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This was an incident when my husband and I entered the local Walmart one night after midnight.

We were aware that staffing was somewhat lower at night, but we went to the computer department to get a replacement cartridge for our computer. We were also looking at purchasing another laptop that night. Upon getting to the cartridges, we found they were under store locked pegs. We tried for over 45 minutes to find someone to help us, even to the point of screaming “Anyone around here to help us?” Finally, needing to leave after looking at the cartridge and needing info about the laptop, my husband got aggravated and took his knife out of his pocket and cut the cardboard hole to loosen the cartridge from the peg. Then he handed it to me as he was trying to decide which laptop to pick up and buy. Then, all of a sudden, one of their employees arrived and jerked the cartridge out of my hand and asked, “Did one of you take this off the peg?” My husband replied that he had done so because we had waited over 45 minutes to get merchandise and no one was there to help us (yet we had observed cashiers just standing around and talking at the checkouts, not paying attention at all that someone needed help or was screaming for help). Honestly! We timed ourselves. WE searched and looked for help for over 45 minutes before the employee walked up. The

night store manager even saw us and did nothing to send help. Instead of asking could she help when the lady employee arrived, she rudely implied with her actions we were trying to steal something. The employee then informed us in a sarcastic manner that she would “have to escort us to the front checkout immediately to pay for the item since we had taken off the peg without permission”. My husband then told her that “no one” was escorting him anywhere and then turned to walk out, leaving the employee standing with the cartridge in her hands. My husband also had a few other small items to pay for, but after being treated like a thief, he threw them down and walked out. Walmart had made us feel like total thieves just because we were trying to get something we needed, were in a hurry, and they weren’t there to assist. By having someone escort you to the checkout to pay for an item implies in my/our book that they don’t trust you to go to the checkout with the item to pay for it. Also, I might add that at all the other local Walmart stores, the computer cartridges aren’t even under lock and key! If Walmart plans to keep everything locked from their customers, then they need to assure an employee is there to assist. We left the store furious after the way we were treated! It was their loss because it cost them over a thousand dollar sale!

Walmart’s policies are ridiculous in general and we have had numerous episodes of not being able to get “customer satisfaction” as the store implies. They seem to come up with all these “unknown” policies on certain items that only have a 15 day return time instead of their standard 30 to 45 day policy that is not on their return policy board at the service desk We took a picture today of the Walmart’s store policy inside the store today and their warranty did not show the items we had bought at all. There was no mention of yard equipment, mowers, or pressure washers, or specifics of what was warrantied for these items. Twice now, we have bought merchandise and found it to be defective, each being $200 to $300 dollar items. Upon trying to return the merchandise, we were THEN informed they were not covered or that they were out of the system because they had been clearance, etc. and their computers would not identify the item, although we had just purchased it.

It doesn’t matter if what you bought was defective or not, if you don’t take it back within “when they say”, then you can’t even get a refund, replacement, or the satisfaction they so broadly post throughout their store. One manager even stated that their store return policies were posted at the service desk. I asked him in all honesty, who checks out at the service desks and sees that when they are buying the item? I then told him if there is limited warranty other than their standard store policy which applies to most items, a sign is not posted over that item telling you so. I feel this a bit deceptive because who would want to buy a $300 or $1000.00 mower or pressure washer only to find out that it had a 15 day store policy on return. So, if you use it once and try to use it again, and it doesn’t work because of a defect, then you are either stuck with the item or have to await a long factory repair period instead of being able to use the product you needed when you bought it. So, who’s being the thief in this case? Who’s making false accusations and false advertising? This is just as bad as them accusing someone of theft only in reverse.

To add to the sitiuation, I took my 2004 Blazer to the automotive section for service. I had a flat tire in the back storage area which I asked them to fix and also specified that I wanted my four wheel drive fluids, Rear End Fluids and Transmission fluids all checked. They agreed to do so and told me they would page me when the vehicle was finished. I received the page and immediately paid them for their service. Uponj returning to the truck I discovered the tire in the back had never been repaired. I went back in and told them that if they fixed a flat it must have been on another vehicle as mine still had the flat in the back. I also asked that they recheck all the fluids in case there was a mistake. The gentlemen who had supposed done the work was at lunch so another young man agree to recheck. I asked if I could join him and he said yes. Once under the vehicle it was evident to both he and I that no screws to check the fluid levels had been checked. He placed the proper amount in the transfer case, differetial, and transmission and stated that when they serviced a vehicle they always used a sealant on the bolts threads to eliminate leaks. He fixed the flat also. Upon management asking the other repairmen who was supposed to have done the work, he stated that he had checked the levels and I was looked at with hate for reporting the situation. This is no more than fraud and theft. Another man came in with a van while I was waiting and they had forgotten to replaced the oil drain plug. He was on his vacation and made it about 15-20 miles out of town before the engine blew so may it was just a bad day or a day filled with negligence but it happened. Never ever have a vehicle serviced at Wal Mart.