Walmart Vent/Question

[LBIJim]

I don't ever recall the greeter putting stickers on a return at my local WalMart. Sometimes they look into the return bag and then direct you to the return desk. (right inside the door at my local store). Other times I've just walked up to the return desk without even seeing a greeter at the door. No problems ever returning anything.

even though she knows procedures must be followed, in this instance it would have made more sense to call the greeter over to the counter, get the stickers, and proceed with the return.
it is not the customers fault the policy is not posted or that the greeter missed her when when she came in.
customer service is sometimes lost. walmart or not they should still try to please a customer.

I don't know how your Walmart is set up but in mine the return is smack in the middle of the front part of the store..the greeter has a significant trek over there from either entrance (the one I go to is a "super" so it is pretty large) and then what happens to the other people walking in with returns when there is no greeter present because they are over in customer service putting a sticker on something? Do they call a back up greeter or someone to watch for returns while this happens?

Logistically it doesn't make sense to call the greeter over IMO but to send the customer back to get what they needed instead.

Not the customer's problem if the greeter is either incompetent at his/her job or even accidentally missed the customer entering with a return. Why make the customer suffer for the greeter's mistake? Granted, there are times when many people enter at once and it's easy to overlook something. But with the lack of a clearly posted return policy, the onus is on the store to make things right.

Another reason why the greeter cannot bring the sticker to customer service is they are not allowed to leave their post at the entrance/exit unmanned.

Still not the customer's problem. No valid reason to send a customer back to the greeter.

OP, you should have refused to go back to the greeter. Fine if the customer service person needed a sticker to process the return. Stay at the return desk and let the CS person deal with it. Politely but firmly let him/her know that you're not going to incovenience yourself due to the store's lack of clear return procedures. Let CS call the greeter or some manager to rectify the stituation.

Jim

 

[Jey12]

All of my local Wal-mart stores have greeters that will stop you and give you a sticker if you are returning something. If not they offer you a basket and greet you. I rarely return anything at Wal-mart but since I have seen the greeters and their sticker gun so I'm aware of the policy.

I do agree if it's going to be part of their return policy then it should be posted along with the other return rules. It seems this isn't the case at all stores so maybe that's why it's not posted? Then my other thought is why post anything? Most people don't read the signs anyway. A store could post if you stand on one foot and sing happy birthday to yourself we'll give you $100. It would take months before someone actually read that and did it. Not referring to you OP but the population in general.

As for the greeter having run out of the stickers on the roll, it has to happen sometime. I realize at that point it's just the point, but really no one's fault. This sort of thing is my usual luck so I wouldn't have thought much about it. It's always possible that the people that were helped ahead of you, were also told to come back to the front of the line as well. I don't know what they were there for specifically of course, but if the CS tells me let me help them real quick I assume she knows their issue will be rather quick. She probably knows this because she's already partially helped them.

I do agree if your store requires a sticker that information should be posted. Although it's likely you're the only one that will read it. As for the sticker roll running out, the wait in line and only one person working the desk. Welcome to Wal-mart. How may I help you?

 

[Wadecool]

Still not the customer's problem. No valid reason to send a customer back to the greeter.

OP, you should have refused to go back to the greeter. Fine if the customer service person needed a sticker to process the return. Stay at the return desk and let the CS person deal with it. Politely but firmly let him/her know that you're not going to incovenience yourself due to the store's lack of clear return procedures. Let CS call the greeter or some manager to rectify the stituation.

Jim

I'm not saying the OP should have necessarily had to go back the entrance to get the yellow sticker, just explaining why the greeter cannot be the employee to bring it to customer service.

While they can certainly request to speak to a manager, waiting for one to arrive fom the back 40 will likely take a lot longer than the customer retrieving the sticker themselves.

 

[Abbie]

Not the customer's problem if the greeter is either incompetent at his/her job or even accidentally missed the customer entering with a return. Why make the customer suffer for the greeter's mistake? Granted, there are times when many people enter at once and it's easy to overlook something. But with the lack of a clearly posted return policy, the onus is on the store to make things right.



Still not the customer's problem. No valid reason to send a customer back to the greeter.

Let CS call the greeter or some manager to rectify the stituation.

