My Mom's Shopping Experience
By Kareng
@kareng (59667)
United States
July 1, 2007 12:54pm CST
Last week my mom, a senior citizen, went to do her weekly shopping at Walmart. She had a large basket full of items that totaled over $150.00. She put all the items on the counter as she checked out and the cashier scanned them and moved them to the end of the counter. She finished and gave my mother the total. My mother paid. The cashier then told her that she needed to bag her items. My mother was exhausted after shopping and asked her since when did Walmart stop bagging for their customers? The cashier said she didn't bag groceries and that my mom should bag them because she had a long line of customers. My mother then told her that she was a customer too and that she wasn't going to bag the groceries. The cashier then asked her, "then who is going to bag them?" My mom told her to call her manager, that MAYBE she would bag them for her. So the cashier called her manager. Mind you there is a long line waiting to check out. The manager comes to the register and asked if there was a problem. My mom told her that the cashier told her to bag the groceries and that she wasn't going to do the cashier's job for her.
Not only do I think this was rude but I think this employee should have apologized. The manager didn't really say much, just told her that she needed to bag the groceries and then helped her bag.
I think if this had of been me I would of taken my receipt to the Customer Service counter and demanded a refund. I know my mother is limited in her mobility and going to the grocery store for over an hour usually wipes her out.
What do you think of this cashier and her actions?
13 people like this
31 responses
@Monopolized (236)
• United States
1 Jul 07
I work at Wal-Mart and I've never heard of a cashier not bagging items. That's ridiculous. No matter the age, your mom was a customer. Besides, if she was so worried about the customers waiting in line, wouldn't it make more sense to bag the items herself rather than have the customer do it as it would speed up the process.
The manager made the right decision to bag her items but I certainly hope she got some kind of disciplinary action for that. If she doesn't bag groceries then she's in the wrong line of work!
5 people like this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
5 Jul 07
Wow, I can't believe of the story. I mean, since when did cashier demand a person to do things. Even if there's ruling over customer bagging their stuff, she should have seen that your mother should be an exemption.
And now that I know that monopolized worked at Wal-Mart, this made me more furious. What happened that day? You shouldn't have let the day passed. I mean, people will forget but the hurt and abuse isn't right.
People should have been fired. Even the manager for the matter.
1 person likes this
@shemah (840)
• Malaysia
1 Jul 07
I agree with you.. the cashier shouldn't have done/said that.. and really owed your mother an apology. It's just not right.. even if there is a long line at the counter. Even if they have changed policies, they should have at least maintained the policy for senior citizens, disabled people, mothers with young children, expectant mothers..
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
1 Jul 07
Wow, I live in Mississippi and the clerk always bags. I hope this is not something new they are starting. There are a lot of elderly people that shop there and disabled. The least they can do is bag the items we are buying. It's not like we haven't made Walmart rich! We do have to put the bags in the cart sometimes which I don't think is right either. The problem is the bags are on the turn stiles and if the bags aren't turned toward you, you can't see if there is merchandise in it. A lot of people were leaving their stuff after paying for it so they are better about helping put the stuff in the cart and checking to make sure
the customer has everything now.
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
1 Jul 07
I'm with the poster above me. You or your mother should be making some phone calls. That cashier should be fired. I often bag my own groceries especially if there is a long to be helpful. But it should be an option, not a requirement. It's her job to do it.
I hope your mother remembers not to ever get in her line again.
4 people like this
@kareng (59667)
• United States
9 Jul 07
I haven't seen this new lady since this happened. I've been looking for her....lol! I'd love for her to tell me to bag my own groceries!
It is a nice gesture to offer to help bag them but you are right, this is an option and you are not obligated to do so. I bag if I'm in a hurry and want to get out quicker.
@onerygirl (549)
• United States
1 Jul 07
I would right a letter of complaint to Walmart. That is ridiculous. We need to have more respect shown in our country for our elderly.
All of us have elderly relatives and will be elderly ourselves someday. What is wrong with common decency? If the clerk was not concerned about your mothers health, she should have at least been concerned with the length of her line of customers.
