Thursday, February 15, 2007

What do you mean I can't have it?

For years and years, Wal-Mart was known as "the store that would take anything back." Well, if you get the right assistant manager, that's still mostly true. But there are caveats. You're better off having a receipt for one -- and it's usually better if you exchange rather than return.

And blowing up in someone's face is NOT the way to get what you want.

This total moron rolled in Monday night with a phone charger that he wanted to exchange because he claimed it didn't work with his phone. No receipt, no box, no nothing.

I was trying to grab a 15-minute break (I have yet to find a decent pair of shoes made for standing on concrete - and those little rubber mats don't help a bit) when he was there the first time, so someone told him to go back to Electronics and get the exact same one and have his driver license when he came back.

Of course, when he came back, he got in front of me and the fun started.

I ask if I can help him and he throws the new box in front of me and just looks at me. I wanted to throw it right back it him, but I'm totally broke until I can file my taxes. I'm even avoiding Starbucks and taking my lunch to work. I can't get fired.

Anyway. I'm like "Are returning or exchanging this sir?"

He's like "I left a busted charger here somewhere. With some black kid. I don't know." **sigh** What did I do in a past life to be cursed with all the idiots?

I find it down by Register 91 and start doing the exchange. I'm like "I need your driver license sir." He forks it over and I type it in.

Big shocker. He's had FIVE returns since November 17. The total is more than $300 and I can see where they denied a sixth return. And the first two were three days apart for the SAME amount, so it was probably something stolen. Either way, he's either a crook or never saves receipts. He's gotten the receipt lecture before.

I tell him the bad news and you would think I insulted his mother.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I JUST WANT A NEW CHARGER FOR MY PHONE."

"Sir. You have returned or exchanged items five times in three months without a receipt. We normally only allow customers to do that three times. Unless you find the receipt for this phone charger, I cannot process the return for you."

"THAT IS TOTAL GARBAGE. THAT IS THE DUMBEST THING I EVER HEARD. I WANT A MANAGER HERE RIGHT NOW."

I get one. And he start yelling at her. "YOU SHOULD STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. WHY IS EVERYTHING I BUY SUCH GARBAGE?

She goes "Sir. We've taken back more than $300 of merchandise without a receipt from you. We're not taking this back without a receipt. Do you have a receipt?"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I CAN'T RETURN A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AT A STUPID WAL-MART."

And he snatches his broken charger up and leaves. I had already grabbed the new one in case he tried to make a run for it. Yes. A woman tried that once with a tent. Huge box. Fat woman. Picture Donald Duck and a box the size of two computer hard drives side-by-side. It was an entertaining picture. She didn't make it to the door.

It's not a case of not being able to return the freaking phone charger. It's a case of KEEPING THE FREAKING RECEIPT.

Stupid man. I hope his tire goes flat in the middle of nowhere. There's phone service, but the phone is dead. And he steps into a pile of ants.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

WHY exactly, would anyone think they could return a product anywhere without a receipt or at least the packaging? How do they expect the store to verify it came from there? I really can't wrap my mind around these self-entitled, lazy, trailor trash, "the world owes me" types.

I know this is a revelation for most Wal-Mart customers, since they regularly take of government services without even a thought of giving back (ie:getting a job or gasp! two) but guess what? The world, THE GOVERNMENT, Wal-Mart...doesnt owe you a damned thing!

DS said...

My wife and I were buying a curling iron while traveling, and we asked whether it'll be possible to return it. The associate tells us, "Well, we'll take it back if it's unused". And my wife goes, "How would you know, I'll be sure to clean it and all". She giggled and said, "we have our secrets, so even if you use it once, we'll know [and won't take it back]". I guess they can peek inside and note the discoloration of the heating element.

If you want to know if this happened at a Walmart or not, here's a clue: luckily, there was a 220/110V switch, so she still uses it.

Anonymous said...

love it.

Jen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jen said...

Have you tried Crocs for work? I know they're ugly as sin, but I work in the food and beverage industry and they've been a real life saver for long days. Birkenstock also has a "professional" line that I've heard rave reviews about, but those are a little out of my price range.

Jack Handy said...

All the nurses I know swear by the crocs. Ugly but comfortable.

Anonymous said...

"I hope his tire goes flat in the middle of nowhere. There's phone service, but the phone is dead. And he steps into a pile of ants."
"I hope that stupid woman dies in a meth lab explosion. That or chokes to death on a Cheeto."
"I hope there was an axe murderer waiting for him in the back of his car on the way home."
---from your last three blog entries...

You're due for a vacation! *L*

freaksgeeks said...

I read your blog religiously, and love every word.
Sometimes your stories really make me question the intelligence of people in general...

Anonymous said...

man, I love reading this blog!

yellowdoggranny said...

if I had your job I would be swilling Jack Daniels like Dr. Pepper..

Anonymous said...

I work on concrete in a lab all day, and a pair of Quark clogs has been a great improvement over sneakers. But I walk a lot instead of standing in one place. The best part is that you can replace the insoles for only 10 bucks, and that is going to allow me to stretch out the life of the shoe another year or so.

The Quarks absorb a lot more of the impact and help with the muscle fatigue, but they are not much use for the idiots.

Anonymous said...

"A box the size of two computer hard drives side-by-side"? Was it a tent for mice?