10 Target Habits That Make Iowa Shoppers Shake Their Heads

There’s something magical about a Target run—until another shopper ruins it.

Whether it’s hogging the aisle in home decor or leaving a half-melted frozen pizza in the shoe section, some Iowa customers forget how to act politely the second they walk in.

If you’ve ever wondered why employees look stressed and fellow shoppers look annoyed, these rude behaviors might explain a few things.

Leaving Carts Wherever They Feel Like

Some Target customers treat the parking lot like a cart graveyard. Instead of walking their cart to the cart return (which is like five steps away), they just leave it next to someone’s car or halfway up on a curb.

One gust of wind and bam—right into a bumper.

Inside isn’t much better. You’ll see empty red carts ditched in the middle of the Hearth & Hand section or abandoned next to the dollar spot, blocking everything.

It’s like some folks hit a wall and said, “I’m done,” and just walked off.

Putting the cart back isn’t rocket science. There are cart corrals everywhere, and employees are already busy running around restocking Goldfish crackers and organizing the tangled-up clothes rack.

They don’t need to go on a cart rescue mission too.

Ripping Open Products Like It’s a Garage Sale

Some shoppers get way too comfortable treating the shelves like a free-for-all.

They’ll rip open a box of Up & Up diapers just to “check the size,” or pop open a bottle of Method hand soap to sniff it, then leave it half-squeezed and sticky.

It’s not just gross—it’s wasteful. Once that item’s opened, nobody wants it. It’s gotta get tossed.

That’s money down the drain for the store, and it ruins the experience for the next person trying to grab a fresh pack of Archer Farms trail mix.

Here’s the rule of thumb: If there’s no tester out, it’s not meant to be tested.

And honestly, Target has a pretty easy return policy. If the lavender lotion wasn’t your thing, just bring it back with a receipt instead of turning aisle E17 into a sample station.

Letting Kids Turn the Store Into a Playground

Some parents let their kids run around like they just ate five bags of Skittles. You’ll see them sprinting past the furniture aisle, climbing on shelves in the toy section, or chucking plushies across the floor.

To them, Target is like a jungle gym with fluorescent lighting.

Nobody expects kids to sit silently in the cart the whole time, but when they’re knocking over shoe displays or shrieking by the snack wall, it’s too much.

It’s not about being strict—it’s about basic respect for the space.

Target’s a store, not a Chuck E. Cheese. A little calm goes a long way when everyone’s trying to get their shopping done without tripping over a runaway toddler in the cat food aisle.

Blocking the Whole Aisle Like It’s Their Living Room

Some folks act like they own the aisle. They park their cart smack in the middle, then stand there staring at throw blankets like it’s a life-or-death decision.

Meanwhile, other shoppers are stuck behind them holding frozen peas and getting annoyed.

Sometimes it’s worse—two people meet and decide it’s time for a full conversation right next to the cleaning supplies. Their carts form a roadblock, and nobody can get through without awkwardly saying, “Excuse me” three times.

The solution’s easy: treat the aisle like a sidewalk. Park the cart to one side, grab what you need, and keep it moving.

Everyone’s got stuff to buy, whether it’s laundry detergent or a $5 clearance T-shirt they don’t need.

Leaving Dressing Rooms Looking Like a Tornado Hit

Target’s fitting rooms often look like someone dumped out their whole closet and then walked away.

You’ll find inside-out jeans, tangled hangers, and shoes shoved under the bench like someone was hiding from a fashion emergency.

It’s rude to leave all that for employees to clean up. They’re not there to be personal stylists and closet organizers—they’ve got returns to process and spills to clean in aisle A3.

If something didn’t work, no big deal. Just hang it up or drop it on the return rack outside the dressing rooms.

It doesn’t have to be folded perfectly—just don’t leave it in a heap like a laundry basket exploded.

Talking Loud Enough for the Whole Store to Hear

There’s always that one person pacing through the kitchenware section on speakerphone, chatting about weekend plans or complaining about their HOA like they’re recording a podcast episode right next to the slow cookers.

Nobody needs to hear your personal drama while they’re deciding between a $12 or $18 shower curtain.

Target’s got music playing for a reason. Let that be the background noise—not your life story.

Phones are fine—most of us use them in a store every now and then. But keep it quiet, take the call off to the side, or better yet, call back later.

Shopping doesn’t have to come with a side of oversharing.

Jumping the Checkout Line Like It’s a Race

Some customers pretend not to see the line or sneak behind someone they “know” and hope nobody notices.

Spoiler: everyone notices, and everyone hates it.

Waiting in line isn’t fun for anyone. Customers have places to be. But cutting the line for your bag of trail mix and Dr Pepper is just plain rude.

Self-checkout exists for a reason—if you’re in a rush, go there and scan your own stuff.

No one’s impressed by line-jumpers. Everyone else is standing there with their cart full of storage bins and seasonal socks, doing the right thing.

Be one of those people, not the one getting side-eyes from five different directions.

Getting Mad at Cashiers Over Store Rules

Every now and then, a customer will lose it at the register because their coupon expired or their item rang up $2 higher than expected.

And who gets yelled at?

The poor cashier who had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Target employees don’t make the rules—they just follow them. And most of the time, they’re super helpful if you treat them like actual humans instead of punching bags in red shirts.

Got a problem with a price or a return?

Ask nicely. There’s usually a manager nearby who can help.

A little kindness gets better results than a full-blown tantrum over a bottle of Tide.

Dumping Cold Items in Random Spots

Let’s say someone grabs a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, changes their mind halfway to checkout, and then sticks it behind a stack of sweatshirts.

It happens more often than you’d think—and it’s seriously gross.

That ice cream starts melting, ruins the clothes, and has to be tossed out. It’s a waste of money, a mess for the workers, and honestly just a trash move all around.

If you don’t want something cold anymore, just walk it back or hand it to an employee. They’d rather take it right then than find it dripping behind a box of LED string lights three hours later.

Dropping Stuff Wherever Instead of Putting It Back

Leaving no-longer-wanted items extends beyond perishable groceries. Customers grab things, change their minds, and leave them wherever they’re standing all the time.

You’ll find a box of toaster pastries on a shelf of candles, or a pair of flip-flops hanging out with the party supplies.

Employees end up having to sort all that out later, which takes time away from restocking items so the shelves don’t go bare. Plus, products that get left in random spots can get damaged or dirty and end up unsellable.