Excel rep forced to sell to Target district manager

[gsparkz]

Hello everyone. Not much of a poster but I've been lurking these forums for a year or so. This site has proven very insightful and sometimes downright hilarious. Thought I would share my experience with you from the other day to give back a little and maybe spark a change somehow...

I've been looking at my local target in Las Vegas for some 2020 Bowman as I've been priced out of the Hobby/Jumbo box market. After striking out every other day for two weeks I went in to try my luck again. As I approached the card section there was an Excel rep that had just finished stocking. I noticed....Bowman was there, super psyched! I saw two blasters, one hanging pack, and a full gravity feed box. That's it, nothing else in sight. I'm pretty talkative so I struck up a conversation with the rep. Nothing creepy like "when are you coming back?" or "where are you going next?". Just asked them "Hey curious, how many stores do you stock?". Him/her answered "All in Las Vegas, plus some in AZ and UT." We went on to talk about other mundane things in the job. Talking about the other things people collect and what not. I told him/her how I was looking for Bowman for the past two weeks and this was the first time I've come across it, but I was expecting more to be stocked. Him/her responded off the cuff "You can blame that on the Target District manager!" I said confusingly "Why?". Him/her said "Because he buys my inventory personally before it hits the shelves!" I said "What?? That's not right! They're probably re-selling on eBay!" Him/her said "Yeah it sucks but I can't do anything. You should complain!" I said "Wow, I appreciate your time thanks."

The rep couldn't have been any nicer and genuinely felt my pain. I don't see any reason why him/her would have lied to me. Seemed like him/her hands were tied and I caught them in a moment. Anyways just thought you guys should know what we're up against (in the Vegas region at least).

[CalCub]

Originally Posted by gsparkz

Hello everyone. Not much of a poster but I've been lurking these forums for a year or so. This site has proven very insightful and sometimes downright hilarious. Thought I would share my experience with you from the other day to give back a little and maybe spark a change somehow...

I've been looking at my local target in Las Vegas for some 2020 Bowman as I've been priced out of the Hobby/Jumbo box market. After striking out every other day for two weeks I went in to try my luck again. As I approached the card section there was an Excel rep that had just finished stocking. I noticed....Bowman was there, super psyched! I saw two blasters, one hanging pack, and a full gravity feed box. That's it, nothing else in sight. I'm pretty talkative so I struck up a conversation with the rep. Nothing creepy like "when are you coming back?" or "where are you going next?". Just asked them "Hey curious, how many stores do you stock?". Him/her answered "All in Las Vegas, plus some in AZ and UT." We went on to talk about other mundane things in the job. Talking about the other things people collect and what not. I told him/her how I was looking for Bowman for the past two weeks and this was the first time I've come across it, but I was expecting more to be stocked. Him/her responded off the cuff "You can blame that on the Target District manager!" I said confusingly "Why?". Him/her said "Because he buys my inventory personally before it hits the shelves!" I said "What?? That's not right! They're probably re-selling on eBay!" Him/her said "Yeah it sucks but I can't do anything. You should complain!" I said "Wow, I appreciate your time thanks."

The rep couldn't have been any nicer and genuinely felt my pain. I don't see any reason why him/her would have lied to me. Seemed like him/her hands were tied and I caught them in a moment. Anyways just thought you guys should know what we're up against (in the Vegas region at least).

Nice report, much appreciated....I recommend anyone who is upset about what's going on here write Target's corporate office in Minneapolis and complain....let them know they have an employee in Las Vegas that's taking advantage of their position to make money on the side....there is no way anyone buying that much Bowman blasters is going to keep everything they buy and not sell any of it

[Eaglesfan371]

Wow...dude is making several thousand a month on the side. Absolute BS.

[Cards and 401K]

And need to do a companywide audit any number of bad outcomes possible, thanks for sharing.

[oldgoldy97]

Dang that’s crap. Being a Target employee and card collector/flipper is a huge conflict of interest. I thought that was part of the interview process?

Honestly, though, that sucks. Just as bad as a random jerk buying everything in sight. Or is that okay? It’s hard to tell nowadays.

[hairysasquatch]

Target = crooks.

[ScooterD]

If this is true and proven, the district manager will be fired. First step is getting corporate to investigate.

[Minelayer]

Would be nice to get an investigation under way without getting the Excel rep in trouble.

[MoreToppsPlease]

From a pure hobby perspective, how is this any different than the many people here who go to Target and clean out their shelves?

This all sounds like sour grapes over lost potential profit to me.

[LVDan]

Living here for 25 years now I’m not at all surprised by the story. Favors and who you know still go a long way here. The only surprising part is that the rep didn’t mention how much their cut is.


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[Cavaliercards]

There are a few Targets in South Eastern Virginia with the same thing, but it is store managers.

When we reached out to Target Corporate, we were told that the employees were allowed to do it on anything that was not electronics and it does not violate any policy.

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

If this is true and proven, the district manager will be fired. First step is getting corporate to investigate.

Would this be criminal as well?

I'm sure the Target rep is here as you have to be really into the hobby to know the value of these things.

Who is the target district manager of Vegas? Is that searchable online?

[EastonElite]

Considering this rep is the one that stocks "all of Las Vegas" there isn't going to be much anonymity.

[hairysasquatch]

Calling mmbtvs- unless he is in on a similar scam??

[oplum29]

good story, but honestly, it's nothing new.

stuff like this has been going on since Startling Lineups and McFarlane figs, that's why it so super rare to find variation pieces on the shelves.

crazy though.

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Calling mmbtvs- unless he is in on a similar scam??

You keep his name outta your mouth! He’s not brilliant enough to come up with such a devious plan.

[pewe]

Might be worth putting it in the Target twitter feed... probably a good way to get a response


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[babybull]

I will say this--you guys really have no limit in over estimating how much Target cares about baseball cards. That district office in Minnesota may be a little busy right now seeing as how rioters have been setting their stores on fire.

[LVDan]

Originally Posted by babybull

I will say this--you guys really have no limit in over estimating how much Target cares about baseball cards. That district office in Minnesota may be a little busy right now seeing as how rioters have been setting their stores on fire.

Reality check.


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[boston12]

Smart guy, saw an opportunity and ran with it.

[KingInTheNorth]

I'm in Vegas... and I'm buying this 100%

I hit target many times and there is seemingly nothing ever worth buying.

ZERO mega boxes
ZERO mosaic, prizm, optic basketball...EVER.

The piece of #@#@#@#@ is leaving all the opening day your heart desires.

[reddragonthe]

Just finished penning my letter to my senator. I suggest everyone does the same.

[EastonElite]

Originally Posted by reddragonthe

Just finished penning my letter to my senator. I suggest everyone does the same.

This is the way.

[Bowman1951]

This has been our suspicion at many Targets and WalMarts for quite some time, there is someone on the "inside", not always a manager, buying items before they hit the shelves.

Thank you for sharing, this is a wide spread issue and good to hear a believable story about it.

[mmbtvs]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Dang that’s crap. Being a Target employee and card collector/flipper is a huge conflict of interest. I thought that was part of the interview process?

Honestly, though, that sucks. Just as bad as a random jerk buying everything in sight. Or is that okay? It’s hard to tell nowadays.

If this is true. It is against corporate policy and they would be subject to disciplinary action