Went to Target today to fill a prescription. Had no intention of buying any Christmas, cuz I got more than I needed yesterday, and also because I suspected there would be none anyway. When I had been there (twice) yesterday, there were tons of people the first time and they had cleaned out just about everything. When I went back yesterday about 4:30 there was basically nothing except little picks and stuff left. But, where I walked into the store about 10:00 this am, saw people with carts and carts full of Christmas stuff again. Got a cart and walked to the back to see if I could find any of the Dishes or Spiral trees or cookie presses (what I most wanted originally) that I wasn't able to get yesterday, and did not find any. BUT....There were about 30 people standing around--all with at least 2 carts full, some with 3 or 4 ---I swear, I am not kidding. And there were 2 ladies having a physical fight, hair pulling, scratching, pulling hair, screaming at each other, etc. No Target employees around, no security, nothing, just these two ladies (would say one was in her 30's, other maybe in her 40's) duking it out. Over what I could not say. But nobody was trying to stop them or intervene or anything. (Maybe nobody wanted to leave their loot or something, I just couldn't understand.) Another lady standing there watching (with 3 carts full of stuff) told me that she had been there for almost 2 hours and that this was the 3rd physical fight that she had seen this day. Not a security person ever showed up. It was disgusting......all these people standing around watching and too worried about their stuff to do anything about. Another lady told me that they were bringing out new flats of stuff about every 15 minutes or so and people were pushing and shoving and acting like vultures (well, she had 2 carts full, so she must have been participating to a degree too, I would guess) whenever a cart showed up. I honestly do not understand it. When I was in the store yesterday, there were a lot of people getting a lot of stuff, but not one cross word or fight did I see, and I was there for about 2 hours. I had put a number of things in my cart to look over and after going through my cart and seeing what I really had absolutely no use for and knowing there were people looking for a certain something, I offered it to them. Of course they were very polite and thankful at this offering (I think I gave about 7 or 8 items to 5 different people). It was an entirely different scene today----don't know if it was resalers or people who are making a living off this or what---but I wanted absolutely no part of it. I immediately left the area, went up to the front and told them what was going on and suggested they send over security. The CS person kind of chuckled and said this had been going on all morning and that "they will work it out amongst themselves." I guess they just don't care, or were getting a laugh out of it or whatever---don't understand cause liability for Target could be huge if someone really gets hurt. I know that when I checked out yesterday (I spent $46.xx so bought about $460.00 of stuff--so I had one pretty full cart) the my cashier, though very nice, also said that the employees will be VERY VERY GLAD AND RELIEVED when the Christmas stuff is gone. Maybe the store payback to the customers is to let them fight it out. In any case, I filled my script and left without going back to see who "won", but in the time it took me to get my prescription filled, I purposely watched and never saw the so-called "security" person head towards the back. Boy, is the Christmas spirit gone or what?????

You are making me real glad I decided not to check out Target for clearance stuff. I'm not one for Christmas items. I got enough wrap and bows, and I don't do decorations. I was going to go look for other things non-Christmas, but I didn't feel like bothering. I'm glad I decided not to if this is what is going on in Targets. Wow that must of been a real shock to see I'm ticked Target should of done something about this. Calling the police would of been good if they didn't want to deal with it.

Wow, when I went on Tuesday morning, people couldn't have been friendlier! There was lots of chit-chatting going on and everyone was really calm and easy-going. Of course, there weren't too many of us and there was plenty to go around so maybe that played a part. My only fallout is I bought WAY too many lights...dh said maybe I should go back because we're still a few packs shy of getting a call from air traffic control next December . I spent $70 on the nose for my two very full carts and have a lifetime supply of lights (swag, icicle, white, colored, twinkle, chasing, wraps, garland lights, those tube lights...if it's got bulbs, I've got at least 4 boxes of it).

Maureen

I agree, what is totally weird about it is that when I went on Tuesday, like your experience, the people shoppers were very cordial and helpful to one another. There were many more people on Tuesday, yet no problems whatsoever.
Another thing I forgot to mention in the original post is that when I walked up while these two "ladies(???)" were scuffling, other shoppers were raiding their unattended carts. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

I have to say that when I went Tuesday morning, everyone was nice. As I said in my first post the other day, we all realized that we were all mycouponers so maybe that is why we were all so nice to each other. LOL, we didn't want to get a bad name for ourselves here on the board.

But seriously, everyone there was really nice. I guess I just dont understand people that actually get into physical confrontations over stuff. It's just stuff. Certainly not worth getting your socks knocked off for.

I will have to admit that I did keep an eye on my cart but not one person tried to take anything out of it.

