Walmart Vent/Question

[kwelch10377]

My sister bought me a few DVDs from Walmart for Christmas, we ll I had one of them and I also got a Blu-ray player for Christmas. She gave me the receipt so I can exchange/return them. I stopped last night on my way home from work to do so.

I get there and there is one person working Customer Service and she is dealing with a complicated issue regarding a money order. I stood in line for about 10 minutes or so while she delt with it and in that time about 5-6 other customer got in line behind me. It is finally my turn and I hand her the receipt and the 3 DVDs. She looks at everything and asks if I got a yellow sticker for them. I asked her what yellow sticker. She said I had to get a yellow sticker fromt he greeter at the door. She told me to go over and get the stickers and then she would take me right away so I wouldn't have to wait in line again.

I walk over and get the stickers, which took longer than needed because as he was printing them out the sticker roll ran out and he needed to replace it and was having issues putting the new roll in. I also was clearly not the only person who didn't know they had to get yellow stickers and I looked around to see if there were any signs saying I needed to get these stickers before I got in the return line and there wasn't.

I go back up to Customer Service and the there is still 5-6 people in line and only one person. I go to the front of the line since she told me I didn't have to wait in line again, well she proceeded to take 3 people ahead of me until I finally said something (and she knew I was there because she kept saying just let me quick take this person). The woman who I ended up going ahead of got ticked because she thougth I was cutting in front of her. The whole things was a mess and unorganized and also seemed pretty pointless.

I had planned to shop there for some Blu-rays, but thankfully my sister paid with cash and I took that and went to Target across the street to shop.

So my question is, does anyone else have to get yellow stickers before doing a return at their Walmart and what is the point of them? I could see them to prevent people from stealing stuff off the shelf and coming up to return it without a receipt, but that would be a dumb reason to do it if they are just going to tell you to go over and get the stickers after you have already got in line.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

My sister bought me a few DVDs from Walmart for Christmas, we ll I had one of them and I also got a Blu-ray player for Christmas. She gave me the receipt so I can exchange/return them. I stopped last night on my way home from work to do so.

I get there and there is one person working Customer Service and she is dealing with a complicated issue regarding a money order. I stood in line for about 10 minutes or so while she delt with it and in that time about 5-6 other customer got in line behind me. It is finally my turn and I hand her the receipt and the 3 DVDs. She looks at everything and asks if I got a yellow sticker for them. I asked her what yellow sticker. She said I had to get a yellow sticker fromt he greeter at the door. She told me to go over and get the stickers and then she would take me right away so I wouldn't have to wait in line again.

I walk over and get the stickers, which took longer than needed because as he was printing them out the sticker roll ran out and he needed to replace it and was having issues putting the new roll in. I also was clearly not the only person who didn't know they had to get yellow stickers and I looked around to see if there were any signs saying I needed to get these stickers before I got in the return line and there wasn't.

I go back up to Customer Service and the there is still 5-6 people in line and only one person. I go to the front of the line since she told me I didn't have to wait in line again, well she proceeded to take 3 people ahead of me until I finally said something (and she knew I was there because she kept saying just let me quick take this person). The woman who I ended up going ahead of got ticked because she thougth I was cutting in front of her. The whole things was a mess and unorganized and also seemed pretty pointless.

I had planned to shop there for some Blu-rays, but thankfully my sister paid with cash and I took that and went to Target across the street to shop.

So my question is, does anyone else have to get yellow stickers before doing a return at their Walmart and what is the point of them? I could see them to prevent people from stealing stuff off the shelf and coming up to return it without a receipt, but that would be a dumb reason to do it if they are just going to tell you to go over and get the stickers after you have already got in line.

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.

 

[simba20]

I have always known that when you are making a return at Wal-Mart that you are supposed to see the greeter upon walking in. Only becaus most of the time, the greeter catches me and asks to see what's in the bag and put the stickers on the item(s).

 

[Wadecool]

My sister bought me a few DVDs from Walmart for Christmas, we ll I had one of them and I also got a Blu-ray player for Christmas. She gave me the receipt so I can exchange/return them. I stopped last night on my way home from work to do so.

I get there and there is one person working Customer Service and she is dealing with a complicated issue regarding a money order. I stood in line for about 10 minutes or so while she delt with it and in that time about 5-6 other customer got in line behind me. It is finally my turn and I hand her the receipt and the 3 DVDs. She looks at everything and asks if I got a yellow sticker for them. I asked her what yellow sticker. She said I had to get a yellow sticker fromt he greeter at the door. She told me to go over and get the stickers and then she would take me right away so I wouldn't have to wait in line again.

