86'd from Walmart!!!

[NVMojo]

Yep, it happened to me in the town I live. I took a jacket back that was too small, tag still on, two and a half days after I bought it. Got my butt reamed for bringing it back too soon, told to go home and return in 4 days (seven total) before I could get my money back. Was told it was a long time policy, although, they've refunded me before 7 days in the past. When I asked for a copy of the written policy (it relates to the fact I wrote a check), the manager freaked out, arms waving around, yelling in front of alot of customers in line behind me.

I stated that I wanted to see a copy of their policy and why it was written because it seemed obsolete today with the new check writing policy banks have, instant draw down on your account. Well, he got frustrated and gave me my money back, wouldn't allow me to shop, and told me never to come back again.

Which will be fine, I go there rarely, and it is always a zoo, with narrow aisles.

I have never been 86'd from a bar but I have from Walmart!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. No more Wal-Mart? You have been blessed. (nt)

[NVMojo]

2. actually, I know ....they are a nightmare ...

...and keep their employees in poverty level jobs.

[Lefty48197]

3. Hmmmmm. Returning merchandise to Walmart after Christmas for a cash refund

what a concept.

[blurp]

4. You obviously never were never paid with a bad check

Check clearing is not instant. What happens is that the bank "holds" the money until the actual check comes to them and is cleared. Then Walmart, for example, actually gets the money. But that doesn't stop people from writing a bunch of checks that, in total, exceed whatever amount is in the account.

There are people that will write bad checks for merchandize, return the merchandize, then collect the cash. Ding. Free money.

[Karenina]

6. I believe you are mistaken

as per *new rules, the consumer "float" is HISTORY.

[Ms_Mary]

7. In some banks. It's not yet universal.

[Killarney]

11. Yeah. This is true.

Even though the manager was completely unprofessional and should have just showed you the written policy, I believe he was just trying to protect the store from fraud. I think it's a common policy with most stores that items purchased by check cannot be returned until the check clears (5-7 business days).

But, I agree with the others. Your banning is a blessing. :)

[tsuki]

18. Unless they hold the check, it no longer takes seven days to clear

even out of state.

[NVMojo]

32. I forgot to add that I went to my bank immediately after this incident

and they said my check to Walmart had cleared within 12 hours after I wrote it. Amazing!!!

[akwapez]

69. It may not take that long to clear

but it would take that long or longer for the bank for the store to receive the mail notifying them that it did not clear.

[sandnsea]

20. New check processing

It just went into affect a couple weeks ago. Checks clear instantly now. It was all over the news, mostly so people wouldn't write a check a couple days before payday and end up with bounced checks. I suspect the Walmart policy hasn't kept up.

[tsuki]

43. When it comes to money, they keep up. I suspect that the reason

for the seven day delay is interest. Alot can be made in 7 days if you pool everyone for that day together.

[NVMojo]

49. tsuki!! that is a good point and I did ask the manager who gets

the interest made if they already have my money? Great minds think alike!

[tsuki]

52. People just don't know the amount of money that can be made on short

term loans. My cuz once worked in the section of a large chain bank that specialized in week-end loans. They'd put their money out Friday night at 5PM and it would be returned Monday morning at 9 AM with interest.

[Ediacara]

45. There is a new law called "Check 21" or something similar

that went into effect 2 months ago. Transfers are instant and there is no longer a float period.

[BiggJawn]

67. "Actual check"?

Uh, need to get caught up on your reading, yes?

It's all done in electronic transfer now. Your cheques will actually clear faster than your ATM postings sometimes now.

[underpants]

5. BTW- Walmart is like the bank for junkies

I found this out from a friend of a friend. This doesn't really have anything to do with what you posted (you know damned well that have a copy of the policy readily at hand) but I thought you might be interested to know:

Junkies and people hooked on drugs regulary (at least they used to) pick up display items outside the store and return them for cash. Maybe Walmart changed their policy because of this but the used to be so worried about customers leaving unhappy that they would give a refund even without a receipt.

[pocoloco]

8. I believe I would

have to stop in every few days just to say hi and ask him how his hammer was hanging!!

