Walmart just lost me as a customer (vent)

[Planogirl]

Target's groceries are more expensive here and yes, I have compared. I do better at places like Kroger.

That aside, I can see that this will turn into one of those Wal-Mart arguments again and I've ridden that ride way too many times! OP, I hope that you got the phone activated and sorry that this happened to you.

 

[okeydokey]

Oh there were lines at the front of the store, just none at the Wireless Dept. there were 3 associates there (1 was taking care of a customer, showing her how to use her phone and the other 2 were standing there talking about their Thanksgiving).

How frustrating. That's just plain lazy.

 

[quentina]

I despise Walmart. It is the only place that takes longer to check out then it does to shop. Although I hate it, I do shop there because of the proximity to my home.

I do not for one second believe that Walmart cares whether or not you shop there. If they did, they would treat their employees better and hire with regards to being an employer of choice. I know many people who work at Walmart (my aunt is a pharmacist there) and none of them are happy however, they have a much needed job.

Now...my personal vent is over and to go with the original question. It doesn't matter what day of the year it is, service is expected. If they are able to sell phones, why can't they finish through and activate???? Personally, I feel that the OP has every right to be upset. You can call Walmart and they will send you a $25.00 gift card. They send them out in batches...........it still doesn't change the fact that they did wrong.

 

[jrnunzio3]

Wow !!! Didn't want this thread to take this kind of turn. I just needed to vent to someone and hubby wasn't home and the cat didn't really care.

I was just stating a fact that I personally went and spoke to the WM associates (who evidentally are the correct personnel to speak with in regards to the purchase of a cell phone, my walmart does not have any individual kiosks, all phones are at a counter near where you purchase Ipods, cameras, etc.) They told me it would be taken care of, Dad was late arriving and I had to leave otherwise I would have stood there with him while they did the activation/programming thing. If I had been told that they couldn't do it, fine, no problem, I will call Dad and tell him not to go at that time. No big deal. Just don't lie to me and tell me something because it will just get rid of me, not solve the issue.

I am going to stop by Dads house prior to work in the morning and see what I can do with it during my lunch. If I can't figure it out....off to Walmart I will go to get it activated (after I stop at Target to get a gift that they have in limited quanties as of a few minutes ago).

By the way, have any of you ever tried to stop a stubborn 78 year old man from shopping whether it is the busiest shopping day/weekend of the year or not. He had his mind set on getting that phone yesterday...

Thanks for the replys and support.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I despise Walmart. It is the only place that takes longer to check out then it does to shop. Although I hate it, I do shop there because of the proximity to my home.

I do not for one second believe that Walmart cares whether or not you shop there. If they did, they would treat their employees better and hire with regards to being an employer of choice. I know many people who work at Walmart (my aunt is a pharmacist there) and none of them are happy however, they have a much needed job.

Now...my personal vent is over and to go with the original question. It doesn't matter what day of the year it is, service is expected. If they are able to sell phones, why can't they finish through and activate???? Personally, I feel that the OP has every right to be upset. You can call Walmart and they will send you a $25.00 gift card. They send them out in batches...........it still doesn't change the fact that they did wrong.

Well if it's a prepaid phone then W-M shouldn't have to activate it. If it's a post paid(contract) and was purchased there then yes they should activate.

 

[DianeV]

I have known 2 peope who work at Target and absolutely hated it. Said they were treated really bad.

Many retailers only hire part time so they dont have to pay benefits. Walmart isnt the only one and they arent the only one who supposedly treats their employees poorly

 

[ajh88]

Wow !!! Didn't want this thread to take this kind of turn. I just needed to vent to someone and hubby wasn't home and the cat didn't really care.

I was just stating a fact that I personally went and spoke to the WM associates (who evidentally are the correct personnel to speak with in regards to the purchase of a cell phone, my walmart does not have any individual kiosks, all phones are at a counter near where you purchase Ipods, cameras, etc.) They told me it would be taken care of, Dad was late arriving and I had to leave otherwise I would have stood there with him while they did the activation/programming thing. If I had been told that they couldn't do it, fine, no problem, I will call Dad and tell him not to go at that time. No big deal. Just don't lie to me and tell me something because it will just get rid of me, not solve the issue.

I am going to stop by Dads house prior to work in the morning and see what I can do with it during my lunch. If I can't figure it out....off to Walmart I will go to get it activated (after I stop at Target to get a gift that they have in limited quanties as of a few minutes ago).

