Twitter is pretty pissed about the launch of the Hunter x Target collection
Target might tell its shoppers to “expect more, pay less,” but today, customers expected more and got less. The discount retailer launched its Hunter for Target collaboration, touted as a “limited-edition lifestyle collection designed for the entire family,” on Saturday, April 14th. But once shoppers realized just how limited their time really was, they weren’t shy about sharing their anger with the company on Twitter.
Eager to check out the Hunter for Target line of boots, coats, and waterproof backpacks, many potential buyers navigated to the Target website in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday, only to find many of the collection’s most coveted items unavailable to those who don’t have these essential Target shopping tricks down pat. (More likely, though, it was a lack of inventory that caused the collection to sell out faster than anticipated.)
It’s easy to see why: Prices on the Hunter for Target items were advertised as ranging from $5 to $80, with most items being under $30. The rain boots themselves cost less than $50, while boots on Hunter’s own website are listed for $140 or more. Yep, Target shoppers were getting a pretty good deal here, and clearly no one on the Hunter or Target teams correctly predicted just how quickly the items would fly off the shelves, both in-store and online.
What should have been a fun shopping experience quickly turned into a big letdown, something that anyone trying to get tickets to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s upcoming tour can relate to.
Many popped off about the Hunter for Target launch on Twitter — and the results weren’t pretty.
Target, I love ya but you really pissed me off this morning. All Tanner and I wanted was that darn #HunterxTarget wagon. Delayed, sold out, not available in store. Does it actually exist? Not cool dude @Target not cool.
— Sammy Sheets Fraser (@SammySheets) April 14, 2018
Sounds like quite the marketing scam if you ask me! #expectedmoregotless
— Wally Kaufman (@DJWallyBeagle) April 14, 2018
You won’t ship this stuff. You ordered so little you sold out in minutes. You do not care about your customers and you only do collabs like this for publicity.
— LaLa (@LWhitneyW) April 14, 2018
Woke up excited to finally shop the #HunterxTarget collection, unavailable in central IL… order online you say? Nothing is in stock. For someone who makes it a sport hiding how much $$ I really spend at Target from my husband, this feels like a slap in the face pic.twitter.com/nX85MPPvsq
— GoJoGoJoGo (@GoJoGoJoGo) April 14, 2018
Come on @Target !! I’ve been waiting for my #HunterxTarget tall boots since the release announcement and *suddenly* they are delayed?!?!? #TargetFail #poorplanning?
— Rachel (@rsims5utk) April 14, 2018
@AskTarget #HunterxTarget what an absolute failure. In an age where ecommerce is so vital, how did your buying team & marketing team as well as the team from Hunter fail so miserably?
— Baylee W (@BayleeYoung) April 14, 2018
@Target completely ridiculous that the #HunterXTarget line was made up to be an “instant sellout” so I stayed up past midnight only to not be able to purchase anything… you did a disservice to your loyal customers
— Diane Luisi Hanley (@Dianeluisi14) April 14, 2018
Woke up early to go to Target only to find out my store isn’t even carrying any of the Hunter brand. Got home to order online and nothing is available and the boots are delayed! #expectedmorsgotless
— Kimberly (@kimjonez) April 14, 2018
Target posted a graphic to its website alerting shoppers to the boot shortage, which many Twitter users seemed particularly upset about.
"For guests eyeing the women's tall rain boots, unfortunately they are delayed and won't be available in stores or online when the collection launches. We apologize for any disappointment and we'll share more information when we can."
But that wasn’t sufficient for customers trying to get their shop on.
Someone messed up 🤦🏾♀️ #HunterxTarget pic.twitter.com/vvKOPTf6YM
— Autumn 🍂 (@Autumn_Grayson) April 14, 2018
…but women’s tall rain boots are suddenly “delayed.” Will they ever ever be available or was this just a sneaky marketing technique? 🤔🤨👎
— Wally Kaufman (@DJWallyBeagle) April 14, 2018
But when are the boots arriving….? What’s with the ‘DELAYED’ on the most important items?
— kt (@iam_kt_) April 14, 2018
If you didn’t get your hands on a pair of Hunter for Target boots, don’t worry too much. Apparently, the Target versions aren’t exactly the same as the Hunter originals. So, if those boots are something you *have* to have, you might consider paying more for the real thing.
Hi there, Target won’t sell Hunter Original boots. Our boots are handcrafted from natural rubber following an intricate process. The ones designed in partnership with Target are not produced the same traditional way. We hope that helps
— Hunter (@HunterBoots) April 14, 2018
Here’s hoping Target does it better next time around.
