We went to the grocery store this morning and I did two things the average customer does not probably do. I put a buggy back I saw in front of the door, and I closed a Coke Refrigerator that was left open by the cash registers. Why, exactly, do I do this? Why do I feel more of a need to tend to things at my grocery store than I do my home? I’ll walk by the empty dog food bowl all day hoping someone else will feed them. But at Super Target, if something is out of place and I can easily fix it, I do. Because they have brainwashed me, that’s why. I have this uncontrollable compulsion to do anything I can to make Super Target the best place in the planet. If I hear someone talk about preferring another grocery store? I take it personally. Like, somehow, Super Target belongs to me and if you prefer Publix, then you can’t BE MY FRIEND ANYMORE.
What is WRONG with me? I’ve also cleaned up messes on the floor and picked up clothes that have fallen off the racks. I’ve helped other customers find things (Do YOU know where the diabetic socks are? I do.) and I’ve alerted staff if there’s broken glass in an aisle. I’ve even gone so far as to call and talk to a manager and praise employees if they’ve gone beyond the call of duty in my presence.
Man. Now that I’ve said all of that out loud? It sounds even worse than it did in my head. Do you think I’m maybe trying to be the Valedictorian of Super Target? Do you think Heather has already claimed that? Either way - they totally need to hire me for PR or Marketing or something. I think it’s my destiny. Either that - or it’s my destiny to be banned from their facility for life for freaking out the employees. One of the two.
I’m on break from Target - every time I go in, my budget cries.
I wish there was a Super Target here. It would make my life so much easier!!
It really says something about me that this is the issue that causes me to delurk after years of silent stalking. I am also pregnant, and I was whipped into a frenzy over the weekend at the news that Target will be carrying a line of DwellStudio baby bedding next month. I might be waiting outside the store on the morning of Feb. 1.
Target and I have a love/hate relationship. I love them, they love me….however, my husband hates Target because I can not go in there without buying SOMETHING!
I am glad that there is no Target within 50 miles of my home. I would be dead broke. Such pretty things in such neat packaging.
As far as cleaning up the store and moving “buggies” (we call them carts here) I do the same thing. I pick up stuff that falls on the floor even if I didn’t do it and pick up frozen or cold mechandise that people have put on regular shelves and put it back in the freezer or fridges. What is really sad is when people see this and look at you like you are CRAZY! Or the cart boy looks at you like you are an alien being when you walk the extra 10 feet to actually give him the cart.
I do that too. I know too many people who work, or have worked in retail that I don’t want to give them any more “scut work.”
What’s really disgusting are those little sampler cups of food. No one throws them away, and most likely you’ll find a half-eaten dixie cup of ice cream in the magazine aisle.
(Of course as I’m writing this , I’m at my desk making a little mound of Hershey Kisses wrappers.)
We just have a non-super Target in our neighborhood, but they have some amazing-looking appetizers in the frozen section. I haven’t bought any yet, but I was very impressed the last time I was wandering through.
When it first opened, I astounded the customer service people by coming back into the store after I realized that they’d failed to charge me for about half of my stuff. They were flabbergasted that I would volunteer to pay for stuff that I could have walked out with for free. I guess you and I are are exceptions to the Target customer rule.
I absolutely HATE IT when a Coke refrigerator is left open. I close those everywhere, not just Target.
And OMG, I love that DwellStudio baby bedding! And my teeny tiny son is due May 2!!
Aw, Zoot, you’re so sweet! And you’re cracking me up today.
I had no part in brainwashing you, I swear! And the employees love kind words from guests…people are much more likely to complain than they are to praise, so it’s wonderful!
LOL Perhaps you could be their new spokesperson!
I do the same thing, almost anywhere. I am weird.
I can sympathize.
A few years ago, I was in the kids clothing section at Tar-jay and a woman came up to me. She was picking out some clothes for her daughter, as well, and asked me if I thought what she had picked out looked “too Jon-Benet.” After I finished cracking up, I helped her pick out a nice outfit. Maybe I could be kids fashion consultant to the Target lovers masses, if you get to be valedictorian.
I do the same thing in our local Game Stop/EB. Although, it probably helps one of our best friends works there… (You’re gona think I’m crazy with me saying our… I mean my boyfriend and I, hah.)
We’ve helped him stock shelves, we’ve helped him put the advertising on the walls, we’ve helped customers when they’re all busy. And if a kid knocks an entire shelf off? We’ll help fix it, too! You’re not too krazee.
You sound like my wife. I wonder if there are support groups for Super Target addicts?
They really need to be paying you. And as tacky as people are around here, I have to say that I’ve never seen anyone leave a fridge door open in any store. Are they that hard to close, really?
One day I was wandering my local (and newish!) Super Target and the manager asked if I needed help finding anything. I replied that no - I was good, and besides I knew the store like the back of my hand. He asked me if I wanted a job. I said I couldn’t afford to work there, I already spend more than I should. Being the first person to see stuff go on clearance? Oy vey.
Hi, my name is Susan, and I am a Target addict.
If they ever turn ours into the “Super” variety, I may never leave the store.
I too am a Target addict. But, sadly, no Super Targets in Oregon. SOB.
I <3 Target. I don’t straighten up when I go there, but I do have straightening disease when I go to a bookstore. I used to hang things up in stores like Lane Bryant until people started asking me where things were since I clearly worked there.
I’d close a coke fridge in the store if it was left open. It’s part of being a conscientious human being, I think.
You’re not crazy, you’re gooood!
We don’t have a Super Target here, but please tell me: where, generally, *do* they keep the diabetic socks? I’ve never been able to find them in any of our regular Targets.
I wish I had a Target near me.
If you aren’t Valedictorian, you’re the Prom Queen.
What you do doesn’t sound crazy to me. If the refridgerator is open, you close it. If there is a spill on the floor, you report it. If more people did this, there would be fewer falls and cold Coke.
They just built a Super Target about 20 miles from us. I’m doomed.
I don’t think what you do is odd. It just comes natural to you. I’m sure the employees love it.
Two Super Targets near me, plus a regular Target not too far away. But, unfortunately, I don’t seem to find much at Target to buy. What a shame because I have a $100 gift card burning a hole in my pocket. It will take me awhile to find something to buy. Maybe I’ll get my groceries there this weekend?
I so know where the diabetic socks are
Who would have thought next to the pharmacy?! At least thats where they are in my store. Ah…i love them.
I do all those things too. Also, I used to work at a video store, and now when I visit video stores I clean up the shelves if they’re looking messy…