I walk over and get the stickers, which took longer than needed because as he was printing them out the sticker roll ran out and he needed to replace it and was having issues putting the new roll in. I also was clearly not the only person who didn't know they had to get yellow stickers and I looked around to see if there were any signs saying I needed to get these stickers before I got in the return line and there wasn't.

I go back up to Customer Service and the there is still 5-6 people in line and only one person. I go to the front of the line since she told me I didn't have to wait in line again, well she proceeded to take 3 people ahead of me until I finally said something (and she knew I was there because she kept saying just let me quick take this person). The woman who I ended up going ahead of got ticked because she thougth I was cutting in front of her. The whole things was a mess and unorganized and also seemed pretty pointless.

I had planned to shop there for some Blu-rays, but thankfully my sister paid with cash and I took that and went to Target across the street to shop.

So my question is, does anyone else have to get yellow stickers before doing a return at their Walmart and what is the point of them? I could see them to prevent people from stealing stuff off the shelf and coming up to return it without a receipt, but that would be a dumb reason to do it if they are just going to tell you to go over and get the stickers after you have already got in line.

I have taken quite a few things back to Wal-Mart and the greeter usually notices me bringing something back and gets my attention. It is just a habit now to just go straight to the greeter and get the yellow sticker.

The good thing about Wal-Mart is that you can take just about anything back for any reason, with or without a receipt. The bad thing about Wal-Mart is... well that its Wal-Mart.

 

[DMickey28]

Yup, they do that here too. I think part of my Walmarts return policy is so great is that they police it this way. Our greeters are always on the ball though.

 

[I Love Pluto]

This sounds crazy to me! You were already at the counter for the return. Why - at that point - was a sticker so important?

If there was a protocol that MUST be followed - the sticker person should have brought one to you. You should not have had to "go get a sticker".

WalMart personnel got that one wrong as far as I'm concerned.

 

[kwelch10377]

I have always known that when you are making a return at Wal-Mart that you are supposed to see the greeter upon walking in. Only becaus most of the time, the greeter catches me and asks to see what's in the bag and put the stickers on the item(s).

I rarely shop at Walmart and don't think I have ever made a return there. The greeter did greet me when I walked in and I did havea bag with me and he never asked me if I was making a return.

I guess I think it is silly if they are preventing theft in this manner why wouldn't they have some type of sign and why would they just let you go over and get the yellow stickers after you have already gotten in line. Doesn't seem like a very effective way to prevent theft.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Only because I have returned stuff before do I know to ask the greeter for a sticker. The last time I had something to return I stood by the greeter for at least 5 minutes while he finished a conversation with another employee before he turned to me and gave me a sticker. If I didn't know about the stickers I would have walked right by. The sticker system only works if the greeters are paying attention. Otherwise what is to stop a person from grabbing something off the shelf and taking it to customer service and saying oh I didn't know I needed a sticker?

 

[skater]

They used to do that at my WalMart but not lately. I hated it and sometimes bypassed the greeter if they weren't ready for me. I was never forced to go back and get one though.

In the OP's case, its stupid. She was already at the counter - it just seems pointless and almost punitive at that point.

 

[Wadecool]

This sounds crazy to me! You were already at the counter for the return. Why - at that point - was a sticker so important?

If there was a protocol that MUST be followed - the sticker person should have brought one to you. You should not have had to "go get a sticker".

WalMart personnel got that one wrong as far as I'm concerned.

I think the sticker is required as some type of proof that the item came in from outside the store. It is a way to deter shoplifters from simply taking items from inside the store and marching straight up to customer service and converting the items to cash or a gift card. If a shoplifter were to do this, they could bypass the security sensors at the entrance/exit.

 

[LindaG4458]

The greeter at our NH Walmart always intercepts people as they enter the return area. He then puts the sticker on the returning merchandise. He's pretty good. The return area is just inside the door.

I've never returned anything in FL so don't know about this store. It seems it would be easier to pull something off because it is outside the registers but not just inside the door. It is between the two entrances -- the grocery entrance and the regular store entrance.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I returned two items to WalMart yesterday and was not required to get a sticker. I guess when I think about it, there was not a greeter when I came in either.

I actually tried to return the items last week and the line was unbelievable so I just had my dd stick the WalMart bag in her large VB purse. The greeter never said a word.

