Pricing at Target

[finnime]

This is interesting. The short lesson is, download the Target app and buy using it, not by going into the store. The longer lesson is a bit more subtle.

Target pricing

Are you ready and willing to pay more in a bricks-and-mortar store than online for the same thing?

[daisylu]

I keep my location turned off, so it would never know where I am. IME brick and mortar have traditionally had higher prices than online. It could be the cost savings passed on, but I just figured the store prices were higher because they have what you need or want right now with no waiting on shipping. Instant gratification.

[finnime]

May 18, 2021 8:01:59 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I keep my location turned off, so it would never know where I am. IME brick and mortar have traditionally had higher prices than online. It could be the cost savings passed on, but I just figured the store prices were higher because they have what you need or want right now with no waiting on shipping. Instant gratification.

That makes sense. The examples used are a much heftier increase than I would have thought. $100 more for the television?

[jeffreymo]

Target is really good. They know when you’re near a store and they know what time you usually go to one of their stores. I used to work near one and I’d go there sometimes on my lunch break. So some days around noon I’d receive an email from them. Sometimes I’d grab lunch over in the same plaza and I’d get an email then also.

With Walmart I noticed when buying golf balls that the in-store price was higher than if I chose store pickup on their website. So if I want something at Walmart on the same day I order it for pickup from the website.

[haapai]

I'm more squicked by the second difference in pricing that the article mentioned but didn't do nearly as good of a job of proving.  Offering different prices depending on the location where the phone rests at night is pretty disturbing.  I'd be fine with different markets in different cities having different prices but I hate the idea of people living in the same city being given different prices depending on where they live. 

[wvugurl26]

I get pure online experiences in which the item is shipped to you, the items might be cheaper. I assume there to be cost savings with a warehouse structure versus a retail storefront.

The part that doesn't make sense is when it's cheaper to order it online for in store or curbside pickup. They are still maintaining the store and they have to pay someone to go get the item off the shelf and get it ready for you and either give it to you in the store or bring it to your vehicle.

I like the curbside/in store options but I've had some bad experiences. Generally with limits or the person picking the items didn't take the care I would have and I got a bad item. And sometimes I need it now and don't have time to wait on the order to be ready.

[daisylu]

May 18, 2021 8:06:40 GMT -5 finnime said:

May 18, 2021 8:01:59 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I keep my location turned off, so it would never know where I am. IME brick and mortar have traditionally had higher prices than online. It could be the cost savings passed on, but I just figured the store prices were higher because they have what you need or want right now with no waiting on shipping. Instant gratification.

That makes sense. The examples used are a much heftier increase than I would have thought. $100 more for the television?

That is a bit much. After thinking about it more, wouldn't it make more sense to have LOWER prices in store vs online? Bodies in store = impulse buys.

[haapai]

May 18, 2021 8:59:16 GMT -5 daisylu said:

May 18, 2021 8:06:40 GMT -5 finnime said:

That makes sense. The examples used are a much heftier increase than I would have thought. $100 more for the television?

That is a bit much. After thinking about it more, wouldn't it make more sense to have LOWER prices in store vs online? Bodies in store = impulse buys.

It would appear that the bricks and mortar folks and the warehouse fulfillment folks have two different pricing strategies.  That is, the stores know that their profits come from impulse buys and the warehouse guys are attempting price discrimination.  One side of the company might just destroy the other if they keep this up. 

[Tiny]

The article quotes a 2019 article for the info on the difference of in store versus not near the store thru the app pricing. I suspect not much has changed in 2 years.

I think Amazon had/has a pricing scheme that tailors prices to each shopper... so, I'm not surprised individual stores would do that too - especially if you signed up for their app which would indicate you were a "loyal shopper". It's an extension of the "loyal shopper cards" from back in the olden days.


I recently found something similar when ordering cat food from petsmart. If I shop online and pick up in the store I get a "sale price" but the same products on the selves were Full Retail Price. I ordered Kitty Kibble for pickup - but since I am fully vaccinated and it was late in the day (I figured fewer people in the store) I went and looked at the cat food section and was very surprised to see everything at Full Retail Price(and that prices had gone up dramatically).

I thought pet stores made a lot of money off "impulse buys" and would there fore want shoppers in the store. I have to admit the "Dog" side of the store is much bigger than the cat/small animal/fish/bird side so maybe the "dog" side has more "in store" sale pricing... to get the dog people into the the store to impulse buy.


I suspect for large items - it might be more cost effective for a store to offer a lower online price - so their employees can pull the item out of "back inventory" or off the self. If you buy in store - you most likely have to find an employee to help you get the large item off the store floor/shelf and into your cart (if it even fits).

