November 14, 2008
Target, you are on my List
Dear SuperTarget,
I hate to say this, but I think we’re going to have to break up. I know you think I’m kidding, since I apparently am unable to stay away from you, often stopping in two or three times a week for groceries and kids’ clothing and Jemma Kidd cosmetics, but you have finally crossed a line.
I’ve been complaining for a while about the painfully slow service in the deli — I just cannot understand why it takes so freaking long to get a half pound of roast beef. But recently I’ve had one too many weird deli experiences — the woman who gave me a full pound of turkey instead of a half pound or the man who gave me ham instead of roast beef, or the clerk who didn’t know how to read a third of a pound on the scale and asked if I would be willing to take some other amount. But last week, while I was waiting for the very slow slicing of the lunch meat, I tossed a chunk of Irish cheddar cheese into my cart, the fairly expensive kind that we have with a glass of wine before dinner, and when I unwrapped it at home it was black. Unfortunately, this particular cheddar is a WHITE cheese so that wasn’t good.
I’ve also put up with the yogurts that have expired a week or ten days or more before the day I buy them; I always figure it’s my own damn fault for not checking the expiration dates in the store, although now I am better about that, mostly because I’m tired of watching my husband make a big performance of reading the Yoplait label and then elaborately tossing the entire container in the trash. Oh and last week there was the yogurt that had MOLD GROWING IN IT which was pretty gross, particularly since that particular yogurt had not actually expired yet, at least in terms of the stamped date (because CLEARLY it was past its prime).
But even with all of that, I came back. Until yesterday.
I went to the grocery specifically because we were out of milk and toilet paper, and yes I forgot to buy the toilet paper but it’s been a long week so can you really blame me? Anyway I got the damn milk and brought it home and gave some to the kids to drink after school and we were all happy and joyful and full of milk (well not me, I had a Diet Dr. Pepper).
This morning, my husband was wandering around the kitchen acting like he didn’t know what to have for breakfast, and when I suggested some cereal, he said, “The milk is expired.” And because I am tired, I snapped, “No it isn’t, I went to the grocery YESTERDAY and just BOUGHT that milk.”
“I know,” he said, “that milk expired on the 9th.” And my head exploded.
Today is November 14; I bought the milk on the 13th; the SELL BY date was November 9. And yes, I know that milk is good after the SELL BY date, but I’m married to a man who believes that those dates are equivalent to the Word of God and who dumps the milk down the drain ON the marked date. Reaching into the fridge to see milk that “expired” four days earlier nearly killed him.
Target, I’m all done buying perishable food that is still on the shelf after the labeled date, or food that clearly hasn’t been properly stored during transportation, because as much as I love the convenience of being able to pick up dinner and some Assets tights (which are the Best Thing Ever, by the way) I’m not in the mood to throw away any more expensive cheese or 2% milk. I will be getting my groceries at Homeland from now on.
(But not the Homeland by my house; that one is icky.)
So SuperTarget, this is the end; I’m breaking up with you. It’s been a good relationship, and I appreciate everything you have done to help decorate my house and keep my kids in Froot of the Loom underpants, but I’m not willing to poison my family or waste my money on dairy products that went off days ago. Goodbye; I will miss our trysts. But I need good cheese and milk that doesn’t have to be tossed the day after I buy it.
Sincerely,
Susan
Posted by Susan @ 6:29 pm • everyday life
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November 14th, 2008 at 6:45 pm, crockpot lady Says:
Target sells groceries? really?
and: “I’m married to a man who believes that those dates are equivalent to the Word of God and who dumps the milk down the drain ON the marked date.”
me too.