 

[Coconut36]

Yes you have to get a sticker. As far as I knew it is standard return policy at Walmart as it documents you didn't just go grab these off the shelf and attempt to return them (yes people do this).

IMO it is NOT the fault of the customer service clerk. She is likely required to verify the sticker is present and unable to process your return without it. They have rules and procedures they must adhere to as well and it is entirely possible she could face consequences for handling it without the yellow stickers as they are monitored and audited in what they do and returns are taken extremely seriously by most retailers and those that handle them are often reviewed and scrutinized to make sure they follow policy to the letter.

No matter how long you stood in line the onus is on YOU to understand the policy and procedures wherever you go and you didn't do what needed to be done. She was kind in offering to allow you to "cut" back into the line and not out of line to try to process some people out before taking you either.

 

[kwelch10377]

Yes you have to get a sticker. As far as I knew it is standard return policy at Walmart as it documents you didn't just go grab these off the shelf and attempt to return them (yes people do this).

IMO it is NOT the fault of the customer service clerk. She is likely required to verify the sticker is present and unable to process your return without it. They have rules and procedures they must adhere to as well and it is entirely possible she could face consequences for handling it without the yellow stickers as they are monitored and audited in what they do and returns are taken extremely seriously by most retailers and those that handle them are often reviewed and scrutinized to make sure they follow policy to the letter.

No matter how long you stood in line the onus is on YOU to understand the policy and procedures wherever you go and you didn't do what needed to be done. She was kind in offering to allow you to "cut" back into the line and not out of line to try to process some people out before taking you either.

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.

 

[bookgirl]

The yellow sticker has to do with customers shoplifting and employee accountability.


The person ringing up your return needs to affix those yellow stickers to her receipt. This proves she's not phantom retuning items and then pocketing the money. It is also a way to control shoplifting. It's a simple double check. Every store has some hoops to go through, it's not a wal mart thing or some personal attack on your charecter or a way to eat up your time. It's just the way it is. I"ve had just as long of a wait and just as many hoops to go through at stores from Target to Saks 5th Avenue.

 

[minniecarousel]

Yes you have to get a sticker. As far as I knew it is standard return policy at Walmart as it documents you didn't just go grab these off the shelf and attempt to return them (yes people do this).

IMO it is NOT the fault of the customer service clerk. She is likely required to verify the sticker is present and unable to process your return without it. They have rules and procedures they must adhere to as well and it is entirely possible she could face consequences for handling it without the yellow stickers as they are monitored and audited in what they do and returns are taken extremely seriously by most retailers and those that handle them are often reviewed and scrutinized to make sure they follow policy to the letter.

No matter how long you stood in line the onus is on YOU to understand the policy and procedures wherever you go and you didn't do what needed to be done. She was kind in offering to allow you to "cut" back into the line and not out of line to try to process some people out before taking you either.

Gee - maybe a sign stating their policy would help.

 

[cluvsdisney]

Is this a posted policy? Until, I read this thread, I had no idea about getting stickers from the greeters. I completely understand the reasoning since stealing is so common. Macys puts stickers on the tags at the time of purchase which are required to be present if someone makes a return.

I can see where the OP was confused since she was already in the store. A dishonest person could walk in the store, pick an item off the shelf for which they have a receipt, be sent to the greeter and get a sticker so the refund could be processed. It seemed like a moot issue at this point.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I have always known that when you are making a return at Wal-Mart that you are supposed to see the greeter upon walking in. Only because most of the time, the greeter catches me and asks to see what's in the bag and put the stickers on the item(s).

It's been this way forever - when I lived in both MN and now in GA. Most times the greeter will stop you but sometimes the greeter is busy and I just stop and wait for the greeter to put on the yellow sticker.

 

[Coconut36]

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.

You couldn't see it when you entered the store or at the customer service desk? You couldn't call the store prior to going to understand what you needed to do? You couldn't ask an employee upon entering (as most people do when they enter a store with merchandise as they do not want to be accused of stealing it)? There were plenty of options available to you to understand how it works.

The onus is always on you, just like ignorance of the law doesn't exempt you from it, ignorance of a policy in a store doesn't exempt you from it and there are many viable options to find out how to handle it.

I have worked retail many times (I like to work seasonally) and I know that it's easy enough for a consumer to find out the return policy and I also know that when you work returns you are subject to specific rules and procedures you absolutely must follow or you could face serious disciplinary action if you are found to have not followed them. She was doing her job. It isn't her fault you didn't have the sticker.

 

[Coconut36]

Gee - maybe a sign stating their policy would help.

Mine has signs.