4 things never to buy at Target

In the battle for public opinion, Target has shellacked its larger competitor, Walmart. Whether it's environmentalists attacking the concept of big-box retail or workers' rights advocates lambasting the chain's treatment of employees, Walmart has become a poster company for the excesses of capitalism. Target, meanwhile, has built a reputation for cheap chic, pairing with Liberty of London and Michael Graves to churn out high-design at low prices. Walmart gets the blame for putting mom and pop stores out of business, while Target recently opened its first store in Manhattan, a market Walmart has yet to crack.

4 things to buy at Target
What you should buy at Walmart
What you should NEVER buy at Walmart

Recently, however, Target has looked vulnerable, suffering more in the economic downturn than Walmart did, and committing a rare public relations gaffe by making a political contribution that angered gay groups.

So what about the merchandise? On its carefully edited shelves, Target offers many good products at competitive prices, but it also sells products you should avoid, either because you'll get a better selection or price at another store, or because there are more environmentally sound options. Here are four items not to buy at Target.

Furniture

Target's design edge in categories like clothing and housewares, where Target has exclusive deals with fashion stars such as Zac Posen, clearly doesn't extend to home furniture. "You can get comparable quality and cheaper stuff from Ikea, and Ikea's merchandise is a bit more stylish," says Kathryn Finney of The Budget Fashionista site. Finney says that, in particular, Ikea's bookshelves, chairs, and kitchen tables tend to offer better value than those at Target.

Movies and Music

"They can't really beat Amazon or Walmart" when it comes to prices on movies, music, and books, says James McQuivey, a media technology analyst at Forrester Research. Katy Perry's Teenage Dream CD, for example, sells for $13.99 at Target, vs. $9.99 at Amazon and $9.00 at Walmart, while the Blu-ray version of Date Night costs $29.99 at Target, vs. $24.96 at Walmart and $28.99 at Amazon.com.

Exercise Equipment

Target's clothes may be fashionable, but if you want to look great in them, buy your exercise equipment somewhere else. Target's offerings in this category tend toward the $199 "As Seen on TV" Ab Circle Pro and the $100 Tony Little "Gazelle Edge" fitness system. You're generally better off going to a place like The Sports Authority for higher-end exercise equipment. Or join a gym and hire a pro.

Shower Curtains, Some Toys, and Other Products with PVC

Following a national campaign by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) and other environmental groups, Target agreed in 2007 to reduce the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic in its products and packaging. PVC often contains lead and pthalates, which have been linked to reproductive problems in humans and release carcinogens when incinerated. At the time, Target lagged behind Walmart and Sears in removing products containing PVC, says Mike Schade, CHEJ's PVC campaign coordinator. Although Target is now doing just as well as these rivals in removing PVC -containing products, it hasn't gotten rid of all of them, according to Schade.

Of particular concern are toys not sold under Target's private-label brand; Schade says it can be a challenge for retailers to control the materials that its suppliers use. (Toys sold under Target's brand should generally be PVC-free, according to Schade.) And read the labels on plastic shower curtains: Target has removed most, but not all, that contain PVC from its shelves. (Products that contain the recycling symbol with the number '3' in the middle mean they contain PVC.)

For its part, Target says it has eliminated or switched to safer forms of PVC in product categories covered by child safety legislation.

This article is part of a package of stories about consumers and Target. Read our other article on what to buy at Target.

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[cntrygirl3]

I do not go to Wal Mart because of the way they treat their employees, part time so no benefits but then work them 40 hours a week and no overtime. I have been there with my parents who get their cheap prescriptions which of course are never ready and you always have to wait, no chairs they force you to walk around and hopefully buy something. This is a small town and my parents know the pharmacist or I would worry a lot. Very few people actually "need" any of the Chinese made junk they sell there. A lot of the people who shop there are the same people that lament the loss of manufacturing jobs while supporting one of the main reasons they are gone.

