What a to-do! shopping at Walmart!
By barehugs
@barehugs (8973)
Canada
November 5, 2009 7:24pm CST
I am not a violent person, in fact I'm a pushover most often, but there comes a time when its best not to push.
This morning I was shopping at Walmart for an electric shaver. I searched around for a time and finally found the shaver I wanted locked in a glass display cabinet. I began looking around for an "Associate," and found two women restocking shelves nearby. I asked one of them if they could unlock the shaver cabinet. She said, "Yes, but kept busy at the shelves. I went over and asked again, and she told me someone would be right along. I waited again, and still no results. The I went over the third time and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned, and I said," Listen I'm tired of waiting! If somebody isn't here in 2 minutes, (and I looked at my watch) to unlock that glass cabinet, I'm going to Kick in that glass door, and when they ask me why I did it, I'm going to tell them (and I stuck my finger in her face) that You told me to do it!"
That seemed to get through to her right away. She actually ran down the isle and came back with an Associate who quickly opened the glass door with her key.
6 people like this
15 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
8 Nov 09
oh I know that feeling. Walmart doesn't pay much and I guess you get what you pay for...people who really don't care.
I have been through similar situations at WM and always plan on being irritated when I do there. I do like your strategy though.
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
8 Nov 09
There are much worse fates, than having to work at Walmart. I think some people have the wrong attitude even before they are hired. I've noticed the Associates while shopping, and some of them seen to be enjoying their jobs in the store. Of course there are some who really don't want to work at all. The type who believe their food should be handed out to them on a silver platter.
@dmrone (746)
• United States
7 Nov 09
Hi, barehugs! I think sometimes you actually have to do something drastic to get an associate at walmart to do anything. It seems walmart has gone down in their customer service and their pledge to customers for the associates to help. In our local walmart you can consider yourself lucky to even find an associate on the floor. Even the cashiers are unfriendly. Congrats for standing up for yourself.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
6 Nov 09
What you need to do is get the person's name and report them to the manager or even the corporate office. That number is listed in the customer service area. Walmart's policy is that when a customer comes with in 10 foot they are to speak to the customer and at least acknowledge the customer. My daughter works for Walmart and tells me this, might even get a gift card.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
6 Nov 09
lol! i find that some walmart 'associates' are not the friendliest sales people in the world and i wonder why they are there if they don't want to deal with the public.
case in point, my 12 year old daughter bought a very nice camera from walmart with a gift card that she had gotten because her old camera was defective (it was the result of a protection plan that we had purchased when she bought her first one earlier in the year) anyways, the sales lady was so miserable, obviously she didnt want to deal with the public, so we ended up going to another walmart store to see if we needed to do anything and complained to her and she was going to consult the manager! you have to do what you did sometimes just to get service at walmart!
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
8 Nov 09
A friend returned 6 blown light bulbs to the Walmart store. These were new fluorescents that are guaranteed for 7 years. His sales slip was 2 months ago, and the return policy limits the guarantee to 30 days, so he was refused the refund.
He said "Ok," and immediately bought 6 new bulbs of the same kind.
Next day,he returned to the store with the blown bulbs, and his new new sales slip and had his money refunded.
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
6 Nov 09
I have had this happen to me before and usually will give them about 5 minutes for someone to come help me. I then go back to the employee and tell them noone has come to help me yet. They say they will call again so I wait just 3 minutes and if noone comes I go to the customer service counter and tell them that the employee working stocking shelves in the toys section told me they would get someone to help me but know one seem to want to come and help me. I tell them where I need to get help at. When I get back there are sometimes 3 different employees coming to help me. When you hear the annoucement over the intercom it seems to get the employees moving a little be faster.
1 person likes this
@jbrooks0127 (2324)
• United States
6 Nov 09
Very good. It always works so much better if you use an intellectual approach to anything rather than physical. This woman needed to have an image that then motivated her to action. You gave it to her and she got the point.
