Walmart Shoppers Beware

[Free4Life11]

The whole thing is crazy and I hope nobody else goes through the stress I went through with this! I really was freaking out that they would look at the $20 as a cash advance which accrues interest daily!

I understand the annoyance, but freaking out? I'm sorry this is not something to freak out over. Let's say the cash advance rate is 20%, you would accrue something like $.35 in interest! You could probably find that on the ground...

 

[dex08]

The reason I threw that out there is that there are only 3 nationwide "mass merchandisers" remaining -- WM, Target, and Kmart.

Kmart's stores have been in rough shape for years...and most folks on the "Budget Board" seem to be (IMHO) a little "too good" for WM, which leaves Target as the sole remaining store (who, BTW, is not without their own list of problems).

Not like one has a whole lot of options, out there...

For the record... I never said I was too good to shop at Walmart. I like the Walmarts in the South -- the staffs are just different here in the Northeast. I prefer Target for the selection -- they carry different items and I can often find similar or the same items at Target priced less than the Walmart up the street.

And I've never seen anyone on the DIS boards mention or elude to any sort of opinion that they are 'too good' for Walmart.

 

[dex08]

I understand the annoyance, but freaking out? I'm sorry this is not something to freak out over. Let's say the cash advance rate is 20%, you would accrue something like $.35 in interest! You could probably find that on the ground...

Everyone handles things differently. I freaked out. My definition of freak out may be different than others. I was quite alarmed and mad. To each their own...

 

[bgambrel87]

I havent had time to go through and read every single post on this thread, but i am a cashier at walmart and in our store I know if there is something wrong with these machines we have to call a certain company because that is where the machines came from! Lately we have had a lot of problems with them not working in general. I know for a fact if you run a card as a credit card you can not get cash back it automatically ask for your signature and thats all. If you run it as a debit card it will ask for your pin and then ask if you would like cash back! At least at our store thats what the machines do! Anyway im sorry that some of you had unpleasant experiences at walmart i try to treat customers as the way i would like to be treated. And shame on those cashiers who make no effort to please a customer. You all are what keeps Walmart in business. but from a cashiers point of view if we were not there how would you all shop at walmart??

 

[savannahcat]

I havent had time to go through and read every single post on this thread, but i am a cashier at walmart and in our store I know if there is something wrong with these machines we have to call a certain company because that is where the machines came from! Lately we have had a lot of problems with them not working in general. I know for a fact if you run a card as a credit card you can not get cash back it automatically ask for your signature and thats all. If you run it as a debit card it will ask for your pin and then ask if you would like cash back! At least at our store thats what the machines do! Anyway im sorry that some of you had unpleasant experiences at walmart i try to treat customers as the way i would like to be treated. And shame on those cashiers who make no effort to please a customer. You all are what keeps Walmart in business. but from a cashiers point of view if we were not there how would you all shop at walmart??

I get cash back from my Discover Card at Walmart all the time. And I most definitely am using it as a credit card. It cannot be used as a debit card. And I've also had the machines at Walmart try to give me cash back when I didn't request it. I've always caught it before the final approval though.

 

[Justsyd2]

I had this happen to me a couple of years ago. Since then, I've been using "credit" even though it's a debit card, and it doesn't ask if you want cash back. Solved the problem for me. Now it doesn't matter if their machines are acting up.

It always asks if you're sure that you want cash back -- so be sure and say "no" if you don't.

 

[funnygarcia]

As far as running a debit card as credit-- at my local WM (don't know if they are all the same), you swipe the card and it detects whether or not it is a debit card. If they decide it is a debit, then it must be run with a pin.

Easy, hit cancel when the pin pad shows up. It will then process as credit, no cash back prompt.

I've read for your own security, to prevent anyone from knowing your pin and become a victim of a scam, to always process your debit card as credit. Why should Walmart, Target, grocery store, etc.. know your pin?

Cashiers at any store are just people... just like you or I...
Many Walmarts don't train their cashiers at a level to be confident in their work. No sense of autonomy, little feedback from supervisors for a job well done. How would you feel in that type of environment?
Give 'em a smile, chat up during your transaction, say thank you! You might turn around their day.

