Target Is Slashing Prices

[Deleted]

They have “too much” inventory, so they are discounting items to get the products moving. They are also canceling orders with suppliers.

How does this fit with the supply chain issues we keep hearing about? Are the stores just able to get the wrong stuff?

Here’s an article about it link

[Opti]

Looks like buying habits have changed and they are stuck with more pandemic oriented inventory.

[susana1954]

I read this, but I haven't noticed it yet in my local store. 

[Tiny]

The various articles I've read mention that Target (and implied other stores) have too big a supply of leisure wear and kitchen stuff and home decorating stuff.

People aren't spending so much time at home - so are buying less of the stuff they bought during the bulk of the pandemic.

I'm not expecting to see a lot of sale stuff at the two Target's I shop. I don't need more "leisure wear" and I don't need kitchen or decorating stuff.


I think maybe Target is hurting because of the changes in spending that people are making due to "inflation". Target seems to benefit ALOT from impulse shopping - the joke about running into Target with a 3 item grocery list and coming out with a full shopping cart of "stuff" and a large credit card charge has been popular for atleast 5 years... if people cut back on impulse buys I'm guessing Target will feel it...


I think plenty of Target shoppers have the money to continue spending on impulse buys - but they feel they shouldn't spend because of "inflation"... they aren't hurting for $$... 

[Deleted]

In a related story, Jim Cramer, the financial guru, said discounters like Marshall's and TJX should do well because they're getting a good supply of excess inventory from other stores, which wasn't true during the pandemic.

Maybe the main-line stores over-ordered back when things were bad, figuring they might get half what they ordered. People who got stimulus checks who didn't need them had extra cash. Travel and restaurant spending were way down so people spent on things.

I rarely go into department stores so I don't know how it is here.

[daisylu]

There is a "bin" store here that regularly buys truckloads from Target. Recently they have had tons of toys, furniture, bikes, clothing, shoes, and home decor.


I imagine Target operated like a lot of people and businesses the last 2 years and stocked up whenever they found while they could.

[tractor]

What may also be happening is their orders took so long to get in, now they have last years, and this years supply arriving all at the same time.

This was the case at a local store, by the time their 2021 orders arrived, it was early 2022, their 2022 orders were arriving, and they had to discount stuff just to make room.

[nidena]

Making the delayed shipments worse is that many of the clothing items are no longer "in style".

Target has always been a place of inexpensive, trendy clothes rather than classic styles so the 2021 trend that they bought for in 2020 has gone by the wayside.  Then there's the fact that everything they ordered in 2019, that arrived in 2020, wasn't getting bought at the stores.

I remember my first few shifts at the Indy White House Black Market.  That first week of March, we had done a whole new floorset.  A week later, the world shut down.  Stores were shipping pieces, from stores, while closed to the public that were bought online but the volume was nothing like normal.  When the stores opened up again in June, that whole March floorset got marked down and moved to the clearance section to make way for Summer stuff.  But sales were still nothing like what they were.  For places that opened up later or had more restrictions for longer, that cycle had to have been repeated numerous times.

So, companies have 8+ seasons worth of stuff that was purchased at a much lower volume than they're used to and here we are.

[bean29]

Jun 8, 2022 9:22:19 GMT -5 nidena said:

Making the delayed shipments worse is that many of the clothing items are no longer "in style".

Target has always been a place of inexpensive, trendy clothes rather than classic styles so the 2021 trend that they bought for in 2020 has gone by the wayside.  Then there's the fact that everything they ordered in 2019, that arrived in 2020, wasn't getting bought at the stores.

I remember my first few shifts at the Indy White House Black Market.  That first week of March, we had done a whole new floorset.  A week later, the world shut down.  Stores were shipping pieces, from stores, while closed to the public that were bought online but the volume was nothing like normal.  When the stores opened up again in June, that whole March floorset got marked down and moved to the clearance section to make way for Summer stuff.  But sales were still nothing like what they were.  For places that opened up later or had more restrictions for longer, that cycle had to have been repeated numerous times.

So, companies have 8+ seasons worth of stuff that was purchased at a much lower volume than they're used to and here we are.

WHBM is one of my Favorite Stores.  I am petite, and they have petites.  They also have their regular size pants in a "short" version.  Their clothing is noticeably more expensive and they have less "Sale" and discounts than they did pre-pandemic.  I just bought a few items there a few weeks ago.  I felt I did very well, but the jeans were marked like $90 so even at 50% off, they would still be $45.

