BY SANDY LEONG : Saturday, November 12, 2011
I have a confession to make. I love Target. Everything about it: the wide aisles, the vast array of make-up from Maybelline to Boots, the fashion forward accessories, greeting cards from Papayrus and the guest designers that bring high fashion to the masses. Botkier, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen and John Paul Gautier have all designed a limited edition line for Target, with great success. I admit, the quality wasn’t always there but it was guiltless haute shopping on a budget.
I have another confession to make. After I rushed my kids off to school, I logged on to Target.com on September 13, 2011 and started my Missoni for Target shopping spree, along with the rest of America. Not less than thirty minutes later the sight crashed, but not before I scored 14 Missoni items. Because they were all available and in my size, what did I have to lose?
I bought the cute Missoni Maxi Dress, the jumpsuit, a cardigan, a vase, a scarf, an iPhone cover. I even bought my daughter a two piece swim suit. I admit, it was Missoni overload, but I was caught up in the moment.
Not less than three days later, I got an email with. “We updated the unit quantity on your order." Translation: due to overwhelming demand, we’re cancelling your vase and will gladly refund your money. Oh, and PS: There has been a delay in the rest of your order.
Okay, I’ll wait. No problem. After all it took me less than 15 minutes to order everything, as opposed to getting my car out of the garage (three avenues away in NYC) and driving uptown to Target where I have to pay $5 for parking and fight the unruly crowds at 8 in the morning. I’ll wait.
On October 14, I received another email: We’re contacting you about your Target.com order. Due to the unprecedented demand for our Missoni for Target collection, we are unable to fill some of the items in your order.
And a few minutes after that:
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Something from your order has been canceled.
Yes, nine times! Which basically left me with a scarf and an iPhone case. I wasn’t an isolated incident either. My friend ordered three Missoni items and two were cancelled. Her sweater didn’t fit so she had to send it back.
Okay, now I’m upset. What I really wanted from that original order was the Missoni Maxi dress and the jumpsuit.
Perfect for summer in the Hamptons or our upcoming vacation in Hawaii. So like any fashionista worth her salt, I started scouring the secondary market. Ebay. And you know what I found? Everything I ordered! And there were so many items available that the market was somewhat saturated so I was able to buy my maxi dress for $70, original Target price: $69.99! The Jumpsuit was $5 over the original price but it included free shipping and no tax!
I got what I wanted but I’m still mad at Target. Shame on them for promising something they couldn’t deliver. If someone orders a piece of jewelry from my website, if I have it in stock it usually goes out the same day, if not the first thing the next morning. If it’s not in my inventory I can call if back from my nearest retailer or can make a new piece in 4-6 weeks. It would never occur to me to just send a “Sorry, due to overwhelming demand we’re cancelling your order.”
Target, in their defense, did send a $25 Gift Certificate with a half hearted apology. I’ll use it. I’ll go back to Target. I just can’t resist.