List: Target Locations that did not have merchandise
HeavyHands
Posts: 2,130
I'm sure the 10C is looking into it (if you are not sure what "it" is, find any one of the dozens of threads about Target from the surrounding 24 hour period and you'll know), but I'm curious about how many and which specific Target locations did not have the correct PJ merchandise (either on display, or altogether) yesterday (September 20th, 2009).
1. Please leave the City, State, and any other specific location-related info like a street name or store number.
2.Please list the time of day you went.
3. Please list the specific thing you went there to get (which they were marketing as having available on the 20th) which they did not have.
4. Please indicate if they wound up having merchandise in the store, but it was not yet out on display when the store opened.
5. Leave any other observations. (Please keep things civil though, ok?
)
HeavyHands
*EDIT 1*
Information from rubysdad's thread (http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=111407)follows:
"...you can ask an employee to look up these #s if you can't find product:Target DPCI #s012020096 CD 012020102 rockband game 012020101 7-inch vinyl 012020103 Full Length LP"
*END EDIT 1*
**EDIT 2**
I took these pictures from this thread (http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=111965). This is what the displays were supposed to look like* starting on September 20th, 2009.
*I say "supposed to look like" because while it seems obvious that all of the promotional material indicates a September 20th, 2009 release date, I have no knowledge of the Target Corp's actual plan to get the displays and merchandise out on the floors of their stores.
**END EDIT 2**
1. Please leave the City, State, and any other specific location-related info like a street name or store number.
2.Please list the time of day you went.
3. Please list the specific thing you went there to get (which they were marketing as having available on the 20th) which they did not have.
4. Please indicate if they wound up having merchandise in the store, but it was not yet out on display when the store opened.
5. Leave any other observations. (Please keep things civil though, ok?
)HeavyHands
*EDIT 1*
Information from rubysdad's thread (http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=111407)follows:
"...you can ask an employee to look up these #s if you can't find product:Target DPCI #s012020096 CD 012020102 rockband game 012020101 7-inch vinyl 012020103 Full Length LP"
*END EDIT 1*
**EDIT 2**
I took these pictures from this thread (http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=111965). This is what the displays were supposed to look like* starting on September 20th, 2009.
*I say "supposed to look like" because while it seems obvious that all of the promotional material indicates a September 20th, 2009 release date, I have no knowledge of the Target Corp's actual plan to get the displays and merchandise out on the floors of their stores.
**END EDIT 2**
"A lot more people are capable of being big out there that just don't give themselves a chance." -Stone Gossard
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
2- 8:30 am phone call. Got bounced from the Operator, to Electronics, to Menswear- first three people had no idea what I was asking for. The fourth said that "...the truck didn't come in...".
3- T-shirt AND CD! The store had neither.
4- Don't know- I gave up.
Tweeter Center - Jul 02, 2003
Tweeter Center - Jul 03, 2003
Tweeter Center - Jul 11, 2003
Fleet Center - Sep 28, 2004
Dodge Music Center - Jun 27, 2008
Tweeter Center - Jun 28, 2008
Tweeter Center - Jun 30, 2008
ALL FOUR 09 PHILLY SHOWS!!
Got there at 8:00 AM to find no CDs on the shelves, with a cart full of boxes in front of it.
I kindly waited around until they put a few of the CDs on the shelf before I grabbed one. T-shirts were not yet on display as well, so I asked the sales person if I could grab one out of the box.
The display was finally completely ready to go at 9:00 AM or so with CD, Rockband Version, and T-shirts.
Sometimes you'll see a strange spot in the sky, a human being that was given to fly
I know it's already been sung...can't be said enough. Love is all you need, all you need is love.
Drove to Henrietta, NY and arrived at ~8:30. CDs were not up and shirt wasn't available. When I asked the guy about the shirt...he brushed me off onto an underling. She responded by saying, "Oh...that's right. The CD is supposed to be released." So she went in the back room and brought out the CDs and started stocking the shelf. No shirt :(
They only had a dozen or so of the RB version, about 4 Fixer singles and the rest of the endcap was empty. They had no clue about the shirts. After listening to the clerk talk about lighting and how this womens camera takes crappy pictures in the church she goes to, I asked and they hadn't gotten the shipment in. While I was there there was a women also waiting to inquire. As I walked away I heard the clerk say something like she is getting tired of answering questions about this cd and shirt.
I wanted RB version, fixer single, and 2 XL t's
I drove to Manchester ( 11am)and they had everything. However only Med and Large shirts and the guys said they only got about 5 XL's and they were gone within minutes.
Newbury Comics in the Buckland hills mall had the Vinyl and free tote with purchase $24.99 It looked so cool (vinyl) I almost bought it, but I already preordered from 10c and have to wait.
