'Don't Go to Target Today:' Target Registers Back Up After a Nationwide 2-Hour Outage
Target customers across the country tweeted that the big box retailer is experiencing a nationwide computer malfunction that has caused many of the stores’ registers to stop working on Saturday.
Patrons from Texas to New York to Florida tweeted photos and videos of dozens of customers waiting in line with red shopping carts filled with products, unable to check out seemingly due to computer issues. Many on social media claimed that Target employees say that the malfunction is chain-wide.
Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the store’s official Twitter account confirmed that customers could not make purchases at the chain’s stores.
“We’re aware that guests are currently unable to make purchases at Target stores,” the tweet read. “Our teams are troubleshooting now and we apologize for the inconvenience. We will provide an update as soon as possible.”
We’re aware that guests are currently unable to make purchases at Target stores. Our teams are troubleshooting now and we apologize for the inconvenience. We will provide an update as soon as possible.
— Target (@Target) June 15, 2019
Bentley Northup, who identified himself as an employee at a Target in Marshfield, Wisconsin, wrote TIME an email after getting off of his shift. He said that his store was affected at around 12:30 p.m. CST.
“Not only are registers down, (self checkouts are working – but very slowly), but so are our MyDevices, so we are unable to backstock products from the truck, or check stockroom quantities for guests,” Northup wrote.
He added that the store pick-up service was still working, so customers can purchase products that way.
Nancy Yang, a digital producer from MPR news in Minnesota, tweeted an image of an error message on a Target register.
This is how you bring America to a standstill. Every single register at the Richfield @target is down 😱 pic.twitter.com/DsT5fv5QNS
— Nancy Yang (@n_yang) June 15, 2019
Among the trapped customers is Katie Rosman, a reporter for the New York Times. Rosman tweeted that she spent an hour shopping for children’s camp supplies before the system shut down. She wrote that “allegedly” two of the self-check-out machines appeared to be working.
I am at @Target and spent an hour finding stuff for my kids’ camp list. AND ALL THE REGISTRS ARE BROKEN. Seems from Twitter, this is a chain-wife malfunction. @sapna pic.twitter.com/inlzY4vtuP
— katie rosman (@katierosman) June 15, 2019
Allegedly, two self-check our machines are working. This is the line. pic.twitter.com/RO5gSdByRD
— katie rosman (@katierosman) June 15, 2019
Hunter Sowards, a reporter for the Texas news channel KTRE, tweeted that Target employees were handing out chips, and the Starbucks employees were passing around refreshments.
Terrible video but had to share. Employees handing out chips. Starbucks handing out drinks. Customers offering their baskets to strangers trying to hold all of their items. Sometimes the most uncomfortable situations can actually bring out the best of human nature. #targetdown pic.twitter.com/iI3owraDoX
— Hunter Sowards (@huntersowards3) June 15, 2019
One Twitter user, who identified herself as Rebecca Barkin, tweeted an image of a packed Target store.
Today shall be marked as the day the @target registers went down and everyone lost their damn minds. #targetdown pic.twitter.com/CPVxS007bB
— no_barkin (@rebeccabarkin) June 15, 2019
Many users addressed their fellow customers, asking Target visitors to be kind to the employees who were trying to control the situation.
Just left target after patiently waiting for an hour or so. Every single person working there is amazing & I honestly feel for them. I just had to take the L. If you’re still there, please be patient with these guys. They are doing their best! #targetdown pic.twitter.com/yBcEYL4Jsx
— Elizabeth Matthews (@momof2boys79) June 15, 2019
Later in the afternoon, multiple accounts from around the country started reporting that some stores’ services were functioning again.
Cash registers at @Target on University Pkwy in Winston-Salem are back up and running. They came back online at about 4:05 p.m. https://t.co/iF9lvul8tp
— Steve King WXII (@WXIISteveKing) June 15, 2019
Saturday night, Target released a statement saying that all cash registers are working again. The statement claimed that a review found that the issue was internal not a data breach.
“Target’s registers are fully back online and guests are able to purchase their merchandise again in all stores,” the statement read. “The temporary outage earlier today was the result of an internal technology issue that lasted for approximately two hours… After an initial but thorough review, we can confirm that this was not a data breach or security-related issue, and no guest information was compromised at any time.”
https://t.co/XdKq8SFWjQ pic.twitter.com/RTDS33eo3L
— Target (@Target) June 15, 2019
Target operates more than 1,800 stores in 49 states, which employ more than 300,000 people, according to the company’s corporate website.
This story is developing…