Archived Using Gift Card question

[Amly_221B]

Hi there, so I've got a silly question. A few weeks ago I bought a gift card with the intention to give it as a gift. I purchased it with a few other items so I used my red card and TM discount. I ended up getting the supposed recipient something else and used the gift card myself. I didn't think anything of this until later. I don't think you get any redcard 5% or team member 10% off giftcard purchases but I'm wondering if I could get in trouble for this? It was a small amount on the card and I didn't do it to try and cheat anyone a couple cents. 😳

 

[masterofalltrades]

Hi there, so I've got a silly question. A few weeks ago I bought a gift card with the intention to give it as a gift. I purchased it with a few other items so I used my red card and TM discount. I ended up getting the supposed recipient something else and used the gift card myself. I didn't think anything of this until later. I don't think you get any redcard 5% or team member 10% off giftcard purchases but I'm wondering if I could get in trouble for this? It was a small amount on the card and I didn't do it to try and cheat anyone a couple cents. 😳

Yes the employee discount works on purchases made with giftcards but not the rc 5%. best practice on that is to only use the employee discount on giftcards that were given as a gift. One offense wont hurt just don't make it a habit.

 

[Nauzhror]

I'm not seeing how buying a gift card, and then using it yourself could ever be against any sort of policy.

At our store it's even routinely suggested to employees when making large purchases of any sort that if they are going to use a credit card or their normal debit card, that they'd be wiser to have the purchase rung up, scan their employee discount to see what the total will be, and then have the transaction suspended, buy a gift card for that amount, and then un-suspend the initial order and purchase it with a gift card so they can still save the 10%.

I think it's a silly loophole (silly in the sense that if it works that way they should just make the employee discount directly work with all forms of purchase).

 

[Retail Girl]

@Nauzhror , that "routine suggestion" has gotten people fired in some stores. While your AP may not care now, if someone outside the store notices (I'm sure there's someone somewhere tracking TM discount purchases) or if you get a new AP or STL who cares about this rule, someone could find out the hard way how big of a no-no this is.

 

[Retail Girl]

I agree with masteroftrades. Once isn't going to get you in any trouble. As long as it's not a repeat thing, you'll be fine.

But since they can trace back that you used your REDCard to pay for it in the first place, getting the discount using it is completely on the up and up, anyway.

 

[Nauzhror]

@Nauzhror , that "routine suggestion" has gotten people fired in some stores. While your AP may not care now, if someone outside the store notices (I'm sure there's someone somewhere tracking TM discount purchases) or if you get a new AP or STL who cares about this rule, someone could find out the hard way how big of a no-no this is.

I suppose my confusion is why allow the team discount to be used with gift cards if it isn't actually meant to be done that way? Surely they could make the discount not apply to gift cards if they wanted.

 

[EagleEye]

TM discounts do not apply to gift cards (third party or Target). The POS will take the TM discount card but nothing will come off the total of the gift card. You're safe.

 

[Nauzhror]

TM discounts do not apply to gift cards (third party or Target). The POS will take the TM discount card but nothing will come off the total of the gift card. You're safe.

No, no, I mean you can use your team discount when paying with a target gift card.

The other posters were saying purchasing a target gift card, and then using your TM discount when buying something with it isn't allowed. I asked why does the POS allow the TM discount to be used on purchases paid for with target gift cards in that case.

 

[EagleEye]

TM discounts do not apply to gift cards (third party or Target). The POS will take the TM discount card but nothing will come off the total of the gift card. You're safe.

No, no, I mean you can use your team discount when paying with a target gift card.

The other posters were saying purchasing a target gift card, and then using your TM discount when buying something with it isn't allowed. I asked why does the POS allow the TM discount to be used on purchases paid for with target gift cards in that case.

Oh I gotcha. I would assume it is allowed because Target gift cards would be considered a form of "cash" only usable at Target. The leaders at my target always say, "If you forget your RedCard, buy a Target gift card for the amount and then use that with your TM discount." I don't think anyone would get in trouble for doing it occasionally, but if it becomes a habit then someone might notice.

 

[Retail Girl]

If it's actually a gift card...that someone gave you...then it's no big deal. But Target has an issue with you trying to get around their rules to basically do something they have said you aren't supposed to do (using your own credit/debit card with the TM discount).

