Hassle at WalMart
- Thread starter R.H. Lee
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artherd
member
If your buddy really had such a problem, he should have asked to speak with the highest authority present at the store, and proposed the following;
" I am willing to give you the .40 back in exchange for the .45 as printed on my recipt. However since that is a violation of 'federal law', I propose we settle this matter by me simply keeping the .45. I expect your cashiers will be more careful next time, I would hate to find out what my lawyers would do if I fired .40 in my .45 and blew my arm off."
If that dosen't work, write in.
Or just get a .40
" I am willing to give you the .40 back in exchange for the .45 as printed on my recipt. However since that is a violation of 'federal law', I propose we settle this matter by me simply keeping the .45. I expect your cashiers will be more careful next time, I would hate to find out what my lawyers would do if I fired .40 in my .45 and blew my arm off."
If that dosen't work, write in.
Or just get a .40
Am I the Only?
I have actually never even been in a Walmart, but after the above description of customer service I never will. I buy my ammo cheaply but my dealer would never treat me like that. Heck the manager gives me sale prices even after I miss the sales. Even if I was paying a buck a box more I would rather pay it than be treated like that.
I buy my guns and ammo from smaller dealers that are gun people. I know there are a mixed bag of them out there, but if you look, and save your purchases until you are buying a larger quantity you can get your ammo at similar prices and never have to put up with that jazz. By the time you figure the time ( I definately consider that cost ), the hassle, the gas back to Walmart, the cost was probably double.
If I understand this correctly this is all because the duffus who unlocked the ammo case got 4 boxes of 45 ACP and one of 40SW (which I find particularly stupid because the boxes aren't even the same size ).
No thanks I will continue to not go to Walmart.
I have actually never even been in a Walmart, but after the above description of customer service I never will. I buy my ammo cheaply but my dealer would never treat me like that. Heck the manager gives me sale prices even after I miss the sales. Even if I was paying a buck a box more I would rather pay it than be treated like that.
I buy my guns and ammo from smaller dealers that are gun people. I know there are a mixed bag of them out there, but if you look, and save your purchases until you are buying a larger quantity you can get your ammo at similar prices and never have to put up with that jazz. By the time you figure the time ( I definately consider that cost ), the hassle, the gas back to Walmart, the cost was probably double.
If I understand this correctly this is all because the duffus who unlocked the ammo case got 4 boxes of 45 ACP and one of 40SW (which I find particularly stupid because the boxes aren't even the same size ).
No thanks I will continue to not go to Walmart.
True story.
Remmington UMC 230 grain .45 ACP
Wal Mart Price: $13.99
Local Gun Store Price: $9.99
Keeping money in the hands of a local gunstore owner (and saving four bucks per box while doing it): Priceless.
Dealing with Wal Mart customer service is like trying to reason with the Gestapo. They're given orders about what they will and won't take back, and they follow those orders without thought or reason. I once bought a TracFone there (don't laugh) and when I got home, it had been activated and half the minutes already used. So, I take it back and am told that I cannot exchange the phone because I've already used it. I tell them, no, I haven't used it, and I spent four hours trying to talk to somebody who hasn't been labotomized (1 hour at the store, another 3 on the phone after I took the used phone home). I went in wanting an exchange, I finally ended up getting my money back and getting one of the customer service Nazis fired.
Another customer service nightmare: a relative went to Wal Mart to buy groceries. Idiot teenage flunkie from the government training camps (a.k.a. public school) takes one big-ticket item and puts it in the bag without scanning it. Rings my relative up, my relative leaves the store. Cashier calls a CSM and reports my relative as a shoplifter. He's caught in the parking lot, has his car rummaged through, and is told to come back into the store. He offers to pay for whatever it was that wasn't scanned, they refuse to let him. They call the police and file charges. Three people in line even told the police officer that the cashier had bagged the item in question without scanning it, but the Wal Mart manager decided to press charges anyway. Luckily for my relative, the whole thing got thrown out of court. He was nice. He didn't countersue for harassment. He should have.
I hope your friend doesn't have to go through that kind of ordeal.
