Target reportedly sacked seven employees who bought a special Stanley Quencher cup.
Business Insider reported the fired Target employees said they purchased a Starbucks X Stanley Cup that the businesses launched to much fanfare earlier this month and received their dismissals not long afterwards.
The limited edition cups, which have a $49.95 price tag, debuted Jan. 3.
In accordance with the previous employees, higher ups at their Target locations pointed to a rule about workers not being allowed to capitalize on their position as Target employees to “gain an unfair advantage over guests” to get products as factoring into the firings, the outlet reported.
FOX Business reached out to Target for comment.
Fired employees had no prior knowledge of the policy, they told Business Insider.
In some cases, in addition they reportedly didn’t know getting the cup would breach it.
Store higher ups turned down several of the workers volunteering to return the cups, in accordance with the outlet.
![A green thermos Stanley on grass in Warsaw, Poland - August 20, 2023](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/warsaw-poland-august-20-2023-75482036.jpg?w=1024)
The seven workers that talked to Business Insider reportedly weren’t alone in losing their jobs in connection to the cups.
They said the identical fate befell some colleagues too, per the outlet.
The Starbucks X Stanley cups saw significant demand when Target released them, with consumers waiting in lines and rushing in stores to get them.
![A Stanley transit bottle displayed on a shelf at Target store - white, silver and with a brand logo.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/2024-san-rafael-california-wildly-75737328.jpg?w=1024)
Stanley, which relies in Seattle, has been making various varieties of insulated drink bottles since 1913.
Its products have recently seen a popularity boost from attention on social media platforms.