SHOPPERS are lambasting Target’s latest price match policy change, actively telling others to shop at its competitors in protest.
Many fans of Target – now likely former fans – have name-checked big box rivals like Walmart, and online retailers like Amazon, as better alternatives.
Target’s unpopular price match policy change has shoppers doubting the chain’s ‘Expect More, Pay Less’ slogan (stock)[/caption]
Shoppers are urging Target loyalists to switch allegiances as a result (stock)[/caption]
It comes after the retailer scrapped it’s price-match policy.
Some have alleged that without the program, certain items can cost up to $4 those sold at other chains.
News of Target’s policy change hit the news cycle in July after a leaked memo revealed plans to cease their price-matching policies with outside stores.
The reasoning, per the memo, was that “most price matches happen within Target,” and in turn, it would now “exclusively match our in store, app and Target.com pricing, including Target Plus items.”
The revised policy officially went into effect on Monday, and ever since, once-loyal fans have wondered if the chain is trying to run itself out of business.
CUSTOMERS FAVORING TARGET COMPETITORS
Social media users took to X to lament the official end of Target’s price-matching policies last Monday, which many have foreseen as a death knell.
At least one asserted that without price-matching, shopping at other chains gives consumers more bang for their buck.
“If you can, please shop at Walmart for any name-brand goods,” read the tweet.
“Target adds 2-4 dollars [sic] on every item.”
“At least you can still price match [at Target],” they concluded, “like that makes any damn sense.
Other social media users readily agreed.
“Target [ending] their price match policy [is] the dumbest [thing] they could ever do,” another X user posted.
“You’re literally pushing people to shop on Amazon.”
TARGET SALES TAKE A HIT
The past year has been rough on Target, both fiscally and for the brand’s reputation.
July’s leaked memo was only the tip of the iceberg; talk of boycotting Target locations nationwide is the latest of many.
Though the retailer has possibly attempted to avoid the fallout by dropping prices on nearly 10,000 items, it might not be enough.
In 2024, Target received a huge backlash after the company decided to roll back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives.
The fact that it did so quietly further spurred a widespread boycott of stores across the US.
It turned out to be the first of many.
One boycott earlier this year was in reaction to a disastrous self-checkout initiative, paired with understaffed cash registers.
Yet another boycott served as pushback against Target’s mishandling of LGBTQ+ Pride-themed merchandise in June.
And earlier this year, customers threatened to boycott Target and Walmart over price inflation as well as policy changes from BOTH retailers.
Walmart could be the new Target as shoppers urge each other to shop elsewhere (stock)[/caption]
