The Daily Dot
"Sneaky, sneaky": Customer boycotting Target orders a laundry basket from eBay—…
"That’s not allowed."
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Target Accused of Using 'Ghost Stores' on eBay to Bypass Boycotts, Viral Video Alleges
A recent viral TikTok video has brought to light an alleged new strategy by retail giant Target, with a creator claiming the company is utilizing "Ghost Stores" on third-party e-commerce platforms like eBay to circumvent boycotts and sell its products. The video, posted by user ItsJaylanTho, details his personal experience of ordering a laundry basket from an eBay seller named "Sharkmet" and receiving it in a box clearly labeled "FROM TARGET.COM." The shipping label also indicated a return address in Franklin, Indiana, a known location for Target's online fulfillment operations. ItsJaylanTho, who states he has been boycotting Target and previously worked for the company, expressed his surprise and frustration at the discovery. "I don't shop at Target anymore. I've been said 'f*ck Target' 'cause I used to work there and I hate them," he stated in the video, adding that the boycotts stemmed from the company having "sold out to Trump." He further investigated the eBay seller, Sharkmet, and found several items that appeared to be Target's in-house brands, including a "Brightroom" laundry bag identical to one sold on Target's official website. The creator likened this practice to "ghost restaurants" on food delivery apps, where a well-known brand operates under a different name to sell its products. "This is clearly a ghost store," he asserted, highlighting the ethical implications of consumers unknowingly purchasing from a brand they intend to boycott. The video has sparked widespread discussion online, with many users sharing similar experiences of receiving items from unexpected retailers when ordering from third-party sites or even other major e-commerce platforms.
