Wednesday, June 25

"A chance to win a $5,000 Target gift card"

A couple things:
~ Brian, Sydney and I took a quick trip through Cost Plus World Market the other day so Brian could pick up some of his favorite flavored gummies. The normal grape flavor wasn't available, so he picked up this other random grape variety flavor. Once in the car, he opened the bag and handed me one. The instant I bit into it, I recognized the flavor, and it totally took me back to my very early youth. These are the exact same grapes that my Grandma Smith grew in her backyard. I remember Daddy and I picking these little grapes about the size of peas, popping them out of their purple skins and eating them up until we were so full. It was so weird how the entire memory just came screaming back into my head the moment I bit into that random muscat grape gummy. Now, they're like an obsession. I can't get enough of them.
~ A neighbor that I liked has moved out. And it's odd how this seems to have bummed me. This neighbor, Sven, was always super nice, and a pleasure to talk to. He's a tour guide who travels throughout the Southwest and Midwest taking groups on different trips, ranging from camping in northern Arizona to ski trips in Colorado. I was fascinated because, during the winter, he didn't have any work, and was always home. During the spring and summer, he was always gone, being away for weeks at a time. He has an ugly, Nissan truck that was parked right outside my kitchen window, and every time the truck was gone, I knew he was home from a trip. Just an idle curiosity, I always took notice of the truck whenever I was in the kitchen. Now it's gone, and I've got nothing vaguely interesting to see out my window.
~ I wonder if I'll ever win one of those $5,000 gift cards from Target that the store gives away in a sweepstakes whenever you fill out one of their service surveys. In fact, right now, I declare shenanigans that they give it to anyone. Nope, I don't think they do it. It's just a tease, really, to see if we'll keep filling the damn things out. I also think that they connect the purchase information, and personal shopping information, with the survey invitation. I have no evidence to support such a claim; I'm just saying it. Target totally knows how often I shop there, so knows how much money they'll lose if they give me the gift card, and so won't do it.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Muscat Gummies"!
Don't forget your Daddy when you come to CA.

Peoria Peepers said...

I won $5,000 worth of gift cards from doing the Target receipt survey. At first I was leery when they contacted me, but it turned out to be true.
So, it could happen!

Anonymous said...

I too doubted (and really still do) if anyone actually won the $5000 gift card(s). Maybe it's beause as much as we spend at Target, I feel I should have won one by now. And, on one of my last shopping trips, the customer in front of me who spent about $4 got the survey on her receipt and I spent over $400 and didn't. I tend to agree, it's rigged to those who don't already invest their entire income in shopping at Target! Maybe if I start using my Target Visa at WalMart I'll improve my odds?!?

Anonymous said...

I do those stupid surveys all the time and I never win :(

Anonymous said...

How do we know people like Jeep2000 aren't just being payed to say this? I mean, people can claim that its only bots that say these things, but you never know. You'd be surprised how far a Corporation will go as to keep a lie going (that profits them), or how much they'd pay employees to keep their mouths shut about it. They'll do anything for profit, and there are many people out there who would do anything for 20,000 dollars or so, even go as far as cooperating with a company wide scam.

Indeed, the author makes a good point. They'd lose 5000 dollars in merchandise and it wouldn't guarentee them any profit. A bunch of surveys will really make up the difference for that 5000 loss in revenue? A likely story.

Anonymous said...

I just filled out my umpteenth Target survey. I figured I might find some facts online about people actually winning the gift card, and your blog came up. I, too, am a skeptic ...

Kathryn said...

i fill out surveys all the time! still waitng to win!! i live in so cal also? where are you located?

theflammes.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I dunno, I mean if you read the rules carefully, it sounds like they'd essentially own you after you win. $5,000 isn't much considering how much profit Target turns, and if they own your likeness(ie. your soul?) forever and ever without approval and never have to compensate you... that could get scary. Not saying they would do something weird with that, but the fact that you have to sign something giving them the right to use you without your consent whenever and however they see fit is a little weird.

("..permission to Sponsor and those acting under its authority the right to the use of his/her name, picture, likeness, voice, biographical information and statements, at any time or times, for advertising, trade, publicity and promotional purposes without additional compensation, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide and on the Internet and World Wide Web, without notice, review or approval.")

Anonymous said...

SORRY!
I also am very much a skeptic when it comes to ANY corporate promises, especially the BIG RIGHT WING contributor to politicians of the TEA sort!
As far as the person who WON the $5000 Gift Card?
It is all a bit too pat, and reeks of more Corporate Target shenanigans and "in the pocket" reviews etc!

Unknown said...

Hello,
I am a Target Team Member at a small Target outside of StLouis. The Survey is given out at random unless you're purchasing from the Cafe, Starbucks, or Electronics where you will ALWAYS recieve one. I had a man come through my checklane buying a soda and some gum. He is a regular shopper and often complains that he has not yet won a gift card from filling out all of our Surveys. A Survey did not print. A week or so later he was back in with his wife doing regular shopping, they spent nearly $400 dollars and a reciept with a Survey printed. About another week passes and I see him looking at TVs in our Electrincis department. He said he had recieved a call two hours earlier about winning the giftcard and was here to decide what to spend it all on.
He still shops regularly, and has yet to spend the total amount on his giftcards.
(Team Members &their immediate family are not allowed to participate in the Surveys) BUT, if i dont use my discount card (a whopping 5%) occasionally one will print and i just make my boyfriend fill it out in his name :) He still hasnt won. lol.

