Amarillo Target’s Big Customer Service Shift Has Shoppers Talking

One of my favorite places to shop here in Amarillo is Target. Always has been truthfully. Something about Target is calming for me; I can't really explain it. It's also like my little paradise. I love how you can find pretty much anything you need there.

Store layout is always nice and easy, and you can figure out where something is without having to pull up a store map. I'm also able to shop in peace there. No one is bothering me every two minutes, just letting me shop in peace.

Target Makes Changes

Well, I guess those days are gone as Target has announced some changes that are going to have me avoiding people now. Now, before I dig into the changes, I will say I understand the premise behind the changes, but it's going to annoy me...and probably you.

According to a new mandate, Target employees have been asked to smile more at customers when they're in the store. The store has been suffering from some declining sales for various reasons, so they are turning their focus to customer service and bettering that experience.

What Will Employees Be Doing Differently

This is what I'm not the biggest fan of. Target employees have been told to start smiling at customers more and making them feel more welcome. They've been told that when a customer is within 10 feet of them, they need to smile and make eye contact with them.

Furthermore, if the customer is within four feet, they're required to ask if you need any help or just kick up a little small talk. This is the part I'm not a fan of. If I need help, I'll ask. Outside of that? I'm not really looking to make small talk. Maybe it'll help with sales, maybe it won't. All I'm saying is be ready for it.