Target App Glitch Sparks Nationwide Shopper Backlash Over Failed Orders

Target‘s digital platforms crashed on Friday, December 19th. The widespread outage prevented customers from tracking orders and completing purchases. Shoppers across the United States were left furious and confused.

The technical failure sparked immediate chaos online. According to Downdetector, thousands of user reports flooded in as the system issue persisted.

Widespread System Failure Halts Digital Operations

Complaints began appearing early Friday morning. Downdetector data showed over 8,000 problem reports by late morning. The issues spanned the Target app, website, and order management systems.

Customers faced a cascade of problems. Many could not view order confirmations or access purchase history. Others reported complete failures with curbside pickup services and returns.

Customers Charged Without Confirmation or Clarity

A central complaint involved unauthorized charges. Shoppers stated their payments were processed for pickup orders. However, they received no confirmation email or order history.

This left people in a difficult limbo. They were unsure if their purchases would be fulfilled or if they should seek refunds. Social media platforms became the primary outlet for this growing frustration.

One user directly challenged Target’s customer service. They demanded the company either fix the issue or return their money. Another questioned how long pickup orders would be held during the system failure, calling it a major inconvenience.

The retailer acknowledged the problem publicly. Target’s service team referred to it as a “system issue” they were investigating. In a statement, the company said it was aware of the troubles and working on a resolution.

Yet, criticism mounted as hours passed. Some accused Target of knowingly processing payments despite the ongoing outage. This removed any proof of purchase or clear support path for affected shoppers.

The Target app outage highlights the fragility of modern retail logistics. When digital systems fail, customer trust erodes rapidly. Resolving these technical flaws is now critical for maintaining brand loyalty.

Info at your fingertips

Q1: What happened with the Target app?

Target’s mobile app and website experienced a major system outage. This prevented customers from placing orders, tracking purchases, or managing pickups. The issue was widespread and lasted for several hours.

Q2: Were people charged for orders that didn’t go through?

Yes, many shoppers reported being charged for drive-up and pickup orders. However, they received no confirmation and their order history in the app was blank. This created significant confusion over whether the purchases were valid.

Q3: How did Target respond to the outage?

Target’s customer service team acknowledged a “system issue.” The company stated it was aware of the problems and actively working on a fix. They asked for customer patience during the resolution process.

Q4: How long did the Target system issue last?

Reports on Downdetector began early in the morning. Problem reports peaked with thousands of entries. The disruption lasted for a substantial part of the business day.

Q5: What should affected customers do?

Customers who were charged without confirmation should monitor their bank statements. They should also check the Target app and email for updates as systems recover. Contacting customer support directly may be necessary for unresolved cases.