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I too am here because I just filled out my (x) kajillionth survey (I know for sure that I've been filling them out for at least 5 years!). I'm just so curious. The conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe that Target just wants to track these purchases and connect them with the same person (even though I usually use my Target card, so how hard can that be?) But the gullible 13 year old in me still wants to believe there is a majical land where people really do win $5000 and get to buy huge TV's!
I'll let you guys know if I win! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm not too skeptical that folks win... because I've heard of people doing so. HOWEVER, what does make me skeptical is that the folks at one of our local Target stores, NEVER give you the survey receipt! Not sure if you know this, but if you shop at the cafe or starbucks you ALWAYS get a survey. At this particular Target I always have to ASK for MINE! I've seen them stack them in a pile (partially crumpled, oddly) but they don't toss them (at least not right away). It's so weird... SOOOOOOOO -- if you go to the cafe/starbucks and DON'T get a survey, ASK FOR IT!!

Anonymous said...

I filled out 4 surveys from a pile of receipts from the past 2 months. If I understand correctly, only one person per month will get a gift card for $5000. I don't know how many Target's there are, but they give hundreds, if not thousands of surverys per day per store for 3o days each month. The odds are like the lottery. Think about the local gas station that sells alot of powerball tickets. It could be selling it for 20 years and never once sell a grand prize winner ticket. I would be upset if they were giving out hundreds of $5 or $10 gift cards each month, but what are the chances that the average person who probably goes between once to four times a month would win the prize out of possibly hundred of thousands. I rarely believe in people that post they have won on these sites because we live in a corrupt world where anyone can say anything. I could have chosen a different route and said I won 2 months ago. Many people will believe it and many won't. But it would be a lie. I haven't done alot of research into this because like I said, I filled out 4 because I was bored and have been using target for years. This whole thing reminds me of shopping at amazon.com and reading the pros and cons of a product. People will try to sabotage or lie on their own behalf. Look at Newt G, he is running for president and wanted to be cool and have more twitter followers. It turned out the "followers" were basically random numbers that his staff created so it looked like he had followers. I read one post about giving up your rights if you win here and your name and likeness, etc can be used by Target. I think that is a good thing. It may be the only way to prove someone won. BBB and other agencies will financially damage a company with false advertisement including give aways. I believe Target does give a gift card each month because it would cost alot of money otherwise in penalties. I still won't win, but as they say in the lottery, you can't win, if you don't play. This lottery ticket is free, so maybe I will be lucky, but i am not holding my breath

Anonymous said...

Finally, someone with common sense. There is only one winner per month out of tens of thousands. It is like the lotto. If you don't believe they are paying, then why are you filling the surveys out? You don't get a discount, you get nothing out of it if you don't win. I have filled a couple over 5 years. It is a long shot and I did it because I was bored. There is always a conspiracy theory theory thrown in like paying someone to say they won. If you dont pay that person $5000, you will more likely be exposed and Target would lose alot of money if this was fake and exposed. I could say I won just like Jeep2000 did and this person could be saying this just to say it or it could be true. I would wonder why someone who one would look for a website that complains about it being fake. The chances of the relatively few people in comparison that post here would then win and come back to declare they won. I don't care too much to research if they give you multiple gift cards adding to $5000 when the prize says, a chance to win a $5000 Target gift card, no cards like Jeep2000 said. I could still be wrong about that and Jeep2000 said it in a weird way. Someone posted that your name is posted as winner and they own your image,etc. IF that is true and it sounds like a plausible thing, why wouldn't Jeep2000 give his/her name? No one is forcing you to fill these out and it is only about greed and being a sore loser.

Anonymous said...

I just left a post at 3:26am and should have proof read it, but i am tired and figured it was close enough. Besides saying theory twice and saying one instead of won, you get my point. I just did what I hate people do in forums, etc and that is to spell incorrectly and grammar is not much better. Shame on me

Anonymous said...

Wow, a third post. For all those people who put in multiple receipts per each month should read the rules. Only one entry per person per month is accepted. The theory that you have to keep coming back and spending money over and over is void. The prize clearly says 1 $5000 Gift Card. You can write and request a list of winners. I could be wrong, but I think everytime you use the target take out food like pizza hut, you automatically get a receipt with a code on it. So you only need to spend less than $5 for a try or you can send it an entry for free without purchase, though I never believed that to be true from any company. It should be more like McDonald's monopoly, you know (before the inside corruption theft) where you could win $5 gift card of 10% off something. Even 5 gift cards of $1000 to 5 people would be more desirable

Anonymous said...

I think it's also a way they get ratings and then can brag out it. I don't think anyone wins.

Unknown said...

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