Walmart Shoppers Beware

[Shadeaux]

This same thing happened to me at Sams Club last year. The cashier said it had been happening for a couple days, but they thought they had it fixed. I've never gotten cash back from a Discover transaction, so I had no idea if I'd be charged a fee. They were able to void the transaction but I called Discover later just to be sure everything went through correctly.

 

[PlanningNextTrip]

If it's a known problem, I would expect that they (Walmart) would place a sign at the cash saying that the problem may occur and that they are working to get it fixed as soon as possible. I would have been more inclined to use a different form of payment if this was the case.
I too would have been quite upset if this had happened. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[dex08]

This same thing happened to me at Sams Club last year. The cashier said it had been happening for a couple days, but they thought they had it fixed. I've never gotten cash back from a Discover transaction, so I had no idea if I'd be charged a fee. They were able to void the transaction but I called Discover later just to be sure everything went through correctly.

You're fortunate that Sams Club was able to void the transaction. The Walmart Customer Service ladies (2 of them) told me they were unable to void the transactions.

 

[Shadeaux]

You're fortunate that Sams Club was able to void the transaction. The Walmart Customer Service ladies (2 of them) told me they were unable to void the transactions.

Two cashiers told me the same thing, but a customer service worker knew exactly what needed to be done to void the transaction. From what she told me she'd had to do it several times that day.

 

[DISdreamin']

I'll be honest... everywhere I have ever worked we would have had to count the drawer and if the drawer didn't match what the customer said... we most likely would not have given you any money. It's because of scammers who try to trick a cashier with things like this. That's also why I was always taught to lay the cash on top of the drawer until I have given change to someone. This way they couldn't do the "oh, but I gave you a $20" when they only gave me a ten (I can just say, "Oh, you must be mistaken... I have not even put your cash in the drawer yet. See, it's right here... and a $10").

I had an issue with this at a local grocery store chain. I handed the cashier a $20 - I KNOW it was a twenty dollar bill as I went to the trouble to select the old, roughed-up one rather than the pretty new one with all the colors (yes, it's goofy, I know, but I specifically did it!). When she gave me my change, I immediately stated that I had paid with a $20 and was only given change as if it had been a $10.

They cashed out the drawer - nope, it balances. Yeah, well my WALLET doesn't! I actually pursued it, trying to get them to pull up the security video to see if the denomination was decipherable because I know d**n well what I paid with (there was a camera trained right on that register). Never even received a call back after they reviewed the security tapes.

So it isn't always a scam, and sometimes it's the customer that ends up essentially scammed in the process. Seriously - like I'm going to try and steal $10 from them? I don't think so. Why would I bother, ya know?!

To the OP, thanks for the heads-up, and I'll be sure to check my receipt at WalMart a little closer now!

 

[LilyWDW]

I had an issue with this at a local grocery store chain. I handed the cashier a $20 - I KNOW it was a twenty dollar bill as I went to the trouble to select the old, roughed-up one rather than the pretty new one with all the colors (yes, it's goofy, I know, but I specifically did it!). When she gave me my change, I immediately stated that I had paid with a $20 and was only given change as if it had been a $10.

They cashed out the drawer - nope, it balances. Yeah, well my WALLET doesn't! I actually pursued it, trying to get them to pull up the security video to see if the denomination was decipherable because I know d**n well what I paid with (there was a camera trained right on that register). Never even received a call back after they reviewed the security tapes.

So it isn't always a scam, and sometimes it's the customer that ends up essentially scammed in the process. Seriously - like I'm going to try and steal $10 from them? I don't think so. Why would I bother, ya know?!

To the OP, thanks for the heads-up, and I'll be sure to check my receipt at WalMart a little closer now!

Yea, I mean, it does happen that a cashier gets the bill amount wrong. Which is another good reason to place the bill on TOP of the drawer (not in with the bills) or on the register itself until the change is given. I was just stating that the reason we STARTED to do this was due to scamming.

And yes, people DO try to steal $10...

This is also why when someone starts requesting change to be broken down again and again we get a manager. It's another known scam.

It's sad, but it's those people that have made it so you can't just take someone's word about stuff anymore.

 

[dawson5]

I've been avoiding Walmart like the plague lately. I went about a month ago to get cold medicine for my son. While I was checking out, he went to the facilities to blow his nose. There was a worker coming and she loudly sighed and said "I just cleaned that!" My son acutally apologized and told her he just needed to blow his nose. I was ticked. Told CS what happened, what I thought of the situation and left. I have not been back since, have no intention of returing either. But (there's always one of those) we go to Sam's Club. Hubby just went there this afternoon. I'll be digging through his wallet to take a look at his receipt. Thanks for the heads up. He usually gets cash back, hopefully if he did this, he actually got it. One more thing to keep track of.

Yea, I mean, it does happen that a cashier gets the bill amount wrong. Which is another good reason to place the bill on TOP of the drawer (not in with the bills) or on the register itself until the change is given. I was just stating that the reason we STARTED to do this was due to scamming.

And yes, people DO try to steal $10...

This is also why when someone starts requesting change to be broken down again and again we get a manager. It's another known scam.

It's sad, but it's those people that have made it so you can't just take someone's word about stuff anymore.

I saw this at Christmas time. A guy running the register forgot to put the money in. He stuck it in his pocket. When I got my stuff, I reminded him not to forget to put it back. He gave me a look. It just so happened that an area manager (appeared to be at least) was walking into his area right at that time.