it’s cute when it’s not horribly annoying.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:00 pm, carrisa Says:
That is so gross. I should be thankful that only regular Targets are near me and not Super ones. Although now I fear I will be checking all my labels no matter where I shop. Black cheddar? No excuse. I hope someone from Target reads this and like sends you a big ole gift card apology. Because that Jemma Kidd stuff ain’t cheap.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:01 pm, Kathy from NJ Says:
NJ does not permit Target or Wal-Mart to carry a full line of groceries, there are only 4 or 5 short aisles of food. But I have found that both stores repeatedly charge more at the register than the posted price. For the last several years I’ve jotted down the shelf price next to the item on my list - the cashiers always change the price without calling a manager. I recently found out why - they KNOW they overcharge - NJ recently fined both stores because of the practice.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm, kirida Says:
I only have a regular Target near me and I’m already wearing its letterman jacket and promise ring so no breaking up for me.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:51 pm, SoMo Says:
Did you take any of the bad items back?
This is why I save ALL my recipets. I have been through the whole bad fruit, after I have checked and rechecked it, or the bad smelling meat case, etc from Winn Dixie. However, I refuse to waste my money because of their stupidity, so I take it back. I plop it right there at customer service, raise my eyebrow and say, “Oh yeah, you are giving me my money back”.
Good Luck with your new grocery store fling. I hope it works out.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:05 pm, Leta Says:
I think you should send this letter to Target corporate. I do love me some Target, but I totally understand your unhappiness with them.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pm, Mandee Says:
I had the same reaction when I saw the black lame leggings last night.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:12 pm, educat Says:
Oh, dear. You’ve affirmed my only remaining religious belief: Braum’s for dairy.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:28 pm, Crisanne Says:
I would have taken that cheese back! I did that once with some milk that was within date but totally nasty at a store in TX. They were happy to exchange it. I agree that you should send this-or something similar-to Target and maybe the health department. If it’s happening to you, it’s probably happening to someone else too.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pm, laura Says:
Susan,
Can’t you return expired products? I know it means an extra trip and annoyance, but I think they are effectively stealing from you by taking your money for expired produce.
Also, what’s the law in your state for expiration dates on products? I remember in NYC it states clearly that products can be sold up to midnight on the date of expiration.
You might also want to contact the consumer affairs reporter in your area (or just forward this blog post to him/her).
November 14th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, cagey Says:
Hmm, I wish MY husband believed in the firmness of “sell by” dates like I do.
Our Target is fairly reliable. However, I am pretty anal retentive about digging around for the latest date possible. Yes, I am THAT person who “steals” all the Late Dates. Guilty as charged. *gulp*
November 14th, 2008 at 10:05 pm, Kim Says:
I totally feel your pain because I have consistently ran into the same problem at the SuperTarget that I frequent. I have found that the regular Target with just 3-4 aisles of food this never seems to be an issue.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:13 pm, Caitlin Says:
We don’t have Targets that sell food here.
I’m thinking this is a good thing.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:15 pm, bekah Says:
Our SuperTarget deli is slow as molasses. It drives me crazy and every time I swear I will not go back, but it is too convenient.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:28 pm, Karianna Says:
Dude, your Target has a deli?
I don’t think I’ve been in a Super Target before. Whoa.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:29 pm, brandi Says:
I worship at the church of SuperTarget. My husband jokes that I keep them in business. My sister’s friend is visiting and she didn’t believe that we go as often as she was told. We’ve been there twice since she got here. She arrived yesterday.
Anyway, I can sympathize. I finally quit buying the clearance packaged foods at the end of the aisles because it’s typically about to expire, if it hasn’t already. I religiously check the yogurt too because i’ve had to throw away too much of it. I’m the one who can’t drink milk if it’s even close to the expiry date.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:15 pm, Lauren / merrymishaps Says:
We don’t have SuperTargets. But I’ve learned you have to be careful at most grocery stores around here. I really should have grabbed the manager that walked by when the only quart containers of skim milk had been expired for two weeks.
And it’s not just dairy! Once I returned a jar of tartar sauce to Safeway that had expired by several months. How often to you check the dates on jars?
Yes it was only a dollar or so; I was making a point. We shouldn’t have to examine all of our food!
