Is it still boycotting if you go to a store and leave with one of its products? Sounds counterintuitive, but one Target shopper says you can stick it to the man while still technically shopping at the store.
“I know we’re still boycotting Target, but I did go today for one thing,” begins Team Avatar (@probendingchamp) in a viral TikTok. He then removes a pack of Up&Up Fresh Linen laundry pods from a Target bag. “And not because I needed laundry pods.”
Next, he shows his receipt. “Free item,” he says, pointing at the paper. He says the company received no money from him and actually lost revenue by allowing him to scan his rewards code for a free item.
“They’re so desperate to get people in they’re just giving stuff for free. But what if we just only took the free stuff?” he proposes.
‘Taking their money is absolutely still boycott’
In the comments section, viewers agreed that the TikToker’s actions still constitute a boycott. However, several pointed out that the freebie was only available for those who pay for a Target Circle 360 membership.
“Wasn’t this coupon given to 360 members? A target subscription,” user Taylor Sanchez asked. Team Avatar replied, “They did a free year to the 360 right before the boycott started.”
Others said if you have Target gift cards, you can use those and still be boycotting.
User Jen said, “Also don’t forget to use your gift cards up! They don’t get to benefit from new sales that way, a gift card is essentially target saying IOU to you, the customer.”
Indeed, Target already received the money when the gift card was purchased. Failing to use it would essentially be a donation to the company, as some Redditors have pointed out. However, others say redeeming a gift card breaks a boycott because you’re still associating with the company.
Why are people boycotting Target?
As The Mary Sue previously reported, customers are boycotting Target after the company rolled back its DEI initiatives shortly after Trump came into office. While many stores have made similar moves, customers took Target’s actions as a personal betrayal as the company has always been “progressive” in its marketing.
@probendingchamp Am I wrong or very right? #target #boycott #targetboycott #targetfinds #amiwrong ♬ original sound – Team Avatar
Is the boycott working?
In an article that came after Target’s May 21 earnings report, MSN states, “Target announced on Wednesday that its net sales in the first quarter fell nearly 3 percent, and executives acknowledged the reaction to the company’s DEI rollback played a role in the declining sales.”
Another unorthodox boycott
The Mary Sue previously reported on a shopper who says she walked into Target and then walked right out without buying anything to “mess up their customer entrance metrics.”
The Mary Sue reached out to Team Avatar via TikTok comment and direct message. It reached out to Target via press email.
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