If you‘re a savvy shopper who loves scoring deals at Target, you‘ve likely heard of their popular Cartwheel discount program. What started as a separate app for accessing percentage-off savings has now evolved into Target Circle Rewards. But can you still use Cartwheel offers when shopping online at Target.com?
The short answer is yes, but there are some important things to know in order to maximize your savings. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything from how Cartwheel works now that it‘s part of Circle to insider hacks for stacking discounts. Let‘s get into it!
The Evolution of Cartwheel
Cartwheel first launched back in 2013 as a standalone app where users could browse and select special offers typically ranging from 5-50% off specific items. The catch? These discounts could only be redeemed in-store at the time. Despite that limitation, Cartwheel quickly caught on, with Target reporting over 27 million downloads and $1 billion in savings for customers within the first two years.
Fast forward to 2020 and Target made the strategic decision to merge Cartwheel into their Circle loyalty program to create a "one-stop shop for savings." Instead of scanning a separate barcode in the Cartwheel app, shoppers can now access the same great deals and have them automatically applied by providing their linked phone number or scanning their Circle barcode at checkout.
Can You Use Cartwheel Discounts Online?
So how does the change from a standalone Cartwheel app to part of the Circle program impact online shoppers? While you unfortunately can no longer redeem Cartwheel offers on Target.com purchases that are shipped, you can still apply them to eligible items if you select in-store pickup. Here‘s how it works:
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Make sure you have a Target.com account and are enrolled in Circle Rewards. It‘s free to join and you can sign up either on Target.com or by downloading the latest version of the Target app.
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Browse the current Cartwheel offers in the "Wallet" section of the app. Tap the "+" button to save any discounts you want to use.
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When shopping on Target.com, add your desired items to your cart, making sure they match the specifics of the Cartwheel offers you selected (i.e. brand, size, quantity, etc.)
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At checkout, choose the "Pick it up" option and select your store location. The Cartwheel discounts will not be applied if you choose to have the items shipped!
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Complete your order and wait for the notification that it‘s ready to pick up in-store. Your Cartwheel discounts should be automatically applied and reflected in your final price.
It‘s worth noting that you may not see the discounted price until after you fully complete the checkout process. Rest assured that as long as you have the offers selected in your Circle account and choose in-store pickup, the savings will be applied even if the price doesn‘t immediately update in your cart.
Stacking Cartwheel Discounts
One of the best "hacks" for maximizing your Target savings is to stack multiple discounts and offers strategically. With Cartwheel, you can actually redeem identical offers up to 4 times in a single transaction (as long as you‘re buying at least 4 of that item.)
For instance, let‘s say you have a Cartwheel offer for 20% off Dove shampoo. If you add 4 bottles of the qualifying shampoo to your online Target order for in-store pickup, you can use that 20% off discount on each one and save a total of $4 (assuming a $5 regular price per bottle.)
But the savings potential doesn‘t stop there. In addition to stacking multiples of the same Cartwheel offer, Target also allows you to layer on other common discounts such as:
- Target store coupons
- Manufacturer coupons
- 5% off for RedCard holders
- Target Circle "earnings" (1% back on purchases)
By combining all of these deals, you can significantly slash your out-of-pocket cost, often saving 50% or more on your purchase. In fact, the popular couponing website The Krazy Coupon Lady states that Cartwheel offers combined with the RedCard discount can net an average savings of 38-55% on regular priced items at Target!
The one type of offer you typically can‘t stack with Cartwheel are Target Circle "threshold" deals—you know, the ones like "Spend $40 on household essentials, get a $10 gift card." Using a Cartwheel discount on top of those items may disqualify you from earning the gift card, so be strategic about when to apply percentage-off discounts.
Cartwheel Power User Tips
To help take your Target deal-scoring to the next level, here are a few more expert tips and tricks for making the most of the Cartwheel program:
- Check for new Cartwheel offers every Sunday, when Target releases their latest weekly ad and refreshes the available discounts. Some of the best deals are only available for a short time and may sell out fast, so be ready to shop!
- Don‘t forget to scan your in-store receipts into the Target app after checkout. You can earn "votes" to help select the non-profit organizations Target donates to in your community.
- Aim to hit at least $35 in your online order subtotal to qualify for free in-store pickup. Otherwise, Target may charge a small fee for the service.
- Always compare the Cartwheel percentage-off discount to the dollar-off amount of any Target store coupons. For lower-priced items, a store coupon may actually provide greater savings. Let‘s say you have two offers for the same $3 hand soap: 25% off with Cartwheel or $1 off with a store coupon. In that case, the $1 off coupon is the better bet, since 25% off would only be a $0.75 value.
- Speaking of the value of offers, be wary of Cartwheel deals that seem too good to be true, like 50% off a name-brand item. Sometimes these end up being a very small size of the product that‘s not really useful. It pays to read the fine print!
- If you‘re lucky enough to live near multiple Target locations, it can be worth checking the inventory at a few different stores in the app. Some stores mark down clearance items faster than others, and Cartwheel offers tend to last longer on those products.
- Finally, keep in mind that using Cartwheel doesn‘t prevent you from making a return if needed. With in-store pickup orders, you can simply bring the item back to Guest Services with your order barcode or ID and the return will be processed including the Cartwheel discount and any other offers applied.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to saving money at Target, Cartwheel is a powerful tool to have in your arsenal. While the program has evolved over the years and is now part of the larger Target Circle rewards, it‘s still possible to apply those coveted percentage-off discounts to online orders picked up in store.
By learning the ins and outs of accessing Cartwheel offers on Target.com, stacking those discounts strategically with other deals, and staying on top of the latest power user hacks, you can seriously slash your spending as a Target shopper. We hope this guide has left you feeling ready to make the most of this popular discount program. Happy saving!
