Having to argue with Walmart

[seashoreCM]

Did the Wal Mart manager try to point out that the item advertised on line for $199. was different from the item in display in the store for $299.?

Growing up, I have tried different strategies for dealing with what I thought were deceptive advertisements, but currently I don't argue much, instead just not buying the item at that time and place.

The store does not have to match the on line price.

I remember in my earlier lifetime Sears Roebuck catalogs having different prices from the retail stores for some items. One Sears store near where I lived had a catalog warehouse at the same location (the warehouse occupying the upper floors of the 10 odd story building) When the catalog price was lower, my father would call in an order which he could drive down a few hours later and pick up, but the retail store would not price match. (The store, long closed, was near Boston's Fenway Park and the building still stands, used for other purposes including some other stores.)

 

[luvsJack]

No need to argue with Target. I went in on Black Friday with no desire to really buy anything. We always just go, it's a family thing. My daughter convinced me to buy an Xbox for my son. They were on sale for $149,99 and $199.99. I hadn't even looked in the add. They had three listed on the tags on the pallet. There were three different ones there. One was digital and there were two others. I decided on one of the others. I took it upfront with my other purchases. It came up $349,99. I told the cashier nevermind I was only buying it because it was listed at $199,99. She called over the manager, I told her it wasn't a big deal. The manager though took my husband back and had some employees move the Xbox we had brought up to a different area. Turns out they were a more expensive Xbox that was indeed on sale for $349.99. The manager though sold it to us for $199.99. I feel bad because I really had no intention of scamming a store. I had no idea. I just picked it up off a pallet and there were several others of the same there.

I do wonder if the manager sold it to me for that price because I didn't cause a scene. I was very polite. Hopefully my son will enjoy his Xbox. Basic moral of the story, try to be nice, retail workers don't make much and seriously who needs to deal with jerks.

Target always does that. I bout a much smaller item than an x-box on the 22nd. When I got to the register with it and other stuff it rang up higher than the shelf said it was on sale for. I just figured it was sitting in the wrong spot. So I told her I didn’t want it, I thought it was on sale (it was ringing up like 24.95). She asked what I thought the price was and I answered honestly, I didn’t know for sure but less than $20. She gave it to me for $15.

Target seems to always do something that keeps me going there!

 

[luvsJack]

Kind of surprised at so many defending Walmart. We have always shopped there but find them getting harder and harder to deal with.

The grocery pick up started out great! And came the day that I waited a couple of hours for my groceries. And they are forever saying they are “out” of something that I know darn well they are not. Like paper towels (and things like that I make sure is marked that they can substitute). I have a friend who has gone to pick up, told they were out of several items, parked and sent her dh in to see and he would find every item! And sometimes their ideas of “substitutes” is a bit out there.

The ordering online and pick up of items other than groceries, I thought was fantastic. Not so much since they cancelled my order for a couple of Christmas items without so much as an email or explanation. I reordered, thinking I had done something wrong on the app and AFTER the order was complete let me know it would be the 27th. I had to call and then email to cancel the order AND they most certainly had the items in store. I did email corporate and they made sure I got my refund but no apology for their employees not getting the darn items in the first place.

Items are priced wrong all the time. Even on groceries. I don’t usually notice until out of the store and it’s only a few cents so not worth going back but over time, I am sure it adds up.

I have also noticed that when they first added all the self check outs, they had more employees around the store and stocking. Slowly that has dwindled down. Last visit for groceries, they had two young guys restocking things all over the store. Those were the only employees we saw. First one almost mowed dh down about 3 times. Then when I asked one about coconut, he had no clue what I was even talking about, nor was he the “helpful Wal-Mart associate” they used to have plenty of.

Going by the two here, I don’t doubt what the OP is saying in the least and that Wal-Mart, not the OP was in the wrong.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Kind of surprised at so many defending Walmart

Going by the two here, I don’t doubt what the OP is saying in the least and that Wal-Mart, not the OP was in the wrong.

First, it sounds like Wal-Mart is a bad choice for you. Good for you for refusing to shop there going forward.

Second, technically the OP wasn't in the wrong, because OP wasn't in the store.

Finally, and most important, price changes are processed electronically in the home office. It would be extremely unusual for a single store's $199 item to ring up for $299. The error would be chain-wide; someone else somewhere would have complained.

 

[J'aime Paris]

and also when they didn't know the laws in regards to selling firearms.

but to not know about the laws in regards to firearms is just down right ridiculous.

We are talking about a Walmart here... yes, they may sell firearms, but you'll likely encounter an untrained individual.
I've never found Walmart employees to possess such specialized knowledge.

Often I'm misled on even the most common product placement/information in the store. Usually I just wander around until I find it on my own, since my expectations are fairly low for customer service. Again, it's Walmart!

 

[luvsJack]

First, it sounds like Wal-Mart is a bad choice for you. Good for you for refusing to shop there going forward.

Second, technically the OP wasn't in the wrong, because OP wasn't in the store.

Finally, and most important, price changes are processed electronically in the home office. It would be extremely unusual for a single store's $199 item to ring up for $299. The error would be chain-wide; someone else somewhere would have complained.