 

[funnygarcia]

Anyway im sorry that some of you had unpleasant experiences at walmart i try to treat customers as the way i would like to be treated. And shame on those cashiers who make no effort to please a customer. You all are what keeps Walmart in business. but from a cashiers point of view if we were not there how would you all shop at walmart??

Nicely said!

 

[scrapquitler]

THE CASH BACK FROM YOUR DISCOVER CARD DOES *****NOT*****COUNT AS A CASH ADVANCE.

My Dh and I get the cash back option at Wal-Mart all the time (it's easier than hitting our bank's ATM), and they don't charge any cash advance fees or antyhing...there is a $60. limit, but that varies by store. You can do the cash back thing with the Discover at many (but not all) stores, but the limit might be different (at Shaw's supermarket the limit is $25).

 

[manhattan]

I have had this happen at Walmart, Target, CVS and Walgreens......managers are aware, some have been helpful, others not. But, yes, we always check our receipts.

 

[dd50]

I've had the $20 come out with my debit card many times. I have also had when they forgot to give me my change and had to count the drawer before also. One of the many reasons I don't shop in there any more.

 

[LilyWDW]

If it is happening at multiple locations, then it sounds more like a system issue then a store issue. Thus, the stores would be dependent on the company that installs and manages the system and if they are slow or unable to figure out what is going on... well... then it is sort of out of the stores hands. Depending on how the transactions are handled it may not be feasible for the store to just stop using the machines.

 

[Duckyiam71]

Ok ! I am so sorry this happened to you. Now I feel pretty stupid for my thoughts. I was in Walmart on Saturday and the person in front of me was arguing about not wanting cash back and did not hit the screen. I was thinking bad things like you had to have hit the button fool. Move on and take the cash!

 

[Happy Mom2]

It only takes 3 people to file a class action law suit!! LOL!

 

[bgambrel87]

If it is happening at multiple locations, then it sounds more like a system issue then a store issue. Thus, the stores would be dependent on the company that installs and manages the system and if they are slow or unable to figure out what is going on... well... then it is sort of out of the stores hands. Depending on how the transactions are handled it may not be feasible for the store to just stop using the machines.

exactly that is what i was trying to say thank you

 

[bgambrel87]

I had this happen to me a couple of years ago. Since then, I've been using "credit" even though it's a debit card, and it doesn't ask if you want cash back. Solved the problem for me. Now it doesn't matter if their machines are acting up.

It always asks if you're sure that you want cash back -- so be sure and say "no" if you don't.

this is soo true... when it prompts for your pin hit cancel then hit credit sign your name and your done!! No cash will be exchanged

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

Yes, you do. Even if you never set foot in a WalMart the mere fact that they exist is saving you money. Target, Safeway, Sears, etc., can't price anything without thinking first about what Walmart would do.

I am sure that Walmart looks at other retailers as well, so just because they are a larger corporation than the others, does not mean they are always the leader in price or customer service. A world without Walmart would just mean some other retailer would be "#1" and would force competition in the marketplace. It just happens to be Walmart at this point in time. Woolworth's, Kmart, etc. all used to be powerhouse discounters, and Walmart will eventually go the same way that they did. Retail is so cyclical and consumers are always looking for the "next best thing" so no one stays king forever.

 

[angelmav]

Just wanted to add this happened to me while going through the self checkout at walmart. I was literally walking away when it spit out $20 I didnt request (or didnt knowingly). Had I not been paying attention I would have gifted that to whomever and not known.

 

[Purseval]

A world without Walmart would just mean some other retailer would be "#1" and would force competition in the marketplace.

There was a world without Walmart, and Walmart took it over. That didn't happen by accident and it would take something really drastic to knock them off of their pedestal. I'm glad when a Target or a Sears tries to undercut Walmart, it benefits everybody in the long run.

 

[eeyore#1fan]

Looks to me like the OP is just looking for a little attention.
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/atm/cashback.asp