[nismo_guy]

As a former pharmaceutical sales rep, I can understand the dismay of patients kept waiting while a doctor speaks to a sales rep, but I honestly think that most doctors AND reps tried to respect the time taken up at the doctor's office. Yes, there are some reps out there who make it a social call but the professional ones do serve two very important functions:

a) They provide the doctor with clinical information on new drugs available to him. Remember that doctors are creatures of habit-- often prescribing the same drugs that they've developed a comfort level. Unfortunately, what they are comfortable with and have used for years doesn't work in every case. Wouldn't you want to make sure that your doctor is up on all the viable prescription alternatives available?

b)They provide samples. There were many times when I felt like a UPS man in a suit whenever a doctor was too busy to speak with me but asked me to leave samples of pharmaceuticals. But it made me feel good knowing that my samples might be given to a patient to make sure that he/she did not have any bad drug interactions BEFORE he/she went out and spent the money on a 30-day supply of the drug.
Leaving the doctor samples also allowed the doctor (at his discretion) to give a needy patient a full regimen of drugs for FREE. I remember when one asked me for enough samples of an expensive antibiotic so he could give a 10 day supply to a needy patient who had no insurance. Sure, public aid would have paid for a cheaper alternative drug, but the doctor felt that my drug would better cure the patient.

So please don't be so hard on pharmaceutical reps-- the good ones do serve a purpose...

[dec2955]

I have to say that when it comes to new releases and sale entertainment products (Music, Movies, Games) that many times my local Target stores beats Wal-Mart and Best Buy, while both of these companies will "Will Price Match Same Item" the item from Target is also an exclusive item from Target that may have video extras, song, game level, not part of the like package from the other stores.. An example from the last few months is "Muppet Movie (2011)" [Blu-Ray] which came with a sampler DVD of the "Muppets TV Show" covering four seasons. or "Game Of Thrones" [Blu-Ray] which came with an extra making of feature on disc. They have had many exclusive disc's (cd & video) which you can not even purchase else where.

[sgtrock95023]

Do not buy Brogan shoes at Target. I bought a pair in Salinas, CA. After wearing them 2 times, the outside started to peel off.

I would have taken them back however, it was two months since I bought them before I wore them the first time and I could not find the receipt.

[FXSTC07]

I like to shop at both Target or Walmart as long as they are clean and organized. I have to drive a little further to get away from the ones the illegal aliens and low class white people go because those stores are a mess.
Walmart generally is cheaper.

[PentatonX]

My girlfriend is a pharmacist at Target. She is the sweetest, most empathetic, giving, intelligent, hardest working person I've ever met. She is scheduled for 10 hours a day, but usually ends up working at least 12 because Target will not provide her with an adequate staff and puts all the work on her. The corporate overlords frequently stop in just to tell her how terrible of a job she's doing whilst she is grossly understaffed, breaking sales records every month, and her pharmacy's profits are increasing every year - up 12% this year alone. They tell her she should work more than the 72+ hours she is already working per week. Many customers will not come in to the store for their prescriptions when she is not working. The store manager is a scumbag; married with 4 children and recently had an affair with his employee in HR. Corporate Target decided to fire her instead of him or both. Disgusting.

I say don't shop at Target at all. They are just as bad as Wal-Mart under their glossy red veneer. Buy local. Buy American. These greedy gargantuan companies that treat their employees like garbage, treat customers like numbers, and sell you cheap Chinese junk don't deserve your money.

[cattiej]

I agree with you a thousand times over. Don't shop at Target. It certainly wouldn't buy Rx there when the pharmacy staff are overworked. If I were this person, I would quit immediately. There are many pharmacies that could use a good person like your girl friend. Many of these big Walmart, Target, work their people like dogs..Also, 90% of the Rx meds are made in India, Mexico, Ireland and other countries. The pharmacy companies don't maunfacture their own meds in America anymore. What's going to happen when thousands of people die from bad medicine made in another country? It scares me everytime I think about it and I am a retired from the medical field..I know the ins and outs of hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. All these pharmacy repesentatives that visit the Doctors offices and give them free samples of meds should stop being able to do that. This is prostituting of meds. I hate having to wait an extra 30-45 minutes because my Dr. is busy visitng with a pharmacy reps who provides free lunch for the employee's and free CEU for the Drs and nurses..What a scam this is..they are the lobbyist of the medical field and they jobs should be illegal..they are panhandle drugs. Target has nothing by junke to sell and everything is made in China or some foreign 3rd world country. I haven't bought anything at Target for 3-4 years..never will again.