By the way, have any of you ever tried to stop a stubborn 78 year old man from shopping whether it is the busiest shopping day/weekend of the year or not. He had his mind set on getting that phone yesterday...

Thanks for the replys and support.

I hope you get it all worked out today - and yes, I've tried to stop the 50-somethings, 60-somethings, AND 70-somethings, but they don't seem to want to listen to me - I understand that frustration!

 

[thelionqueen]

I just had to laugh when the OP asked if they've ever tried pursuaded an elderly (or as my dad likes to call it, "experienced") person out of something they wanted to do...it is NOT easy..I feel your pain!!

As far as this going OT regarding Wal-Mart vs Target, there are and always will, be people on both sides. We can debate until we are blue in the face, and nothing is going to sway either side to the other. My whole point is, shop where you want and for whatever reasons best suit you and your family. What I absolutely DETEST are those who try to make me feel that my patronage of Wal-Mart somehow makes me unamerican or contributing to a problem that they alone seem to have. It is my choice to shop there the same choice it is yours not to.

 

[Jsme]

OMG Walmart associates did not help you dad. I mean he is 78. Where is respect? I was brought up to respect my elders. My dad is 76. I would be pissed. Of course my sweet daddy would have probably told them where to stink the phone and not bought it. lol He is a bit grumpy in his old age.

I am sorry whoever was rude and did not take care of your dad.

 

[jrnunzio3]

OMG Walmart associates did not help you dad. I mean he is 78. Where is respect? I was brought up to respect my elders. My dad is 76. I would be pissed. Of course my sweet daddy would have probably told them where to stink the phone and not bought it. lol He is a bit grumpy in his old age.

I am sorry whoever was rude and did not take care of your dad.

Are we somehow related, this sounds like my Dad??? I am so shocked that my Dad didn't say something...or maybe he did, who knows? I am glad that someone sees my frustration....He obviously had no clue on how to set one up, so of course, I tried to get everything taken care of before he got there and look where it got me.. I believe that it is a contract phone because he did say something about a monthly bill, lets hope he knows/understands what he signed up for.....

 

[PinkRhombus]

You know though...there are people that work in that area as a whole, and then there are the cell phone people there. Maybe those people weren't available when he came in.

Yesterday...the main one I go to was pretty busy in electronics, but the lines up front were not bad at all.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

So, it being a big shopping day is a reason for poor customer service? I could just imagine the customers I deal with if I told them I was to busy to serve them properly. You purchase a cell phone and part of what you are purchasing is activation. You expect me, the customer to take additional time out of what I am doing, to come back another day to finish a purchase? It doesn't matter how busy a store is, that is no excuse for not properly doing your job.

The manager should have apologized, not offered excuses.

I am sorry he had to go down there for pretty much a wasted trip. Hope the cell phone gets activated with no issues.

I have activated every phone we have had. The daughter should have helped. And, yes, it is ridiculous to do something like this during the first holiday shopping weekend. Frankly, I feel bad for the sales associates trying to deal with customers like this. And for the managers trying to deal with staff and customers.

OTOH, I could not care less about whether the OP boycotts Walmart. Have at it.

 

[Jsme]

Are we somehow related, this sounds like my Dad??? I am so shocked that my Dad didn't say something...or maybe he did, who knows? I am glad that someone sees my frustration....He obviously had no clue on how to set one up, so of course, I tried to get everything taken care of before he got there and look where it got me.. I believe that it is a contract phone because he did say something about a monthly bill, lets hope he knows/understands what he signed up for.....

Most companies now give you a specific amount of days to where you can void your contract on a cell phone. Remember that and if you have to do it. Your dad was probably nervous with the crowds, the rude people and the rush. My dad would have been a nervous wreck which would have made him more ill. lol I agree we must be somewhat related. Maybe in spirit.
Good Luck. I still upsets me that they treated your dad the way they did. You have every right to be upset because you really went out of your want to make sure your daddy was taken care of.

OK, I just went and read some replies to you. WOW. Get real. People, she is taking about her 78 yo dad. Do you guys not have a clue when an older man makes up his mind he is going to do it then. Sometimes they do not think or realize just how busy it is out there. I highly doubt he thought or even considered how busy the Walmart was going to be. So why attack the OP. She wanted to tell her story and I think she has a right to be upset. As I told my DH and one of my BF's yesterday, Christmas brings out the worst in people!!!

