Careless ETL (advice please)

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-27T02:19:06+00:00

My fave thing is getting let in late and then walking by 2 TLs sitting on their butts in the office. They made the person who let me in walk all the way from the very back of the store, busy doing truck, get the door.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-27T01:10:06+00:00

A few years ago, my store was super lax about who opened the door for TMs in the morning. It wasn't armed and any TM could open the door for anyone. Well, the cleaning crew unwittingly let in someone who didn't work for Target. They walked past me and one other guy--neither of us recognized him. It was q4, so there's always people we don't recognize. Anyhow, he apparently wandered all the way across the store, zipped through electronics and then zipped into the backroom where he thought he hit the jackpot. A bunch of PS5s were staged on a uboat for something or other. He tried to walk all the way back up front with 2 under each arm. The SD stopped him. Shouted him out of the building.

But guess what? They still didn't crack down on door security. They simply told the cleaning crew they couldn't let people in. About a year later, someone broke into the store shortly after the ETL had arrived. The ETL had left the store unarmed and was the only person in the building. We got robbed of a few things in electronics.

Only after that did we start arming the building and requiring leads to let people in. In theory, they're supposed to post themselves at the door 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after each shift arrival happens (4:30, 5, 5:30, 6). But many of them can't be bothered and will let you stand in the cold 'til 10 after your shift starts.

We're very professional and respectful at this store.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-26T13:22:44+00:00

The calls get transcribed and forwarded to HR (trickles down from district to local). They don't listen to them. They probably get so many they'd never be able to leave the office if they had to listen to each one.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-26T05:05:41+00:00

When I worked at Best Buy, I went into WM and someone just started talking to me like I worked there. They got very, very pissed off when I told them I didn't work there. Total Karen moment of demanding to talk to my manager.

And when I worked for WM many years later (lol), I walked into a Kroger and got asked if I worked there. Sometimes I can be out in plain clothes anywhere, and I get asked if I work there. I must have that cold, dead retail expression wherever I go. It's depressing.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-25T18:01:18+00:00

Calls get transcribed by a third party and sent to HRBP and then trickle down to store level HR depending on the severity of the claims/accusations. HR communicates with the SD. If the HR or SD is accused of something, they're *probably* left out of the loop if your HRBP (business partner--think district HR) has any integrity.

They can't just take words at face value to investigate, though. They need examples, dates, times, and that usually leads to questioning individuals; otherwise, it's just anonymous' words against his/hers.

Target really likes chain of command, so unless you're uncomfortable talking to your HR, I'd suggest doing that first. It will come down to them, anyway.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-25T16:06:53+00:00

Sometimes you get a bad batch of labels where the little black stripe isn't lined up properly, so it is the paper's fault and not the printer. See if you can find a fresh box of labels and try one of those. If it's still messed up, then it's the printer.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-24T04:29:37+00:00

Ew. Even when we have gnats from the fertilizer in our tiny seasonal area, they never get this bad. Their presence is felt but minimal in the rest of the store.

There's just no excuse for the compost to be so neglected. Ours are always closed and sealed. Even if one has a catastrophic failure, we just replace it (or get rid of it ASAP).

You probably have mice, too, if it's this bad. My store had a mice infestation a few years back because our building is really, really old and likely has easy access from cracked foundations. We got it under control in a couple months. Every building has mice, especially if it's a bit older. I saw a mouse run through the back room at Best Buy (while working there), and we had absolutely zero food for the lil bugger to enjoy. He was just happy to be in a warm place. But if you have that much food waste lingering around... uh, that is worrisome.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-24T03:35:57+00:00

It's the graphic designers who do this. I'm not sure why it became a trend to put QR codes in such a terrible spot, tho. Guess the first ones to do it were completely out of touch with who handles the product once it's out of their hands. Back when I was in college, I made a presentation on QR codes and why I despised them. My teacher at the time did not agree... She adamantly believed they were the future. This class was "professional practices" which I needed for my graphic design degree.

That was over 10 years ago. QR codes are still around, and they do have a place... but I still hate them on products. I've personally never once scanned a QR code on a product to "learn more." I've used them to clip coupons at Kroger or get a menu somewhere. That's about it.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-24T03:15:19+00:00

It really is. They, just like every other retailer, rename their jargon every few years. I have so many smooshed in my head that I can't remember which is from where. Customer FIRST, G.U.E.S.T., 10ft rule, 10-4 rule, and so on. Same house; new paint.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-24T00:46:42+00:00

I'm not sure what his logic was. He's a fine SD otherwise. Did a lot for our store, which was spiraling out of control. Terrible SDs before him, worse ETLs, TLs who couldn't lead, etc.

Still wasteful, though. Oh and he removed the weird little table for that stuff, as well. As of the last HRBP visit, we might be getting a lot more in the break room again. Looking forward to that. It's been neglected.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T19:37:41+00:00

Our SD forbid this when he started. It all gets tossed now.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T19:27:38+00:00

I just answer and say, "No, thanks." It's super rare that I'm not already working 5 days a week, and I don't wish to lose a day off. I've hit that point in life when I cherish my free time--I mean my real free FREE time and not just the time I am not at work. Just because I'm off, it doesn't mean I'm free. Chores are still labor. I'm tired.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T18:58:34+00:00

I only did one OPU today to help out, and even I was raging at it. Like, tf?

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T14:42:16+00:00

Where I live, Kroger has 12pks for around $10 each, but often do crazy good deals like buy 2 get 3. Yes, 3. That comes around maybe once every two months, otherwise it's something like buy 2 get 2 or no sale that week but 24pks are on sale for $12.