At our local Walmart, they bag the items for us but I agree with you that they should have made the clerk apologize to your mother and the manager should also have apologized to your mother. It was a manner of respect.
@kareng (59667)
• United States
1 Jul 07
My mom called the store after she got home and realized she had also been overcharged. The manager on duty was very apologetic and told my mom to come back for her refund. They also wanted to know the name of the empolyee which my mother had written down.
I'm just hoping I never get this clerk because after a long day at work I'd probably blow my cool.
2 people like this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
1 Jul 07
I'm sorry but i can not believe this Post.I live in the USA for 5 months each winter and in Canada in the summer. Walmart is a favourite store in both countries. I've returned items, and had many experiences with the Walmart staff, and Never Once have I ever seen or heard anything like you are describing. THis is Entirely out of context with Walmart marketing Plan, and I simply can't believe it. Walmart sells more merchandise in and hour than all other stores in the USA combined, and Walmart didn't get this popular by doing as you have suggested.
This cashier would have been fired on the spot!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160721)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I am guessing that maybe the cashier wanted to be fired, so she could get unemployment.
2 people like this
@kareng (59667)
• United States
16 Jul 07
The manager that was called over was just a floor supervisor. I'm sure this cashier got a good butt chewing in private. I haven't seen her there since this day. So she was either fired or quit. As Gerty said, she maybe wanted to be fired to draw unemployment.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
5 Jul 07
Hehehe. maybe she was pissed the whole day.But that doesn't make any sense. Why blow your fumes on an elderly shopper. Why not just walk out?
Plus, why didn't the manager do anything to discipline the girl. He merely helped pack. I mean, what is that?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160721)
• United States
1 Jul 07
I think that first of all, the store manager needs to be called, and then also the district manager. There are usually names and phone numbers posted for both of these people. I was not clear on your discussion, did the service manager tell the cashier SHE had to bag, or did the service manager tell your mother SHE had to bag. From your post it is not clear. I think the cashier should have been fired on the spot. There really is not enough of a price difference to pay for people being rude to customers. I do not think the customer is always right, but I do think that the customer is the whole purpose of the business, and I am proud that your mother stood up and talked to the manager, and I am prepared to boycott my local Wal Mart if they start doing this. If it is just the cashier's idea, like I said, she should be fired on the spot. That was quite a bit of money for your mom to spend. I would offer to take her somewhere else if they are going to treat her that way. I think I feel a little "HOT" about this, myself.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160721)
• United States
2 Jul 07
Maybe she wanted to get fired, so she draw unemployment. In that case, I hope she gets what they got when they gave bad customer service and I worked at Wal Mart. That was when people got permanently moved to unloading the trucks. If they did not like it, they could quit, then they did not just get to draw unemployment.
2 people like this
@kareng (59667)
• United States
2 Jul 07
From what my mom found out when she called the store was that it is not a new policy at all, it was all the cashier's idea. I do not know what happened to her. I will look for her when I go to the store this week. I am hoping that she got fired because she certainly deserved to.
2 people like this
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
1 Jul 07
I think it was terriable. I had a simmilar thing happen to me. I was at the grocery store and at the time I was 8 months pregnant. After the cashier scanned my groceries i helped bag a few till the actual bagger came over and finished. I asked if he could help me to my car since no one EVER offers in pittsburgh and he said NO. I was shocked! Here I was with a cart FULL of groceries and the guy tells me no and then proceds to tell me that I shouldn't buy bottled water I should drink tap water because that's what they did in the old days. I asked for a manager and after 10 minutes I am not kidding 10 minutes he came over and said we don't help people to the car. I told them I wanted a refund I would shop some where else and they said NO. They actually wouldn't give me a refund. Needless to say I don't shop there anymore!
