Shop Like a Target Insider: 5 Insider Tips From a Target Employee

When you’re walking around your friendly neighborhood Target do you ever wonder about the inside scoop the employees have on deals? Maybe you wonder if you should hold off on buying that new dress from Who What Wear because, God forbid, it goes on sale next week! Well it’s your lucky day because today I’ll be sharing my top five tips for shopping like a Target Insider.

1. An express Target probably has that top you wanted, and in your size.

How annoying is it when you can never find your size at your local Target? Well, your favorite Target is probably a lot of people’s favorite and therefore, you never find your size. Don’t be too quick to dismiss that tiny Target where, “OMG there’s NO SECOND FLOOR???”. There’s a ton of stuff packed into those tiny spaces so give them a try.

2. You can ask for a discount on “damaged” items.

Stuff happens. Sometimes you find an amazing nightstand, you've never seen it anywhere else, and there's a nick in one of the legs. Obviously you can't pass it up but you don't want to pay full price. When you're checking out, show the damage to the cashier and ask for a discount. This will get you 10-20% off the price.

3. Ask to try the merch before you buy.

Now this one sometimes depends on the person you ask but I've run into this issue before and have had no problem. You don't want to go through the hassle of buying something just to have to bring it back if it doesn't work. I've had this issue with headphones and small phone accessories often. If only I'd been able to try it in store! Well you can. Just ask a team member if it's okay for you to test the accessory before you buy and you can avoid the hassle.

4. You can return all that “healthy” food you bought

We’ve all been there. Sometimes you buy a bunch of expensive protein bars that your favorite lifestyle blogger insists is the tastiest thing on God’s green earth and you end up chewing on grass and gravel. You just spent $30 on this crap and nobody you know would want it, so what do you do? Return it to Target, get your money back, and treat yourself to some Chipotle. The cashier might look at you crazy but who cares.

5. Wait for the price to go down on that clearance item

Let’s say that top you’ve been wanting forever is finally on the clearance rack. When you look at the clearance tag, check the little number in the top right hand corner. There are three levels of clearance: 30 percent, 50 percent, and 70 percent. If you see a 70, grab that top and run because that’s final clearance. However, if you see a 30 or 50 and you think the top will still be there, wait about two weeks and I can guarantee you the price will have dropped. This way you’re avoiding that awful feeling of buying it and seeing it cheaper later on.