[peacebird]

10. pocoloco - i like the way you think!

:yourock:

[NVMojo]

33. good idea, pocoloco!!!

[BlueEyedSon]

9. Can they really "ban" you? Hmmmm....

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. Yes,they can.

You have no absolute 'right' to enter a place of business, and if the business has told you to leave and not come back, if you do come back you are committing criminal trespass.

[BlueEyedSon]

15. Practically speaking though, 10s of thousands of customers

(or more), dozens of greeters... not like Sam's Club where you have an ID card/account... is there a rogues gallery posted on the wall?

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. It works like this, on a practical level.

It's one of those "If a tree falls and no one hears it..." situations: technically the person is breaking the law, but if no one complains, the police do nothing. Some stores/restaurants/bars do keep lists of people who are not permitted back in (various reasons apply), but I don't think Wal-Mart does.

[ProfessorGAC]

61. Sorry, Untrue

It does not meet the definition of criminal trespass, and yes, we all DO have a RIGHT to go into any public place, while open, as long as everyone else is invited to enter.

Go look it up in Mann & Roberts regarding the definition of trespass and the rules surrounding public establishments.
The Professor

[Cuban_Liberal]

66. Go to the ILCS and check. You are incorrect.

It IS criminal trespass, Professor, and I've arrested people for it who were subsequently prosecuted and convicted of the offense.

[Midlodemocrat]

21. I don't think they can 'ban'

...you from a 'public' company. Just tell them you are a stockholder. But, why would you shop in Wal-Mart unless you absolutely had too?:scared:

[Padraig18]

39. Don't know about every state, but in IL they can.

A place of business may, at their sole discretion, forbid any person entry to said place of business.

[Midlodemocrat]

53. I understand what you are saying

...my point is that if the company is a 'public' company, trading on the Nasdaq or the NYSE, they really can't ban a stockholder from going into the place of business. Violation of the SEC rules of disclosure.

[ProfessorGAC]

62. Not True, Paddy

That's only with cause. They cannot ban indiscriminately. They have to have a police report filed regarding prior behavior at that site to ban you. Illinois law is not written to allow one to discriminate against ANYBODY without cause.
The Professor

[Cuban_Liberal]

68. An incident report is all the management needs to make.

Rightly or wrongly,if the management felt she was being disruptive, they have an absolute right to ban her from the premises. If they so feel, and inform the appropriate law-enforcement agency AND the customer (the police normally do this for them), she can be arrested and convicted of criminal trespass if she subsequently returns.

[Liberty Belle]

12. I wouldn't shop at Wal-Mart anyhow because they support

Republicans and treat their employees terribly.

However, if you live in a small town where shopping alternatives are too limited, and want to retainn the option of setting foot in the dreaded WM again, you should complain to Wal-Mart's corporate offices. Customer services, and if that doesn't work, the executive offices. Try the CEO's secretary or an officer at Investor Relations. Tell them you're going to contact the media about your disgusting treatment. (You could do this anyhow--great to give them bad PR). Be sure to provide the name of that dreadful manager in hopes of getting him fired.

Actually, I'd complain about him even if I had no intention of ever setting foot in the store again. People like that shouldn't be dealing with the public. All the jerk had to do was show you the written policy and be courteous about it.

[NVMojo]

34. I can live without Walmart, we have a KMart here.

But WalMart does create havoc on a small town economy with their low everyday prices and their low everyday wages!!

[genieroze]

46. Kmart contributes to pubs also.

http://www.buyblue.org

[genieroze]

44. They treat their customers like crap too.

I got my daughter a pair of white pants and there was a spot on them but I returned them because they were too small, I can remove a spot. When I went to return the pants I told them about the spot they started screaming at ME about the spot. I told them the spot was there when I bought them and I need a bigger pair. They wouldn't exchange them. My daughter said it figures because when she worked there they took the exchanged products and put them back on the shelves without checking them. I'm the one who brought the spot to their intention, it was a little one and if the pants fit I would have washed them. I haven't been back since and now knowing that they are rethugnakins explains their attitude.

