Online Rush on Target’s New Missoni Line Offers a Lesson for Holiday Shoppers

Target shoppers hoping to get spectacular bargains from popular Italian designer Missoni crashed the retailer’s website a few days ago.

Most were left empty-handed.

A temporary New York store set up to debut the new Missoni line was also swamped by shoppers.

“We hoped to be open three days, we shut down in just six hours, so it truly is mayhem,” said Target vice president of communications Dustee Jenkins.

Analysts say this should be viewed as a preview of what’s to come as we approach the holiday shopping season.

“If you really want something, you have to assume that it’s going to be gone and plan accordingly,” says Smartmoney.com’s Kelli Grant.

Grant suggests using your smartphone to access a retailer’s website.

“You’re technically accessing a different site than you would be if you were accessing it from a computer,” she explains.

As a footnote, there’s some evidence the Missoni products bought on Target’s website were, in fact, purchased by internet “scalpers” who quickly turned around and offered the goods at much higher prices on online auction sites like eBay.

So, avoiding these scalpers is another reason why shoppers need to become more savvy.