Hi all, I was doing a search for the Bot Shots Battle for the Matrix set (and others) at Targets using the online DPCI search function that I have always used but it doesn't seem to work for me anymore. It just changes to the default generic m.target.com site with no search results. Does anyone know if the site is down temporarily, or if Target changed the URL for this feature? I hope this gets working again- this was an invaluable tool for searching for items! Here is the link that I used: Target Mobile Site - Electronics, Video games, Toys, Baby Thanks for your help on this! If I posted this in the wrong forum, sorry. I just wasn't sure where it should go. Thanks!
Probably has to do with the fact that items on the website now feature a 'find in store' button. EDIT: Then again, I can't seem to find any item listings for Bot Shots on Target.com...
It's gone. Target uses a new method of searching by using an item's online item # instead of the DPCI, I guess to stop this very reason. If you don't have the online item number, can't do a search. This is the new link: Target Mobile Site After "t-" is the online item number, which you need to do a search. If you have this number, just replace it like you would the DPCI number on the old search.
^^ That seems interesting... Side note: the webstore seems to be updated with more things too, and it still works the same way. For instance: they have the generations figs listed individually, still tied to the old DCPI (or whatever they're using now) so all you have to do is search for anything that would use that DCPI and it will tell you if that store has any of that DCPI in stock (ie: it still cant tell the difference between the figures, but the concept still works).
Thanks for the info, guys! I guess this new search feature on the website is cool, but it is missing some things. For example, I can't find any of the FOC figures on the site (even Jazz, Prime or Shockwave), so although I know there are tons of each of these three at my local Target, there is no way to find that out here, whereas with the old DPCI search, it would come up. Annoying. Thanks for your help, though!
I guess they want people to waste the gas coming into store looking to see if they have something in stock? Or a ton of phone calls? There's no real logical reason for removing this feature, honestly, it just saves their employees time and our time as well. Toys can't be that big of a part of their sales, (and there really isn't anything like it as far as how it is sold and the way it is stocked, maybe video games or movies?) but I can't imagine this feature isn't a help to other people looking for things, right?
Probably this. Since you're in the store anyway, they're hoping you might as well buy a carton of milk or extra socks
Wait... so a bunch of Target executives actually noticed that TF Collectors were finding items with DCPI numbers and decided to ruin it for us just so they could potentially make more money instead of providing us with quality customer service? What a bunch of selfish arseholes!!!
Not just tf collectors, all collectors. I kinda doubt they changed their entire item number system based on one department tho. That had to be a huge undertaking for their IT guys.
Yea, I know DPCI numbers are frequently used by video game collectors to find which stores have certain clearance video games and by toy collectors for every line under the sun. It was a system that was really, really easy to take advantage of so that's why it was probably changed. It was way too easy to see what a store had in-stock online(most likely in the storeroom) then go to the store and get an employee to pull it, most likely breaking street dates in the process. Like someone else said, it also was an easy way to shop for any item at Target right from your computer when they want you to actually go into the store.
But you see that is the ONLY reason why I shopped at Target. Because I knew that the store had the item I wanted. My choice was drive a half hour to see if Wally World has it or keep checking the DCIP with Target and when they had it drive 45 mins to get it. Now, for me it's a crap shoot either way and with gas prices can you guess where I go now?
Yeah, I bet the clearance video game thing was a larger percentage of the problem than toy collectors, though I can see how Hot Wheels Guys (tm) would chafe the employees too. I actually know a guy who used to case several Targets on a full day (we're talking 7am to 9pm) for clearance video games to sell on eBay. Good gravy, with times like those to find even ONE store, I hope the answer is "the internet" because that's some serious gas chugging.
LOL and we have a winner ding ding ding. Thing is there are three Wally's "in my area" that are all half hour drives, and yes that's one way, in three different directions and only one has a Kmart by it the others have nothing.
I don't know if it's been brought up again, but I found the new link to Target's mobile search function. Just add the DPCI# you're searching for at the end of the URL (complete with hyphens) and it will work. Target Mobile Site
