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  • My Trip to Target – Guelph, Ontario

    Guelph Target This is a guest post from a reader, Gena.

    I went to Target around noon today. The parking lot was packed! Line up was also long, but was moving quickly.

    When I walked in to Target, I was impressed by how it was layed out. It looked new (I’m assuming there was a Zellers in that location). I liked the fact that they had a Starbucks inside so you can sit down and enjoy a coffee while you wait for someone to finish their shopping.

    They definitely carry nicer clothes than Walmart. They carry Roots! They also had a good selection of shoes, lots of bathing suits, and maternity clothes.

    For kids, they had a lot of Carters clothes – a toddlers 3-piece set (shirt, onesie, and shorts) cost $15.99, while a 2-piece set (shorts and shirt) was $8.99. Carters baby sleepers were also $8.99. Kids licensed swimwear was $14.99 for girls and $12.99 for boys. They also carry Osh Kosh and Cherokee lines.

    Guelph Target Maple Leafs

    They carry toys, electronics, DVDs (lots of $5 ones), and books (many had a 25% off sticker on them or 40% off Cat in the Hat books). There was an automotive section, a seasonal section with patios and BBQ stuff, home section, beauty, etc. They carry lots of food items, however, they do not carry items typically found in the produce or fresh meat aisles in a grocery store.

    Guelph Target Food

    Guelph Target Groceries

    Target Canada Prices

    I found some prices to be a little higher than Walmart, but some were lower. For instance:

    • Baby Mum Mums – $1.94
    • Heinz Toddler Snacks – $1.97
    • Graduates Yogurt Melts – $3.89 (Yikes!)
    • Heinz Ketchup – $3.29
    • Goldfish Crackers – $2.99
    • Lays Chips – $2.99
    • Peek Freans Cookies – $3.49
    • Kraft Shredded Cheese (340g) – $6.99
    • Sunlight Dish Soap – $1.87
    • Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner – $2.04
    • Crest Complete Toothpaste – $2.39
    • Pampers Baby Dry Diapers (Size 3, 112 count) – $27.79
    • Pampers Cruisers Diapers (Size 3, 52 count) – $14.79


    GuelphTarget Kids

    Target Canada Flyer & Coupon Policy

    • There was no flyer. I was told that they didn’t know what items would come in on time so they didn’t produce a flyer.
    • They price match. There were signs in the store indicating this. When I asked about their coupon policy, I couldn’t get very clear information. They didn’t have a printed coupon policy to give me.

      They said that they accept manufacturer coupons and their own coupons; they weren’t sure about printed internet coupons; they weren’t sure if a coupon could be used on a price-matched item – they basically told me to check the Target Canada website for more information (which doesn’t currently list any information).

      They also said that “they do what’s best for the customer”, so I’m interested to find out how that works!


    Guelph Target Store

    Some Additional Notes

    • The staff were very helpful and apologetic, as the store was not yet completely stocked.
    • Shopping bags were free (you get 5 cents for every bag of your own that you bring in).
    • Self-checkouts were very nice.


    Guelph Target Self Check Out

    Overall Thoughts

    I will shop at again once they open up in my city (this was a special trip). They had unique items/brands which I haven’t seen at Walmart. I purchased some toys and office supplies and hopefully I will do some grocery shopping next time. I did not want to attempt any price matching today with the long line ups!

    Did you go shopping at Target today?

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    My Trip to Target - Guelph, Ontario, 3.9 out of 5 based on 8 ratings

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    26 Responses to »
    My Trip to Target – Guelph, Ontario

    1. catherine says:

      Well I am VERY much looking forward to Target opening up in Ottawa! I absolutely love shopping there and am happy to support it and the slightly higher prices over Walmart and its abuse of their staff and shady business practices. I have fond memories of going to Target when I was growing up in Vegas. At that time, only the minorities and the people on welfare went to Wal-Mart and everyone who had some money always went to Target. Of course Walmart is not the same anymore and has become a MUCH more desirable place to shop, but I am happy to support Target. Oh and one more thing, forget about Starbucks.. Target always had hotdogs, pretzels, nachos, and ‘ICEES’!

    2. jo says:

      I think I’ll go when the excitement dies down. :) Thanks for the interesting story about your visit. My kids love Bass Pro Shop.
      I love Targets home goods and kids clothes but sounds like everything else will be slightly higher priced than WM or elsewhere which I expected. I think Target is a good replacement for Zellers although my mom begs to differ as she really loved the Zellers in her city. As far as self checkout goes my experience at a store I’ve gone to with self checkout is they have one very stressed out unhappy looking cashier running between 8 self checkouts dealing with problems, coupons and discounted products. It is taking away jobs as I’ve been told they put fewer staff on to try to channel people into the self checkout area. I find an experienced friendly cashier does it more quickly.

    3. Mike says:

      I was at the Fergus store yesterday and when I bought a 2L bottle of coke I later saw on my receipt that I was charged a bottle deposit of 12 cents.
      So does this mean if I take my empty bottle back I will get a refund, doubt it.
      I know it only a few cent but why is this being charged?

    4. Laura says:

      The description of how busy it was makes me feel better about not going yesterday. I live in Guelph and I figured people from all over would be coming to see what it was like.

      I’ll wait until the shelves are stocked first!