I have decided I don't want to store stuff at my house, so I keep a large package of paper towels and a large package of TP.  I don't need to buy 3 large packs at a time, but Target always wants you to buy 3 or 4 of something to get $5 GC.  I don't need to buy 4 deodorants at the same time.  My irritation with their pricing has caused me to shift some of the purchases I normally would make there to the grocery store.  I also use the apps on my phone to check who has Pepsi products at the best price.  On Sunday DH asked me to check who had the best price on Dasani water.  I checked 4 stores, found best price, only to be told by DH that at that price, he was not going to buy it.

I know one thing I saw Target has an overstock of is lawn furniture.  I do need new umbrellas, but the price when I looked was not enticing enough.  I guess I should look again.

We are not doing too bad, despite the fact that prices are up, but I do feel I should tighten my budget and save more for retirement.  I plan to retire in about 7 years, DH will work longer.

It does seem gas will go much higher b/c Europe is buying a lot of our gas, and I saw this am that that Texas Refinery plans to shut down next year.  They also expect drought/food shortages this year.

[CCL]

Jun 7, 2022 18:30:38 GMT -5 susana1954 said:

I read this, but I haven't noticed it yet in my local store. 

Same. They did send me a Circle coupon for $10 off $60 purchase, though.

[Artemis Windsong]

The drought in ND is pretty much over unless there is scorching weather coming.  The majority of the crops have been planted.  This spring has been very wet.

[bean29]

Jun 8, 2022 10:50:07 GMT -5 CCL said:

Jun 7, 2022 18:30:38 GMT -5 susana1954 said:

I read this, but I haven't noticed it yet in my local store. 

Same. They did send me a Circle coupon for $10 off $60 purchase, though.

Hmm, mine is for $15 off $90.

[justme]

I've had some tanks and shorts in my target cart waiting for a sale and noticed things were cheaper when I looked today. Probably get me to buy lol

[anciana]

Jun 8, 2022 23:20:59 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Jun 8, 2022 10:50:07 GMT -5 CCL said:

Same. They did send me a Circle coupon for $10 off $60 purchase, though.

Hmm, mine is for $15 off $90.

Yeah, mine is for $15 off $90 as well. We must be the big spenders 

[azucena]

Mine is make two purchases of $80 or more and earn $20.

I hate the newish boutique-y look of their website.

[CCL]

Jun 9, 2022 9:40:17 GMT -5 anciana said:

Jun 8, 2022 23:20:59 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Hmm, mine is for $15 off $90.

Yeah, mine is for $15 off $90 as well. We must be the big spenders 

LOL I was thinking they must know I'm too cheap to spend $90.

[Cookies Galore]

I don't care how much they mark down, I'm still not buying the Little House dresses.

[Deleted]

Interesting how they focus their discounts on loyalty program members rather than just slashing prices across the board such as the "30% off everything in store" promotions they used to have (with exceptions on many items such as electronics and jewelry). BF is in similar programs (Kohl's, for one) and he's told me that he uses his "free money" to buy things that are nice to have but not all that essential because they're "free".

I don't get that- Id use my accumulated credits to buy things I'd ordinarily buy, not additional "nice-to-have", but there must be enough people who think like BF that it helps them get rid of more merchandise.

[anciana]

Jun 10, 2022 8:36:08 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Interesting how they focus their discounts on loyalty program members rather than just slashing prices across the board such as the "30% off everything in store" promotions they used to have (with exceptions on many items such as electronics and jewelry). BF is in similar programs (Kohl's, for one) and he's told me that he uses his "free money" to buy things that are nice to have but not all that essential because they're "free".

I don't get that- Id use my accumulated credits to buy things I'd ordinarily buy, not additional "nice-to-have", but there must be enough people who think like BF that it helps them get rid of more merchandise.

@athena53, I don't think those discounts for the loyalty program members are new, I've been getting them over the last few years since I signed up. And yes, they get used to buy whatever I would have bought anyways.

[nidena]

Jun 9, 2022 15:13:57 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I don't care how much they mark down, I'm still not buying the Little House dresses.

Where's your sense of adventure?  

[Ava]

I went to Walmart yesterday, after not visiting for a while.
I noticed they had several cookware items deeply discounted.
So I got a Cuisinart knife for $5.42. There were other items with very good prices but I really didn't need anything else.

[CCL]

Jun 9, 2022 14:40:33 GMT -5 CCL said:

Jun 9, 2022 9:40:17 GMT -5 anciana said:

Yeah, mine is for $15 off $90 as well. We must be the big spenders 

LOL I was thinking they must know I'm too cheap to spend $90.

Yesterday they sent me one for $15 off $75, so I went shopping and stocked up on detergent (got my $10 gift card) and a few other things. My total was $78 - $15 - 5% Redcard discount - my $10 gift card. $49 something spent when all was said and done. Turned out to be a pretty good deal for all the stuff I got.

[nidena]

Has anyone tried out any of the pieces from the new launch/collab with Tabitha Brown?  It appears to be a very bright and cheery collection.