Now see, if these ladies who were fighting had been members of mycoupons, they would have known the finer art of trading and bargining with each other for stuff that they wanted to trade!

You insinuate that everyone was too concerned about their selections to do anything about this fight. I notice you didn't mention you did anything to stop it.

Have you considered that maybe these people were afraid to step in? I know I'd hesitate to get in the middle of a physical altercation between too people for fear of getting injured (one can't be too careful, especially not in these times of lethal diseases).

If individuals are going to behave like neaderthals over Xmas lights and wrap, that's their own unfortunate business. It isn't the obligation of the shoppers or the store to babysit such sorry excuses for adults. Someone should have called the police and had them arrested.

Can someone please tell me how one person can lug around 3 carts full of stuff? Whats the secret, cuz I can barely handle one full.

I find it unbelievable that noone from the store would stop a catfight. Wouldn't there be some liability problems (say one fell and bumped their head and was badly hurt inside Target?) At the very least, someone from Target could call the poloce. OP, are you saying that noone from Target did anything?

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Real eyes...realize...real lies.

I find it unbelievable that noone from the store would stop a catfight. Wouldn't there be some liability problems (say one fell and bumped their head and was badly hurt inside Target?) At the very least, someone from Target could call the poloce. OP, are you saying that noone from Target did anything? [/font] [/color] [/b][/quote]


Around here Target pays about $6 per hour--not near enough to make me jump into a fight. I would bet the employee would not be insured if they were injured and could possible be sued themselves if the "fighting lady" were injured by the employee. I would think this is the same principle as bouncers in a bar. They are insured in Mn as long as they stay IN the bar and not go outside to the parking lot. What next? Bouncers in Target??

I agree an employee should have called the cops but thats it. Adults should be responsible for their own actions....if a lady fell during the fight and bumped her head it might knock some sense into her!!

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I agree an employee should have called the cops but thats it. Adults should be responsible for their own actions....if a lady fell during the fight and bumped her head it might knock some sense into her!!

I never said an employee should try to physically break up a fight. From OP's description in her post, she made it sound like there were no employees around at all - and when she went to tell, they pretty much brushed it off . I have seen security tackle a man down, subdue and handcuff him when he left a store. About five minutes after that the police showed up. Besides that, I am certain management (or someone acting as management) is available in the stores during business hours. I am also certain that they do not make "6$ per hour". I find it inconceivable that they would risk their job in not calling the police. If the fighter hit their head, perhaps it would knock some sense into them, but they would also probably wobble up screaming LAWSUIT. I highly doubt Target corp would want to deal with that!

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l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

I used to work security in a Target store and I had a subject who loaded up a cart full of electronic's and proceeded to walk out the front door.
Policy mandates you cannot apprehend them until they leave the store so here I was, struggling with the (Kid) -19 yrs old-yelling for help and identifying myself as security. Might I add it was the busyist shopping day of the year-yup Black Friday.
To make a LONG story shorter, Here I was fighting with the shoplifter, yelling for someone to please get me assistance in the store (Identifying myself as security) and all I got was blank stares from customers and EMPLOYEES too. I decided right then and there that risking my life for $7.00 an hour was not worth it. (It was awhile ago-16 yrs) So I went to work in law enforcement and I'm STILL risking my life for low pay. LOL
Seriously-no one will intervene., MYOB seems to be the policy.
I stopped going shopping the day after X-mas years ago when an endcap (Heavy thing) came down on a baby in a stroller at Daytons. Again, everyone was too busy getting bargains to do much more than gasp and stare, god forbid they had to abandon any bargains. The baby was ok but the clerk who helped lift the endcap off the baby had her fingers crushed as the only one helping her was the babys older sister (7 yr old) and she couldn't lift it. (Even the Mom sat there screaming and it was actually HER fault). I threw down this angel I was holding and ran by at least 15 people and helped lift it off her. Yeah the angel broke but I was so shook up I didn't buy anything anyway. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. This is whats out there folks. Not everyone but most.

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If it's FREE.......it's for ME !!!!

I would definitely NOT intervene in a fight.

Maybe management could have intervened and broken it up.
Maybe management could have called the cops.

Management should have definitely thrown them out of the store. That is ridiculous. People fighting not only poses a threat to themselves, they also endanger thier fellow shoppers and it looks tacky for the store to allow it.