We were always taught to put the money in and leave the clip up. Not to shut the drawer until the change was given back, counted up. Then the drawer was closed.

 

[disneychrista]

I didn't think they could even do cash back with a credit card, I know I am never asked for Visa or Mastercard.

 

[Serling126]

The accidental cash back thing happened to me at Wally World on Black friday last year, I ran my debit card thru and the cashier handed me $80 back I said, um no thank you I did not hit the cash back button... she said sorry there's nothing she could do to void it out. I figured I must have bumped the touch pad by mistake, but it wasn't a huge deal because we were going to be doing other shopping so I just used the cash instead of my debit card.

I was lucky the cashier didn't pocket the cash, I didn't think about that til PP mentioned it!!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Walmarts card-reader touch screens are sensitive. Often I have gone to sign or touch the PIN pad with the stylus and bumped the screen with the knuckle on my pinky, skipping over whatever part of the transaction I meant to be on. The first time I did it, I left it go, realizing my mistake, but now I'm more careful with how I pick up the stylus and approach the pad.

Didn't the screen ask you to verify the amount? Would you have noticed a $20 difference before committing to the sale and signing for the purchase? I know I get this message when I used my debit card with a PIN.

 

[wdwfan16]

If it is adding to your purchase it would seem that Walmart is out the 3% the CC company charges. It would be a huge incentive to correct the problem.

 

[r&kmommy]

I've got three words that will hopefully discourage anyone from shopping at Walmart:

WALMART EATS BABIES!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

we have 2 walmarts. I was trying to buy 4 items (4 of the same thing) and the walmart I was in only had 2. So I asked an employee if they could call the other walmart to see if they also had 2. If I couldn't get 4, I didn't want to buy any.

She had to call them SIX times. The person at the customer service on the other end said they didn't have time to check. The first 5 times they put her on hold and she got disconnected.

Can you believe it? I couldn't. Guess they didn't want my money very bad.

 

[bumbershoot]

Didn't the screen ask you to verify the amount? Would you have noticed a $20 difference before committing to the sale and signing for the purchase? I know I get this message when I used my debit card with a PIN.

Someone described it:

...as it will show "53.37 is this correct?" on the screen, then your receipt will show "amount tendered 73.37, change 20.00". In other words...you can't "catch" it before it is processed.

 

[jedijill]

Speaking of corporate suicide- Did you hear about that employee they fired for using medical marijuana in a state where it was legal? He's a terminal cancer patient who had been employee of the year. Regardless of how one feels about using the drug, he had a legal prescription and in my opinion wal-mart should not be able to fire someone for using a legally prescribed drug.

It's still against Federal law which supercedes state law. I live in Colorado which medical marijuana is legal however growers are still getting raided by the DEA because of the difference between federal and state law.

(not intending to debate the merits of medical marijuana just stating the difference in laws)

Jill in CO

 

[Sadie Chez]

I had this happen to me last year when I was getting some work done on the tires of my car. It was a small charge like five bucks or so and she starts handing me 80 dollars, I say no I hit no cash back and she laughs and says oh that machine is broken this happens all the time, I say no it can't I don't have 80 dollars in the bank. We call the manager over and she just shrugs and says to bad I can't fix it. Thankfully my bank was right down the street and I ran in and told them what happened, they said they had other customers who came in with the same problem so there were no charges.

But it's happened twice again, the next time I was in a huge hurry, so just took the 20, but after that I must have had a look on my face cause the store manager came over and fixed it. So it can be undone, you will just have to look scary and get the store manager over.

 

[dizneemom]

I guess in fairness to Wal-Mart I had this also at Target. One other thing that has happened at Target is that I have been double charged for items many times. After I leave the register I always stand there and check my receipt because it has happened so often. The sensitivity of some of their machines needs to be tweeked or something. I make sure I don't leave the building w/my stuff or they don't believe me.

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

Sorry to hear about your's and others bad experiences. For this and many other reasons, I don't shop at WalMart anymore. They just stink on so many levels, I figure it's best not to give them my money. Sometimes it may seem I am paying more elsewhere, but generally the item I get is better quality than Wally's, and WM is impossible to get out of without buying something that I didn't intend to get when I walked in. So I actually save money by not shopping there.

 

[Planogirl]

I've never had this problem at Wal-Mart and I shop there often. I do intend to keep an eye on things though just in case it starts happening!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I've seen this happen to the person ahead of me online.

I am very careful when using those machines as a result. Sometimes the no cash back is just below the $20 icon, and that can be a real problem.

Although, I avoid Wal-Mart like the plague.

Another "caution" for Target store users. This may be true for other pharmacy shops too...

I took my thyroid medication script to Target as the shop claimed it could fill the script for $4. Heck. Good deal!

Unfortunately (totally my responsibility) what I didn't notice was that they weren't using the same medication. Thyroid medication is very sensitive and if the dosage (or the quality of the product) is not exact, you can run into trouble.

Needless to say, I did. With my return visit to my doc, she asked me why on earth I'd stopped taking the medicine! I assured her I didn't, and with some discussion we discovered that the replacement med was the culprit.

She told me NEVER, EVER for any reason take a generic thyroid med!

So, you may want to check into that, if it is a concern for you.