2. Sunday 9:15am
3. Vinyl
4. Nope---just stopped by today. Nada. No rockband, tshirts or vinyl. they also did not sell the Fixer single when it was released.
5. We can't wait to move. Waco pretty much sucks.
www.cluthelee.com
www.cluthe.com
2. Arrived before 8am (store opening)
3.T-Shirt/Rockband
4. While the End did have the Fixer Vinyl, the CD wasnt out yet and there were no T Shirts
5. Everyone I spoke to there tried to help out. One fella had an inventory gun and looked up the items i requested. He told me they didnt have any of the shirts, they did have the cd though. He did say that the Midlothian store had the shirts. Gave me directions. ( I wasnt familiar with the area.) And after another 25 minute ride down to the next store....
1. Midlothian, Va (West Richmond)
2. Arrived at 8:45
3. T Shirt
4. Nothing. No display of any of the merchandise.
5. Asked the electronics clerk about the new release. He told me that they put out the new music on Tue. even though the ad said 9/20. He and another fella checked their inventory and said the shirts came up but discontinued. And none available as they too looked for me in the receiving area.
Wasnt my most pleasant day, but hey I took a road trip and spun Backspacer about 9 times through.
I try to look on the brightside.
1.) Hightstown, N.J.
2.) Sunday 8am
3.) Backspacer with Rock Band downloads
4.) No clue, just bought the regular version and left. Lost money for them since i will only download a couple of the Rock Band songs instead of the whole album.
5.) Sad setup, like I said they only had the regular album, no shirts, no rock band and it didn't exactly look like something that was "exclusive" to Target.
You people really think this is going to make a difference/matter?
Don't get me wrong, the ball was dropped on this one by Target, but at the end of the day I'm sure no one at Target corporate is going to care. And to think that Pearl Jam has enough pull to 'raise' a fuss over this is hilarious to me.
The only difference I hope it would make is that the band would learn their lesson and not make the same mistake next time around.
Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
"How much difference does it make?" you ask
It could at least help PJ to look at this kind of deal in the future under a different light...I have no problems with Target as a retailer or the deal with Target in general but come on, get your stuff together if you are "exclusively" selling the album.
Sometimes you'll see a strange spot in the sky, a human being that was given to fly
I know it's already been sung...can't be said enough. Love is all you need, all you need is love.
Someone at the Best Buy corporate office really loves the band. I was there once. Its run by a bunch of hippies just out of college. Lots of marijuana joke references in the Saturday morning meeting videos.
Target is a good store, but their music department is pathetic. Maybe a hundred cds hidden in the back. People don't go to Target to buy music.
Except I remember how badly Best Buy got burned on their Chinese Democracy deal. I don't think they'd be likely to repeat that.
Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
Apparently Best Buy did really want to be an exclusive for Backspacer, but they didn't want to share with the little guy.. Instead the band opted to have clothing and housewares store sell their music. :?
2060 S Independence Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
(757) 416-1719
2. 4pm sunday the 20th
3. the cd
4. they had the cd, but not on shelf. had to ask. no other merch was displayed, no promo displays
___________________
If I were PJ I’d want to hear about this.
My target(va beach) had no shirts. But I had expected that from the shirt list. Not every store would have them.
I was expecting some kind of banner or poster advertising ‘Pearl Jam at Target’. All I saw in the entire store was this sign about the size of a piece of paper with a pic of the cd cover out on September 20 over the new releases shelf. I mean that’s it, I was shocked! With the Prince release there was crap all over the place.
THEN the Backspacer was nowhere to be found. I got there late in the day but still it couldn’t have sold out that fast.
I thought gezz they didn’t order enough.
I wasn’t leaving until I spoke to a staff. (give me my PJ god damnit! Lol!)
The guy said he had to get it from the back. And he asked if that’s all I wanted. (I guess for Rock Band or whatever)
I told him there was none on the shelf. He relied with something. I forgot the word he used but I’ve never heard it before. Merchandise jarkin.
I got the album but damn that was weird.
And I saw plenty of the commercial on TV last night, then I go to actually buy the thing and there was notta.
PJ got a bad deal.
2. 8am
3. limited edition t shirt
4. there was nothing out in music session expect the 7" vinyl single on a new release end-cap...one cash register end-cap was stocked with the cd and the price with no other information...
5. the first three people did not know at all what i was asking for, but were extremely helpful in figuring it out. The fourth person they asked had seen the box of shirts in the back and got them out. after i selected mine, she told the person in electronics to keep them behind the counter. the whole process took about 15 minutes and the store employees were helpful and nice
Good point but they got burned because they dealt with GNR. Even by buying a ticket GNR concert ticket, you take the risk of the guy not showing up (I knew this when I bought a ticket to the Philly riot...uh concert). Axl didn't do one freaking interview or major show to promote that album. PJ has done commercials, tons of interviews, and are playing over a dozen shows and TV appearances.
