Extreme couponer banned from WalMart

[chris31997]

Banned for recording, I can see that. The cops were called so I guess they did not see assualt charges or the lady did not want to or have grounds to press charges. She is a liability to Walmart. I would be intersted in seeing what Walmart recorded on their store cameras because I think everyone here is right there is more to this story.

 

[beansmom]

Banned for recording, I can see that. The cops were called so I guess they did not see assualt charges or the lady did not want to or have grounds to press charges. She is a liability to Walmart. .

#1--maybe she did not realize that merely touching constituted assault.

#2-why is she a liability to walmart? if she coupons correctly, then they not only get the face value of the coupon but also the handling fee. She is not a liabilty...she is a CUSTOMER.

 

[crisi]

#1--maybe she did not realize that merely touching constituted assault.

#2-why is she a liability to walmart? if she coupons correctly, then they not only get the face value of the coupon but also the handling fee. She is not a liabilty...she is a CUSTOMER.

If she costs Walmart more than they profit from her, then - in an accounting sense - she is a liability. Customers that only shop loss leaders or abuse return policies or who work the complaint system or abuse your staff end up costing a retailer money. There are always some customers who are more profitable (and therefore more desirable) than other customers. And there are always some customers who end up adding revenue, but being negative in terms of profit.

ETA: If what she is doing is extreme couponing by using WalMarts price match policy - i.e. WalMart has to match the price on someone else's loss leader - she is probably costing WalMart money. i.e. WalMart will get the value of the manufactuers coupon, but they'll still lose money off the item itself because some other retailer was willing to take the hit - and therefore - so was WalMart. Its a darn nice policy for shoppers, but if people abuse it, WalMart will not be able to keep it because it will have too much impact on profits.

 

[beansmom]

If she costs Walmart more than they profit from her, then - in an accounting sense - she is a liability. Customers that only shop loss leaders or abuse return policies or who work the complaint system or abuse your staff end up costing a retailer money. There are always some customers who are more profitable (and therefore more desirable) than other customers. And there are always some customers who end up adding revenue, but being negative in terms of profit.

ETA: If what she is doing is extreme couponing by using WalMarts price match policy - i.e. WalMart has to match the price on someone else's loss leader - she is probably costing WalMart money. i.e. WalMart will get the value of the manufactuers coupon, but they'll still lose money off the item itself because some other retailer was willing to take the hit - and therefore - so was WalMart. Its a darn nice policy for shoppers, but if people abuse it, WalMart will not be able to keep it because it will have too much impact on profits.

i understand what you're saying but as long as she shops within the store's parameters, then she is doing nothing wrong. Nowhere does it say i can't go to Walgreen's just to pick up the sale items. That's totally allowed. And Walmart, not the customers, instituted the price-match policy. Again as long as she's not commiting fraud, she is still a valued customer in my book. JMTCW

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm curious as to why the store called the police and what law they're stating she broke. Obviously there's more to the story if they're claiming that she broke a law.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Even if this was her first go-around with store management (which I highly doubt, given the amount of time she spends there), my guess is Wal-Mart doesn't include those who go around taping employees in their definition of "valued customer." And since they can exclude her if they want, their definition is the only one that counts.

 

[nunzia]

She shops there everyday??? maybe she should get a life that doesn't involve daily trips to Wal-mart I have no idea why they banned her, but I think that there is more to this story than what Fox, we are not really a news channel but just a bunch of morons shouting at each other, has reported.

OH Puleeaase..first, this is a Fox news affiliate, not Fox News, and second this story screams of being spun. Lots more to find the truth in this one.

 

[EKW]

Move to an area with a high frequency of shoplifting and you get policies like WalMart's. Some stores target demographics carefully to avoid the problem. WalMart is everywhere...their policies have to cover every type of community.

Where I live the "frisking" thing is pretty common. At Ross they have a special stand they have to hang your items on...to check them...BEFORE you go in to try them on. They have people double-hang items to facilitate shoplifting.

I don't understand the extreme effort many put into hating WalMart. If you don't like the store, don't shop there. If they put you out of business personally, it's your fault for not adapting and offering your customers something that WalMart can't...something to make them willing to pay your higher prices. If WalMart were to go bankrupt it would likely be a sign that our country had fallen into a deep and prolonged depression...much worse than what we've seen the past few years. How can anyone say that would make them happy?

Imagine what good could be done if people would quit wasting their emotion on sentimentality. Our society is what it is. All the hate that one can muster can't turn back the clock.

 

[nunzia]

#1--maybe she did not realize that merely touching constituted assault.

#2-why is she a liability to walmart? if she coupons correctly, then they not only get the face value of the coupon but also the handling fee. She is not a liabilty...she is a CUSTOMER.

Is is clear you haven't worked much retail. .she is not so much as a customer as a scammer...if she is in there every day there have probably been many isues with this woman and this broke the straw to have a no trespass slapped on her in EVERY WalMart.

