Target Coupons Put Dad Onto Daughter’s Pregnancy

February 17, 2012 ‐ By
17 Comments

Source:Savings4mom.com

It has to be tough for any teenager to find the right time to tell a parent she’s pregnant, but one Minnesota girl didn’t have to worry about that—Target told her dad for her.

A New York Times report picked up by MSN NOW tells the story of an angry father who stormed into a Target store demanding to speak with a manager about why his child was being sent deals on baby items. According to an employee, the man said:

“My daughter got this in the mail! She’s still in high school, and you’re sending her coupons for baby clothes and cribs? Are you trying to encourage her to get pregnant?”

The manager looked at the mailer and apologized to the man for the advertisement for maternity clothes and nursery furniture which was addressed to his daughter. But when the manager called the man a few days later to apologize again, the father was the one saying sorry. He told the manager:

“I had a talk with my daughter. It turns out there’s been some activities in my house I haven’t been completely aware of. She’s due in August. I owe you an apology.”

So how does Target know a girl is pregnant before her own father? Coupon targeting which tracks purchases and demographic information to send customer’s deals related to their anticipated needs. The thought either sounds cool or creepy. On one hand, who wouldn’t want to save money on something they plan to buy, on the other, it’s a little unsettling to think about how much big brother knows about you—and Target’s aware of that.

“If we send someone a catalog and say, ‘Congratulations on your first child!’ and they’ve never told us they’re pregnant, that’s going to make some people uncomfortable,” Andrew Pole, a statistician for the chain said. “We are very conservative about compliance with all privacy laws. But even if you’re following the law, you can do things where people get queasy.”

The New York Times report is actually pretty fascinating and eye-opening to just how much companies know about their consumers—which in the case of this father and daughter, can get people caught up. Sometimes a generic mailer is enough.

Have you noticed coupon deals that are targeted to your purchasing history? Do you think it’s neat or does it creep you out a bit?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1415696195 Calandrial PhoenixRising Afriy

    creepy!

  • Mccowankeiana

    its just like huggies and every month your child turns a couple of months they send u coupons for that age group its crazy.

  • FromUR2UB

    You can’t do much of anything these days without someone knowing about it, unless you purchase on a cash only basis.  Every time you use your debit, credit or a gift card, someone is collecting information about your purchasing habits.

  • IllyPhilly

    Those cards we fill out to get super savings is the reason why stores send out certain coupons to us. Most of that stuff is done because a consumer filled out a survey with things they are more partial to buying. The dad was a dumbarse, don’t blame tarshay.

  • Kieraht

    Every time you use your rewards card, shop under a customer number,  or use coupons that are mailed to you, your purchases are being tracked. This is not a new practice. It’s a way for companies to market to consumers.
    Personally, as a teenager I would have been pissy that my dad was reading my mail.

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZK34QCWL4NGU2CQSTHBBGU56CM Tri Tri

    I blame that MTV show “16 and Pregnant”. I know young girls was getting pregnant way before this show, but i have 4 girl cousin which are 16 and younger, and i over heard all 4 of them talking bout how they wanted to have a baby to go on this show. I had to snap they a** back to reality, Im married and have 2 kids and raising children is not an easy job. I told them to enjoy their young life while they can cause once you have a kid that going out with you friends will be cut short.

  • Cha-Cha

    Most stores do this… it’s nothing new. Sometimes if you go to a store, and a coupon prints out with the receipt, it is usually for something you have purchased before or similar to it.

  • musicbecca2

    I haven’t noticed coupons but I see online ads targeted at me all the time. It’s annoying.

  • Lalatarea

    i think the bigger problem is that the father saw maternity coupons and freaked out (who does that anyway?) and his first thought was to go after target THEN speak to his daughter. as if a coupon for baby clothing will make a teenage girl say “oh i should use these coupons before they go to waste”

    he seems like the kind of parent who would be against safe sex education because it would “encourage” his kids to have sex. smh

  • Vanillaruis

    Walmart sent me coupons for perm kits

  • Bubble gum

    Is this Target’s way of promoting their company? 

  • guest

    “Coupon targeting which tracks purchases and demographic information to send customer’s deals related to their anticipated needs.”

    Please correct this sentence. It does not make sense. It should read, “Coupon targeting,” which tracks purchases and demographic information, sends customers deals related to their anticipated needs.

  • Sugar_Spice

    I have honestly never noticed this before but I do find it to be creepy

  • Ms_Sunshine9898

    In a way that would creep me out but it also makes my life so much more convenient too. . .