Target boots customer for comparison shopping - Know your rights
Filed under: Shopping, Technology
In September, we told you about a cool new comparison shopping tool for T-Mobile's Android G called ShopSavvy. The application lets users check the price of an item at local stores and online by simply taking a picture of the barcode. While consumers love the ability to instantly check the price of an item from anywhere, some stores aren't as fond of this technology. Since the launch of ShopSavvy at least one customer at Target has already been told that it is against store rules to price check an item.In this particular case when the makers of ShopSavvy contacted the Target in question they were informed that there was no policy prohibiting customers from price checking an item. The manager blamed the mistake on an uninformed employee. I think the employee may have confused the shopper with an employee of a competing store who had come inside to record prices. This was something I ran into as an employee at Kmart years ago and that we did have a policy against.
Despite claims that they price match, many stores don't want you checking out the competitors prices from inside the store. This isn't a new problem -- for the longest time you could check a price of an item using Google's Product Search for Mobile. Before that a pen and a piece of paper would suffice for a price check at home, thought I have been asked to not write down model numbers and price information in a store or two.
To better understand our rights as consumers I contacted the Ohio State Attorney General's Office regarding this matter. After consulting with several lawyers they wrote to let me know that my best bet in this situation would be to not make it obvious that I was checking the price of an item, suggesting that I use the phone discreetly or tell any curious employees that I am making a shopping list for a an upcoming holiday. The most important piece of advice was that a store can technically eject a shopper for any reason so long as it isn't discrimination without being in violation of any laws.
With that in mind, if you are comparison shopping and come across an employee who attempts to stop you from checking a price or recording an item number your best bet for a quick and happy resolution will be to ask for a manager. In most cases you'll be invited to continue what you were doing and can even take advantage of the situation by asking for a price match from the manager. If you are asked to leave the store because you were checking prices, your best bet is to happily leave and take your business elsewhere.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
1-02-2009 @ 3:02PM
Alexander Muse said...
We haven't been able to confirm a single store with a policy against ShopSavvy. Every time we hear of something when we press the issue we can't get anyone to confirm the story. Anyway, anyone with a issue with a store should email support@biggu.com
Also, vote for ShopSavvy as best Mobile App of 2008 - http://tinyurl.com/savvyvote
Reply
1-02-2009 @ 3:03PM
Josh Smith said...
Thanks for the update. It seems to be an issue with uninformed employees on a power trip rather than official policy.
1-03-2009 @ 7:33PM
sg111grdy said...
check the price on this masterpiece: a cookbook called "Get in the Kitchen, BIT@HES!" (bitchcooks.com) it's priceless!
1-04-2009 @ 12:12AM
northviewl said...
We shop online and save by using online coupons at http://www.CouponCorner.com
1-12-2009 @ 2:32PM
Mike said...
In Omaha Nebraska
NEBRASKA FURNITUREMART WILL HAVE SECURITY ESCORT YOU OUT. I WAS CHASED OUT 1 YEAR AFTER I STOPPED WORKING FOR A COMPETITOR. WE USED RECORDING DEVICE AND NEVER DID IT AROUND CUSTOMERS AND THEY STILL CHASED YOU OUT WITH GUARDS. I BELIEVE WARREN BUFFET WAS INVOLVED WITH THE OWNERSHIP.
1-02-2009 @ 5:16PM
bill said...
y would u want them to match the lower offer? if someone is planning on screwing me if they can, i would be a dummy to let them have my business.too many stupid people in america today, only interested in letting big brother take care of them, and big brother is only interested in being taken care of by big business.
Reply
1-04-2009 @ 11:06AM
EMR said...
why waste your gas money driving all around town if you can get everything you want for the cheapest price at one store. That is the point of stores offering price match. They want your business and they want to keep it. They can't check the competitions prices every second of everyday, and if you have the time to do it take advantage of it and save yourself the time and cost of driving all over for this item and that item.
1-04-2009 @ 3:22PM
Joe MAMA said...
