My [poorly punctuated] response from Target Corp. re: donations to asshats.

[CurtEastPoint]

Copied and pasted w/o edits. Who do they have writing these things? 1st graders:


Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about Targets political contributions and the voting records of certain candidates and elected officials.

Many of our guests make Target a part of their life and thats why we appreciate hearing your comments.

Although I cant provide the personalized reply I know youd like to receive, I encourage you to visit our Corporate web site, to find statements and information about Targets Civic activity and political contributions. Heres the link: http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/civic/default.aspx

I understand the disappointment and frustration that youve shared with me, so Ill be sure to share your comments with our executives.

Sincerely,

XXXXXX
Target Guest Relations
1-800-440-0680

[valerief]

1. Is Target a hotel now? Guest? nt

[Juneboarder]

3. Most businesses refer to their clients as "guests"...

it sounds better to be called a guest than a customer or a stupid POS consumer, don't ya think?

[valerief]

6. I'm just not keeping up with the latest terms, I guess. I prefer customer to guest.

I think they're dirtying the word guest by applying it to a customer.

[Juneboarder]

16. Dirtying the word?

They're just referring to their customers in a more pleasing term rather than a dictionary term. I do not agree with Target's spending, but I don't feel they should be bashed for referring to their shoppers as guests... This has been going on for over 15 years (when I entered the retail industry).

[nosmokes]

2. Well, at least they took it to heart...n/t

[davidinalameda]

4. could have been a lot worse

:shrug:

I'm sure these customer reps have been receiving a lot of these emails; hopefully they'll make a difference

[DavidDvorkin]

5. The only error is the consistent lack of apostrophes

Given how consistent that is throughout, that could be due to a software problem at their end.

[valerief]

8. I'm sure that's the case. nt

[wtmusic]

10. Apostrophes can be problematic in programming

so some programmers just delete them in text messages. Not the best way to deal with the problem.

[DavidDvorkin]

11. You can escape them, but that's a pain.

[kestrel91316]

7. I choose to assume the apostrophe key on their keyboard was broken,

because the alternative, in someone who interfaces between a gigantic corporation and the public, is too frightening to contemplate.

:banghead:

[harun]

13. It is a template response from a database and the developer probably

didn't code the part correctly that escapes the apostrophe's so they go in the database correctly. An apostrophe is normally how you would put in 'text' so if you want 'that's' it would mess it up. So one way is to do 'that\'s'. There are many ways based on the database but I am sure you get the point.

[REP]

9. Despite the lack of apostrophes, the letter isn't really that awful in intent

The flunky who responded cannot give his/her opinion; s/he has to be Happy Company Flunky, walking a line between the customer and his/her employer. The flunky DID encourage escalation, and gave the specific link instead of just a "go to our website." Yes, the usage could be better, but I read the intent as, "I'm not allowed to say anything, but you should. Go here and say it!"

[Webster Green]

12. "Many of our guests make Target a part of their life"

Back off, mutherfuckers!

[wtmusic]

15. Those guests need to get a life.

:crazy:

[Rhiannon12866]

14. There was a thread here awhile back from former long-time Target employee

About their abysmal business practices and treatment of employees. As for the treatment of their customers, I had a terrible experience and won't go back there. I was offered a Target card at checkout, told if I got one I'd receive 10% off the purchase I had just made, so I stupidly signed up. Turns out, even though I'd already paid for my purchase with cash, they also charged it to this card that I didn't even have yet, and when I refused to pay it, kept adding interest and fees. They said they would "look into it," never did, so I ended up paying them more than twice the amount of my original purchase, which I'd already paid for, just so they'd stop harassing me. They are the asshats... :grr:

[lpbk2713]

17. They found a stock boy who wasn't doing anything.

"Hey you. Come here and answer this."