Target already bought 1 million and guaranteed X amount per sale
Had zero CDS in stock, and then told us CDs NEVER come out until Tuesday.
Westborough, MA 9:00am Sunday
Had the CDS, but no shirts. Clerk looked in the scanner & saw that MILLBURY had the shirts.
Millbury, MA 10:00am Sunday
Got an L & an XL shirt. They only had 7 total shirts & still no CDS. Still insisted CDS come out on tuesday
2. I was there at 8am on September 20th.
3. Went for the shirt but noticed they didn't have the CD on display...just a sign saying it would be released (Sept. 20). They did have the Fixer single (2 copies) but that is all.
4. No other merch on the display/end cap with the huge sign at 7pm that night (20th) but they did have 1, yes 1 CD in the regular racks but there was no signage or even one of those name dividers to lead you do the artists...
5. Although helpful, nobody knew what I was talking about until a snooty afternoon manager gave me lip and told me they weren't releasing the shirts until Tuesday (22nd), but got it out of her that they did have the box of shirts there. "...had it for about a week." This was after she told me they didn't arrive yet. She was so pissed that I caught her in her own lie. It was funny.
I was there about 2 hours ago.
Went there for the vinyl. There was another customer who grabbed a couple CDs. She was also looking for the t-shirt.
There was a big display of CDs but no records or shirts.
We both asked one of the employees about the items we had come there for. He had no idea that any Target store would be selling vinyl. He talked to someone over the radio to try and track both things down. No luck. I also had him check to see if they had been selling "Fixer" singles. It came up as discontinued on his handheld unit.
2. 8:00AM
3. Vinyl & T-shirt
4. They didn't have anything at 8AM, no cd, no vinyl, no shirt. I went back 4pm again, had EMPTY display case for vinyl and shirt and told by employee all sold out.
5. When I went in at 8AM, the employee in charge of music dept. said she had no idea and suggest I can just download from iTune :roll: She had no idea about t-shirt either. Went to men's dept. found the employee in charge, he was nice enough to search for me but no t-shirt.
There is NO mention of the shirt or vinyl in the Target circular and even this site says "SELECT TARGET STORES".
This was a limited thing. You can get upset all you want but you act like you been screwed out of something you were promised. Nothing was promised you.
Target didn't drop any ball. The only reason for grief I can see is if they didn't have the CD out on Sunday morning. Even then I would cut them some slack. NO ONE releases music on a Sunday and people who aren't familiar with this of course would be confused.
-J
10/1/94, 6/22/95, 6/24/95, 9/13/95, 11/4/95, 11/6/95, 11/7/95, 9/21/96, 9/22/96, 9/24/96, 9/26/96, 9/28/96, 9/29/96, 10/19/96, 10/20/96, 11/14/97, 11/15/97, 2/20/98, 2/21/98, 7/10/98, 7/13/98, 7/14/98, 10/22/00, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 12/6/02, 12/8/02, 6/1/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 7/18/06, 10/22/06, 8/28/09, 9/30/09, 10/1/09, 10/6/09, 10/7/09, 10/9/09, 11/21/13, 11/23/13, 10/1/21, 10/2/21, 5/3/22, 5/6/22, 5/7/22, 5/21/24, 5/22/24
The store I went to was listed also, and they had no clue. talk about low rent help...
1) Watertown, MA (On the list as having the t-shirts)
2) 8:30am (ish)
3) While there was no display set up, they had CD's and t-shirts behind the electronics counter - both were selling at a good clip.
4) I almost felt bad for the poor guy working. It was first thing in the morning and he had a crowd I know he wasn't expecting. He let me dig through the shirts (there couldn't have been more than 20 of them) for a medium while he took a call from another fan asking that he hold one. He was in for a long morning.
I was in and out in ten minutes and couldn't have been happier. As for the t-shirt, you really didn't miss out on much. They look small. I only picked one up to make the charitable donation. Too bad about the downloads not having cover songs, but all those shows (with the exception of the 2008's) are already available on this very board for free.
Again, I am sorry for anyone who had a hassle but just wanted to point out that it wasn't a universal thing.
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
Where was the list of "select" Targets posted? I didn't know this was done.