Jim

I absolutely agree (although I probably would have just sighed and done as requested! )

Welcome to Wal-mart. How may I help you?

Or, as Walter the ultimate greeter says, "Welcome to Walmart. Get your *stuff* and get out!"

 

[kaytieeldr]

I do agree if it's going to be part of their return policy then it should be posted along with the other return rules.

I know others have said the same thing; just quoting this poster because she/he is the most recent.

It sounds like this isn't part of the return policy throughout the entire chain, but rather part of the return procedure in some (many? most?) stores; if I remember correctly, the OP or someone else in this thread can explain the difference better than I.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have come to the conclusion that those Walmart workers DGAF about you or your business. They are there for a check and I think they do crap like that on purpose. They enjoy making ppl upset because they hate their life and they hate their job.

But as for the Yellow stickers. I knew that. Our ancient greeter lady will stop you if you walk in with something in your hand.

Judgmental much? There are employees in every company, in every type of business, with the just here for a paycheck attitude. It's not unique to Walmart, far from every person in that company has that attitude, and it's understandable - to me, at least - that anyone in a similar, minimum wage, deal with the (demanding) public for less money than one can support oneself on would just want to get through the week and get paid without messing up.

Its great to suggest 'get a different job'; any suggestions where? Unemployment is still up around 9%. Don't let the December numbers fool ya. Those were seasonal jobs.

 

[Jey12]

Judgmental much? There are employees in every company, in every type of business, with the just here for a paycheck attitude. It's not unique to Walmart, far from every person in that company has that attitude, and it's understandable - to me, at least - that anyone in a similar, minimum wage, deal with the (demanding) public for less money than one can support oneself on would just want to get through the week and get paid without messing up.

Its great to suggest 'get a different job'; any suggestions where? Unemployment is still up around 9%. Don't let the December numbers fool ya. Those were seasonal jobs.

I agree. I've had horrible customer service experiences in just about any store, and also in just about any store I've had wonderful customer service as well.

I have heard that Wal-mart is not the best company to work for and the employees are in general not treated well. Doesn't mean you have to be rude to the customer, but if you hate your job and who you work for sometimes you can't hide it. When I was in my local Wal-mart 2 days ago returning something the CS was waiting for a manager to sign something for my return and she also asked about getting a coworker covered at the desk because she needed a break, and the woman helping me was leaving in 10 minutes. The response she received, loud enough for me to hear, was "maybe you should focus on the customer in front of you and not worry about what time you're getting off." She looked mortified and I felt really bad for her. She'd been nothing but friendly and helpful to me and it was that manager we were waiting on. When he finally showed up I made sure to tell him how helpful and friendly she'd been.

I worked for a horrible company that treated its employees like gum on the bottom of their shoe. They had a staff meeting once that emphasized how easily you project your emotions onto the customer. For example a smile can be felt over of the phone and other types of warm fuzzy thoughts like that. If we were in a bad mood or grumpy then we'd make the customer grumpy and unhappy. Never once did upper management think if they might smile when they talked to us, or bother to learn our names, we might in return project that onto the client. Maybe if the lower end of the employees were treated with respect they wouldn't be so grumpy and have to try to hard to fake being happy to the clients. Of course that probably makes too much sense for upper management to understand. That it all filters down from the top. Of course I pointed it out to them in the middle of the meeting. I was ready to quit anyway.

 

[powellrj]

I am in 7 Wal-marts a week for my job. Some of them are really wonderful, some I just take a deep breath before I go in.

At one of my stores, there is no door greeter, BUT the service desk is right next to the front door. Its a really small superstore that has a self-serve, self pay snack bar! They have a small area that you help yourself and put the money in a small box! One of my favorite stores because they are all so laid back and friendly.

While I would have been annoyed, I think I would have just done as requested and not given it a second thought. In the course of a day, thats a pretty little annoyance.

 

[GJM]

I hate Walmart - I always feel like you are treated like a thief just walking in the door. Yes we have to get stickers on returns. The one Walmart the greeted is right next to the return counter.

I return a pair of PJ's pants I got my son that didn't fit. The one Walmart charges 9% tax, I took them back to the store that charges 8% tax. They only gave me back 8% tax, I mention this to the girl and she said we don't price match other Walmarts.