3 people like this
@melanie652 (2524)
• United States
1 Jul 07
WHAT!!! That is ridiculous?! I do my grocery shopping at the local Walmart Supercenter. The cashier has *always* bagged my groceries. A couple weeks ago when I couldn't fit everything back into one cart she called a gentleman over to help me out with my groceries. I thanked her and said I didn't realize they did that. She told me that was his only job to help people out with their groceries.
That's just horrible the treatment your Mom got. I'm just appalled and sure would be doing some complaining to the manager, the corporate office and anyplace else I thought I could get some sort of resolution.
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
1 Jul 07
I agree I would have said fine, give me my money back, cause I'm not bagging them there for I can't take them home.
That is crazy! Walmart is going down hill so fast. The cashier really needs to find a new line of work and that manager needs to grow a back bone. I so hope she finds a new place to shop.
3 people like this
@kareng (59667)
• United States
1 Jul 07
I think it will be awhile before my mom goes back in there. Unfortunately, there are only two decent size grocery stores in the immediate area. We have a new store coming in and opening but it will be at least 6 months before they get the rennovations done. I can't wait for this store, they have a store in the small town next to us and it is awesome!
2 people like this
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
2 Jul 07
People are getting less and less caring of others. I think the clerk should have been fired right there on the spot. There is no justification for treating people that way.
@creematee (2810)
• United States
2 Jul 07
Where did the cashier think she was going to put the next customer's goods? If your mom had 150 dollars worth of stuff, I can't imagine having any counter space to put the next person's stuff. Oh my!
I don't mind sacking my stuff, But I like to have time to do it. I don't like to be rushed, because I have a certain way I like to do things.
I used to work in a grocery store where customers were expected to sack their own groceries. This was posted on the front doors and throughout the store. As a cashier, I would take time from the register to help those that were slowing down the process. It's only fair for everyone. Afterall, I needed a place to put the next person's stuff.
Glad your mother got things situated.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160721)
• United States
2 Jul 07
When necessary, all management at our store cashiers, bags, and I would not be surprised to see our store manager carry out groceries. He realizes he is part of the community, not just a store manager.
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I feel the cashier was very rude to your mother. I think your mother needs to get on the internet and write the wal mart cooperation a letter and complain about what happened to her. In fact you can do it for her if you want. You need the cashiers name and the store your mom went to.
I hope the manager fired the clerk or wrote her up after your mom left. If there is a new policy where Wal Mart does not bag groceries then they need to post it. I also think they need to treat their senior citizens better.
@TheCatzMeow1 (579)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I think she should of been fired! I'd say fire her on the spot, but that would of created a fiasco with the long line of customers. From what I've heard about Walmart, I have a feeling that she was reprimanded in some way. She should of been made to apologize for her actions. Your mom should have to deal with people like that. What's the world coming to?!?
1 person likes this
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I have never heard of such a thing. Where I live, we do have stores where you have to bag your own groceries but I have never heard of that at a Walmart. I would have been so mad, I probably would have told them where they could put their groceries.
1 person likes this
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
2 Jul 07
OH my goodness, that is shocking, that cashier should of lost her job that was wrong, how can they talk to customers like that, and its her job to bag them not your mum thats for sure. no way i would bag my own if i had to i say fine, thats it shove your business right ............... etc
1 person likes this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
2 Jul 07
This is really weird for me coz here in sweden we always have to bag out own groceries., Ifsomeone else would bag them for me I would be shocked.
I do now know how I would have reacted if I was used to them doing it and then they stopped though.. Maybe they were short staffed or something.
Good that it atleast got worked out!
1 person likes this
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I think that is just terrible, The cashier should of bagges her groceries or if she was too busy then she should of called someone over to help her bag the groceries so your mom would not have too. The walmart I go to they bag the groceries for us. If I were your mom I would have gone to customer service and asked for a total refund and went somewhere else to shop if that was possible. As far as the manager goes they should have taken the time to bag the groceries themselves. At the store I work at the customer gets what they want and each cashier bags the groceries for the customer. The cashiers would never tell the customers to bag there own groceries. I would have your Mom call Walmarts corporate office and complain about the service she got at the store.
1 person likes this
