My Targeted Addiction

In the past four days I have been to Target five times.  I’m still trying to figure out why I love going to Target.  What is it about this large department store that is so enticing? 

There are other large stores in the area and I am not a fan.  I will end up at Wal-Mart in a state of desperation when a certain item can’t be found elsewhere or if I am shopping with a good friend of mine that knows the ins and outs of her neighborhood Wal-Mart.  The WM by me is a bit further than I’d like to go for a dirty shopping experience.  I’m not really sure why or if it is just me, but when I enter this store I don’t get the same rush and welcoming feeling I do at Target.

When you walk into a Super Target you are welcomed with the nice comforting warm color of red and the relaxing smells of the little Starbucks off to the side.  Walking into WM feels like a chore and you are greeted with the cool color of blue and greasy smells of the McDonalds.  Already the experience is better at Tar’jay.  Target is much higher on the classier scale.  The carts, aisles, checkouts and even the plastic bags are better.  The prices may be a bit cheaper at WM but when you consider the over all experience and the 5% discount card at Target, there really isn’t a contest. 

I have found the customer service at Target to be superior to the service at Wal-Mart, but then again I like a clean look and not piles and piles of crap that needs to be put away.  There are friendly people at both places, but I feel like the people working at Target actually enjoy their job.  I’m not just writing all this because my sister-in-law works at the Target corporate offices, I was a fan before she got the job.  Although I wish I lived closer to her to get the sweet discount on shopping!

Five times in four days is actually unusual for me.  My norm is one to two times a week.  But, when you are looking for something specific…let’s say on-sale peanut butter eggs, you may have to make a couple more trips.  I went to the store of Friday, actually forgetting about the Easter leftovers.  I had a list of items and because it was Target, strayed from the list and began to wander.  Low and behold I found myself in the Easter left-over aisle.  There wasn’t much there.  This particular Target is near the mall and is my quick go-to place because of location.  But this is also a popular Target and they run out of left over holiday items quickly.  They did have some single peanut butter eggs but at only 30% off, I wasn’t convinced this was the best deal.  I figured for the extra calories, I wanted a 6-pack or the bag of smaller eggs. 

I got home and thought about the eggs.  Yes, how sad am I that I literally came up with a plan of action to find more eggs.  I should also mention that I am a bit frugal and love the challenge of getting the best deal.  You’d think I’d be into extreme couponing, but honestly that is a lot of work.   I figured if I waited a day or two they would drop the prices. 

So, 8am on Saturday morning I went to the nicest Target within my ten-mile range and decided I also needed some milk and bananas.  I love this Target because everything is a bit newer and they have the fancier, all-plastic carts.  I got my cart, walked over to the Starbucks corner and bought a coffee so I could feel classy and superior as I walked around looking for my items.  Even though I felt classy holding my coffee, my sloppy Saturday morning clothes and ponytail and headband told people otherwise.  Ignoring the obvious, I went and picked up the two items on my list plus a couple others and found myself in the Easter aisle.  I was elated to see they had PLENTY of peanut butter egg choices but the sale price was a disappointing 30% off.  I paid for my items and left without the eggs.

I knew there was another Target close to me that I had never been in.  I had been told it was a bit run-down as far as Targets go but decided I should check it out on my way home.  The trip was a total bust as the prices were still holding at 30%.  But I did notice that this store had more Easter items than the other two stores.  The particular area doesn’t have a Wal-Mart so this extra Easter inventory shocked me. 

My next excursion was Monday, which is actually one of my usual load-up-for-the-week days.  I decided to go back to the run-down Target and see what they had to offer.  I was about to get the items on my list and noted the new left-over prices were 50% off.  It was over a week past Easter and only 50% off?!  I had decided earlier that for the sake of my waistline and my incredible lack of willpower, my buyasmanypbeggsasIwanted limit would have to be 70% off.  But at this rate, I might not be buying eggs until May! 

It’s actually ok that I didn’t get any yet.  There is always tomorrow but I will have to go to a different Target, I don’t want them to think I am a regular…

UPDATE:  The wait to 70% did not pan out.  The shelves were nearly empty without even a single pb egg!  I'd like to say this was only one Target, but it was all three.  I will continue my plea to have peanut butter eggs year round.  Or at least until next year when I will not hesitate at 50%...