I've bought countless toys from places like Target, Walmart, and Amazon in the last five years since I began collecting again, and during that time, I've frequently returned figures, opened AND unopened, due to quality control issues and the like; but I've never once had anyone question me or refuse a refund under any circumstance, until today, from Target guest services...

Target guest services employee, after I'd handed her an opened Marvel Legends figure for a return and refund: "I don't believe we can refund opened items of this type." Me: this is a first for me in several years of shopping here--is this a new policy?" Lady standing next to her: "No sir, this a long standing policy regarding opened items of this type." Me: "Why am I just encountering this now???"

I ended up getting the refund after speaking with one of the team lead whom I know pretty well, but it seemed really out of the blue to me, and even to him, and he said he'd speak to the employees and to Asset Protection about it in follow up. Just curious if anyone else has encountered this recently or if any current or former employees (asset protection, anyone?) would care to chime in? If this is going to be the standard practice at Target now as far as returns go, this seems like another good reason to cut back on toy buying, given the store isn't going to stand behind one of their brands.