    5. Jennifer says:

      I was at the Target in Guelph yesterday. The parking lot was crazy! I didn’t find the prices bad at all. there were different things there than I’m used to. it’s set up very much like the Targets in the States. it is spacious and well lit. of course, it was busy, it was opening day. once it settles down, it will be much better.

    6. Dani says:

      I find it interesting that people don’t use the self checkouts as it “takes a job awa”y. It does not! Yes one person is in charge of 4 “tills”, but the self checkouts counts as one till rather than 4 individual tills. At the retailer I work at (cashier) we may only have 2 regular tills open and the self checkouts, but that is due to it not being that busy. We would not have 6 regular tills open at that time. It actually allows cashiers to get more hours as the self checkouts have to be open even if it is completely dead.Cashiers usually enjoy working self checkouts more than a regular till!

      • Lisa says:

        It depends where you work, our cashiers DO NOT like working Self-Scan AT ALL.

      • sally says:

        Dani, your comment about self check out not taking away jobs and your comment about 2 tills open when not busy. Both reasonings are incorrect.

        I also worked cash and had LESS hours after the self check out was installed in my store. Yes, indeed, 3 jobs are lost if the self check out has 4 tills.

        As a customer, when I see only one cash open for large orders and 1 express desk, with the customer service desk manned by the express desk cashier, I get very angry. I take my business elsewhere.

        That’s why I love shopping at US Target or US Walmart or US Publix groceries. As soon as the customer lines get long, another cash opens up.

        • Stephanie says:

          Sally, you just complained that self checkouts were taking away jobs, and that made you angry…doesn’t shopping in the states take away from the Canadian econonmy and thus Canadian jobs??? Just sayin’

          • theresa says:

            Amen!!

          • Jan says:

            You are 100% correct. Shop Canadian! Please understand that these big retailers, Wal Mart, Target etc. create low-paying, dead-end jobs for local people while parachuting in their high-priced help from the U.S.

            Shop Canadian and Shop Local.

        • sarah says:

          I often prefer using the self checkouts because i find many cashiers are not very conscientious and carefulas they are scanning. When I select produce, I take the time to inspect it and make sure it is free from bruising, damage, etc. and I get quite upset when I see a cashier throwing that same producing around while scanning and bagging. With self-checkout, this problem is gone, and I know that my items have been delicately treated.

    7. Emily A says:

      I live in Prince George, BC and am soooo excited to get a target here. Thanks for overview!

    8. Ann MacNeil says:

      just a question. were there actual checkouts, or just self checkouts? I refuse to take a paid job away from someone…so won’t use the self-checkouts.

      • Sarah says:

        Using the self checkout actually isn’t taking a job away from anyone…. it actually allows for one more staff member to work since they are always manned by at least one person.

        • aj says:

          they take three jobs away.

          one person can oversee 4 self check outs, wheras previously 4 people had to ring things in on 4 checkouts. if they didn’t save the store money they wouldnt have them

          • Tanya D says:

            It does not take jobs away. A store has a set budget to adhere to and often it is not in the budget to have every checkout running. If anything it opens up more tills so that shoppers can have a quicker checkout experience.

            • Vicky says:

              That holds up when there are other checkouts open however when there are only self checkouts open (which happens all the time at a retailer near me) it is taking away jobs. Frequently there are no “manned” checkouts available and a line for the self checkout. How is that giving someone more hours?

            • Jamie says:

              I’ve worked retail for 20 years and it does take jobs away.When scheduling it’s always taken into account the self checkouts are there.

            • sally says:

              The budget is adjusted lower with a self check out open. The number of individual cash registered opened decreases.

              Funny, some Walmart self check outs closed as people were stealing things by not scanning all items and the cashier could not all the tills when it was very busy. The end of the day purchases did not match with the items removed from the shelf. Great, I say – remove the self check outs!

    9. Melissa Stiles says:

      I’m so excited because My kids and I are taking are first big trip to Milton next week and we will be going to Target! We are from Ottawa! Also if anyone can tell me any fun and cheep things to their that would be great!

      • Sue Kaakee says:

        fun for kids…Milton has an electric train museum north of town
        it is called the Halton County Radial Railway
        Kids will enjoy riding the old streetcars and trams…some are over 100 years old…gift shop too
        http://www.hcry.org/

        don’t forget Chudlieghs Apple Farm, north on highway #25
        nice rec centre on Main Street…good pool with a slide
        Rattlesnake Point, west of town
        Glen Eden Ski Hill, north west of town

      • Sue Kaakee says:

        link for Milton activities
        http://www.milton.ca/en/index.asp

      • Heidi says:

        Hi Melissa,
        All those suggestions are great- but are closed at this time of year! (or I would have added springridge farm for SURE!) Crawford Lake conservation area has native long houses to explore and a boardwalk hiking trail around a lake which can handle strollers. Mountsberg conservation area is doing the maple syrup festival and has a fun sugar shack, wagon rides, a hay barn to play in and a raptor rescue centre where you can check out owls up close! both these options are cheap and will fill a whole day! If your willing to drive 30 min or so, leggo land in vaughn opens up next week and has buy before you go deals on passes through its website. plus, you can kill a LOT of time at vaughn mills even if its just letting the kids check out the fish tanks at bass pro.
        30 min in the other direction- is the childrens meuseum in kitchener, st jacobs farmers market (saturdays) and the is an IKEA in both vaughn and burlington (20 min south of milton) if you need to drop the kids off at the play area and have a coffee in peace and quiet! : )

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