COVID-19 "Do You Have Face Masks In Stock?"

[IWishIKnew]

My

Someone once told me Google chooses what to show you based on your location.

Yes, location-based results are definitely a thing. Mostly with local-relevant searches (eg. if I search for Target, it will give me results local to me. Or if you search for "doctor" or "lawyer" or "hair stylist" or other businesses that tend to be local focused.).

So, I'm sure it's similar with news results. If you searched for a location (eg. coronavirus cases in China) then you'd get articles about that, but just "Coronavirus" will give you US results.

 

[jackandcat]

Most guests aren't asking about masks anymore, they know these are backordered everywhere, but they still ask way too often about hand sanitizer and TP.
One thing that's really awkward is when guests log into target.com or the Target App, find something like hand sanitizer which the site indicates we have in stock, and it's not on the shelves. It's not pleasant to tell them that site information isn't 100% guaranteed, sometimes the inventory shown doesn't reflect items which people still shopping in the store have picked off the shelf but haven't rung up at the register, or "I changed my mind" items placed on a different shelf by a guest, or items stolen by "guests" who are okay with playing the shoplifting game.

 

[seasonaldude]

Most guests aren't asking about masks anymore, they know these are backordered everywhere, but they still ask way too often about hand sanitizer and TP.
One thing that's really awkward is when guests log into target.com or the Target App, find something like hand sanitizer which the site indicates we have in stock, and it's not on the shelves. It's not pleasant to tell them that site information isn't 100% guaranteed, sometimes the inventory shown doesn't reflect items which people still shopping in the store have picked off the shelf but haven't rung up at the register, or "I changed my mind" items placed on a different shelf by a guest, or items stolen by "guests" who are okay with playing the shoplifting game.

Audit that shit out.

 

[dannyy315]

Most guests aren't asking about masks anymore, they know these are backordered everywhere, but they still ask way too often about hand sanitizer and TP.
One thing that's really awkward is when guests log into target.com or the Target App, find something like hand sanitizer which the site indicates we have in stock, and it's not on the shelves. It's not pleasant to tell them that site information isn't 100% guaranteed, sometimes the inventory shown doesn't reflect items which people still shopping in the store have picked off the shelf but haven't rung up at the register, or "I changed my mind" items placed on a different shelf by a guest, or items stolen by "guests" who are okay with playing the shoplifting game.

Audit, audit, audit. Yes it takes a few hours for the site to update, but the biggest cause for inaccurate website information is that the labels aren’t audited frequently enough.

 

[IWishIKnew]

The website updates overnight, doesn't it? That's been my go-to for "the website says you have it."

 

[seasonaldude]

The website updates overnight, doesn't it? That's been my go-to for "the website says you have it."

It's within a few minutes anymore. For example let's say that someone in store grabs the last can of chicken noodle soup we have on the shelf and wanders around the store with it before checking out. Someone orders it 15 minutes later. If I get to that promptly, don't see the soup on the shelf, and then look at our on hands, then I'll see a -1 on hands almost as soon as the in-store guest checks out.

But, yes, keep tell telling guests it updates overnight. It's the simplest explanation that gets you where you need to be with that guest quickly even if it isn't true.

 

[SigningLady]

My go-to is to tell them the inventory counts are not updated in real time. That they understand immediately and go away.

 

[IWishIKnew]

It's within a few minutes anymore. For example let's say that someone in store grabs the last can of chicken noodle soup we have on the shelf and wanders around the store with it before checking out. Someone orders it 15 minutes later. If I get to that promptly, don't see the soup on the shelf, and then look at our on hands, then I'll see a -1 on hands almost as soon as the in-store guest checks out.

I thought the on-hands and the website "in stock" systems weren't the same. The on hands update in the zebra right away, but the in stock/limited inventory/out of stock listing on the website was not sync'd in real time.

Unless they've updated it recently, I used to tell guests that if the system says we have it in stock but don't let you order it for pick up, that's a good sign we don't actually have it, because I've seen cases where the website says "in stock" but it won't let you order for pick up, and the zebra said 0 on hand.

 

[COextraordinaire]

Yikes! Well there’s this... a Target in the Seattle area was selling N95 masks and was Social media shamed into donating them to local hospitals

 

[checklane01]

Yikes! Well there’s this... a Target in the Seattle area was selling N95 masks and was Social media shamed into donating them to local hospitals

Well kinda. Target issued a recall for all masks we sell. If they are currently in stock, they are to be pulled, then placed in the Store Director’s office. You can see all the DPCIs affected in RevLog.

 

[jackandcat]

Those n95 face masks surely should not be for sale to the public when health care providers desperately need them. At least Target has an immediate recall on all these masks.

 

[Amanda Cantwell]

The website updates overnight, doesn't it? That's been my go-to for "the website says you have it."

Technically it is like 15 mins when accurate but I also use the “it updates once a day when the store opens” line since the guests usually understand that— someone could’ve bought it since then.

