Customers who braved the cold outside Target on Black Friday are feeling frustrated with the lackluster quality of the bags they received.
The retailer had promised that the first 100 customers would snag a “limited edition rainbow holiday tote filled with fun giveaways,” while the first ten would get additional surprises, including gadgets like hair dryers and slushie machines, which sounded enticing at first.
However, one unhappy shopper likened the contents to an electronic benefit transfer card meant for food assistance, expressing disbelief at the cheap items inside.
“They didn’t even give decent gifts like thick blankets or gift cards,” the person vented on social media, remarking on the subpar nature of the giveaways. “It feels like a billion-dollar company is showing us what they really think – just trash.”
Another frustrated individual shared a photo of a bag on Reddit, revealing it contained small items like a deck of Uno cards and candy, which led to many complaints. “The swag bags are terrible,” one person exclaimed. “I was honestly so let down after waiting three hours, it felt like a big waste.”
As additional examples circulated online, freebies included drink mixes and sample shampoo sizes, further igniting user indignation. “Making people wait in the cold for such small prizes? That’s just wrong,” one TikTok user remarked.
Amid the discontent, some customers turned to humor, mocking the situation and their own disappointment. “It’s crazy how upset people are over these crappy swag bags. It’s as if waiting outside was just for nothing,” one user commented.
Target has yet to respond to the backlash.
Lisa Miller, a retail consultant, commented that the promotion turned out to be a significant misstep. “You’d expect something better from Target than cheap lip gloss and a few playing cards,” she noted.
Target has been facing challenges in attracting customers recently.
Sales continued to stagnate or drop as the retailer reported twelve consecutive months of weak performance.
For the three-month period ending November 1, same-store sales fell by 2.7%. Once again, fewer customers were visiting, resulting in a 2.2% decline in foot traffic.
This year, some consumers chose to boycott the retailer after it reduced its diversity and inclusion initiatives. The company attributed some of its sales struggles to this boycott.
In October, Target laid off about 1,800 employees, representing roughly 8% of its workforce, marking its largest cuts in a decade.