Remmington UMC 230 grain .45 ACP
Wal Mart Price: $13.99
Local Gun Store Price: $9.99
Keeping money in the hands of a local gunstore owner (and saving four bucks per box while doing it): Priceless.
Dealing with Wal Mart customer service is like trying to reason with the Gestapo. They're given orders about what they will and won't take back, and they follow those orders without thought or reason. I once bought a TracFone there (don't laugh) and when I got home, it had been activated and half the minutes already used. So, I take it back and am told that I cannot exchange the phone because I've already used it. I tell them, no, I haven't used it, and I spent four hours trying to talk to somebody who hasn't been labotomized (1 hour at the store, another 3 on the phone after I took the used phone home). I went in wanting an exchange, I finally ended up getting my money back and getting one of the customer service Nazis fired.
Another customer service nightmare: a relative went to Wal Mart to buy groceries. Idiot teenage flunkie from the government training camps (a.k.a. public school) takes one big-ticket item and puts it in the bag without scanning it. Rings my relative up, my relative leaves the store. Cashier calls a CSM and reports my relative as a shoplifter. He's caught in the parking lot, has his car rummaged through, and is told to come back into the store. He offers to pay for whatever it was that wasn't scanned, they refuse to let him. They call the police and file charges. Three people in line even told the police officer that the cashier had bagged the item in question without scanning it, but the Wal Mart manager decided to press charges anyway. Luckily for my relative, the whole thing got thrown out of court. He was nice. He didn't countersue for harassment. He should have.
I hope your friend doesn't have to go through that kind of ordeal.
Cool Hand Luke 22:36
member
I think a good argument could be made that this person was legally entilted to recover his property, never delivered to him by WallMart, under the well recognized doctrine of "Self-Help" similar to how a furniture rental company is entilted under some circumstances to enter a home, sans permission, to recover their property if the renter stops making the monthly payment.
The original purchase (or "contract") was for 5 boxes of WWB .45 ACP.
There was an offer, an acceptance, and consideration paid. These are three of the 5 elements of a contract. (The other two are 'lawful object' and 'competent parties')
The receipt proves that a contract for 5 boxes of WWB .45 ACP was executed. The missing element here is 'proof of delivery'. The buyer says he did not receive what the contract stated.
I'm not a lawyer, just thinking this through.
There was an offer, an acceptance, and consideration paid. These are three of the 5 elements of a contract. (The other two are 'lawful object' and 'competent parties')
The receipt proves that a contract for 5 boxes of WWB .45 ACP was executed. The missing element here is 'proof of delivery'. The buyer says he did not receive what the contract stated.
I'm not a lawyer, just thinking this through.
Josey
member
Trust me. Video is all that matters. The entry video is only going to show your friend bringing something in and his escort to the CS counter. A threat by a Wal-Mart CSR to call the police is real, they do. Wal-Mart Managers ALWAYS prosecute! I hope things work out well for your friend. He risked too much for one box of ammo. (The dumb clerk couldn't tell 40 from 45. The boxes are not the same size as one poster noted. Your friend couldn't tell the difference while carrying it to the register, buying it and he didn't check his receipt if I understand you correctly.) Look before you leave.
A merchant has NO legal obligation to exchange purchased goods. The CONTRACT concering the receipt that has been mentioned is a two way street. It is the CONSUMER'S obligation to verify that the goods that he paid for are what he recieved. The situation would have been EASILY resolved at the counter WHEN he was first purchasing his ammo.
Everyone keeps stating that he just grabbed HIS property, prove it. Just because he has this magical reciept that says "5 boxes of .45 ACP" doesnt prove that he didnt RECIEVE 5 boxes of .45 ACP. For all wallmart knows they didnt even sell him this box of .40 cal. There is nothing to prove that he didnt buy the box of .40 at a different store or during a different transaction.
In the eyes of the store all they know is that there is some guy with a box of .40 cal and a receipt for 5 boxes of .45 cal. Who SAYS that they screwed up. There is nothing to prove their screwup. And in response this 'customer' STEALS a box of .45acp and leaves them with an unsellable box of .40 that could be reloads or messed up or god knows what.