I've noticed the big box Grocery/everything imageable stores seem to have big items on display - but maybe not the item in a box that you can put in your cart. So you'd need to get someone to help you. The other thing I've noticed about the big box stores is there are NO employees wandering the sales floor. I'm not sure how convenient it is walk all the way to store display - discover your item isn't there or is up high on self and you can't get it down - then walk all the way to the Customer Service desk to try to get a sales person to help you and then head back to the display and wait. It might just be easier to stand by the display and start taking off your clothes OR taking things off the shelves and putting them on the floor - someone should be come fairly quickly....

[bean29]

I like Target's buy in app/pick up at store system.  I use it a lot.  I turned off my tracking and will be more careful about checking prices in the future.

I always order the bones my Dogs like from Walmart.  Walmart's drive up pick up has gotten better, but it is still no where close to Target's.

There are two Walmarts probably within 5-10 miles of my house in opposite directions.  One is just a bit out of the way on my drive home, but when I drive past I have my Dogs in the car.  I always tell myself the order the bones before I run out so that I can have them shipped to the house, but occasionally I order them to be picked up at the store.  I placed an order on Saturday, selected a pick up time and got to the store and realized they cancelled my order probably because they did not have enough in store to fulfill it.  I went home  and re-placed the order from the other Walmart, then I got a call on Sunday night asking me if we were coming to pick it up.  I said No, I think my husband will come tomorrow am.  They said that was fine.  I think they like to close down their service desk.  I have gotten tot he store to pick up my items only to find out they had their service desk closed down.

[haapai]

Does anyone here know whether Target fulfills its online orders in a warehouse facility or if they use the stores as their warehouses and pick items off the shelves? 

[Tiny]

For target I think it depends. IT may be a combination of products pulled from the store's inventory and stuff shipped to the store to fulfill the order.

I used the on line Target web page (I dont' have the app) to find some baby stuff (for a baby shower I was shopping outside the Baby Registry) and my local store had 2 of the items I wanted but 3 of the other things came from somewhere else (not sure if another local store or a warehouse). I chose to have the items delivered to my local store (for free) since the web site said they would be there within a week. I picked up all 5 items at the same time a week later.  (I could have picked up 2 of the things the day I purchased).   I have also purchased stuff from the Target Webpage and had it shipped to my local store (because none of my local stores had the product I wanted (small furniture/lamps)) - not sure if my stuff shipped from a store in a different state or from a warehouse. I picked it up at my local Target.

I've done something similar when online shopping at Lowes and Home Depot. I have any thing the local store doesn't have shipped for free to the local store.

I know some Kohl's online purchases were shipped to me from stores in other states.  Or were sent to my local Kohs for me to pick up.   
I thought this was a cool way for Kohls to get products that were no longer stocked in warehouses to people who wanted to purchase them  when the products were ONLY out in stores across America  using the already set up supply line.  The product I wanted went from the out of state store to the warehouse and then to my store.    

(That kind of takes the place of the old "warehouse sales" and deep discounts on odds and ends of stuff   - I use to shop those kinds of In Real Life Sales back in the 90's and 2000's ) 

I tend to prefer going to the store to pick up my purchases rather than having them delivered to my house.

[daisylu]

I do place orders in the app for pickup, and I will say that their pickup has been fantastic! One of the best pickups I've used.

[Deleted]

I’ve been a regular Target shopper my entire adult life. I started using their pickup services about 3 years ago.

There’s a hair product I started using around the same time I started using pickup. The first time I bought it, it was in store, and I paid $17.99 for it. 

When I ran out, I ordered it online for pickup, it was $9.69. Huge difference in price.

Every Target I’ve been in since, it was $17.99 on the shelf. And every time I bought it in-store, I would show the cashier the online price in the Target app, and paid that price.

The big difference in price never made sense to me, and it never changed during the couple of years I was buying it.

That’s the only price difference I’ve noticed, and I shop at Target a lot. But I don’t allow apps to access my location either.

[finnime]

May 18, 2021 9:33:32 GMT -5 Tiny said:

The article quotes a 2019 article for the info on the difference of in store versus not near the store thru the app pricing. I suspect not much has changed in 2 years.

[]

I've noticed the big box Grocery/everything imageable stores seem to have big items on display - but maybe not the item in a box that you can put in your cart. So you'd need to get someone to help you. The other thing I've noticed about the big box stores is there are NO employees wandering the sales floor. I'm not sure how convenient it is walk all the way to store display - discover your item isn't there or is up high on self and you can't get it down - then walk all the way to the Customer Service desk to try to get a sales person to help you and then head back to the display and wait. It might just be easier to stand by the display and start taking off your clothes OR taking things off the shelves and putting them on the floor - someone should be come fairly quickly....

ROFLMAO I should try that maybe . . . nah.

[susana1954]

I know this thread is about Target, but Walmart used to charge more if you order online for in-store pickup than if you bought in the store.

This was before Covid, before Walmart +, ect.  So I don't know if that is still true.  I don't order online for in-store pickup these days; it was primarily for Abby's grain-free snacks, which the store rarely had.

