Best 4th of July Car Deals For 2023

'I've Been A Target Circle Member For Years': Target Shopper Issues New Warning To Customers Who Use The App

A woman who says she has been a Target Circle member for years is warning shoppers about the deals the app promises. She says her coupon was not working during her latest trip to the store.

"This message is for Target and anybody who shops at Target," TikTok user Melissa (@sexymel_77) starts her video.

She showcases what her Target Circle app looks like in the video while recounting an experience she had while trying to use it. "So, I went to Target today. I've been a Circle member for years." She gestures to a $15-off coupon that's featured in the app. "So, this coupon is applied. It's when you spend $100 on a store purchase. It expires tomorrow. You get $15 off," she explains. 

She says that she made sure to spend $100 during her shopping trip so that she could get the $15. However, she says that when the cashier who was checking her out scanned her app, her total dropped from $104 to $103.

"'Oh, excuse me. I have this coupon—$15 off,'" Melissa says she told the cashier.

The cashier, she says, scanned the barcode again. And nothing happened, she notes.

The cashier then asked for a co-worker's help, according to Melissa. Melissa says that worker explained how the coupon wouldn't work on clearance items. But Melissa says she had nothing on clearance in her shopping cart.

A manager then got involved, according to Melissa. "'Oh, yes. Well, it is not actually in the terms and conditions for anything that's excluded but nothing on clearance. Everybody just knows that,'" the content creator says the manager told her.

Melissa says the manager then explained to her what Target considers "clearance" items. "'Well, clearance is actually considered when it has a price but then we change the price. So, now it's a regular item,'" she recalls the manager saying.

Since Target recently changed the prices of two of the items in Melissa's cart, they were considered clearance items, the worker told her. Therefore, those were not valid when her coupon came into the equation. Needless to say, Melissa says she felt frustrated.

"They wouldn't give me my $15 off. That was very frustrating considering not one thing I bought was mentioned in the terms and conditions, and clearance is not even mentioned it there, but everyone knows," she says.

"How dare you, Target, advertise a coupon, and then you don't even honor it. So, I'm making this video, and I'm also gonna be composing an email to Target," she concludes. "For all you people who like to shop at Target, watch yourself."

Melissa further vents her frustration in the caption of her video, saying, "Target isn't honoring coupons they have in the app. Whats the deal!? Well, i guess there is no deal."

@sexymel_77 Target isn't honoring coupons they have in the app. Whats the deal!? Well, i guess there is no deal. #viral #greenscreen #target #foryou #trending #shopping #circle #couponing #app #beware @target ♬ original sound – M E L I S S A

The Daily Dot reached out to Melissa via TikTok comment and direct message as well as to Target via press email. The video garnered over 194,000 views, and viewers shared that they believe the quality of Target Circle has gone downhill since the company updated the app.

"Their new coupon system is terrible. I used to always get at least a few dollars of, now I will have multiple trips of nothing before getting a small coupon," one viewer said.

"Since the target circle thing changed it's been terrible. Even for the spend this much get a gift card they've been so stingy," a second concurred.

"When I first started Target Circle I was saving a couple hundred a year and now there aren't any GOOD coupons that you can use anymore," a third commented.

Others shared what they would've done in Melissa's shoes.

"I would have told them to cancel the whole transaction and told them to keep it and walked out!" one user remarked.

"Oh I call the manager to add it manually," a second stated.

An update

In a follow-up video, Melissa provides an update on the situation. "I did call customer service and spoke to a woman named March. She was wonderful in helping me. But i did have to spend about 20 minutes on the phone, going over my purchases, everything. We went over what I was told by the second cashier and by the manager which then was informed were not true," she claims. 

She says she eventually received $15 in gift card form. However, she says she still isn't happy. "I had not planned on spending that money. I wanted it in cash or to remain on my card," she states. "This just seems like a scam that you're running, Target."

"I've never had to work so hard for $15," an exasperated Melissa wrote in the caption.

@sexymel_77 Replying to @Its.Me.Chua i've never had to work so hard for $15. Just seems like shady business to me. #viral #greenscreen #target #foryou #trending #shopping #circle #couponing #app #beware ♬ original sound – M E L I S S A Not the first complaint against Target Circle

Recently, in April, another Target Circle member issued a warning about the app's deals. "I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but I just found this out yesterday. I had been going to Target putting in my phone number at the checkout for years as a member of the circle whatever, thinking I'm getting points, but yesterday the woman told me, 'No, it doesn't work unless you scan the barcode on the app at the checkout,'" another shopper, TikToker @kumothebully, said of her own experience trying to use the app.

And another shopper, @peruxican, accused the company of playing favorites when it comes to rewards for guests. However, Target does not hide that its rewards are sometimes personalized. The rewards are likely based on shoppers' shopping habits.

Did Target change the app?

Target did indeed update its app, Target confirmed on its website. In addition to some other new features, the app now automatically applies coupons to customer's accounts. Before, customers had to individually look up and apply coupons.

The internet is chaotic—but we'll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot's web_crawlr newsletter here to get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

Target Circle Week: 'Biggest Sale Of The Season' Includes 50% Off Toys. Here's How To Shop In July

Your browser is not supportedusatoday.Com

usatoday.Com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.

Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on usatoday.Com

Target Circle Week Returns With 7 Days Of Deals Starting July 7

Content is created by CNN Underscored's team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. When you buy through links on our site, CNN and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Learn more

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/FILE

The summer sales season is heating up with Target announcing the dates for its upcoming Circle Week promotion today. Following this morning's reveal of Amazon Prime Day, the bull's-eye retailer is getting in on the action with its own competing event.

What is Target Circle Week?

Target Circle Week is a summer savings event that will give shoppers a chance to take up to 50% off thousands of items. It joins all the other deals from major retailers that we see go live in the summer months. That expansive list of deals should span every category that Target carries, both in-store and online, including tech, home goods, toys and even back-to-school gear. This is the retailer's biggest sale of the season.

As such, shoppers will be able to score deep discounts of up to 50% off toys, as well as up to 40% off kitchen items and family apparel. The deals carry over to bedding and bath goods too. Back-to-school essentials like backpacks, notebooks and kids' uniforms will also have their prices slashed by up to 30%.

There will be personalized Target Circle bonuses to cash in on as well. These coupons will let you take advantage of even steeper discounts on items that are already on sale or save on orders that weren't originally getting in on the Target Circle Week festivities.

When is Target Circle Week?

This year's Target Circle Week event will start on Sunday, July 7. It'll fittingly run the entire week, wrapping up on the following Saturday, July 13. For those keeping score at home, that's a full week before Amazon Prime Day 2024 will kick off, giving Target members a chance to save ahead of time.

What is Target Circle?

Just as Amazon has its Prime membership, Target, too, has its own in-house loyalty program. Target Circle is free to join, however. You won't need to pay to access any of the discounts this year, letting you shop the Target Circle Week dates without having to spend more just to get your foot in the virtual door.

There is also a paid version, called Target Circle 360. This isn't required to shop the deals but does bring some extra perks. The main one is same-day delivery for groceries and other orders over $35. You'll also get no-cost shipping on the rest of your purchases, as well as no-rush returns with an extra 30 days to send back your items.

During Target Circle Week, you'll be able to score the Circle 360 yearly membership for $49 instead of its usual $99 fee.

What are some deals we can expect?

• Up to 50% off select toys, including Lego, Monster Jam, and LOL Surprise!.• Up to 40% off kitchen and floor care, including Keurig, KitchenAid, Ninja, Dyson, Shark and Bissell.• 30% off tees, tanks and dresses for the family.• 30% off bedding and bath, including Casaluna and Threshold.• 30% off select backpacks, including Cat & Jack.• 30% off kids' school uniforms.• 20% off select skin care, sun care and fragrances, including CeraVe, Neutrogena and many more.• Buy one, get one 50% off food and beverage summer favorites, including ice cream, all chilled juices and chilled coffee beverages, all fresh berries and more.• Spend $50 on home care products and receive a $15 Target gift card.• Spend $40 on select products at Ulta Beauty at Target and receive a $10 Target gift card.

How to prepare for Target Circle Week

First things first, you need to sign up for a Target Circle account. It's entirely free to do so, and tackling that before the sale comes around will help make sure you're ready to hit the ground running.

Once you have your account ready to go, make sure to take some time to fill out all your shopping info. That includes ensuring that your payment methods are all in order, while also getting any 1-Click settings all ready to go. Specifying your default delivery is also a good call too.

How does Target Circle Week compare to Prime Day?

Target Circle Week and Amazon Prime Day are just two of the big summer sales happening in July. They will both be ushering in deals across many of the same product categories, but Target looks to be focusing more on home goods and items you'd already be buying. Amazon, on the other hand, will be putting tech in a larger spotlight. And with the personalized Target Circle bonuses, you'll be able to save even more on groceries and the like.

Early Target Circle Week deals

Brita Extra-Large 27-Cup Filtered Water Dispenser

Target

This 27-cup Brita water dispenser lives in your refrigerator in order to always serve cold and filtered water. Just pour in from the tap and the swappable filter will help you kick single-use plastic bottles from your routine.

$30 at Target

BaBylissPro NanoTitanium Straightening Iron

Walmart

As the weather shifts from spring to summer, we all know how humid it can get. Don't let your hair suffer when this BaBylissPro straightening iron is on sale through the weekend. It's one of the best flat irons around, according to experts.

$90 at Target

Roborock S7 Max Ultra

Target

To keep both your low-pile carpet and hard floors clean enough to eat off (proverbially, of course), look no further than this robot vacuum we found to be incredibly powerful and intuitive to use in testing.

$1,100 at Target

Naturium UV Reflect Antioxidant SPF 50 Sun Screen

Target

This SPF 50 broad spectrum sun screen is water-resistant up to 40 minutes and has UV reflect antioxidants mixed in to help keep you protected against the sun.

$19 at Target

Whirlpool Mini Refrigerator

Target

Perfect for adding a refrigerator to your basement or the garage, this model features a stainless steel exterior as well as a 3.1-cubic foot interior.

$150 at Target

Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Hard Floor Washer

Target

Do the vacuuming yourself with the lightweight stick vacuum from Tineco. On top of just vacuuming, it can also wash tile and hardwood floor.

$200 at Target

George Foreman Electric Grill

Target

What's more iconic in the world of electric grills than one from George Foreman? This two-serving model features a compact design and nonstick coating, keeping cooking and cleanup simple.

$20 at Target

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.Com

View comments

---