No Wal-Mart isn’t a “bad choice”. Wal-Mart has some bad management in at least two stores.

And not so sure about the chain wide error. Copied from the Walmart corporate website::

Prices may vary from store to store because each store is required to manage its own inventory. Therefore, a manager may lower a price to clear out an overstock item, to reward customers with an in-store sale, or to compete with local merchants. It is not our policy to price match our own stores since we are not in competition with ourselves.

If you would like more information on pricing policy, you may contact your local store management.

They can and do mark and change prices on products store to store. Our two stores are on two very different sides of town and certain things are priced differently at the two stores.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Prices may vary from store to store because each store is required to manage its own inventory. Therefore, a manager may lower a price to clear out an overstock item, to reward customers with an in-store sale, or to compete with local merchants. It is not our policy to price match our own stores since we are not in competition with ourselves.

I'm going out on a very short, sturdy limb here and say this does not apply to a popular, desirable, print-advertised item like the Apple watches.

 

[kaytieeldr]

They can and do mark and change prices on products store to store. Our two stores are on two very different sides of town and certain things are priced differently at the two stores.

How much are your two local stores charging for the the Wi-Fi and for the cellular Apple watches? The same amounts? Different anounts? Amounts different from the rest of the chain?

 

[SL6827]

Kind of surprised at so many defending Walmart. We have always shopped there but find them getting harder and harder to deal with.

The grocery pick up started out great! And came the day that I waited a couple of hours for my groceries. And they are forever saying they are “out” of something that I know darn well they are not. Like paper towels (and things like that I make sure is marked that they can substitute). I have a friend who has gone to pick up, told they were out of several items, parked and sent her dh in to see and he would find every item! And sometimes their ideas of “substitutes” is a bit out there.

The ordering online and pick up of items other than groceries, I thought was fantastic. Not so much since they cancelled my order for a couple of Christmas items without so much as an email or explanation. I reordered, thinking I had done something wrong on the app and AFTER the order was complete let me know it would be the 27th. I had to call and then email to cancel the order AND they most certainly had the items in store. I did email corporate and they made sure I got my refund but no apology for their employees not getting the darn items in the first place.

Items are priced wrong all the time. Even on groceries. I don’t usually notice until out of the store and it’s only a few cents so not worth going back but over time, I am sure it adds up.

I have also noticed that when they first added all the self check outs, they had more employees around the store and stocking. Slowly that has dwindled down. Last visit for groceries, they had two young guys restocking things all over the store. Those were the only employees we saw. First one almost mowed dh down about 3 times. Then when I asked one about coconut, he had no clue what I was even talking about, nor was he the “helpful Wal-Mart associate” they used to have plenty of.

Going by the two here, I don’t doubt what the OP is saying in the least and that Wal-Mart, not the OP was in the wrong.

We don't have any Publix stores in my town. We do have one in the town north of me. Last month we had to go down towards Atlanta for something, something for my daughter and we stopped by a Publix to go to the restroom and we grabbed a bite to eat in the deli/bakery. I will tell you that when they say where shopping is a pleasure, that is so true. That place is awesome. Now you would have to pay for that pleasure as they are much more expensive, but man it was nice.

I have never heard one good thing about working for Walmart, and I have never heard one bad thing about working for Costco. I hope to eventually move out of my small town and to a place that will have more variety of stores at affordable prices.

 

[luvsJack]

How much are your two local stores charging for the the Wi-Fi and for the cellular Apple watches? The same amounts? Different anounts? Amounts different from the rest of the chain?

Don’t know. All the Apple watches in this family came from Verizon. And I don’t see me running up there to check and how the heck would I know what the price is “chain wide” since that isn’t even a constant.

But I am saying—it happens. Even Wal-Mart says they don’t have the same prices chain wide and the managers are responsible for THEIR inventory. And they can and do mess up.

The big items that has been found here to be priced differently from one side of town to the other are TVs.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Don’t know. All the Apple watches in this family came from Verizon. And I don’t see me running up there to check and how the heck would I know what the price is “chain wide” since that isn’t even a constant.

The two versions of Apple Watches are advertised online at $199 for the Wi-Fi version pickup or delivery and $299 for the cellular version pickup. Nationwide.

 

[luvsJack]

The two versions of Apple Watches are advertised online at $199 for the Wi-Fi version pickup or delivery and $299 for the cellular version pickup. Nationwide.

Actually the app shows one for $199 and the other one says “check store for price”. Or mine does.

Not sure where you see it saying “nationwide”. But maybe it does. And not sure why it would say to check the store for price if it is nationwide. But perhaps it is. Again, not in the market for an Apple Watch. And none of this makes Walmart’s pricing policies all great or even good.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually the app shows one for $199 and the other one says “check store for price”. Or mine does.

My numbers are from walmart.com.

 

[luvsJack]

My numbers are from walmart.com.

And mine are from the app?? Not sure of your point?

 

[MillauFr]

Going by the two here, I don’t doubt what the OP is saying in the least and that Wal-Mart, not the OP was in the wrong.

