|
I did our regularly monthly WalMart shopping today, and little did I know what experiences were awaiting me. First, I screwed up a couple of items in the list, then discovered I had been overcharged on 2 things, so Billy made me go back and return/exchange the screwed up items. I got a scooter and waited my turn in line.
I did the returns and price checks on the 2 items I felt I was overcharged for. At first, they weren't going to do anything about the 2 items I paid too much for, because I chose 2 items that were not on sale that happened to be in the wrong spot on the shelves, so I pleaded my case: There was no price anywhere on the items I chose, and the item description on the shelf tags were very similar to the 2 items. As for the tiny sku numbers not matching, one was on the bottom shelf, and I couldn't very well be expected to get out of the scooter, lay down on the floor, and somehow get myself up off the floor. The other (a new keyboard for my puter because the space bar was sticking and would not "unstick", no matter what I tried) was stacked 3 high over the incorrect sku shelf tag, and I had asked the cashier ringing my stuff up if I had the right keyboard for the $9.97 price, and she said "yes".
Next, I completed the exchanges I needed to make and got back in line at Customer Service to re-purchase (at the manager-approved pricing due to me needing a scooter and the cashier's incorrect statement that I had the keyboard I wanted) the items I felt I had been over-charged as well as my "exchanges".
Finally ready to leave the store for the second time, I parked the scooter and asked the greeter to retrieve my cane from Customer Service. When you are shopping alone, use a cane to walk, and use a scooter, the greeter offers to store your cane at Customer Service while you shop because it won't fit in the basket and could become a hazard to other shoppers - at least at this WalMart store. I described my cane to the greeter in what I thought were clear terms: black aluminum with a straight, foam handle and wrist strap. The first one he holds up is bronze aluminum, and the second is black aluminum with a plastic handle. Then he non-chalantly goes back to work as a greeter, while I'm standing there, leaning on the mop, waiting for him to retrieve my cane. I ask him to get my cane, and he says if it isn't either one he held up for me, he doesn't know where it is. I had an absolute fit of disbelief that they were so careless with something I depend on to walk with, and let the greeter know my opinions about his lack of urgency in finding my cane. One of the women working at Customer Service overhears me and the conniption I'm having while leaning on a mop, of all things, and calls the store manager. The store manager immediately apologizes and promises to look at the tapes to find out what happened to my cane, and in the meantime wheels me in a manual chair to go pick out another cane. Unable to find one that has a foam handle like the one they lost, the manager gives me his name and contact info so I can buy a satisfactory cane somewhere else and be re-imbursed, and gives me a $20 WalMart gift card for my trouble. He even wheeled me out to my car, and I took that opportunity to make it crystal clear to him that there simply are not enough Disabled parking spaces at that store.
I'm just really upset that they lost not just my personal property, but the one thing that makes walking possible for me at times. That cane is more than just aluminum and rubber to me; it's been a trusted friend that I could depend on to help me walk with less pain and was a tangible testament as to my status of being disabled. Now it's gone because of someone else's carelessness, and I'm temporarily stuck with an inferior substitute that is not as comfortable for me to use.
Sara Greathouse in Ohio
sfatula@...
|
Having problems with message search?
Fill out this form to ensure your group is one of the first to be migrated to the new message search system.
Offline 
Send Email