[HuskerLib]

51. Is this really the way we want to behave?

Not trying to stir the pot, but reporting the guy in hopes that he is fired?!? Come on, this sounds like it's right from the pages of FR. Maybe you've never worked in retail, esp. as management. It is 6 days before "the holiday" and I know that people are far more stressed than usual, maybe, just maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe, just maybe he was just yelled at by a store manager for whatever reason, his dog died last night, he's been working 12 hr days for 7 days in a row, whatever. I'm not trying to make excuses for his unprofessional behaviour, but if everyone was fired everytime we made a poor choice...

[mac56]

60. Report him anyway.

It's the supervisor's decision whether to fire him or not.

Not the customer's, who deserves courteous service.

[Paradise]

13. seems like you ran into the discount-department-store nazi! :) n/t

[Cleita]

16. I got stopped at Kmart last week.

We use their pharmacy, so I went to pick up prescriptions. Since you have to pay directly to the pharmacy, you don't get checked out. A manager chased me out of the door and demanded to see my receipt, which I produced. It struck me rather strange because we are a small town and everyone pretty much knows everyone.

It seems the holiday season paranoia is running high.

[heretheycome]

19. I can go to walmart

but there are a few bars I have been 86'd from.
:-(

[Royal Observer]

22. If I owned a store

and a person I did not know returned merchandise that was payed for by check, before the check cleared; I would hesitate to refund the money.
The way Sears used to do it was take your name and address and mail the refund in two weeks.
There are too many right wing crooks out there now to trust anyone you don't know.

[Silverhair]

23. Here is why:

You said: "...I go there rarely..."

When you write a check there it goes into the tracking system. A person that is a regular customer will show up to be a regular and is more likely to be trusted.

A rare customer will be trusted less.

It isn't just Wal-Mart. All business operate that way. When I first moved to the town I live in now, I had low limits on the checks I could write, and the local supermarket would not take my checks at all. There was money in the account, but the account was new, and my old account was out of town. Now they know me and don't even ask to see my driver's license.

[ThoughtCriminal]

24. A different complaint - and results

My wife complained to the State Attorney General's office about deceptive price signage in Walmart. A few weeks later Walmart called to apologize and sent a gift card.

[NVMojo]

36. hmmm, that is a good idea! Especially since they already had

my money and I've never written a bad check there and they had my checking account # in their system.

But then I would have to decide ...do I really want to go back there? It has never been my favorite place to shop. I wish our town had a Target, actually.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

25. but they are spending so much money helping the "community"

you can't be mad at them for wanting to watch their pennies. /sarcasm
:eyes:

[kcass1954]

26. WOW! Banned from Walmart!

You're my new hero!

[Stinky The Clown]

27. There should be an award for this!

We could even name the award in your honor!

Congratulations!

[amazona]

28. this stinks, similar happened to a friend

He was 86d from Walmart for writing down prices in his price book. They completely forgot about it and he can go back into WalMart although I doubt he does very often, he's quite well-to-do.

As a seller myself, I understand why they can't make a refund on a check that quickly. If you'd done a debit/credit card, or a cash payment, they could have refunded you right away. But not a check.

However, they have no excuse for being so rude and discourteous about it.

If you live in Nevada, which I am just guessing from your user name, you can return after 24 hours and shop there again without fear of arrest for trespass as long as you leave IF asked to leave a second time. But you probably won't be. Give it time to simmer down. You can still shop at other branches of WalMart also.

I've been 86d from plenty of Nevada casinos and gone back to play again whenever they had great deals, no problem. I've never been ticketed or arrested for trespass for returning. The lawyer is the one who told me it's OK to come back as soon as 24 hours after the 86ing, I would never antagonize folks by coming back THAT soon, I give it a couple months or more, depending on how memorable I thought I was.

You have a cute story to tell and it will all blow over, so enjoy your holidays. And good for you for standing up for your consumer rights.

[SmokingJacket]

29. He did it for your own good!

Wal-Mart is a circle of Hell.

[davsand]

30. Years ago stores used what they called a "mail check"

Many years ago I worked for a dept store chain that had a policy that they'd issue an in store credit if your check had not had time to clear the bank or if there was no receipt. It could not be redeemed for cash, but it could be used for merchandise in the store at any time.