Don't doubt them either, but I still can't understand why they just didn't order the product on-line when they refused to sell it to them in store for the lower price.

 

[luvsJack]

Don't doubt them either, but I still can't understand why they just didn't order the product on-line when they refused to sell it to them in store for the lower price.

That is a good question. That’s what’s I would have done.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not sure where you see it saying “nationwide”.

Extrapolating that walmart.com providing actual prices = the same prices nationwide.

And mine are from the app?? Not sure of your point?

While everybody with internet access can get to the website, not everybody with internet access has the app, or even a smsrtphone. Along with the website providing actual pricing for each, not demanding anybody contact the store.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Kind of surprised at so many defending Walmart. We have always shopped there but find them getting harder and harder to deal with.

The grocery pick up started out great! And came the day that I waited a couple of hours for my groceries. And they are forever saying they are “out” of something that I know darn well they are not. Like paper towels (and things like that I make sure is marked that they can substitute). I have a friend who has gone to pick up, told they were out of several items, parked and sent her dh in to see and he would find every item! And sometimes their ideas of “substitutes” is a bit out there.

The ordering online and pick up of items other than groceries, I thought was fantastic. Not so much since they cancelled my order for a couple of Christmas items without so much as an email or explanation. I reordered, thinking I had done something wrong on the app and AFTER the order was complete let me know it would be the 27th. I had to call and then email to cancel the order AND they most certainly had the items in store. I did email corporate and they made sure I got my refund but no apology for their employees not getting the darn items in the first place.

Items are priced wrong all the time. Even on groceries. I don’t usually notice until out of the store and it’s only a few cents so not worth going back but over time, I am sure it adds up.

I have also noticed that when they first added all the self check outs, they had more employees around the store and stocking. Slowly that has dwindled down. Last visit for groceries, they had two young guys restocking things all over the store. Those were the only employees we saw. First one almost mowed dh down about 3 times. Then when I asked one about coconut, he had no clue what I was even talking about, nor was he the “helpful Wal-Mart associate” they used to have plenty of.

Going by the two here, I don’t doubt what the OP is saying in the least and that Wal-Mart, not the OP was in the wrong.

This sounds like a problem with your specific Walmart. I shop at my local one frequently, and use the pick-up regularly, and have seen no problems like you describe.

I believe that pick-up is priced differently than going into the store to get something. It sort of makes sense--if pick-up is done nationally, they only offer items that are available nationally, at a national price. For example, peaches in season will be cheaper in the South, where they practically give them away, while up North, it's things like blueberries and cranberries. So, I don't use pick-up to buy those types of items.

 

[luvsJack]

This sounds like a problem with your specific Walmart. I shop at my local one frequently, and use the pick-up regularly, and have seen no problems like you describe.

I believe that pick-up is priced differently than going into the store to get something. It sort of makes sense--if pick-up is done nationally, they only offer items that are available nationally, at a national price. For example, peaches in season will be cheaper in the South, where they practically give them away, while up North, it's things like blueberries and cranberries. So, I don't use pick-up to buy those types of items.

i haven’t looked closely to see if pick up grocery prices are different than in the store. Just that a lb of ground turkey will be higher in one store than in the other (these stores are 10 miles apart). The demographics are different and maybe it doesn’t sell as well in one store as the other. But that is IN the store, I haven’t checked on the app. Large screen TVs were at one time, cheaper in one store than the other. One has Sam’s right beside it and it had the cheaper price on TVs.

And yeah, I agree it’s problems in my stores, it’s bad management. Dd lives about an hour south of me and loves the pick up for normal grocery runs. She doesn’t use it for things like picking up what she needed for specific Christmas recipes because she needed to be able sub ingredients if they were out and with things she knew would absolute sub.

The day I had to wait so long, they had two young guys doing all the pick up orders. The people scheduled to pick up before me were still there when I arrived. The ones in the hour after arrived and all of us 4-5 folks were still there. After several people going in, the manager came out throwing out gift cards and blaming the boys. A few of us (by this time we were standing on the sidewalk) told her that no it wasn’t their fault it was her’s. Two people couldn’t do all these orders. By that time they had gotten other employees to get the orders together. And they obviously just started throwing orders together. I got Clorox wipes to sub for paper towels—doesn’t work. Someone else got coffee instead of tea. Someone else got sugar instead of whatever sugar substitute wanted. So they got a lot of those kind of complaints and sent right back in the store. It was a mess.

The gift order that they cancelled, it was the store. The items were there. They either didn’t know where to find them or couldn’t find them or didn’t want to. But they were there. When my sister was in the store that same day she sent me pictures of them to make sure it’s what I wanted and offered to get them for me but I had already bought them from Target.

I have complained to corporate and so have several others in my area. But it doesn’t seem to be getting fixed.

 

[MillauFr]

I have complained to corporate and so have several others in my area. But it doesn’t seem to be getting fixed.

I think the root of the problem is they are unwilling to pay enough to hire good help. I'm sure Target and Costco are hiring away their better employees by offering them more.