Below is a letter ignored by Walmart. I have since learned the manager was ignorant of the store policies regarding BB guns, confusing them with fire arms. That ignorance on the subject caused her to over react and refuse any discussion.
To:
Walmart Corporate Office
702 SW 8th St
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611
Tel. 479 273 4000
Concerning super center 1940
Sirs:
On Monday 8-29-11 I purchased a Daisey 'BUCK" BB gun for my daughter.
On Tuesday it malfunctioned after only a very few shots. It was cocked and loaded but would not fire no matter what I did. I placed it in the original packaging with a wad of tissue taped to the muzzle in case it should fire. I also taped a large note to the package warning of the dangerous condition. I went to the "Customer Service?" counter in the East Greenbush Walmart on Rte 4 near my home.
The lady told me she could not take a loaded GUN for return. I explained to her the condition was exactly the reason I was there and that it was impossible for me to unload it. She still refused even after I explained the BB gun was of stamped metal and not designed to be dismantled and that disassembly would require destruction of the GUN with tools I did not have. I also pointed out such destruction would in all likelihood prevent me from returning it at all. Her response was to call the manager.
Wonderful, finally someone with some judgement! Not so! The manager told me I was making a disturbance and that she would not help me.in frustration and in an effort to render it completely harmless I then bent the BB gun in half making it completely inoperable and as safe as this customer could make it. She took it doing nothing but looking like she was waiting for something so I asked. She responded that we were waiting for the POLICE. She had reported a dangerous situation. According to police, "A man was making a disturbance with gun".
She refused to either return to me the gun or my receipt and apparently followed me out of the store. Because, as I left the parking lot about 2 minutes later, two Police cars came racing up with lights and sirens blazing surrounding my car. (Police already knew which car to stop.) They drew their guns and demanded I show both hands before they would approach the car hands at the ready still on their now holstered pistols. As I tried to console my 7 year old daughter who was in tears sitting next me they reached again for their side arms and yelled at me to be still.
Once I was allowed to explain what happened they agreed amongst themselves there was no reason for them to do anything. They also agreed with me I should not return to the store at that time as requested by the manager. They then informed me I was now barred from the store by the manager.
The unwillingness to discuss the matter coupled with an absolute lack of judgement on the manager's part endangered myself and my daughter as well as the officers and all the people involved in their panicked response to an overstated non problem. The Police thought I was threatening people with a firearm. No one ever told them it was all over a CHILDS BB GUN! Had they been a little over zealous or just nervous I, my daughter and others could have been shot over a BB gun that did not work. Also the officers themselves or passersby could have been injured in a vehicle accident during the Polices emergency response.
If you are to sell these devices you need to have far more judgement capable people available with knowledge to handle such incidents. I was told I must unload it even after I informed them I could not do that short of destroying it. Do you really want to encourage uninformed patrons to dismantle dangerous items?
I did everything a responsible customer could only to be treated in this despicable manner. Never did I threaten anyone or even use any sort of foul language. All my actions were in an attempt to prevent harm to anyone should it fire. And then when I left that woman refused to return my property or even my receipt.
I first want my money back and an apology for the over reaction. I also want assurances I will not be accosted by that manager should I return to that store. It is near my home and convenient so I shop there several times a week. Forcing me to go elsewhere would place an unfair burden both in time and the cost of gas I would need.
To keep my promise to my daughter and to reassure her all was well I purchased another of the same model at another Walmart. If it fails the same way do you want me to just return it without steps to protect innocents?
Ps
In the hours before mailing this letter the second BUCK air rifle did the same thing. It was cocked but refuses to fire. Except this time it was not loaded. This one will be returned with NO explanation.
0 comments