Girls,

I have a piece of advice regarding baby registries. Try to avoid creating one at Target if possible. If there are things you really want there, as I did, and you choose to create one be sure you let the people you invite to your shower know that they MUST include a gift receipt with the gifts they purchase there. I have had two terrible experiences trying to return things there that we either didn't need (not on our registry) or that we got duplicates of. I think I only got one gift receipt with gifts that came from Target and most of mine were purchased there. I had the second awful experience last week. I got two packages of diapers that were not the kind I was using and were not the size we need right now and a toy that we already had. I was not given gift receipts but they came from Target. We do not need any more toys and have enough diapers to last a long time and really didn't need any more either. I did have a few more baby items I needed to trade for. They would not let me. I was told I had to trade the diapers for diapers and the toy for another toy. Boy, was I mad. So I go and pick out a larger package of the diapers we are using, which was equivalent to the total cost of the two smaller packages (actually even a few cents cheaper) and chose another toy that cost the same as the one I was returning. When I got back to the service desk she told me even though the cost was the same I could not trade two packages of diapers for one larger package, it had to be two smaller ones. I about lost it and let her have a piece of my mind!!!! I was so mad she went ahead and did the trade anyway. She also told me since that was the second exchange I had made at a Target store I was not allowed any more returns or exchanges for another year. I told her that policy was ridiculous and asked for the number for Target corporate headquarters. She gave me a comment card with about four lines available for writing. Like that was going to be enough! I found a contact link for corporate on their website. I sent them a LONG e-mail about it and told them I would never create another baby registry there or shop there anymore, and I would take care of all my future baby purchases at Wal-Mart or Babies R Us. To prove how much attention they pay to their e-mails I got a reply which stated "We will not be able to further assist you in the exchange of the diaper bags you received as gifts. Our associate asked that you trade in the same department so you could find another diaper bag you would love." I never even mentioned a diaper bag so I know my e-mail was just skimmed through and deleted. I'm so mad I refuse to shop there anymore. If had known it was going to be that much trouble I would have traded the things at Wal-Mart. Even though they didn't come from there, I have never been hassled about exchanges or refunds on anything at Wal-Mart. So if you decide to do a Target baby registry, please ask that purchasers include gift receipts with your gifts. I don't want any new mom to have to endure the headache that I did at that store last week!

__________________