[Deleted]

My Aldi recently launched curbside pickup, and was VERY honest about it costing more b/c of the wages  paid to their staff to pull orders and deliver them to cars.  I have zero problem with this if I choose to use the service.  I've haven't used other curbside pickups such as HEB, Kroger, Walmart, Target after total fails during early 2020 when we desperately needed them.  We no longer use those vendors.

[Deleted]

May 18, 2021 18:54:56 GMT -5 @donethat said:

My Aldi recently launched curbside pickup, and was VERY honest about it costing more b/c of the wages  paid to their staff to pull orders and deliver them to cars.  I have zero problem with this if I choose to use the service.  I've haven't used other curbside pickups such as HEB, Kroger, Walmart, Target after total fails during early 2020 when we desperately needed them.  We no longer use those vendors.

Is it more per item, or a flat fee?

When I first started using Kroger’s order pickup services, there was a flat fee of $4.99. I was happy to pay it if it meant I could get groceries after work without having to walk through a big grocery store. Or spend a couple of hours on my day off shopping for groceries. I’m on my feet all day at work, and they hurt. And I’m lazy.

They started waiving the $4.99 when the pandemic started.

When Kroger and Target started offering those services, I was beyond pleased.

[CCL]

If the price is lower online or in the app, for both Target and Wal-Mart, I just take a screenshot. Both stores have always given me the lower price at checkout.

I make it a point to not login to Target's Wi-Fi when I'm there. The app will show a higher in-store price even when the online price is lower.

[CCL]

May 18, 2021 10:44:13 GMT -5 haapai said:

Does anyone here know whether Target fulfills its online orders in a warehouse facility or if they use the stores as their warehouses and pick items off the shelves? 

My online orders for home delivery always come from their warehouses. In-store pickup orders come from the store.

[mamasita99]

I haven’t noticed higher prices online from Walmart grocery, except maybe produce because you don’t get exact weight of produce you select. I’ve been very pleased with the the pick up experience and continue to use them even though I’m fully vaccinated. It’s very convenient for the entire family and I don’t want to spend that time in the physical store anymore.

[andi9899]

I keep my location turned off. I also shop in the app and pick up curbside. If I walk around in there I'll end up with a bunch of crap I don't need.

[Deleted]

May 18, 2021 22:01:40 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

May 18, 2021 18:54:56 GMT -5 @donethat said:

My Aldi recently launched curbside pickup, and was VERY honest about it costing more b/c of the wages  paid to their staff to pull orders and deliver them to cars.  I have zero problem with this if I choose to use the service.  I've haven't used other curbside pickups such as HEB, Kroger, Walmart, Target after total fails during early 2020 when we desperately needed them.  We no longer use those vendors.

Is it more per item, or a flat fee?

When I first started using Kroger’s order pickup services, there was a flat fee of $4.99. I was happy to pay it if it meant I could get groceries after work without having to walk through a big grocery store. Or spend a couple of hours on my day off shopping for groceries. I’m on my feet all day at work, and they hurt. And I’m lazy.

They started waiving the $4.99 when the pandemic started.

When Kroger and Target started offering those services, I was beyond pleased.

I haven't used it I'm not 100% sure, but the way the Aldi employee put it, I think it's more per item

[jelloshots4all]

May 18, 2021 18:54:56 GMT -5 @donethat said:

My Aldi recently launched curbside pickup, and was VERY honest about it costing more b/c of the wages  paid to their staff to pull orders and deliver them to cars.  I have zero problem with this if I choose to use the service.  I've haven't used other curbside pickups such as HEB, Kroger, Walmart, Target after total fails during early 2020 when we desperately needed them.  We no longer use those vendors.

I love Kroger and Target pickup.  I have used both in the last week.  Like andi send, I probably spend way more if I go into either store.

I have never been good about shopping around for price comparison's on items like deodorant, tooth paste and other small staples we use regularly.  If the store has a sale, I may buy and extra though.

I do watch for sale prices on Diet Coke at Walgreen's though (my mom usually texts me when it's on sale  ).  BUT if I NEED Diet Coke, I will pay retail lol

[wvugurl26]

Target if you do curbside pickup, they are pulling it off the store shelf and taking it out to your car.

In store pick up could be either depending on product availability. I've seen both where it was in store and where it was shipped in to the store.

I think that's generally the distinction. If you are getting it asap, it has to come from store inventory.

I order from Macy's online. Some stuff seems to come from a warehouse and others I swear random stores are pulling it off their shelves and sending it to me. The last sheets I bought it had a register receipt and it was from a store in Massachusetts. I have no idea on the logic about which store has to pull it from their inventory and ship it.

[finnime]

It is interesting how different retailers are electing to optimize profits with the new pick up or ship business model, where they had previously relied on in-person sales. Another function of the pandemic.

We weren't nearly as well equipped to cope in the 90's before the technology was there. Plus now we can buy cocktails to go!