Once I finally broke down and got more curious, I learned that you had to fill out a paper application and send in a voided check. Ain't nobody got time for that! I didn't want to fill out the form, void the check and address an envelope. That was so many steps, especially in this day and age of instant gratification! I did finally filled out the form and sent it in.
I was excited to know that I'd be saving 5% on all of my purchases. I shop at Target at least once every two weeks and always make an effort to look at the sales paper. Each day I looked into the mailbox for my new Target Red Card. Nearly three weeks pass before I opened the mailbox and saw something from Target. It was a letter saying that I didn't complete the form. Aaaaaaaack!
Why can't they just simplify this process? Well, my question was answered when I was standing in line last week and saw a woman apply for her Target Red Debit Card using her checkbook. Well, why is it that they never told anyone this fabulous nugget of information? Today I applied and received my temporary Target Red Debit Card in-store. YES! A success. Sorta.
The bigger question is this. Why supply a gimmick to trick consumers in thinking they're truly saving money? Why not just have prices set at 5% lower all of the time? I guess it's perceived savings because you're "in the clique". It gives you a sense of savings when in fact it's just getting it for the price it really should have been to begin with. You real saving live in coupon clipping and we all know that takes a lot more effort than whipping out that Target Card and getting your 5% savings that you should have had to begin with.
When you think you're getting a deal, you're probably really not. Unless it's on clearance and I scored a shirt at Target that was regularly priced at $24 and got it for $6.98. Now that my friends is what I call a true money saving deal.
Educate. Empower. Economize.
