policy is the stuff of legend, but the gravy train has ended after years of retailers reporting people returning heavily used or stolen products.
In recent weeks, the retail giant quietly updated the policy on its website in a bid to inform customers that it will no longer take advantage of it.
“Target reserves the right to refuse returns, refunds and exchanges, including but not limited to preventing fraud, suspected fraud or abuse,” is the new line that has been added to the top of the returns policy.
Years of customers abusing the policy (returning items that are stolen or several years old) are behind this measure.
Target has made a major change to its return policy after years of abuse from customers.
A Target spokesperson confirmed to the street that the language had been adjusted.
But they added that the policy, which allows most unopened items in “new condition” to be returned within 90 days, has not changed.
‘Target wants to make it clear to customers who abuse its generous returns policy that their days are numbered.
‘Fraud and deception will not be tolerated. Staff are now on the lookout for possible fraud.’ a source told DailyMail.com.
Last year. American retailers lost $101 billion due to return abuse, according to a recent report from the National Retail Federation.
According to the report, half of retailers said they had experienced shoppers returning “used and non-defective” products.
Additionally, 44 percent said shoppers had even attempted to return “stolen or stolen” merchandise.
And 37 percent said they had seen some attempt to return products purchased with “fraudulent or stolen” payment methods.
Target has increasingly fallen victim to theft, closing nine stores in four different states for “theft and organized retail crime.”
Target employees have long complained that customers abuse the company’s generous returns policy.
“I had so many people coming in with false statements it was ridiculous,” recalled one former employee at reddit.
“A guy brought in a USED ink cartridge and said it was too big for his printer, it was obviously used and I shook it out and told him it was empty.”
Another employee recalled a customer who stole items and then tried to return them.
‘Someone tried to use your inmate ID for a return. Would you believe they had just taken the items off the shelf before approaching me? they wrote in the thread.
“A fairly common thing at my store is people trying to return a bunch of old razors, facial cleansers and personal care products at the same time,” added a third.
Other retail giants, like Costco, have generous return policies that even allow their customers to return half-eaten food.
But even those policies have limits and items like cigarettes, alcohol and batteries are not included.
Target will no longer accept personal checks starting July 15
Today, Americans rarely use checks. Target said low usage was the reason they banned its use in stores.
It’s not the only change Target has made this year. Shoppers will no longer be able to pay by check, the store said in May.
This payment method has been losing popularity in recent years, but is still popular among some seniors.
Cards have become the dominant form of payment, whether physical or linked to digital wallets on smartphones, but customers looking to avoid them are opting for cash.
The Minnesota-based retailer, the seventh largest in the U.S., announced it will “no longer accept personal checks starting July 15,” citing “extremely low volumes.”
Fewer and fewer retailers accept personal checks. Aldi and Whole Foods have banned them entirely, as has Target. Others will only accept them in some boxes.
“When it comes to payments, checks are something of a relic,” retail expert Neil Saunders of Global Data told DailyMail.com.