Paranoid much?Step off dude,I hate people like you.You are the kind that supports the new big brother coming into office and will find and do find nothing wrong with all the illegal and under handed stuff his croonies and him have done in the last year. and JOSH SMITH poster #2 nice kiss a$$ empoyees on power trips? You mean like so many of these bloggers writing these stories? What is so bad is they have the power along with the rest of the MEDIA and most of them have an agenda and want to put a certain type of brainwashing into you sheeps heads.They no longer report the news they creat it and straight up lie most of the time.Wish we could sue or just beat them.
1-02-2009 @ 9:34PM
JJ said...
Target is a very anti-union and not an employee freindly place.
Reply
1-03-2009 @ 12:10AM
BUTLER said...
JJ TARGET IS VERY SMART. SHOW ME WHAT THE UNION DID FOR GM , FORD, AND CHRYSLER. SHOW ME WHAT THE UNION DID FOR MARLIN FIREARMS. SHOW ME WHAT THE UNION DID FOR ROYAL TYPEWRITER. SHOW ME ONE THING THE UNION DID EXCEPT TAKE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AND GO BUY HOUSES IN FLORIDA, CALIFORNIA, AND UPSTATE N.Y. WITH NEW CARS AT EVERY ADDRESS
1-03-2009 @ 12:13AM
Lala said...
Amen Butler! I think unions had their place decades and decades ago but they have killed American business. GM is living in a dream world.
1-03-2009 @ 12:13AM
Brandon said...
Although, everytime I am at Target, I feel warm and welcome. They are dressed nice, smiling, and realize the latter is Wal-Mart. I worked for Target for a little over year, and I find no evidence to what youre saying. //Plus, they don't let Toys for Tots/Salvation Army for one reason. They won't be biased. They let one group in, but not the other, then what you would be saying is that "they let Toys for Tots in, but not Salvation Army". As a businessmen, you place yourself in every shoe, and realize it's never that comfortable, but what ever you choose, you choose because it just feels right!!!!
1-03-2009 @ 2:47AM
Coleen said...
Unions are not for the companies, they are for the workers.
1-03-2009 @ 8:16PM
Michelle said...
I have had it with Target and their policies. I have tried looking them up on their website but didn't have luck. I recently spent $336+ for Christmas. A gift was a duplicate. To make a long story short, I tried to get a refund for $21 and they NEVER offered me cash back and ONLY gave me a gift card. When I returned to question this with my husband and son, the manager said I had to wait 7 days from the date of the purchase since I had written a check. I went back today to exchange the gift card for cash and was told by a different manager and their customer service phone number I was stuck with the gift card because I accepted it. BECAREFUL! TARGET doesn't post any refund info in the stores and screws it's customers any chance they can. My husband and I are expecting and we will NOT register nor shop their!
1-03-2009 @ 9:20PM
SMB said...
I'm pretty anti-union myself... I've worked in union places and IMHO, they outlived their usefulness a long time ago.
1-05-2009 @ 12:51AM
Daniel said...
Odd the Target I worked for was VERY pro-employee. They mandated that you COULD NOT under any circumstances perform work off the clock. That your time off, was exactly that, time off and they would not let you work, even when I was volunteering to create a spreadsheet to help out with our 'scheduling' of the Department I worked in. Furthermore, your lunch time is just that, lunch time, They will not ask you to work, or bother you during that time period.
No business is pro-union, just look at how the Unions bully and manipulate the businesses into unfair/difficult labor practices.
1-04-2009 @ 1:08AM
DEBRA said...
DITTO...TO YOUR COMMENT...SO IS WALMART...I WORKED FOR THEM FOR 12YRS AND HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE BY KMARTS FOR CHECKING PRICES...LOTS OF TIMES
1-04-2009 @ 9:25AM
B said...
I assume you work, or have worked for Target. Well, so do I, and I have had no problems with management. In fact, just the opposite is true. I feel it is a very friendly company to work for.
1-04-2009 @ 11:11AM
EMR said...
Do you work there or are you getting this from the media. Union employees will allow us, the consumers, to wait in longer lines. But if that's what you want...
And if you think Target in bad to their employees take a long hard look at Walmart.
1-04-2009 @ 11:51AM
j said...
Great, I am on my way to shop at Target/