Most Target shoppers are all too familiar with the experience of going in for one thing and somehow spending $100. Whoever designs those stores doesn’t get paid nearly enough.
A woman recently had the disconcerting feeling of spending more than she intended at Target. But in this instance, it wasn’t because Jaime (@modeljaime) went in for a pair of shorts and wound up with a cartful. The shorts rang up 50% higher than they were listed, she says in a TikTok about the incident.
“It has a tag for $10,” Jaime says. “It rang up and charged me $15 instead.”
When she realized the discrepancy, Jaime returned for a refund. She claims the store refused to honor the price on the tag, which she holds up to the camera to show it was clearly $10.
Their reason? Tariffs, she says.
Jaime actually bought two pairs of the same shorts with different patterns. One had a tag, the other didn’t, she says.
“So they’re taking the price tags off and just charging you whatever they want,” Jaime concludes.
Are Trump tariffs to blame?
Jaime isn’t buying the tariffs explanation.
“Before we cry Trump, let’s take a look at this. These are made in Vietnam. The tariff rates in Vietnam are currently 20%,” Jaime says.
She’s right. As of last month, the United States imposed a 20% tariff on all Vietnamese products. This replaced the blanket 10% tariffs the U.S. imposed in April following an executive order by President Donald Trump.
A 20% increase on the shorts’ price would make them $12, not $15, which is what she says she paid.
“If we’re going to increase the price of goods, can we at least align to the country that they’re coming from?” Jaime says in frustration.
Via Instagram direct message, she declined to comment further.
Should Target have honored the price?
Typically, merchants honor the price listed on the tag, even if it rings up at a different amount.
Like many retailers, Target has a price match guarantee. On its website, Target explains that the policy allows you to get a refund for a price discrepancy on an item purchased online or in one of its stores within 14 days of purchase.
The policy doesn’t specifically discuss whether it issues refunds for price discrepancies between a tag and the amount charged at checkout, however.
Retailers like Target and Walmart, which Jaime says she hasn’t been shopping at lately because the one near her is subpar, have been taking heat for upping their prices in ways that consumers say is deceptive. There have been multiple accusations that such companies are removing price tags so they can raise prices surreptitiously.
Some shoppers, like Jaime, aren’t convinced that tariffs are the reason that prices are rising.
As one person who commented on her TikTok wrote, “Corporate greed. They’re taking advantage of the tariffs. Most retailers are quietly marking things up.”
“These companies are just doing whatever they want and just blaming tariffs,” Jaime says. “Yeah, the price that you’re paying for things is probably gonna go up but the rate at which it’s going up isn’t proportionate to the tariff that’s been imposed.”
@modeljaimee Be extra vigilant shopping at #Target to ensure you know what things are ringing up. When I asked about why my shorts rang up the wrong price, I was simply told “tariffs”. I get that prices are going up but to not even allow what’s on the floor to sell at the set price – to go in and rip off price tags and add a 50% markup is disproportionate at best and greedy at worst. Especially when the manufacturing country’s #tariffs ♬ original sound – Jaime
The Mary Sue reached out to Target for further comment.
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