Merry Christmad and may the spirit enlighten some of the people on this thread.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I hope you get it all worked out today - and yes, I've tried to stop the 50-somethings, 60-somethings, AND 70-somethings, but they don't seem to want to listen to me - I understand that frustration!

Uh, excuse me? We were all out shopping before you young 'uns were even a twinkle in your daddies' eyes. We can go shopping where we want, when we want, buy what we want - and you young whippersnappers can't stop us!!!!!!!!!!!!






Um, can somebody give me a ride to the mall, please? And grab my cane on the way? No, I don't know how I walked across the room without it. Stop asking me these silly questions. Now, just crank up the Edsel and I'll be in the car as soon as my knees will let me.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

WOW! Glad everyone's in the Christmas spirit!

OP: Sorry for your bad experience. It was smart of you to stop and ask, and sad that they didn't follow through.

I can't believe so many people think you shouldn't have expected them to be able to help. (Especially after you stopped and asked!)

 

[jrnunzio3]

I have activated every phone we have had. The daughter should have helped. And, yes, it is ridiculous to do something like this during the first holiday shopping weekend. Frankly, I feel bad for the sales associates trying to deal with customers like this. And for the managers trying to deal with staff and customers.

OTOH, I could not care less about whether the OP boycotts Walmart. Have at it.

OP here, just a note, I don't think that I did anything wrong in any way shape or form to any associate or manager. I called today to try to figure out if it actually was their job to activate it or not. The manager and I actually had a pleasant conversation (although I did get the blah this, blah that story from her), there were no harsh words or anything. I was very level headed, never raised my voice. Just trying to get the situation solved without going to the store manager. Which every customer has a right to do and if I were a manager and my employees said something that was not correct, I would want to know and get the problem fixed prior to having other problems. Sorry that I vented........

 

[jrnunzio3]

**update**
just PM'd the co-monitor of this board and asked that this thread be removed. I NEVER wanted it to get this out of hand and was only trying to help my 78 yo father and maybe get some advice....

Thanks to everyone for their support and understanding what I was trying to say in the first place......poor customer service....

 

[rparmfamily]

I'm not surprised that they didn't help, but they should have!! I just bought a phone at Costco, they activated it, showed me the main features,etc. I'd expect that anywhere. And especially since we are talking about an older adult who may not be as technologically savvy as most of us. I'd be darn mad too if they did that to my grandfather! (who is 97 but same point)

I'm team Target BTW. Customer Service does not exist at the WM's here on the island.

 

[luvmy3]

I have activated every phone we have had. The daughter should have helped. And, yes, it is ridiculous to do something like this during the first holiday shopping weekend. Frankly, I feel bad for the sales associates trying to deal with customers like this. And for the managers trying to deal with staff and customers.

OTOH, I could not care less about whether the OP boycotts Walmart. Have at it.

So is it just as ridiculous for stores to offer great sales on cell phones so people come out and buy them on the first holiday shopping weekend I'm sorry but your comment is ridiculous, it doesn't matter what day or weekend it is, a customer is a customer and Panna is absolutely correct.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

Background: My 78 year old father called me yesterday telling me he was going to Walmart for a new cell phone. Great. He asked if they couldn't program it could I, not a problem, but I am sure Walmart will.

I personally go to Walmart, ask them at the Wireless register if they will program/activate my fathers phone for him when he comes in. They say yes, no problem. I tell them Dad will be there in soon.

Get call from Dad at 8:20 this morning. Walmart wouldn't activate/program his phone could I? I told him I was at Walmart, talked to the sales associates there (2 different) and they both told me yes they would do it for him.

I call Walmart. I get some sob story about how they are short handed, had to fire some associate yesterday...blah...blah...blah. I told the manager how I was there, spoke with associates and was told this would be done for my father. These 2 partiular associates were just standing around talking, not really working in my opinion, no lines. So I know they weren't that busy. Now I have to go get the phone from Dad, try to activate it myself and if not go back to Walmart. They told me it is going to take about 20-30 minutes to activate.

What ever happened to customer service???

Sorry, I just needed to vent. They really ticked me off being told one thing and then doing another to a 78 year old man.

They lost me years ago - for moral reasons