Target often attracts shoppers with enticing promotions, particularly those offering a “free” Target GiftCard when you purchase qualifying items. It’s crucial to understand how these deals actually work at the checkout and on your payment statements. This article breaks down the mechanics of these promotions to ensure you know exactly what to expect when taking advantage of Target Gift Certificates offers.
How Target Gift Certificate Promotions Work: The Breakdown
When you see a promotion like “Free $10 Target GiftCard with a $30 purchase,” it’s not quite as straightforward as getting a free gift card added to your cart. Instead, Target applies an instant discount to the qualifying item. This discount is equivalent to the value of the gift certificate being offered. Simultaneously, you are charged a separate amount for the Target gift certificate itself.
Let’s illustrate with an example. If you’re buying a $30 item that qualifies for a “free $10 Target GiftCard” promotion, here’s what happens financially:
- The price of the $30 qualifying item is reduced by $10 (the value of the gift card). So, you are charged $20 for the item.
- You are also charged $10 for the Target gift certificate.
Adding these two charges ($20 + $10) together, you’ll see the total is $30, which is the original price of the qualifying item. Essentially, the “free” gift card is built into the pricing structure as a discount distributed in the form of a gift certificate.
Understanding Charges for Online Target Gift Certificates
Purchasing online through Target.com or the Target app, especially for Order Pickup or Drive Up, may result in two separate authorizations and charges appearing on your payment method. This is because Target’s system processes the gift certificate portion of the transaction only when the qualifying item is actually processed for pickup or shipped.
Don’t be alarmed if you see two pending charges initially. The first authorization is for the discounted price of the qualifying item, and the second authorization is for the value of the Target gift certificate. The sum of these two transactions will always equal the total amount of your original order as advertised in the promotion.
Delivery Timeline for Promotional Target Gift Certificates
The delivery of your promotional Target gift certificates depends on how you choose to receive your qualifying purchase:
- Order Pickup or Drive Up: If you opt for in-store pickup or Drive Up, the promotional items, including physical gift cards if applicable, will be shipped to you within 5-7 days after you complete the pickup transaction. If your free Target GiftCard is digital (email or mobile), you’ll typically receive it shortly after the pickup is finalized.
- Target.com or Target App Orders (Shipped): For standard online orders shipped to your address, the promotional gift cards will not be shipped until after the qualifying purchase itself has shipped. Similar to pickup orders, digital gift cards are usually delivered soon after the qualifying item ships.
Important Considerations Regarding Target Gift Certificates
Keep in mind that these Target gift certificate promotions typically:
- Cannot be applied to previous purchases. Promotions are valid for new purchases during the promotional period only.
- Have implications for returns. If you need to return the qualifying purchase, the value of the gift certificate may be deducted from your refund. It’s advisable to review Target’s return policy specifically related to promotional items and gift cards for detailed information.
By understanding these nuances, you can confidently shop Target’s promotions offering target gift certificates and make the most of these deals.
