A Target drive-up enthusiast was worried to learn that some employees of the chain dislike fulfilling orders for able-bodied customers.
Madi Swegle (@sweglestory) posted a viral TikTok detailing how the store’s drive-up option wasn’t temporarily unavailable. In the clip, which garnered over 491,000 views, Swegle detailed how she happened upon a Reddit post with commentary from store employees on drive-up users. She was shocked to see their disdain for folks the workers believed should be getting their own groceries.
A text overlay at the onset of her clip speaks to the “Target drive-up drama” she’s about to narrate to her viewers.
“I need to hear other people’s opinions on this. Because I have been sitting, thinking about this since yesterday afternoon,” Swegle says. She continues, “I can’t stop thinking about it I need to know what people think.”
Target drive-up unavailable
Following this, she goes on, “So yesterday I placed a drive-up order at Target. Which, I do all the time.”
Furthermore, she says she’s a fan of the service provided by the popular retail chain. Because she’s a mother of two, not having to cart around a store with her children in tow is a lifesaver.
“I’m probably like, drive-up’s number one user. I use it all the time, I have twin toddlers. I’m 21 weeks pregnant,” she continues. “It is just so convenient so much easier than trying to get two toddlers out. Wrangle them in the cart.”
After extolling Target’s drive-up benefits, she says the drama in question occurred while using the service.
“Anyway, I was about to go pick up my order yesterday,” she says. “I got the twins loaded in the car. And I went to my app to click I’m on my way.”
Bad drive-up conditions
However, instead of simply going about her merry drive-up business, an esoteric notification appeared on her device. It alerted her that her drive-up experience was about to be compromised.
“A pop-up that I’ve never seen before popped up and it said that drive-up was temporarily unavailable,” Swegle says.
Moreover, the application said it was “due to unfavorable conditions.” The TikToker speculated as to what these unfavorable conditions could be.
“It must’ve been the heat because it was a blue sky day…beautiful. But it was like 88 to 90 degrees,” she says. “But I never, ever seen that in my history of using drive-up pop-up before. So the app gave me an option of changing to in-store pickup. And I was like whatever we’ll just do that.”
Following this, she delineated the amendments to her shopping plans. “Got the twins out of the car, put them in the cart, picked up our order. It really wasn’t a big deal at all,” Swegle commented.
No drive-up – why?
Afterward, she was still curious as to what would make drive-up functionality unavailable. So when she got home, she did some Googling because she’s “nosy” and “the first thing that pops up is this Reddit thread of all Target drive-up workers.”
Swegle says the employees in this thread were “complaining about young, able-bodied people using drive-up. And how much they hate it and how annoying it is when a young able-bodied person comes and gets a drive-up order.”
‘The Target workers are judging me‘
This prompted Swegle to immediately become concerned with how she was being perceived by retail workers.
“And I was like, oh my gosh. My drive-up workers probably hate me,” she says. “Of course, this isn’t representative of all Target drive-up employees. But, it seems like every single employee on that thread was agreeing.”
She says the workers were calling it “annoying” when young, able-bodied customers use the service instead of coming into the store themselves.
“Now I’m thinking about all the times I’ve used drive-up and wondering if my employee was secretly judging me,” Swegle says. “And I feel like that’s gonna be at the back of my mind every time I use drive-up now.”
Furthermore, she clarifies that she believes Target’s drive-up option should be utilized by everyone.
“Here’s the thing, in my opinion, I feel like anyone should be able to use drive-up, right?” she says. “Just because someone on the outside appears young and able-bodied doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t need to use drive-up.”
She reiterates that now she thinks Target workers are secretly judging and hating her.
Commenters sound off
One person who received thousands of likes in response to Swegle’s video replied that they’re a fan of drive-up services. Moreover, they shared that they were weary of hearing employees complain about their work tasks.
“I’m so tired of people complaining about doing the jobs they apply for,” they said. “I use Target drive up because I work 70+ hours a week and it also helps me save money from impulse purchases. Yes, I could go inside but if a company offers a service that makes my life a little easier, I will gladly do that. And I always thank them!”
Someone else didn’t seem to care if a worker dislikes them for putting in a drive-up order. “They can hate me all day long. It’s a service they offer and a service I use,” they wrote.
One person who replied to Swegle’s video who claimed to be a Target employee wrote that they don’t mind drive-up orders.
“As a Target worker, I don’t care who uses drive-up. It is meant for everyone. The only thing I will say is if anyone uses drive-up, Please let us know you are on your way!” they said. “We are timed with our orders and when people don’t let us know, it gets us in trouble.”
Another commenter replied that the issue with the Redditors on the thread Swegle referenced is that they’re on Reddit. According to them, the application represents a demographic of individuals who are prone to indulging bitterness. “People on Reddit in general just seem really miserable. Do your best to not worry about it,” they said.
Target drive-up unavailable
The popular retail establishment delineates on its website that drive-up orders are usually available within two hours of placing said order. However, as Swegle referenced in her TikTok, sometimes the drive-up option is listed as unavailable. A Reddit user referenced in the r/Target sub what this looks like from a store employee’s perspective.
According to them, the system for drive-up orders itself becomes disabled, preventing workers from fulfilling drive-up orders.
“Is anyone else’s drive-up system down?” they asked in their post. They explained further, however, that this doesn’t seem to curb shoppers from attempting to still pick up their shopping lists with the option.
“The app tells guest drive-ups are unavailable. We are just telling them to come into the store to get their orders. Although about once an hour 1 order works and we get a honk honk,” they said.
One user replied that they wished this were the case at their store: “It was raining so hard and we still had 9 arriving almost all day.”
Another person replied that their store’s system was operating just fine. The original Redditor who posted their query stated that as a result of the drive-up system failure, their location’s “front end” was “super chill.”
@sweglestory Should young, able-bodied people use drive-up??? Let me know your thoughts!! In my opinion if it’s a service they offer, anyone should be able to use it without judgement ? #targetdriveup #target #momsoftoddlers #toddlermom #motherhood #twinmom #pregnantmama #shoppingwithkids ♬ original sound – madi swegle | motherhood
Drive-up disparities
In a separate Reddit thread, one shopper stated that like Swegle, they experienced a suspension of drive-up order placements. Additionally, they wondered why items placed through the service weren’t available for pickup, despite Target’s website indicating the products were indeed in stock. “Hey there! I’m a frequent drive-up user and I noticed certain shirts are unavailable for pick up. Even if they are in stock at the store it says it’s unavailable. Does anyone know why?” they asked.
One user who replied to their question said that there were “several reasons” this could be the case. First, there could be a disparity in quantities on the displayed app versus the store’s inventory actual inventory.
Also, they mentioned that another guest in the store may’ve purchased the item the Redditor referenced before they could check it out. Another reason the drive-up for an item wasn’t available was due to the location of the product in question. They explained that Target’s inventory system counts items that are in transit as part of its surplus. Or unpacked quantities that have yet to be placed on the store floor as reasons for the disparity.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Target and Swegle via email for further comment.
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