With 4 children 9 and under, I feel that the best deals for groceries and non food items are at WalMart, not to mention one stop shopping with limited time. I have tried to not go there and shop at Publix or Kroger but the grocery bill by itself is outrageous. Unfortunately, I have really had some BAD customer service experiences at Wal Mart.
I live in Gainesville, GA and shop at either that Wal Mart or the one in Dahlonega, GA only 25 min. Away. We moved back to GA in 2006 so I have been shopping at both (mainley Dahlonega due to being less crowded) every 2 to 3 weeks drop between $500 and $600 most of the time. Around 3 years ago, I was in the Gainesville Wal Mart with my youngest (he is only 3 1/2 now). I was under the gun as usual to get finished and get to school to pick up the other 3 kids. I normally get non food items 1st and have the Customer Service Desk hold the cart for me while I finish shopping. That day, I went to checkout and get my other cart and they had used it for go-backs. I was so upset that I vowed to never go there again. Lord knows, I didn't want to go back another day after spending around 3 hours (avg. Time) to shop. I literally cried because they had put back and mixed up almost all of it and I had a baby in the cart and had been there so long and of course was under the gun to get kids at school.
I decided to check out the Dahlonega store after that. It was less crowded and seemed to be better stocked. One day, I took my kids with me (all adopted from China and Korea) for just a few items and the cashier apparently didn't like the way my family looked. She had the meanest, glaring look on her face. Just behind me in line was another family (Dirty looking, kids with no shoes on their feet etc.) glaring as well. When the order ended, I realized the cashier had rung up their loaf of bread with my stuff. I had a divider between our orders but their bread had fallen onto my stuff. No big deal, BUT when I said "that is their bread" to the cashier, she literally said "ITS YOURS NOW!" Talk about stunned silence for a moment trying to take in what she had just said! That family didn't say one word either. I told her that it surely was not and she said that yes it was and that I had to go to the Customer Service desk to have it refunded. I still to this day cannot believe that she acted that way. Of course, I ranted to the Store Mgr. And that is how I got to know the nice CSM that day. We still laugh about that. Of course, she is still employed there and I wonder what they really did if anything to her for that.
Last night I went alone Dahlonega. First time in the evening. Hubby came home early so I could go alone. The visit was fine and I thought - Wow! Tues. Evening (or any evening during the week) is very pleasant. After I filled 1 cart with non food (so my cold stuff won't stay out of the fridge/freezer so long) I took it to Customer Service and asked that they hold it for me. Now, mind you, I have learned that you do NOT listen to them when they say (and a CS person tells me this EVERY Time) "Just put it over there, I will watch it for you". I learned over the past 3 1/2 years at both stores to ask for a piece of paper to write my name on and tape it to the cart so that it won't be put back. It also happened once at this store as well as Gainesville. They roll their eyes when I insist on doing that. Well, not only do I write my name, but I put 'PLEASE DON'T RETURN, STILL SHOPPING AND THE DATE AND TIME". What more do these people need?!!! When I got up to the checkout last night, my stuff at "Lack of" Customer Service had been separated and some already put back. I was LIVID! It was 8pm and I had been in the store for 3 hours. I lost it! Those employees (including the one that told me just to put it over there and she would watch it) STARTED BLAMING ME! I was in tears. The Mgr. Tom came over and I was pointing and yelling because they actually had the nerve to tell me that I should have gotten one of their signatures on that piece of paper! How absolutely ridculous!!! They opened another register Thank God-because they only had 2 open!) to check me out. I was furious and just wanted to get out of there. If only I could stand to walk away and leave everything, but that is so hard to do with limited time as a mother and the time I already invested. Then the one that checked me out told me that I SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THAT PEOPLE FOR CAMPS ETC. Have multiple carts all the time. So I said "you mean to tell me that there is a 'SPECIAL' place for multiple carts. I wanted her to understand why I was so upset. She was mad and said she didn't want to argue with me. There was NO ARGUMENT that I am aware of. None of them wanted to take responsiblity and put the blame on me! I was shaking. She gave me the receipt and never said thank you. The Mgr. Really didn't know what to do. I don't remember hearing anyone say they were really sorry. Customers were staring. It was SICK! I drove up for my $600 worth of stuff and the cashier that rang me up walked out with me with the 2 carts and asked if I needed any help. I told her she didn't have to and she turned around and walked away. I really didn't want her or anyone else around me while I loaded my $600 of stuff. I just wanted to get out of there asap! I called the Mgr.in my car as I was driving off and had calmed down a little. I wanted him to understand why I was so livid. He was very apologetic and said there was no such thing as getting their signature on my piece of paper etc. He said that he hoped I continue to shop with them. I told him how embarrassed I was and that I was sorry that I got so upset. I let him know that his lovely employees inflamed the situation by coming up with new ways that it was my fault. I own a business now and also worked at Winn-Dixie for 6 1/2 years thru high school and college and NEVER can imagine blaming a customer. Heck! I don't blame customers to their face when it IS their fault. The Mgr. Claimed they would go over this and figure out a better way to deal with multiple cart customers. I am shaking now as I type this because it still makes me mad.
I have been overcharged or double-charged for items as well at both stores which other posters have mentioned. It is EXTREMELY important to go over the receipt especially when purchasing so many items.
I have gotten some mileage and laughs off my Wal Mart stories with my friends (especially the loaf of bread) but I feel trapped because I would LOVE to shop at Publix all the time but I just can't stand the bill! Also would probably still have to go to Wal Mart for non-food stuff and that would be 2 places to shop instead of getting it over with in one visit. It is truly a thorn in my side every 2 to 3 weeks. Help!!!
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