 

[GinnyEmma]

If they ask her to leave private property and she doesn't that is breaking a law, right?

 

[fakereadhed]

If a person plays by the rules of the store when couponing they are not abusing anything. Even if you shop every day, only buying loss leaders, pricematching, and using coupons as long as it is a store policy there is no abuse. The stores have these policies to make money, drawing you into the store for bargains and hoping you'll impulse shop. Most do, so they are still making a bundle on those folks.

I am not saying the story is legit- have no idea- but I was escorted out of Target by security years ago for questioning(not yelling- I am very soft spoken) why the cashier wouldn't take a Target coupon for a Target brand item I printed off Target's own website. The cashier claimed I was "making a scene" by merely asking why then asking her to please get the manager. The manager said her employee shouldn't be "hasseled" and called security who told me to follow them or they would call the police. Individual employees, even managers, don't always follow corporate policy.

That was before video phones but if I had one I'm sure they would make it sound like I was the lunatic in the situation to avoid bad press. I wrote a letter to corporate and didn't get a response.

 

[daughtersrus]

I agree, my first thought was " there is no way someone will slap my hand & then I just turn around & still go buy a full cart of groceries".

.

She probably isn't buying anything. If she's as good as the ones on tv, she's getting it all for free.

 

[DizneyDogs]

this is one person opinion as to why she was banned

http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/2011/06/a_look_at_possible_reasons_beh.html

 

[*Seanaci*]

Um, Tom -- no need to link this story with Fox News Channel.

The TV station being referenced is a small station in Idaho which is not owned/operated by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp -- they happen to be a Fox network affiliate, meaning the connection is they carry Fox's prime time programming/sports.

Aside from that, I agree -- most likely, the couponer was breaking Walmart's rules, and got caught.

I never feel sorry for anyone who tries to "manipulate the system" (and passes themselves off to the media as "extreme").

Oh, and one other thing -- recording such transactions without permission/consent is a no-no, regardless of the store...

I'm interested to hear what rule(s) you think she broke and got caught breaking?

I'm wondering if she bought an item a few days ago when it was not on sale, then found a coupon for it...or a store that was selling it for less and was trying to get a refund. *shrugs*

#1--maybe she did not realize that merely touching constituted assault.

#2-why is she a liability to walmart? if she coupons correctly, then they not only get the face value of the coupon but also the handling fee. She is not a liabilty...she is a CUSTOMER.

She may be a customer. But...people learn how to abuse the system (so to speak). Like others have stated, she and her husband claim they shop there every day. Not sure about other posters on the boards...I do my grocery shopping once a week (on the occassion we have to make a trip back for a forgotten item, but that's it)...but why are you shopping there every day...unless you're trying to abuse the system.

Is is clear you haven't worked much retail. .she is not so much as a customer as a scammer...if she is in there every day there have probably been many isues with this woman and this broke the straw to have a no trespass slapped on her in EVERY WalMart.

Exactly. Hence my question above...why WAS she shopping there every day? Just doesn't make sense unless she was abusing the system/breaking the couponing rules.

If they ask her to leave private property and she doesn't that is breaking a law, right?

this is one person opinion as to why she was banned

http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/2011/06/a_look_at_possible_reasons_beh.html

**First of all, DizneyDogs..I LOVE your garden. **

*nods* Sounds about right to me. Isn't that pretty much a policy at most stores? I dunno. I don't make a regular habit of recording when I'm in a store shopping.


Based on the article you posted, I almost think it's a combination of the two...arguing over the coupons AND the video taping without consent. If they say "We don't take competitors coupons" then leave it alone. You want to use that coupon...go to the competitor. It's what I'd do. *shrugs*

Oh well.

 

[crisi]

i understand what you're saying but as long as she shops within the store's parameters, then she is doing nothing wrong. Nowhere does it say i can't go to Walgreen's just to pick up the sale items. That's totally allowed. And Walmart, not the customers, instituted the price-match policy. Again as long as she's not commiting fraud, she is still a valued customer in my book. JMTCW

She is a customer, but I'll assure you, she isn't valued by the retailer. And why should she be, at the end of the year, she has COST them money instead of MAKING them money. She and people like her are the reason you see policies change to be more restrictive for everyone. Next time you are complaining because its hard to return something to Target or Best Buy doesn't price match - this is why those policies changed.

 

[fakereadhed]

She is a customer, but I'll assure you, she isn't valued by the retailer. And why should she be, at the end of the year, she has COST them money instead of MAKING them money. She and people like her are the reason you see policies change to be more restrictive for everyone. Next time you are complaining because its hard to return something to Target or Best Buy doesn't price match - this is why those policies changed.

The stores offer these things to lure customers in and make more money. Period. I get that. They may discontinue offers if they aren't profitable. But blaming the consumer for utilizing sales strategies the store puts in place is puzzling. That I do not understand.