While everyone here is complaining about the service at WALLMART consider this for a moment. Wallmart has a policy of NOT physically restraining shoplifters. A merchant has every right in the world to tackle and cuff a shoplifter and hold them for the police. Their 'terrible' policies are what kept your friend out of jail.
Everyone keeps stating that he just grabbed HIS property, prove it. Just because he has this magical reciept that says "5 boxes of .45 ACP" doesnt prove that he didnt RECIEVE 5 boxes of .45 ACP. For all wallmart knows they didnt even sell him this box of .40 cal. There is nothing to prove that he didnt buy the box of .40 at a different store or during a different transaction.
In the eyes of the store all they know is that there is some guy with a box of .40 cal and a receipt for 5 boxes of .45 cal. Who SAYS that they screwed up. There is nothing to prove their screwup. And in response this 'customer' STEALS a box of .45acp and leaves them with an unsellable box of .40 that could be reloads or messed up or god knows what.
While everyone here is complaining about the service at WALLMART consider this for a moment. Wallmart has a policy of NOT physically restraining shoplifters. A merchant has every right in the world to tackle and cuff a shoplifter and hold them for the police. Their 'terrible' policies are what kept your friend out of jail.
Moparmike
Member
After all that hassle...
Am I the only one who would have put the box of .40 in my pocket (like a coat pocket) and done some grocery shoping and simply exchanged the box of ammo in my cart for the one in my pocket, then left it somewhere in sporting goods or even taken it back to the clerk saying "Gonna have to skip on plinkin' this week, havin' a barbeque" or something? It may sound dishonest but it sure as heck is better than having to put up with all that BS with management.
Maybe I am just weird.
Am I the only one who would have put the box of .40 in my pocket (like a coat pocket) and done some grocery shoping and simply exchanged the box of ammo in my cart for the one in my pocket, then left it somewhere in sporting goods or even taken it back to the clerk saying "Gonna have to skip on plinkin' this week, havin' a barbeque" or something? It may sound dishonest but it sure as heck is better than having to put up with all that BS with management.
Maybe I am just weird.
RileyMC,
I feel for your buddy. I've had some funny stories about wallyworkd myself. A question about the receipt. In your original post it doesn't mention the receipt or the appearance of the receipt. You just say he bought 5 boxes of .45 and wound up with 4 of.45 and 1 of.40. Others have posted assuming that the receipt has actually itemized all the boxes. The question. Is this the case, does the receipt itemize 5 boxes of .45, or 4 boxes of .45 and 1 box of .40?
Wallmart has a real top notch inventory/reordering process. Once an item gets checked out at a registar it notifies the home office that an item was purchased and a replacement is automatically placed and ready to go out on the next truck for shipment. That said. (here is my assumption) I'd imagine that the CSR's are trained to scan items one at time rather than one item 5 times and risk a mistake in inventory. Again this is my assumption and is based on my experience. I buy my ammo at wallyworld and usually in bulk and at least 3 different calibers at a time. They each get scanned individually (which by the way can get annoying, but I understand their positon).
All that said..... The comments about your buddy just taking what he paid for may not be the case if that receipt actually has 4 boxes of .45 and 1 box of .40. Regardless if he brought back the box of .40. If this is the case your buddy screwed up. I hope nothing happens to him. Next time I hope he checks what he actually buys.
...dave
I feel for your buddy. I've had some funny stories about wallyworkd myself. A question about the receipt. In your original post it doesn't mention the receipt or the appearance of the receipt. You just say he bought 5 boxes of .45 and wound up with 4 of.45 and 1 of.40. Others have posted assuming that the receipt has actually itemized all the boxes. The question. Is this the case, does the receipt itemize 5 boxes of .45, or 4 boxes of .45 and 1 box of .40?
Wallmart has a real top notch inventory/reordering process. Once an item gets checked out at a registar it notifies the home office that an item was purchased and a replacement is automatically placed and ready to go out on the next truck for shipment. That said. (here is my assumption) I'd imagine that the CSR's are trained to scan items one at time rather than one item 5 times and risk a mistake in inventory. Again this is my assumption and is based on my experience. I buy my ammo at wallyworld and usually in bulk and at least 3 different calibers at a time. They each get scanned individually (which by the way can get annoying, but I understand their positon).