November 14th, 2008 at 11:40 pm, kim Says:
This is yet one more reason why I wish that you lived my town and state. (though I don’t wish my town on anyone really). The SuperTarget by my house (literally 10 streets away, it takes me 5 minutes to get there) is superb. Everything is spiffy and neat and new and clean. I love them, I’m there everyday (I’m waiting for them to tell me that I can’t get the free cookies for the kids anymore because we are ALWAYS there). They even have sushi that I can watch being made. And it’s exxxxxxxxxxcellent.
So I am horrified by your story. And will admit to deciding to now be a little more cautious and less free and easy the next time I shop there. Which will be Sunday. I was there tonight (with 6 kids. 2 of whom did not belong to me. All of whom, even though they were plied with hot chocolate from the in-store Starbucks were beasts and whom I wanted to leave there.)
November 15th, 2008 at 8:23 am, Shannon Says:
This almost makes me feel better about the fact that I have not lived near a SuperTarget for 5 years. I missed them until now. From now on I’ll be happy shopping at my regular old Target, and buying my groceries from an actual grocery store.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:30 am, SmockLady Says:
OH, that is horrible. It sounds like maybe corporate needs to replace a local manager who isn’t seeing that jobs get done.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:59 am, Kristie Says:
I have often wept tears of sadness that the SuperTarget you are referring to is across town from me and not a convenient stop. I’m forced to do “regular” Target and Homeland. But even at Homeland, I’m the obnoxious lady rooting around in the dairy case looking for the freshest products. NOTHING more annoying than pouring half a gallon of expired milk down the sink … and as much freakin’ milk as my kids drink around here, that’s saying a lot.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:03 am, roolalenska Says:
Yuck! My local target has a small grocery section with a wall of refrigerated cases. I remember trying to buy some cheapo cheddar cheese and luckily saw that it was past its expiration date when I was at the check-out line. Target team members are supposed to be doing freshness checks on a weekly basis at minimum. I’m sure that the Store Leader would be very interested in hearing about your troubles. I buy a lot of my perishables at a small local chain that I love like a sister. I do occasionally pick up something and find that it has expired once I get it home but they are so sweet in that store and they are a good local business so I just tell myself to look again when I pick things up. Target on the other hand, no excuse!!
November 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am, annette09 Says:
Seriously, you need to send this letter to both your store manager and to their corporate hq. How will they know otherwise? As for me, I’ve been leery of the SuperTarget and their dairy items. One of the parents in our scout troop works for Borden, and he says that when the Borden delivery truck pulls up to a Walmart, their employees are running up to the truck with thermometers, and if the refrigerated truck isn’t the proper temperature, they turn the truck away and don’t accept anything. If they do, they immediately remove the milk, etc. and place it in their refrigerators. At the SuperTarget, there is no taking the temperature of the truck, the milk is placed on their dock, and sometimes it sits there … for a while, before it is placed in the coolers. It isn’t very convenient, but because of this story, I’ve always purchased our dairy items elsewhere. I continue to shop at SuperTarget about once a month, but I steer clear of the milk area.
November 15th, 2008 at 10:42 pm, mandi Says:
I feel your pain! I don’t have a super target, but the grocery a hop, skip and a jump away does the same damn thing….all the time!!! I finally checked the label once before I paid for the item and noticed it was over a week past the date. I brought it to the manager who shrugged his shoulders and said “well don’t buy it!” What the hell! I have to admit I still shop there out of convenience. I am trying to get the courage or time to go somewhere else. Damn grocery and super target!
November 15th, 2008 at 11:21 pm, Rachel Says:
You should definitely be able to return the expired and moldy stuff. We do it at Trader Joe’s no problem. Maybe if you dump it on the Target return counter they’ll get grossed out too, and decide to actually have someone check dates.
I love Target for assorted toiletries and toys and clothes I don’t need, but milk and yogurt? I can’t imagine - ours isn’t a SuperTarget, only a little bit of food.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:18 am, Lori Says:
I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and saw that some of their bagged salad had expired two days previously. The “use by” date was 11-13. I was tempted to tell someone, but I was in a hurry. I think I saw something else past its prime too.
