New Jersey man discovers ‘One Piece’ stash hidden inside Target shelf. Why did the workers kick him out instead?: ‘They look like they hid them’
In the world of manga and anime, certain items are so sought-after that they disappear on launch day. While fans are usually the ones grabbing them off the shelves, another theory has emerged in recent years. Could store employees be “hiding” them to either keep or resell for a profit?
That’s what one TikToker has claimed after filming an interaction in which Target workers refused him service and asked him to leave the premises. According to him, something suspicious may be happening.
What Happened During His Target Visit?
In the clip, TikToker Tony (@tonymak) shows part of the interaction as a security guard and a Target worker confront him. His video went viral with over 12.1 million views.
“So I have to leave because I found items under the shelf,” he says to the camera before flipping it to show the workers standing in front of him.
“Is that basically what you’re saying?” he asks the workers.
“Yes, we need you to leave the store, and you’re not going to be able to purchase those items today,” one of them says. “But on another day, if you purchase them from the shelf, you’re absolutely okay.”
“OK,” Tony responds. “Can I have someone else come in and purchase them when you guys put them back on the shelf?”
“Not today, no, cause they’re not gonna go up today,” the worker counters.
“I didn’t even do anything wrong,” Tony says. “And I have to leave the store because I found items that people hid.”
Commenters Believe Something Fishy Is Happening
In the comments, users were convinced this was a deliberate action by the Target employees.
“I think the one holding the one piece box was the one who hid it lmao,” one user claimed.
A commenter claiming to be a Target employee also chimed in. “Hi, so I work at Target this is definitely NOT a thing!” they wrote. “Call corporate immediately!”
“I’m so confused about how they even knew you found a hidden item?” a third commenter wondered.
In a follow-up video, Tony said he wasn’t planning to escalate the issue by contacting corporate or trying to get the workers in trouble. Instead, he said he was simply curious whether there was a store policy he wasn’t aware of.
Do Target Workers Really Hide Items?
While videos online show people finding hidden items, there’s often no independent way to verify their authenticity. Some viewers have questioned whether certain “hidden shelf” finds are staged for content, though there’s no clear evidence in most cases.
However, staging isn’t the only explanation for why an item might appear to be missing from the shelf but still present in the store. Retail practices such as overstock, temporary shelf resets, or inventory staging can mean a product is available at certain times but not visible at others.
What to Do if You’re in His Position
If customers believe a retail store has treated them unfairly in any way, they can escalate the issue by first contacting the store’s customer service. If that doesn’t resolve their issue, they can also file a complaint with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau.
However, Target, like many other businesses in the United States, has the right to refuse service, as long as the decision is not based on discrimination related to race, sex, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics.
@tonymak bet you the chicken lookin security guard was hiding them ?? #fyp #onepiece #onepunchman ♬ original sound – tonymacaroni || Solo Travel
The Mary Sue has reached out to Target and Tony via email for comment.
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