 

[IWishIKnew]

I'm very glad we're not selling the masks anymore when we get them. We had a whole shelf of them flexed a week or so ago, but I haven't seen them since.

 

[BurgerBob]

My go-to is to tell them the inventory counts are not updated in real time. That they understand immediately and go away.

"The web site updates 12 hours at the best of times and 72 hours at the worst oof times, even our ability to look at other stores isn't real time. 8 hours at the best and 24 hours at its worst" is my explanation.... no ones ever given me shit about it after my explanation

 

[JAShands]

I am 100% glad the masks are going to healthcare professionals; however, I am also 100% uneasy about any government official/office forcing anyone/store to do this. I get that this is an extraordinary time we’re living in but it still makes me uncomfortable.

Please don’t @ me or quote me! I’m allowed to have this feeling. It is all mine and I’m owning it.

 

[Mikuhl]

The government actually came and took all our face masks and we were told to take any off the floor. Same for anyone else?

 

[happygoth]

I am 100% glad the masks are going to healthcare professionals; however, I am also 100% uneasy about any government official/office forcing anyone/store to do this. I get that this is an extraordinary time we’re living in but it still makes me uncomfortable.

Please don’t @ me or quote me! I’m allowed to have this feeling. It is all mine and I’m owning it.

I agree 100%. Hospitals and medical care facilities already buy their medical supplies, right? Why can't they come in to Target and buy them from us if they can't get what they need from their regular supplier? Where is it written that businesses have to give merchandise away? What is wrong with allowing the general public to purchase these items as well?

America is getting a nice big dose of what it's like to live under Socialism and Communism right now...I know most of it is necessary and I support most of it, but how's that tasting to everyone?

 

[Tessa120]

You are allowed to have that feeling, but you should also face the consequences of that feeling. The government forces businesses to not raise prices during emergencies. Aka price gouging. By your logic you should be equally uncomfortable with that. Definitely you should read news and see YouTube videos of the scarcity of masks. Going to suck really bad if you or a loved one goes to a hospital and workers aren't wearing masks that would normally protect patients from cross contamination of all sorts of hospital germs because no laws stopped Karen from buying them, and you catch two types of flu and a gastro-intestinal bug that gives you water diarrhea in addition to Covid-19.

 

[IWishIKnew]

Because the general public can stay away from people. Health care workers can't.

There are few health care workers and many of the general public. Without health care workers to take care of the seriously ill, they die.

This has nothing to do with socialism or communism or any of that bullshit. It has to do with recognizing this isn't a normal fucking situation and we need to do things none of us have ever done before and there are some (many) things the free fucking market isn't equipped to handle and this is one of them.

 

[happygoth]

Very slippery slope. What will they confiscate next?

 

[seasonaldude]

I agree 100%. Hospitals and medical care facilities already buy their medical supplies, right? Why can't they come in to Target and buy them from us if they can't get what they need from their regular supplier? Where is it written that businesses have to give merchandise away? What is wrong with allowing the general public to purchase these items as well?

America is getting a nice big dose of what it's like to live under Socialism and Communism right now...I know most of it is necessary and I support most of it, but how's that tasting to everyone?

Not too bad.....

Kidding...sort of...

To paraphrase Karl Polyani socialism is the democratization of the economy. This isn't socialism. However, any reasonable socialist society would certainly say that limited emergency supplies should go to healthcare providers before being sold off for profit by capitalists. But, hey, if it all it takes is a virus to finally put an end to capitalism, then well, I guess go coronavirus? Of course it won't put an end to capitalism. All that's going on is showing YET AGAIN that is unable to deal with a major crisis by sticking to its own rules.

 

[happygoth]

Confiscation of goods, curfews, lockdowns, requirements to show "papers" to prove you have the "right" to be out of your house (my state has put this in place) - this has all the markings of Communism.

Again, not saying I disagree with most of it - I do feel it is necessary at this time, and I've been making jokes about tanks rolling down the streets all week - but that doesnt mean I have to like it.

 

[seasonaldude]

Confiscation of goods, curfews, lockdowns, requirements to show "papers" to prove you have the "right" to be out of your house (my state has put this in place) - this has all the markings of Communism.

Again, not saying I disagree with most of it - I do feel it is necessary at this time, and I've been making jokes about tanks rolling down the streets all week - but that doesnt mean I have to like it.

Nah, those are more the trappings of martial law than communism. Communist states can impose martial law, but it's definitely not unique to them nor is it something that Marx would approve of except perhaps briefly after "The Revolution" until things settle down. Everything you don't like that governments do =/= communism.

 

[happygoth]

True, I waffled between Military State and Communism, lol, although lines for TP and other essentials has Communism written all over it. 😯

 

[commiecorvus]

If a guest asks for a mask you can recommend one of these from Amazon for $22.00.
I own one (got it for my steampunk costume a few years ago) and it works very well.