It also could be presented for a MAILED refund if you asked for one--they'd hold the refund until they knew your check cleared...

Wlamart is not known for excessive concern for customer relations, so I'm not terribly shocked to hear about your experience. It is too bad, however, because in the old days they might have actually noticed when the pissed off shoppers never came back. Today i doubt they'd care even IF they noticed.


Laura

[Piperay]

31. That's not an unusual policy

I have been in several different stores and been told they couldn't refund my money till the check clears. Actually I don't blame a store for doing that, they most likely learned the hard way by getting ripped off with bad checks.

Still I think banning you is extreme ... CONGRATULATIONS on it! :toast:

[NVMojo]

37. just in case you didn't see my other post, my checking account

paid Walmart within 12 hours after I wrote it, it cleared my account that fast thanks to the new law. So when I went in there alm,almost 3 days later, they already had my money for the item and the other things I purchased. With the new law, it makes your checks almost the same as using a Debit card. Why bother with checks at all?

The guy was just stressed out, I am sure. I was too. It took me over ten minutes to get a parking spot there. I thought I was being polite by bringing the jacket back so fast so they could resell it. I am very busy and it isn't easy for me to get over to that store and fight the lines.

I have never really liked Walmart. It is like the dirty cousin of KMart here.

[Ediacara]

47. The thing is though

Checks clear instantly now. There is no longer float time. Unless WalMart sits on the check (which is unlikely just for SPACE concerns), the check is in their account, and if it bounced, they'd know.

[myomy]

35. just another reason to boycott WallyWorld.

.

[Niche]

38. Mojo! Why are you shopping there! You must be messin' with their...

BIG SALE numbers. WTF!

[Swamp Rat]

40. Congratulations!

That place sucks donkey balls.

You might write the home office, though, to complain about the behavior of this person and how you were "tried and convicted" in the store in front of the public... emphasizing that he WON'T LET YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY THERE ANYMORE. :D

[genieroze]

41. They wonder why people don't go there. eom

[YellowRubberDuckie]

42. Sounds like the manager is a prick...

And I'm sure if you made a call to corporate for the way you were treated, they would flip. Not that it would really big that big of a deal for you, but it would make you feel better. And you might get some free gift cards out of it.

Duckie

[absolutezero]

48. congrats

But why would you want to got there anyway? It's evil

[NVMojo]

50. you are right! It is evil and was evil even before this...shame on me

for succumbing to their sales!!!

[Phillycat]

54. Wal Mart sucks anyway, but you have to leave time for the check to clear.

Were you being a jerk about it?

[mark414]

55. i got banned from walmart once

it was when i was 15, so please remember the context...

everyone know the shopping carts thing they do on jackass? where someone rides in the shopping cart and another person pushes it full speed into a curb and you go flying out into bushes/shrubs/concrete?

yeah...we were doing that in the parking lot

[crispini]

57. Bwahahahaha!

Good for you. Everybody should do stupid things when they are young, and get it out of their systems. :evilgrin:

[mark414]

58. oh man i could go on forever

i was such an asshole when i was younger! i was talking to one of my best friends who was an asshole along with me, he lives out in california now and we spent 3 hours reminiscing about all the stupid shit we used to do...

jackass had NOTHING on us...

[crispini]

63. I was a complete uptight nerd study weenie when I was younger.

Then I spent approximately age 25-30 doing all kinds of stupid shit. But you know what? It was fun as hell. :evilgrin:

[Rambis]

56. You shouldn't be shopping there anyway

Go to a local version of the place if you have the option.

[ProfessorGAC]

59. Big Deal

They really can't do that. It's not legal.
The Professor

[NoPasaran]

64. Persona non grata at Walmart

:toast:
I salute you!

[Union Thug]

65. Everyone should be 86'd from WalMart..wait..we should 86 WalMart!

n/t

[MsAnthropy]

70. Consider that their employees are severely underpaid and overworked

not paid for overtime and have to deal with crabby people all day long and go shop someplace that has better merchandise and happier employees.