I seldom have a reason to ask for help but I would have to say I have never experienced this. Being the pushover I am I suspect I would have found the shaver at Target or some other store. Very good approach.....I will remember that. LOL
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
6 Nov 09
LOL that is a good one. I know how hard it is to find someone to help you in Walmart. You have to wait forever some times. I probably woudn't have handled quite like you but I would not have waited long before i started a commotion of some sort. I do most of my shopping online now.
1 person likes this
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
6 Nov 09
Its just awful what has to be done to get people to do their jobs!! I usually ask to see the manager if something like that happens to me. I have never come across that level of ignorance before. Good for you!!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
6 Nov 09
hi barehugs Shopping at walmart, it seems that someone needs to train these clerks better because the first time I came in to our nearby walmart, I asked these two clerks who were busy just standing there yaking with each other where the women's socks aisle was. the one guy looked at me and just shrugged,the other stopped talking for a moment, looked at the other clerk and started spieling something in Spanish. Okay so I walked over to the next aisle where a woman was stocking pens and asked still politely where is the womens socks? she just went on working but a kindly lady looking at pens turned to me and said,its just the other side of the large size women's clothing, you will not miss it if you walk around on the other side. Now why could not that clerk have told me that? Do they tell them to ignore customers on purpose? I felt like grabbing a handful of pens and throwing them at the clerk. arrghh.
1 person likes this
@charblaize (1026)
• United States
6 Nov 09
Yes, I get this it seems almost everytime I go to Wal-Mart anymore. Its not just this corporation but many of them anymore. It is getting to the point where the kids "have" to work and they do not like it, just want to have fun, yak, talk and do what they want....forget about the ones who is "making" their paychecks; customers. When you are in a hurry, rushing or having a bad day, it does not help when an associate is rude, ignoring and not willing to help.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
8 Nov 09
This world would be a better place if every kid had to work in a Walmart Store for a year of their life. Walmart knows how to get the most out of the least of their employees. I've noticed that all you have to do is look an Associate in the eye, to get an enthusiastic, " Good Morning Sir!"
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
6 Nov 09
Wow, that's quite the story. I've also had some unpleasant experiences at Wal-Mart but none that has made me almost resort to violence. There was this one time my sister and I went there to purchase ice. We were standing at the register waiting for the lady to ring it up. Instead she wasn't even paying attention to us. She was standing right there but she was busy talking to a coworker. We were patiently standing there for about 5 minutes waiting for her to actually notice us. Another coworker mentioned to her that she had customers and that she should help us. She said that she knew that but went right back to her conversation. The same coworker mentioned it again and she gave the same response and reaction. By that time my sister was getting really pissed off. She pretty much interrupted that lady's conversation and started chewing her out in front of everyone. Other customers were gawking at the scene and I was trying really hard not to laugh. We got our ice rang up and my sister left after giving her some more nasty words.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Nov 09
Hi barehugs, have you all gone to mad extreme lenghts now with political correctness. Since when did a shop assistant become an 'Associte'. Is that for real? Presumably these Assocites are there to help customers so by ignoring you her actions were rude, I also feel your frustration and went along with you threatening to break the glass, but the finger in the face no, as rude as she was.
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
6 Nov 09
Sam Walton did not hire clerks to work in his stores, he hired Associates, and he gives each of his Associates shares of his company.
I touched the Associate's shoulder to get her attention, then as I was explaining my frustration I pointed my finger at her face. I did not touch her skin, or face at any time.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
6 Nov 09
Hehehe! I am also not violent, and I also consider myself a pushover, but I couldn't help but smile after reading your post. I am feeling down today, and for some reason I feel that I'm just on the verge. And something like this would just set me off. I don't condone violence, but it would have been something to see if you had gone through with it.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
10 Nov 09
Wow that was really rude of that woman. I think it is really funny how you handled the situation. I would of went to the store manager and got her butt in trouble. She would have deserved it.