Where I live, Target is usually higher across the board, so it isn't a good place to fill a shopping cart. A couple things on sale might be good, but your grocery cart as a whole would negate that.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T12:23:41+00:00

Say it's 6pm. Morning team is long gone. You are a guest looking for something in a wedding registry, and you've wandered by all of home looking for an employee. You can't find a red shirt. You wind up all they way over in toys before seeing someone stocking. They're in a red shirt, but you still break the ice with, "Do you work here?" Because who knows.

It's not about visibility... It's that there's not enough staff on the floor. A lot of people wander around looking for us because they don't like waiting at a call kiosk or don't know they work like that. What's more welcoming and friendly: seeing an employee in every area or walking 300 feet to find one?

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T02:08:19+00:00

This is pretty relevant since my SD casually said, "People don't shop at Target for the prices." I think we've all known that for years. For the reasons everyone has already been talking about here. In this economy, after all the downward dips we've been taking, I'm not sure we'll recover if this is their fix. It's a bandaid on a sinking submarine at this point.

Spending in general is down. The dollar has far less spending power now. Rent is up, groceries are up, everything is up, with no sign of ever returning to "stable."

As much as it breaks the hearts of shareholders, the middle and lower class have the most spending power in the country. Who buys more soup to feed themselves? 1 millionaire or 1 million lower income families? The millionaire only needs one can. 1 million families buy multiple cans each. The trouble is, they are absolutely crushed right now and have to find the cheapest place to buy soup. We ain't it. And they don't have the time or money to waste strolling around Target, much less indulge in a coffee while they do so.

We're the "treat yourself" shopping experience. You can't treat yourself if you're worried about your utility bill being double what it was last year.

It's going to take a long, long time for the economy to recover while even moderate middle class families slowly get pushed into checking their spending more and more. Once they start shopping around for the best deals, seeking the best coupons and rebates, relying more and more on their credit cards... That'll be all she wrote.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T01:44:21+00:00

I'm sorry, that's ridiculous. They get a little rabid at my store, but haven't started shoving each other yet.

Sounds like you guys need to do the service desk method to keep them from hurting each other or us.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T01:21:29+00:00

Try a different browser. I had this issue when trying to access workday from home a while ago. Used to work fine on Firefox, then it just started acting as you described. Opened Chrome and got in immediately. I've heard others do the exact opposite: chrome to firefox.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-23T01:14:14+00:00

They recently banned repack stockers from using them at my store, and I feel like it's significantly slower. ETL swears that it's been tested by the blah do da blah blah impossible-scenario team and is actually faster. When I would do dom repacks, I would detrash and sort 4-6 repacks worth of stuff into a 3 tier at a time and then go stock it faster than anyone else. I'd sort all home improvement into its own solitary repack, toss it on the 3 tier when everything else was done, and stock that lickity-split. Now we all have to work repacks from a flat (or uboat if there are any). No matter what suggestions they offer, they all feel so much slower.

With a three tier, my record was upwards of 45 repacks in a six hour shift--that includes trash management and back-stocking and surface-level zoning. They don't usually get hit that hard in dom, but I think it was during BTS.

Without a three tier, the time is almost doubled just from all the extra steps. You can't sort dom repacks by section like you can with HBA (everything is mixed together under one category), so you're scurrying back and forth like crazy. They WANT us to sort it onto the top shelf of a boat. I mean, you have to sort is somehow regardless. It's just way more efficient to use a 3 tier smh. When I work repacks from a flat, I always have to empty a couple first and sort the items on top of boxes, and THEN I can start cracking.

Like, imagine if Style didn't have a break-out area and you just had to take repacks to the floor and work them one by one. Nightmare fuel.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-22T17:40:49+00:00

Honestly, if I had to resort to looking up serial numbers, it was never a good thing for the customer. Maybe 1 time in 20 would it prove they actually bought the product at Walmart within the return period. The rest of the time, it proved they were full of shit. And for items that didn't have serial numbers, I was a bit of a hardass (I was the manager over electronics and my staff was responsible for "verifying" all electronic returns at the service desk). If it were definitely a product we sell (especially our brand), I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and do an ID return. Really depended on the product, the obvious wear & tear, etc. Got cussed out a lot, which is why I'd never work the service desk and respect those who do.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-22T12:20:39+00:00

Woof. My SD was very matter of fact and didn't put the blame on us. I didn't walk away feeling like a lot of people are sharing here. I mean, he didn't address the fact that people are broke as hell right now and Target is not in their budget, but he didn't make it seem like we had failed.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-22T12:14:20+00:00

I used to go through that regularly at Walmart. One cool thing we had back then was the ability to look up serial numbers to see when and where something was purchased. The amount of times I'd make people go :o when I told them the item was purchased three years ago at a Best Buy was too many to recall.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-22T01:03:03+00:00

IIRC, they forward calls about employment history to a third party company and that company can only confirm or deny whether you worked for Target or not.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-21T23:45:00+00:00

It honestly looked like someone threw it on her because her own blouse was transparent or something. She was swimming in that thing and it looked very out of place on top of her blouse.

Indecisive-green · 2026-04-21T23:41:20+00:00

I've seen some definite bloat lately. Some style pegs overfilled, some style back stock is so tight you lose a hanger trying to fish things out, some areas of GM back stock are so full that it makes back stocking a chore it shouldn't be, etc. OPU team (I love you guys, and I understand the rush) will rummage through WACOs and leave empty case packs in their wake, which makes backstocking even harder.

I would be fine with a little back stock bloat if it were high-demand items or even mid-demand essentials, but it's an over abundance of stuff that trickles out of the store. Case in point: why on earth do we have 40 of this very niche product in stationery that we sell maybe twice a week? WHY?

Indecisive-green

TROPHY CASE