 

[lovecats]

If it's actually a gift card...that someone gave you...then it's no big deal. But Target has an issue with you trying to get around their rules to basically do something they have said you aren't supposed to do (using your own credit/debit card with the TM discount).

I really don't get the problem here. How was the OP going around the rules if he originally paid for the GC with a red car? And even if he hadn't he bought the card for someone else. Was he just supposed to throw it away & not use it?

 

[Nauzhror]

Our store seems to be like AAR's. I had a TM buy a XBOX One a few days ago, I suggested they buy a gift card and use the TM discount on the gift card since they had intended to use a credit card to make the purchase otherwise. I certainly hadn't figured I was breaking any rules by doing so based on anything said by my stores leaders.

 

[Goingstrong]

@Amly_221B your fine. Since you made the original purchase with your red card "I purchased it with a few other items so I used my red card and TM discount", you're fine.

Incidents like @Nauzhror are what they watch out for.

 

[Retail Girl]

If it's actually a gift card...that someone gave you...then it's no big deal. But Target has an issue with you trying to get around their rules to basically do something they have said you aren't supposed to do (using your own credit/debit card with the TM discount).

I really don't get the problem here. How was the OP going around the rules if he originally paid for the GC with a red car? And even if he hadn't he bought the card for someone else. Was he just supposed to throw it away & not use it?

Read further up in this thread where I said doing what the OP did here was likely not an issue since it was paid for with the RC.

 

[Rarejem]

If it's actually a gift card...that someone gave you...then it's no big deal. But Target has an issue with you trying to get around their rules to basically do something they have said you aren't supposed to do (using your own credit/debit card with the TM discount).

I really don't get the problem here. How was the OP going around the rules if he originally paid for the GC with a red car? And even if he hadn't he bought the card for someone else. Was he just supposed to throw it away & not use it?

I often wonder about this. I will sometimes get a Target giftcard as a gift or I'll get one with a purchase. I have thought that I can't get my discount when using them so I don't. Eventually I'll consolidate them all and give it to someone else as a gift, but it irritates me that I am penalized for being a Target tm whose friends shop there and a Target tm that takes advantage of their giftcard with purchase (instead of actually putting it on sale so that I can use my discount.)

 

[BadWolf4531]

Retail Girl is stating the policy correctly. The OP did nothing wrong because the original purchase was paid for with a REDCard. No, neither the 10% TM discount or 5% REDCard discount will apply to the purchase price of a Target Gift Card (i.e. if you buy a $25 Gift Card you would still pay the full $25), but that gift card can still be redeemed in conjunction with a TM discount.

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

That said, I know there are stores out there that ignore this rule. This doesn't mean you still can't get in trouble for it. Even if your AP or STL allows it, if a TM from your store tries this practice at a store that doesn't, that store's leadership can easily inform the DTL or APBP somebody will eventually take the heat. Just not worth it.

 

[neversaynever]

Retail Girl is stating the policy correctly. The OP did nothing wrong because the original purchase was paid for with a REDCard. No, neither the 10% TM discount or 5% REDCard discount will apply to the purchase price of a Target Gift Card (i.e. if you buy a $25 Gift Card you would still pay the full $25), but that gift card can still be redeemed in conjunction with a TM discount.

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

That said, I know there are stores out there that ignore this rule. This doesn't mean you still can't get in trouble for it. Even if your AP or STL allows it, if a TM from your store tries this practice at a store that doesn't, that store's leadership can easily inform the DTL or APBP somebody will eventually take the heat. Just not worth it.

My STL doesn't even understand/grasp why this is a problem.... my AP does, but my STL asked me to "use smaller words" when asking him about it. I guess circumvent is big?

 

[RedMan]

Retail Girl is stating the policy correctly. The OP did nothing wrong because the original purchase was paid for with a REDCard. No, neither the 10% TM discount or 5% REDCard discount will apply to the purchase price of a Target Gift Card (i.e. if you buy a $25 Gift Card you would still pay the full $25), but that gift card can still be redeemed in conjunction with a TM discount.

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

That said, I know there are stores out there that ignore this rule. This doesn't mean you still can't get in trouble for it. Even if your AP or STL allows it, if a TM from your store tries this practice at a store that doesn't, that store's leadership can easily inform the DTL or APBP somebody will eventually take the heat. Just not worth it.