All that said..... The comments about your buddy just taking what he paid for may not be the case if that receipt actually has 4 boxes of .45 and 1 box of .40. Regardless if he brought back the box of .40. If this is the case your buddy screwed up. I hope nothing happens to him. Next time I hope he checks what he actually buys.
...dave
doesn't pass the smell test to me. i don't believe that a wal mart associate, that is not either loss prevention nor a salaried member of management followed him into the parking lot and accused him of stealing. first off when an apprehension is made, which can only be made by loss prevention or salaried management, there is never an accusation of shoplifting made. if an hourly associate followed him into the parking lot, he needs to proceed with complaints about that person, because that is grounds for termination. the ONLY way you can be arrested for shoplifting at walmart is if you are physically seen(not on camera) concealing merchandise that is known to be from that walmart, seen not paying for it, then seen leaving the front door. if they lose sight of you for 1 second, they won't stop you.
cracked butt
Member
Most sporting goods stores, and by my guess Walmart, have signs prominantly displayed that state that they will not take returns or exchanges on ammo.
Its not hard to take a quick look at the boxes of ammo you are purchasing to make sure that they are the right kind, even if it 5 boxes. Seeing a sign posted should give an extra prompt to a person to do so.
Going in to a store, grabbing a box of shells off the shelf and walking out is not a very bright thing to do.
Its not hard to take a quick look at the boxes of ammo you are purchasing to make sure that they are the right kind, even if it 5 boxes. Seeing a sign posted should give an extra prompt to a person to do so.
Going in to a store, grabbing a box of shells off the shelf and walking out is not a very bright thing to do.
According to the original account he just grabbed it walked right out of the place in from of the associate. Concealing an item isnt required for it to be shoplifting. Walking out of the store without paying for it is shoplifting.
standingbear
Member
they hassle you about most ANY return..except round xmas.ive bought computer software there and had to return it cause my computer is a dinosaur and non compatable.it was opened and the only thing they would do is offer an exchange....for the very same software..duh.ended up giving it to my nephew for some shotgun shells.ida taken the ammo to a regular gunshop and offered an trade for something else.the only advantage wally world has is its hours.
Hawk
Member
The difference between buying ammo from my local dealer and buying it at Wallyworld is that, with the local FFL, my blood pressure is actually lower when I leave than when I went in.
Wal-Mart has never had that effect. Thus I haven't seen the inside of one in the last 4 years.
The fact that local dude stocks the 100 count WWB 9mm doesn't hurt.
Wal-Mart has never had that effect. Thus I haven't seen the inside of one in the last 4 years.
The fact that local dude stocks the 100 count WWB 9mm doesn't hurt.
Devonai
Member
How much .40 could they have sold during that week? It seems to me that the proof that the box came from that particular store is printed on every box of ammo in the form of a lot number. I don't have a box of Winchester handy but they still put lot numbers on them, don't they?
But more importantly, if the reason for no ammo returns is liability, why don't manufacturers start sealing their boxes? How much would it cost the manufacturer to put a circular paper sticker on each flap before sending it out the door? Heck, they could have their logo on the sticker to confirm it was sealed at the factory.
But more importantly, if the reason for no ammo returns is liability, why don't manufacturers start sealing their boxes? How much would it cost the manufacturer to put a circular paper sticker on each flap before sending it out the door? Heck, they could have their logo on the sticker to confirm it was sealed at the factory.
He went to the ammo counter, asked for 5 boxes of .45 ACP The purchase was scanned and bagged by the clerk at the ammo counter. My friend did not carry the ammo to the register, the register is at the ammo counter.
There's nothing to prove any of these allegations, either.
The receipt says "WIN 45AUTOVP $19.97" 5 times. There is no .40 on the receipt.