 

[LilyWDW]

Here is my opinion based off of my experience as a retail manager, my knowledge of Walmart's policies, and what I have read on this incident. Note, this is only my opinion and is not statement of fact.

Coupon lady was at Walmart and attempted to use a coupon from a competitor. From what I can find, Walmart recently changed their policy to no long allow this though they will still price match ads. Coupon lady didn't like that so she got upset and asked for a manager. The manager comes up, explains the new policy, and that is that...

Except coupon lady gets mad because she still thinks she is right and the manager is wrong. So she pulls out her phone and starts to record. At this point, the manager most likely says to stop recording and it is against company policy for her to be doing so. The manager will not bend the rules for the coupon lady and coupon lady gets madder and madder.

Now, we have not heard Walmart's side of this, however, I would not be surprised if coupon lady didn't shove her phone at the manager. The manager then reacted by swatting/slapping at it. This would be a normal reaction if someone tried to force something into your face. It would explain the reaction and why (as of yet) nothing more was said about that part of the incident. IF this was what happened, then the manager could claim she was worried for her safety at that moment.

This would explain the phone call to police and the insistence by Walmart security that the coupon lady needed to return to the store. I also would not be shocked if this was not the first issue the store had had with this person. A company will not just ban someone for nothing... it usually takes a very serious incident where the safety of employees was in question and/or a history of behavior.

I know that is some conjecture, but I have had a similar incident happen to me. The customer was so irrational about a situation that I seriously worried for the safety of myself, my associates, and my customers. Luckily she left and my store manager decided not to pursue it further, but she was also banned from our store.

 

[crisi]

The stores offer these things to lure customers in and make more money. Period. I get that. They may discontinue offers if they aren't profitable. But blaming the consumer for utilizing sales strategies the store puts in place is puzzling. That I do not understand.

It isn't about me blaming her at all. The case seems to be that WalMart feels that she abused their policies and was abusive to their staff. So they banned her - which they have a right to do as long as it isn't a civil rights issue. Which should tell you exactly how valuable she is as a customer to them.

In a more general sense, as a customer of stores, when policies become more restrictive due to abuse of those policies, they affect me. That should be a matter of concern to all consumers. I don't understand why that doesn't concern you.

 

[fakereadhed]

It isn't about me blaming her at all. The case seems to be that WalMart feels that she abused their policies and was abusive to their staff. So they banned her - which they have a right to do as long as it isn't a civil rights issue. Which should tell you exactly how valuable
she is as a customer to them.

In a more general sense, as a customer of stores, when policies become more restrictive due to abuse of those policies, they affect me. That should be a matter of concern to all consumers. I don't understand why that doesn't concern you.

I am not concerned when companies change their policies based on financial decisions. That's where we see things differently. I don't consider taking stores up on their generous policies(easy returns, double coupons, price matching, loss leader sales) as abuse as long as you follow their rules. If they are losing money and want to change their policies I can choose to shop elsewhere.

Here is my opinion based off of my experience as a retail manager, my knowledge of Walmart's policies, and what I have read on this incident. Note, this is only my opinion and is not statement of fact.

Coupon lady was at Walmart and attempted to use a coupon from a competitor. From what I can find, Walmart recently changed their policy to no long allow this though they will still price match ads. Coupon lady didn't like that so she got upset and asked for a manager. The manager comes up, explains the new policy, and that is that...

Except coupon lady gets mad because she still thinks she is right and the manager is wrong. So she pulls out her phone and starts to record. At this point, the manager most likely says to stop recording and it is against company policy for her to be doing so. The manager will not bend the rules for the coupon lady and coupon lady gets madder and madder.

Now, we have not heard Walmart's side of this, however, I would not be surprised if coupon lady didn't shove her phone at the manager. The manager then reacted by swatting/slapping at it. This would be a normal reaction if someone tried to force something into your face. It would explain the reaction and why (as of yet) nothing more was said about that part of the incident. IF this was what happened, then the manager could claim she was worried for her safety at that moment.

This would explain the phone call to police and the insistence by Walmart security that the coupon lady needed to return to the store. I also would not be shocked if this was not the first issue the store had had with this person. A company will not just ban someone for nothing... it usually takes a very serious incident where the safety of employees was in question and/or a history of behavior.

I know that is some conjecture, but I have had a similar incident happen to me. The customer was so irrational about a situation that I seriously worried for the safety of myself, my associates, and my customers. Luckily she left and my store manager decided not to pursue it further, but she was also banned from our store.

This makes the most sense to me!

 

[NYCDiane]

Here's WalMart's coupon policy:

http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx

This is as of today so that manager telling her the coupon policy has changed is wrong. This is the same coupon policy I downloaded and printed out when I had an issue with my local Wal Mart and mailed same to the corporate office when I wrote my complaint letter.

I don't know the full story but, like everyone else here, I believe there is much more to this story on both sides.