Your post opened my eyes to check EVERYTHING. I mean, I usually search for the latest date possible on milk and eggs and yogurt. But I had never thought about cheese. Thanks!
November 16th, 2008 at 11:31 am, STL Mom Says:
I am a fanatic date-checker, and I’m that irritating person who reaches to the back of the shelf to get the newest bread/milk/tortillas/whatever.
However, I hate that I have to do the grocery store’s job for them. I have occasionally grabbed an employee and shown them the past-due expiration date or the moldy sandwich meat. Then I get upset because they don’t act shocked and horrified. Can’t they at least pretend that this isn’t business as usual?
November 16th, 2008 at 2:04 pm, Karen Says:
This makes me so glad I don’t shop at the superstores that originally were just merchandise stores. I don’t know when Wal*Mart and Target got the brilliant idea that because they sold OTHER things, they coud also sell groceries. When you get that big, at some point quality is going to go south.
If I had the money I’d only buy groceries at this smallish, locally owned chain that also has wonderful gourmet items. And foreign foodstuffs. Alas, they are pricey because they are small. The rich people shop there. We shop at Kroger and sometimes Meijer (always checking carefully).
November 16th, 2008 at 9:29 pm, heather Says:
I snorted at this post because my husband is the exact same way with dairy, touching it with two fingers like it’s going to bite as he pours it down the sink. Same with bread that’s past the date - he won’t eat it, or throw it away - he just buys more until we have 5 loaves of moldy bread on top of the fridge. My MIL does it too and I took it upon myself to “enlighten” them all together last time they visited on the difference between sell by and consume by.
November 16th, 2008 at 10:33 pm, Sunday Linky Love Says:
[…] Target’s been put on notice. […]
November 17th, 2008 at 8:16 am, MichelleB Says:
Target should not sell food there anymore period.
Recently me and my hubby celebrated our 10th anniversary and he surprised me with a gorgeous diamond necklace from www.idonowidont.com and I made him a big breakfast in bed.
The bagels we bought from the store were not soft an hour after I bought them. Now I just want to grow my own food so I know it will be fresh!
November 17th, 2008 at 5:38 pm, AmandaC Says:
I’m glad someone else has decided to end their relationship with SuperTarget!
I have never had a major problem with the groceries (my husband won’t drink the milk if it expires tomorrow by the way!) because I refused to buy any of their deli meats after I waited for 15 minutes the first time and I never ever buy their produce because it’s generally repulsive to even look at! I usually tried to only buy non-perishables, especially after my friend had a very similar Yoplait story to share with me.
Anyway, I had a major issue with them when I tried to return two pillows with the tags still on them that someone gifted me off of my bridal registry. They refused to take them back because they no longer sold them in that specific store! I was so angry and complained several times of course, but nothing ever came of it. Please don’t hold your breath until the lovely Tar-jei sends an apology in the form of a gift card because you’ll pass out
November 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm, blackbird Says:
My Target (which is not nearby) has very few of these things - and, on the rare occasion I do look for milk or something frozen there, they are sold out. These days there is less and less I’d venture there for.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:14 pm, katy Says:
Hey— remember me???? Anyway, Target and I have always been just Really Good Friends, because Target has never put a Superstore near me. So it won’t let me go All The Way.
But, Wegman’s and I became very intimate over the 10 years I lived in NY. So, imagine my disgust when I looked at Alex (then 3) as he was about to bite into a sanwich made with fresh, store-baked bread, complete with a water centipede baked right in.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pm, STL Mom Says:
Okay, I was going to complain about the chocolate milk that I bought today, at a store called “Fresh Market”, which I just noticed expired yesterday.
I thought I should confess this because I commented earlier that I was a fanatical date-checker. Obviously I’m a little less fanatical than I thought. I was in a hurry, okay!
But then I read Katy’s comment about the centipede and EWWWW!
Suddenly my issue seems very minor in comparison…