My buddy does not know if the person was 'hourl' or 'salaried'. Apparently, there was no accusation of shoplifting. The accusation was "violation of federal law.:
That is not what happened. It's not even possible to do that at WalMart. All ammo is kept in a locked case underneath a counter. You have to pay for it at THAT counter. The dumb ass dufus clerk should not have even let my buddy leave that counter with the replacement .45, BUT, that is what the nice little old lady up front asked my friend to do.-"Go back, get what you want, and bring it to the customer service counter"
Of course. This is the way a rational mind works. But customer service was unwilling to go this far, or even DISCUSS anything beyond "Can't return 'bullets' (they kept calling them 'bullets') violation of federal law......"
.bzzzzzzzz....
ysr_racer
Member
Wat too much trouble for a box of ammo. He made the mistake. suck it up, live and learn.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
No violation of federal law as far as I can tell! Sounds
more like a stupid Wal-Mart statement that probably
originated higher up the chain of command; maybe
even in Bentonville, AR?
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
more like a stupid Wal-Mart statement that probably
originated higher up the chain of command; maybe
even in Bentonville, AR?
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Carlos Cabeza
Member
Hmmmmmm, got this box of .40 S&W, What to do ? What to do ? GET A NEW PISTOL ! .40 Glock sounds nice ....................
.40 Glock sounds nice ....................Eskimo Jim
Member
I'd say check the receipt. If it says 45acp and you were given 40S&W instead then you did pay for it and therefore entitled to get what you pay for.
Let's face facts here about most stores. You aren't dealing with sales people that are parituclarly knowledgable about the items that they are selling. the majority of the time. Secondly, I'm sure that large companies aren't spending the amount of time needed to properly train their sales clerks and cashiers. Third, people are prone to making errors.
When ever I've bought anything behind a counter at a chain store, I've had to ask for what I wanted, then directed the clerk where to find it on the shelf. Either they don't even know where their own stock is or they can't read the box.
Double check everything in a chain store. Make sure that you have a rough idea of the total cost for the items that you are going to buy. Count your change, check the box to make sure that's what you want.
I don't know if exchanging ammunition is a violation of federal law. Most stores where I've bought ammuntion have had signs that all ammunition sales are final.
Good luck.
-Jim
Let's face facts here about most stores. You aren't dealing with sales people that are parituclarly knowledgable about the items that they are selling. the majority of the time. Secondly, I'm sure that large companies aren't spending the amount of time needed to properly train their sales clerks and cashiers. Third, people are prone to making errors.
When ever I've bought anything behind a counter at a chain store, I've had to ask for what I wanted, then directed the clerk where to find it on the shelf. Either they don't even know where their own stock is or they can't read the box.
Double check everything in a chain store. Make sure that you have a rough idea of the total cost for the items that you are going to buy. Count your change, check the box to make sure that's what you want.
I don't know if exchanging ammunition is a violation of federal law. Most stores where I've bought ammuntion have had signs that all ammunition sales are final.
Good luck.
-Jim
entropy
Member
Perhaps I am merely pointing out the obvious here, but didn't he check the ammo boxes before paying for them? I've bought WWB 9, .40, and .45 plenty of times at several different Wally Worlds, and even in the stores that make you pay at the Sporting goods counter, they hand you the boxes before they ring them up. Out of habit, I not only look at the box, I open it and look at the rounds. Yes, the Wally World doofus handed him the wrong stuff to begin with, but could he perhaps be somewhat culpable for failing to inspect the merchandise? Even if he had no chance to inspect the boxes before paying for them, if he had done so immediately after paying for them, he'd have probably stood a better chance of getting it resolved immediately by the Sporting goods doofus, and maybe the Store Manager, while still at the Sporting Goods counter.
PS: I only go there for WWB ammo, and SGN, and my nephew and his wife are Dept. managers there!
FWIW: Fleet Farm also has signs posted saying 'per Federal Law, ammo cannot be returned after Feb. 1, 2001' , I'd like to see the law.
Even if he had no chance to inspect the boxes before paying for them, if he had done so immediately after paying for them, he'd have probably stood a better chance of getting it resolved immediately by the Sporting goods doofus, and maybe the Store Manager, while still at the Sporting Goods counter. PS: I only go there for WWB ammo, and SGN, and my nephew and his wife are Dept. managers there!
FWIW: Fleet Farm also has signs posted saying 'per Federal Law, ammo cannot be returned after Feb. 1, 2001' , I'd like to see the law.
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