-J
10/1/94, 6/22/95, 6/24/95, 9/13/95, 11/4/95, 11/6/95, 11/7/95, 9/21/96, 9/22/96, 9/24/96, 9/26/96, 9/28/96, 9/29/96, 10/19/96, 10/20/96, 11/14/97, 11/15/97, 2/20/98, 2/21/98, 7/10/98, 7/13/98, 7/14/98, 10/22/00, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 12/6/02, 12/8/02, 6/1/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 7/18/06, 10/22/06, 8/28/09, 9/30/09, 10/1/09, 10/6/09, 10/7/09, 10/9/09, 11/21/13, 11/23/13, 10/1/21, 10/2/21, 5/3/22, 5/6/22, 5/7/22, 5/21/24, 5/22/24
http://www.pearljam.com/news/pearl-jam- ... er-t-shirt
2. 8:30 am on 9/20
3. Went to check out the shirt and vinyl. Also was curious to see the CD display, even though I already had the 10c disc.
4. Had the sign saying the Backspacer release date was 9/20 but NO CDs, vinyl, tshirts (asked 3 people in the dept, was directed to men's dept. NO shirts there either). They looked in the circular, I told them it wasn't in there and asked if they could look in the back. Came back with nothing. Told me to try the Atlanta store (over an 1.5 hr away). Thanks Target. Only had the fixer vinyl single. Which I had already purchased there a week ago. Walked over to the PJ section in the CDs...only had 1 10 remastered. Bf called a few hours later after hearing my angry story, was placed on hold several different times while "someone checked in the back" and was told to try an Atlanta store, again. :shock:
I started this thread because I saw someone in another (of the numerous) disorganized complaint thread about bad Target experiences throw the idea out and the concept of looking at specific locations or distributions of marketing plan execution seemed interesting to me.
I also wished to give people an outlet where they could make their voices heard without it disintegrating into another complaint thread. That is why I asked for people to leave specific information and to "be civil."
Yes. I have it in front of me and you are 100% correct. It does not mention a tee shirt or vinyl at all. It says specifically "Pearl Jam Backspacer Get the new album plus exclusive concert downloads. Only at Target + iTunes. *Quantities limited; no rain checks. Also available for download on iTunes.com/Target"
Yes. you are correct again. This site does say "...select Target stores..." The entire quote is below:
"Pearl Jam and Target have partnered with eco-friendly clothing designer, Loomstate, to create a limited-edition Pearl Jam Backspacer t-shirt to be sold in select Target stores beginning Sunday, September 20th." (http://www.pearljam.com/activism/pearl-jam-loomstate-create-limited-edition-backspacer-t-shirt-sale-target-raise-money-natio)
What has not at all been said, in any capacity (as near as I can tell) is that the LP or deluxe version (the version with Rockband playable tracks) would be in selective supply at all. There is no mention that these products would not be available for mass distribution or presence on the well publicized release date.
Yes. The tee shirt was publicized from the outset as a limited thing. Now the Target weekly circular specifically says (again) "*Quantities limited; no rain checks." There is no indication, in any capacity that I have seen, that the deluxe verison (the version with Rockband playable tracks) would be in selective supply at all.
I promise you this does not even come close to upsetting me. I am merely interested in information. Really, that's all.
Begging your pardon, I don't believe that I have acted in any capacity other than the pursuit of information. In the interest of full disclosure I ordered the cd, LP, and 7" from 10C, and never had any intent of purchasing anything from Target.
Yes, I understand this. Nothing was promised me. I also asked for no promises from Target. Again, I already secured the things I was interested in directly from 10C so with respect to the Target organization, I was never going to support them in this endeavor.
Perhaps you were assuming I was interested in going to my local Target and hunting down this "limited edition t-shirt." Let me assure you, I was not. I could really care less. If I may, though, it has been quite unfortunate to see many people logging on in the last 24 hours or so with tales of failed attempts to support their favorite band and do something charitable at the same time.
Respectfully, I debate this point. The lack of uniform execution by this organization (Target) tells me that they did fail (albeit only temporarily) to understand the fan base of this band. While ultimately I don't believe that a few people in every market across the country being turned away for a niche product in a store that does not normally carry niche products will have any impact on Target's year end bottom line, I feel that tighter execution of this marketing plan could lead to a higher level of customer satisfaction. And I would be willing to bet you more than not that marketing executives are going to be closely scrutinizing this plan as it unfolds. It was a coup, in my eyes, for Target to score this deal w/ PJ instead of Best Buy or another big box store chain. They want to know if it is going to be profitable quite badly.
Respectfully, I don't believe I have initiated any grief giving or suggested that people contribute grief. I would refer you to my original post.
You are correct that a Sunday release is well outside the norm for a music industry release. Tuesday is in fact the normal industry-wide release date for all new records.
J, I am of the belief that, while complaining is not always a bad thing (it's almost never a bad idea to let others know if something is genuinely wrong), disorganized complaining often falls on deaf ears. Organized and legitimate suggestions about how to improve a situation are almost universally accepted, however. Sometimes, all people need is a structured outlet to get the ball rolling.
HeavyHands