My STL doesn't even understand/grasp why this is a problem.... my AP does, but my STL asked me to "use smaller words" when asking him about it. I guess circumvent is big?

Isn't a circumvent one of those round air conditioning vents? What's that got to do with TM Discounts?

said blue eyed, blond haired, newly hired ETL.

 

[Produce Queen]

Retail Girl is stating the policy correctly. The OP did nothing wrong because the original purchase was paid for with a REDCard. No, neither the 10% TM discount or 5% REDCard discount will apply to the purchase price of a Target Gift Card (i.e. if you buy a $25 Gift Card you would still pay the full $25), but that gift card can still be redeemed in conjunction with a TM discount.

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

That said, I know there are stores out there that ignore this rule. This doesn't mean you still can't get in trouble for it. Even if your AP or STL allows it, if a TM from your store tries this practice at a store that doesn't, that store's leadership can easily inform the DTL or APBP somebody will eventually take the heat. Just not worth it.

My STL doesn't even understand/grasp why this is a problem.... my AP does, but my STL asked me to "use smaller words" when asking him about it. I guess circumvent is big?

Isn't a circumvent one of those round air conditioning vents? What's that got to do with TM Discounts?

said blue eyed, blond haired, newly hired ETL.

*blinks dumbfoundedly*
I thought it meant asking a gentleman to go ahead and complain.

Sir-come-vent. 🙄

 

[Nauzhror]

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

There's a TM handbook? I don't recall ever being given or reading anything of the sort.

 

[bullseyekindaguy]

Retail Girl is stating the policy correctly. The OP did nothing wrong because the original purchase was paid for with a REDCard. No, neither the 10% TM discount or 5% REDCard discount will apply to the purchase price of a Target Gift Card (i.e. if you buy a $25 Gift Card you would still pay the full $25), but that gift card can still be redeemed in conjunction with a TM discount.

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

That said, I know there are stores out there that ignore this rule. This doesn't mean you still can't get in trouble for it. Even if your AP or STL allows it, if a TM from your store tries this practice at a store that doesn't, that store's leadership can easily inform the DTL or APBP somebody will eventually take the heat. Just not worth it.

The only reason this stupid rules exists to 'force' you to sign up for the redcard. Hopefully the credit card, so Target can make a little off the interest payments.

But we had the same rule at KFart... If you used a CC it had to be a sears card. If you used employee discount on gift card transactions, the LP people would trace the gift card to make sure it a legitimate purchase.

 

[redeye58]

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

There's a TM handbook? I don't recall ever being given or reading anything of the sort.

Ours seems to be rather nebulous as it changes constantly.

 

[BadWolf4531]

Where people get in trouble is when they purchase a Target Gift Card with a 3rd-party debit or credit card and then use that same gift card on a transaction along with their TM Discount. It's one thing if you actually received the GC as a gift; that's allowed and it's why the system lets the transaction go through. But it specifically states in the TM handbook that "You cannot use non-Target debit/cash/credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express with your discount. It is not acceptable to purchase Target GiftCards with a non-Target debit/cash/credit card for the purpose of working around these restrictions."

There's a TM handbook? I don't recall ever being given or reading anything of the sort.

Yep, you should have received a copy at your orientation when you first got hired. All TMs are responsible for reading it and knowing the policies. See your HR and they can issue you a copy of the most current one.

 

[mrknownothing]

At our store it's even routinely suggested to employees when making large purchases of any sort that if they are going to use a credit card or their normal debit card, that they'd be wiser to have the purchase rung up, scan their employee discount to see what the total will be, and then have the transaction suspended, buy a gift card for that amount, and then un-suspend the initial order and purchase it with a gift card so they can still save the 10%.

@Nauzhror , that "routine suggestion" has gotten people fired in some stores. While your AP may not care now, if someone outside the store notices (I'm sure there's someone somewhere tracking TM discount purchases) or if you get a new AP or STL who cares about this rule, someone could find out the hard way how big of a no-no this is.

A TM at my store got fired for it. And I found out about this policy after cashing out that TM. Had I not been a noob cashier at the time and known the rules, I might've gotten fired too.