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One of my favorite things Target has introduced over the last few years is their Drive Up service, which allows me to order products online and have them delivered to my car without having to leave my vehicle. And yes, if you luckily live next to the 240 Target stores that also offer Starbucks with Drive Up, you’re just golden.
However, if you thought all THAT was good, Target is now letting us do returns via Drive Up, too. And as of June 30, 2023, all Target locations nationwide allow shoppers to make returns from the parking lot using the Target Circle app. Yes, I said all. Target is giving Amazon returns a run for their money by making it so we don’t even have to leave the car to do Target returns. As someone who is a parent, being able to make a return and potentially get my Starbucks drink at the Target Curbside Drive Up Service — without wrestling my kid in and out of their car seat — is a game-changer.
We love saving money at Target, but saving time at Target is really exciting, too. Here’s how the Target Drive Up returns works.
Target Drive Up Returns first rolled out at select locations in April 2023, and now they are offered at every Target location nationwide.
Target set the goal to offer Drive Up Returns service in spring in 2023, and by April, Target shoppers in Missouri, Idaho, Iowa, Florida, and Michigan first had the Drive Up return option. But now, every Target location is offering free Target car pick-up and free returns from your car. This means that you do your entire Target shopping haul and returns all from your car in the Drive-Up lane. No waiting on lines, no finding your paper receipt — it’s all linked through your app.
It’s probably a good time to brush up on your knowledge of the Target return policy — because all of the same terms, conditions, deadlines, and whatever else apply to the new Target Drive Up Returns.
Drive Up Returns work just like your other Target Drive Up orders.
If you’ve never used Target Drive Up, it’s time. We’ve got an article about how to use Target Drive Up that’ll help. But for those of you who have made this an essential part of your Target experience, Drive Up returns will be pretty similar. Here’s how the totally free process will go:
- Initiate Return: Customers can begin the return process by accessing their Target.com account and selecting the product they want to return before choosing the Drive Up Returns option.
- Get a Barcode: Once the return has been initiated, the customer will receive a barcode that they can show to the Target team member when they arrive at the store.
- Make the Return: When the customer arrives at the store, they’ll pull into the designated Drive Up Returns area and show the barcode to the Target team member. The team member will then take the product from the customer’s car and process the return.
- Refund: The customer will receive their refund on the spot, credited to their original payment method.
The Returns area may be separate from the regular Drive Up area, depending on your location.
Although the Drive Up Returns process works a lot like the regular Drive Up experience, the Drive Up Returns service requires customers to use a designated Drive Up Returns lane — which may be separate from the regular Drive Up area. Keep an eye out for signage indicating the Drive Up Returns lane at your Target store.
Yes, you’ll soon be able to add a Starbucks order with the return curbside service.
A Target publicist confirmed with The Krazy Coupon Lady that since November 2022, Starbucks with Drive Up service is at 240 Target stores in California, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, Washington, and West Virginia. This means that with curbside pickup at those locations, you could add a Starbucks order through the Target app.
And in the Feb. 23, 2023 press release from Target Corporate, they confirmed that guests will be able to make a return with the new curbside service AND add a Starbucks order. However, this feature is for “select markets.”
“Our guests continue to tell us they love the ease and convenience of Drive Up, and they have been asking us to add even more of the Target experience to the service. Adding a Starbucks order and easy returns, while expanding our backup item options, will give guests even more of what they love about shopping at Target, quickly and easily,” explained Mark Schindele, Target’s chief stores officer, in the release.
Here’s how it’ll work:
- If your Target location is participating, you’ll place a Drive Up order for your Target items via the Target app and click “on my way” when you’re notified that the order is ready for pickup.
- Once you’re on the way, you’ll have the option to place an order from the Starbucks menu.
- You’ll also be able to start a return via the app, as explained above.
Target is also expanding their “backup item” functionality in the Target app for Drive Up orders.
If you regularly place curbside pickup orders in the Target app, you’re familiar with items being low on stock or out of stock and needing to choose “backup items” for your picks. In the press release, Target explained that they’re expanding their backup item functionality so that shoppers have more items and categories to choose from — all from the convenience of their car.
More changes are coming to the Target curbside offers, and they all sound pretty darn good.
Returns, Starbucks, more backup items, what else? Well, Target is also unveiling Adult Beverage pickup, as well as “Shopping Partner,” which will allow guests to send someone else to pick up their order. All a win in my book.
