Monday, October 25, 2010

An open letter to Target.

Dear Target,

I am one of the many faces you will frequently find walking around your stores. I probably don’t stick out. I am pretty boringly normal when it comes to my looks. I am 5’4” tall. I am blond. I am tired. I am a mom to four boys. I am also one of your most loyal customers. I drive fully 20 miles to go to your store at least once a week and I fought the city council in our “no big box store” town to get you here. They say you are coming…I’ll believe it when I see it.

Anyway…back to my original intent. I’m writing you for a reason, and I’m just going to come right out with it...

Why the hell can’t I get cell phone service in your store?

What is up with that??? I may LOOK like every other customer, but underneath all this normalness is the swelly brain of a mother who has three boys with Type 1 Diabetes. Because of the inner uniqueness, it is imperative that my boys be able to reach me AT. ALL. TIMES. I am not exaggerating when I say that it may even be a matter of life or death. I cannot be shut off from the rest of world for even one minute.

So why??? Why??? must the signal be lost by the time I reach aisle two at every single Target store I have visited north of the Golden Gate?

I’m not expecting you to fully understand all the nuances of being a parent to type 1’s…but because of the predicament you have put me in, I am forbidden to step foot inside your stores at certain times of the day. Between 9:50am and 10:15am. Between 11:40am and 12:00pm. Between 12:20pm and 12:40pm. That is pretty much my entire morning. These are the times of day my boys call me to check in with their blood sugar numbers. I tell them how much insulin to give themselves; I count the carbs they get for their snack and their lunch. These are jobs only I can do, as the wonderful state of California doesn’t think it necessary to have a nurse at our school for more than 4 hours, one morning a week.

Besides these scheduled times of day, my boys check their blood sugars whenever they feel the need. What if I enter your store at 9:00am, and one of my boys feels a dangerous low blood sugar and tries to get hold of me by cell…and I’m (gasp!) PASS aisle 2! That would be a bad predicament for sure!

Now, maybe there aren’t enough Type 1 parents in your customer block to make a change in your cell service blockage…that is ok…because I submit it hinders your sales even to those who aren’t tethered to their type 1 children.

What about business people who need to be available for important calls? They won’t be stopping by during their lunch hour. What about wives who want to call their husbands for their OK on a big ticket item for Christmas? They will leave without the product because they couldn’t reach said spouse. What about the husband who was sent to the store to buy one specific item, and needs verification he is grabbing the right thing. I have NOT bought a ton of things because I couldn’t reach a family member to make sure that item was the one that they needed.

No cell service HURTS your business!

I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but…

I get cell service in Costco.

I get cell service in ALL the grocery stores too…Safeway, Albertsons AND G&G.

I have even had to step foot in Walmart…and guess what? Three bars.

Why oh why oh why can I not get cell service in the bowels of ANY Target store???

Help a tired D Mama out!

Help yourselves!

Help me help you.

Please, make cell service available in all Target stores!


Meri…who just happens to be at this very moment…quite contrary.


  1. Wow! I am with you. Wonder why in the world there is no service available? You tell them Meri!!! As a mom of a T1 I would be mortified if I was cut off from my kids for one second. Like you said, that one second could be a matter of life and death.

  2. WOOT WOOT!!!! Go get 'em, Girlie :)

    I can't get service in our Target either.


  3. I hope they hear you!! :)

    I get service in my Target and sometimes wish I didn't --- I like to lose myself in there!! :)

    I know what you are saying though and I feel your pain! It never ends does it?!?!?!

    Love ya!

  4. Hey there sister - what's is up with the West Coast Targets? Here on the East we get cell reception just fine. I wonder why... I hear you though hon - hey send this letter to corporate - they just might listen!

  5. I hope you sent this letter to comeone at Target. Not only would they take notice, but maybe something could be done? idk.

    Sorry to hear you are limited in your alone shopping time. I totally understand the frustration!

  6. You know- that is so true. I got a phone call from the high school nurse when I was in target which lasted just long enough for her to say "Hi- this is the nurse at the high school" and then it dropped and I had to leave everything and run outside until I could get service again. I thought it was just me. What the heck is with that???

  7. Meri,
    Are they blocking cell signals for sure?
    Our church and offices have extremely spotty reception depending on where you are in the building (I work there).

  8. AHHH HHHHEEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO P-E-O-P-L-E....VERMONT doesn't even have a Target located in the state. WTF? Meri I become soooo jealous when you write of Targets. Well maybe not too jealous of this particular post, b/c that would suck.

    Bummer about your school nurse situation. :(...

    Love to you and the boys!

  9. I have trouble at Target, too!!! Drives me insane!

    Can you text in Target? I can send and receive texts, but not calls.

  10. HA HA HA HAHA! Meri Meri Quite Contrary... why are your bars so low?

    This is weird. I've never had trouble in our Target. Thank God. It's like my second home. I hope you get if fixed!

    Reyna... WTF is right! I'd picket lady. You NEED a Target!

  11. HAHA Hallie with the "why are your bars so low".

    You need the Verizon network!!! They go everywhere with you :)

  12. I must admit, when I first read this post, I found it sort of humorous (because of how it was worded, not the "moral of the story").

    Although, I can totally hear what ya mean! Try sending that letter to corporate, and see if they listen!

  13. Now that is unheard of! We are in PA and all is ok and I do have Verizon :) Sorry just being a smartie pants to a concerning situation. For work, I am often required to turn my phone off while in hospitals and the courthouses. I am pretty much running to the 'allowable areas'.
    Must say even more concerning is California's lack of nurses on site! What's up with that? What about the injuries during gym, the child who has seizures, a severe asthma attack - are teachers in CA also educated in medical response? Shame on CA! What a shame that your district doesn't take a more proactive stance...
    Good thing its only Tuesday - lots of room for the week to get better!

  14. I hear you on the nurse's the same way here too. Crappy. I love Target! I hope they get things fixed up for you! To be deprived of Target? Painful...

  15. Found this for you Meri!!! Hope it works!!!

  16. My Target is the EXACT same way!!! And it makes me nuts.

    I feel your pain sister. I hope that Target has their listening ears on!

  17. Ha! Now I'm going to have to go to Target tomorrow and see if I get reception?! Thanks...I hate to go in there because then I HAVE TO SEE ALL THE STUFF I WANT TO BUY!!! HAHAHA! You should forward this to you'd get a response! It would at least be interesting!? Loves and Hugs.


  19. ok, never have i had cell service in target.. and the W-M
    store I try to avoid...service

    i had to laugh!!!
    do send to target... we can make a difference!!!

  20. There's no reception in Idaho Falls' Target too! I was just in there yesterday when Lainey's teacher called! I was walking to the front of the store as fast as I can. BOO!

  21. You tell em girl!! Now I am wondering I I get it in my Target store. It makes me want to go to Target now and try! :)


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