SELECT Target stores have been adopting a strict entry policy.
The rule currently appears at only a handful of the retailer’s 1,963 locations nationwide but started popping up last year.
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In August 2023, rumors started to spread of a Target store in Sacramento, California, that started restricting the entry of minors unless they were accompanied by an adult.
A local shopper, Trudy Medina, said that they believed the alleged rule was put in place at the Sacramento store specifically due to some “bad apple” children disrupting the shopping experience for months, per local CBS affiliate KOVR.
Target later responded and said the rule wasn’t in place but in December 2023, a video went viral showcasing a sign outside a different store in New Jersey that detailed an age restriction for entry.
“All guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at this Target store,” the sign read.
The clip took viewers through the location, which had security guards verifying IDs at the door, the self-checkout closed, and items locked behind glass, among other anti-theft measures.
In April of this year, a store in Washington DC within a mall in the area adopted the same measure.
The implementation of the policy may be spreading at other stores this summer, according to signs spotted by some shoppers in July.
SPREADING OUT?
“This has got to be a first,” a customer wrote in a recent Reddit post with a picture of the same age restriction sign at the entrance.
Others noted that they also spotted the signs during recent grocery trips.
“They have the same sign at my target also,” someone replied, blaming the introduction of the policy on TikTok.
“Our has one that says no 16yrs or younger without an adult after 8pm,” another echoed.
“I’m guessing they got tired of kids and teenagers wrecking up the store,” a third fumed.
Some were even supportive of the age restriction.
“That should be the standard in all Target stores,” a frustrated customer replied in the Reddit thread.
Does Target charge for bags?
Target automatically charges customers for bags in drive up and pickup orders.
The store charges $1 per every 10 bags used, meaning each plastic bag costs 10 cents.
“Charging bag fees for online pickup orders aligns with fees that were already in place for purchases made in Target stores at checkout,” Target shared on their site.
“If you’re purchasing from a store that charges bag fees, they’ll be applied to your order.”
If a customer uses less than 10 bags for their order, the amount is properly adjusted.
However, the rule depends on state and local laws as different stores have different bag policies.
Some locations only charge a five-cent fee for the bags while some spots charge five cents per bag at checkout in the store – and some don’t offer bags at all.
You can check how much you were charged for bags by viewing your order’s invoice through your Target account on Target.com or the app.
Target also allows customers to bring their own bags to avoid the automatic fee since they added bag preferences in March 2024.
If you order online for drive up or pickup at select stores, you can decline Target bags at checkout and tell the store you’ll be bringing your own bags to get your order.
“Pleeasseee I wish we had this but that’s also like impossible to enforce,” another shopper added.
Someone joked that a “bouncer” should be introduced to help verify IDs to get into the age-restricted locations.
It’s unclear whether or not the policy will ever be implemented on a more national scale, but The U.S. Sun has contacted Target for an official comment.
POLICY PAINS
Target caused controversy over a self-checkout policy implemented earlier this year as well.
After being tested at about 200 stores last year, the retailer decided to undergo a nationwide implementation of its “Express Self-Checkout” model, restricting the kiosks to customers with only 10 items or less.
It’s caused serious backlash among some, who claim that the result has been long lines and wait times.
Some said they were forced to leave items behind just to check out and begged the retailer to “please make it stop.”
Others are fleeing competitors, saying they’d “rather shop at Walmart” due to the 10-item limit.
Walmart has also begun testing its version of the same policy with a 15-item limit at self-checkout in select stores.