I mention to her, if I purchased clothing up in NJ with no tax on clothes I could return it here and make money on it, she said we don't price match so you would get the tax back. So I could purchase $500 worth of clothes in NJ, return it here and make money. She tells me yes.

Now I have purchased items at Kohls, and Chrildrens Place in NJ and returned it here and they always adjust the tax amount.

I didn't buy the clothes in NJ and return it here but I was tempted to see if they really would give me tax money back that I didn't even pay.

 

[Danibelle]

Yeah...That is exactly why they do it.

The person by the door must have missed you. hey are not supposed to return things without the sticker.

Yes, I just returned an item. You have to see the greeter when you arrive.

 

[stacy347]

Mine has signs.

Unusual. We have FIVE Walmarts within a 20 minute drive from my house. I shop whichever one is convenient with my plans for that day. Not a single one of them has a sign stating to get a yellow sticker. The only reason I found out about is because a greeter practically tackled me to grab my bag one time.
I will say that most of the elderly greeters (ours are all elderly) are very sweet, and I don't mind taking the extra minute to stop, but for someone who has never done a return there before, of course they wouldn't know how it works. I don't fault the shopper one bit...it is ultimately the retailer who should be making their policy clear.

 

[Lionqueen2]

I didn't know you had to see the greeter before returning anything. Over the holidays, I returned several items and was never once given a sticker or stopped by the greeter. Noone sent me back to get a sticker for anything. Our customer service desk is located immediately to the left of the entrance before even getting to the greeter. Perhaps that is why, but I'll be aware of this if I need to return anything to another Walmart.

 

[laurajetter]

Can you tell me how I am suppose to understand a policy that was not posted anywhere that I could see and is not listed on the receipt? Had I known I was suppose to do this I would have done so.

I agree... I would've been ticked too. In my opinion there should be a very clear, noticeable, large sign by the return desk that informs the customer of the yellow sticker policy.

I personally have never experienced this yellow sticker thing at my Walmart, this is the first time I've heard of it. However, if I was out of town and had to make a return at a Walmart that enforced that policy and had the same experience as you I would be equally infuriated.

 

[cjdj4]

I have come to the conclusion that those Walmart workers DGAF about you or your business. They are there for a check and I think they do crap like that on purpose. They enjoy making ppl upset because they hate their life and they hate their job.

But as for the Yellow stickers. I knew that. Our ancient greeter lady will stop you if you walk in with something in your hand.

Applause! That is exactly how I feel every time I walk in the door of any Walmart in my area.

They do put sticker on our stuff here, but I have never seen a sign stating you need a sticker.

 

[need2cruise]

I think most find it odd that anyone with 17 years of retail would behave in such a manner as you would clearly understand what occurred and why it occurred and should be well aware that the employee was bound by the policy and procedures of her job.

A simple discussion with the store manager regarding a posted sign would go a long way.

Your posts does not come across as a vent about lack of signage but you venting you had to follow the procedure and had to get out of line and how she took a couple people before allowing you back in again..maybe that is why it is "so hard to understand" because your post does not clearly indicate your issue.

I took her post exactly like it was a vent about the lack of communication on the policy. Walmart isn't exactly known for its structure in following guidelines and no 2 times you go in are identical.

After Christmas I went into Walmart, seen the Hallmark Jingle dog up front and picked it up for dd since she was wanting one. Got to the register, it rang up 50% off. The cahsier said, "Was there a sign by this that said 50% off?" I told her I didn't have a clue because I didn't look for any signs, just seen the dog and picked it up and went about my business. She responded in a huff, "Well, Hallmark isn't supposed to be 50% off" and treated me like I hacked their system to get 50% off. Um.......ok???

Well, I called my mom and told her about seeing Jingle for that price and she rushed over within 10 min to get one for my niece. The cashier she had never said a word about it to her. My mom questioned her if that was supposed to be the accurate price and she said, "everything Christmas is 50% off right now."

Walmart drives me nuts with how inconsistent it is! Too many stories I can tell and why I rarely go in there unless I don't have another option available at the time!