I didn't know this about Target, did you?

That is so stupid. What a waste of money and resources? There are alot of people out there that could use these products that we have returned. They could donate it to the Salvation Army or the Goodwill or any organization like that. I would think twice about shopping there too. why would they throw it away? why not offer it back to the customer to donate or something?

My husband said that this is not true. He works for Amazon.com and he said that Target.com is owned by Amazon.com and when something gets returned it goes back to Amazon and they sell it for a lower price because it's used. He said it's the same thing with Overstock.com, they are both owned by Amazon.com and it all depends on what they feel like labeling it. They will either label it overstock or target and it will be sent there.

Thats NOT true! If the item is damaged then they throw it away as does EVERY company. And damaged items some times get sent back to the manufactor for credit. As for items that aren't damaged they get put on the shelf or if its not a stock item it gets sent back to the wearhouse for them to resell it. Think about it if you buy a shirt and return it because it didn't fit do they throw it away? NO. I am a regular Target shopper, I don't shop at Wal-Mart they don't care about there customers they just want to make money. Target is cleaner and there isn't often a LONG line to wait in. Target also offers a more quality product. Target is more expensive then say Wal-Mart or K-Mart but its soooo worth it. I have 3 friends that work at Target 1 that is is upper management and as I type this I am on the phone with him and he is assuring me that what that cashier said is NOT true.

Hello kimbers867, I love your discussion and would like to add my perspective. I have worked in supermarkets before (I won't mention any names). The cashier told you not the whole story. Here's what I know from my experience: If the item you're returning is perishable (example: produce, candy, etc) that is outdated and/or opened by you and you go to return it. They will give you a credit, then they scan it in their system as a return and will throw the item away. If the item is non-perishable (or if it's perishable but not out of date, not damaged etc): The item will be scaned as a return and will be placed back into inventory (i.e. they will try to sell it). Several people, including yourself kimbers867, suggested donating items to shelters. I can tell you our store (that I worked at) used to do that. However what happened would be the director of the shelter would come and pick it up. Someone found out that she was going through the items, keeping them for herself and/or trying to sell them to other people. Obviously companies know that people will try to scam the system (i.e. try to return the product to the store to get a full refund even though they got it for free). I believe companies don't want the headaches so it's just easier to throw away the perishables. At the store that I worked at, many of the items were shipped back to the manufacture if it was damaged badly (by the customer) so those weren't thrown out. Pablo

I don't think she was telling you the truth. When a store has an item that has been returned, if it is not defective, it is returned to the Target corporation. If it's defective, it goes back to the manufacturer. It's possible that if you have a defective item, the manufacturer instructs Target to throw it away, but every returned item does not go into the dumpster.

I never shop at target, as its not round me, but if you can buy 2 shirts for £3 or whatever, then they make them cheap anyway, so it would cost more to get the returns sent off! Most shops throw stuff away when it is bought back, mainly super market with food, say if a a multipack of crisps is ripped in a corner, every pack in that bag goes streight in the bin. Its just the way works, why worry about it? Chris

That is weird. I would ask a store manager about that policy to see if the cashier got her facts straight.

I don't shop at Target. They are not around me, but I would not shop there after finding that out! I just don't understand that! With all the shelter's that could use help with clothing, etc. they'd rather throw it away! SHAMEFUL is what that is.

I tend to wonder how valid this cashier's statement is? Target seems to be pretty civic minded and I would think that they would probably donate (or at least send to a closeout store or something) before they'd throw something away. I am a faithful Target shopper - FAR better than Walmart in my opinion! And I would want to verify what was said before deciding to boycott them. In all honesty, if it were shown to be true, I might consider a little bit of dumpster diving behind the Target! I really doubt this, though. I hope it is wrong.

I think I would ask someone at the corporate office, or at least the store manager about that. Unless it's a food item or an item like medicine or cleaning supplies, there's no reason why they should treat it any different if you bought it online as you would if you bought it in the store. This has got me thinking and before I order something online from Target, I'm going to ask their corporate office about that. Also, if the corporate office confirms this, I would tell someone in the media about it.

I didn't know that either. Why would they throw away good products? I can understand if it was food and was opened but toys or clothing? why not repackage it?

I had never heard that. That is just totally wasteful. Maybe I should hang around their trash bins out in back of the store. Is that the 5 percent they give back to the community, they talk about? The community of the waste bin...LOL. Now I feel like going over there to see what I see in the trash bins and take a photo.

It's not only Target that does this. I work for Wal-Mart, and Wal-Mart does the exact same thing with returns. They also do it with product that isn't sold after a period of time, even if it was put on clearance and and still not sold from there. They won't decrease the price of the product anymore, as they won't make a profit off of it if they reduce the price too much, so instead, they shred it and throw it down into the trash compactor. I have seen this done many times, and it disgusts me to even be working for a company that wouldn't even donate things to people that could use it, but I need the job.

Walmart doesn't throw things in dumpsters. They donate alot of dented petfood cans kitty litter from broken bags etc, to local animal shelters. They aso donate open packages of underwear etc. to homeless shelters.

wow, I expect the being able to return an item from online - but the throwing away I find very disturbing! I am with you - donate it to the food pantry thrift shop or something! such waste is why we have to pay exorbitant costs for products. ATTN: all dumpster divers, target is the place to go!

Just another reason for me to not shop at Target. Like I needed one? I think that Target is so high priced so I dont shop there. I never find anything super special there anyhow.

That's a common practice in the retail stores. I believe Target is not the only one that does that. If the return merchandise isn't resalable, they don't bother returning to the manufacturer. The shipping cost is more expensive. There is a business that people buy these returned goods and resell them cheap. Corporations don't care if they can make money. However, it is better if they donate them.