What I would have done was to say something like "what the h*ll is going on?"...that may have elicited some response from someone at least.
As far as losing one's bargains, I can understand not wanting to lose your good buys, but c'mon, there comes a time when one must realize there are far more important things in life than the items you have in your cart. I've seen some pretty wild things before, but if I ever saw an endcap fall on a baby, I can't help but think I'd just hand my purse over to a total stranger so I could help lift the thing off the kid. I think most people would do something similar.
I had one of those huge glass and steel doors on the outside of a department store come right off the hinges and land on my foot (while I stood there and balanced it so it wouldn't knock me over). People were literally dropping their packages and running to help get it off my foot. I truly think most people do have their priorities fairly straight.
Sue

Anyone know corperate's address or phone number. I hate to say it, but I think this is one of these corperate headquarters needs to be informed type problems. They might not take to well to this kind of thing happening in one of their stores ( lack of response from employees ). I know I would very likely never step foot in a store again if I say this going on. I would not feel safe. In bars don't they call the cops when two people get into a fight? Hmm what's the deal with Target not doing that?

I would say this is NOT typical of most stores, not just Target. There definitely would be liability to the store if someone was hurt. My husband is an STL (manager) and I can assure you no one in his store would have laughed or not done anything about it, as I would think would be the case in most stores. More than likely they would have quit bringing things out and waited until the crowd cleared or put them out overnight to prevent that.

What store was this at? You can still do something about it. You can call today and speak to the store manager, get the number of the District office and let them know what happened and that no one intervened. If I ever witnessed anything like that, that is what I would do.

Denise

I too would have thought that people would react appropiately Sue, Look at 9-11, for the most part it brought out the best in people but still there are those few......
And THAT is who was at Daytons the day the baby had the endcap fall on her. (BTW-the stroller took most of the weight-thank GOD !)
And I'm not embellishing the story here. People truly stood there (Maybe in shock, I don't know) and listened to that baby screaming. I yelled from across the room for someone to lift the endcap off, then I just dropped my angel and ran over to help the sister after the clerk got her fingers smashed. Some guy then helped too as it was VERY heavy.
That's it in a nutshell. Disappointing AND surprising. Maybe another time and another place it would have been a different story but not 5-6 years ago at Daytons !

Don't lose faith in people I guess. They can surprise you.

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If it's FREE.......it's for ME !!!!

Wow, people are that petty over getting a deal that they would'nt help a screaming, possibly hurt baby. I have never witness this before, for the most everywhere I shop, be it bargains or not, the people are usually very friendly.I have helped people get bargains as well as other's help me. I look at it , as if I don't really need it , if it is not there. And if someone is that petty about wanting the bargain that bad, then they must need it more then me. I know for a fact I would have helped, dropping everything if needed, not even my purse is more important then a baby. All things can be replaced, but not a human life.I know that money is tight with alot of people, but nothing is that important to buy as to have to fight it out over or watch a person get hurt over just cause you are afraid someone will take your stuff!! I would definately report this to corporate, look on the target website. They could have least called the police and had these people escorted out! Then maybe the next time they came across a bargain they would think about the one they lost out on because of their actions.

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Cathy

Hey Cathy - I totally agree....

Tuesday at the Westfield store - a lady was so concerned with grabbing these 3 foot and 5 foot trees from an endcap that she almost brought a box back right into Katies head (sitting in her carseat) - I had to grab the box and block it from hitting her - and I yelled at this lady "Hey watch it - she's ONLY A BABY!!!"
I think I shocked her by yelling but no apology or anything -

What is wrong with people when they'd HURT A 3 MONTH OLD CHILD for a plastic tree......hmmmmm

Debby in Indy

OMG I am so glad Katie is alright!! I just don't understand where people's manners are anymore! She could have at least apologized for her actions, I am sure if she needed help someone would have helped her!

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Cathy

I know from experience when I have to use 2 carts to shop with all 3 of my kids. (You know...when some kind soul uses the carts with the big blue double seat with ONE child!!!! Sorry...that's a REAL sore topic with me!)

Anyways, you use the seat belt from 1 cart to attach that cart to another cart. It works...um...well...it works when nothing else will & you have to shop. LOL

Amy

very creative!! LOL

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Cathy

I think you are all missing an important detail in OP's post....apparently the employees were bringing out new flats of merchandise every 15 minutes or so....It's all about supply and demand....more people fighting over a few items. They should bring the items out in mass quanities after closing each day. I realize they want to get rid of the stuff, but bringing it out in a teaser fashion is asking for trouble.

Hey Cathy - I see you're online right now (lol)
what Target are you going to next week for toys - if any?
Just curious - I think I'll try to get to Fishers and Westfield, not a whole lot I'm looking to get - just more Barbie stuff....

Debby in Indy

LOL

RING RING "Hi this is Bob from your local airport, our pilot is haveing trouble locateing our runway at this time, please dim your Christmas lights so he can find us and land Thank you for your support"

LOL that is too funny, visioning national lampoons christmas vaction and the whole city blowing their lights!! LOL

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Cathy