My love/hate relationship with WalMart

I hate WalMart. I can't say it enough! I hate them, hate them, hate them and yet tomorrow, I would be shopping there again muttering "I hate WalMart" under my breath all the way out the door.

Last week I went to WalMart to make some returns. Nothing was used, all were in the correct packages, all recently bought and all well within the return time range...did I mention that I had the receipts for each item? Well, one of the items was a book. The Friday Night Knitting Club, actually. My book group chose this book for March and I ran out to buy it at Costco with my milk, eggs and toilet paper but Costco was sold out. Then I went to Sam's Club and they were out. Now it was late and all the good stores were closed but I was determined to buy it. I went to the Moreno Beach 24 hr.WalMart and had to look through messy shelves and trashed merchandise but I found two copies. Hurrah! One copy was really icky so I bought the other ($11.83) and ran home so I could read it right away.

I was so excited! I get home, get comfortable, open the book...and...the pages inside are trashed. They look like they were cut with a knife! ARGHHH! I give up. Obviously, this was not meant to be. The next day I go to Target and buy a copy ($11.23--saved some money!) and start my book. (It's really good--I recommend it.)

A few days later, I am at the same WalMart returning a few things. Nothing exciting...the luggage tag for Alana that I thought was a softball, turned out to be a baseball ($4) and some clips for the softball banner ($1.96). Big whoops. Then, I give them the book. Good grief! It was like Fort Knox shutting down! Oh no, they can't take returns on books due to copyright laws. Wait. I have the receipt, I didn't read it, I brought it back as soon as I could and WalMart won't give me my money back? I tell the lady that I can return books at Costco, at Waldenbooks...why can't WalMart take it back? I go over it again; I have the receipt, I didn't read it, the book is trashed! It's like talking to a wall. I am so calm but my eyebrows are receding back into my hairline because I am so incredulous. She calls over another woman because this monumental decision is over her capability as a supervisor and that one tells me no also. (How do you get hired at WalMart? Do you have your parole officer vouch for you?) They want to give me another copy, I tell them I all ready bought one at Target (cheaper too!) so why do I need two copies? Now they are both snotty and I am uncharacteristically quiet as I try to figure out how much of a big deal I want to make of this. The more they tell me no, the more I want my money back!

Finally, after we go back and forth, the supervisor gives up and gives me store credit. (It's didn't really matter if it was cash or credit--I was going in to buy dish soap, paper towels, etc)
It goes with out saying that I will never buy another book from WalMart. Ever. How frustrating!

Of course, not as frustrating as the time the customer service guy told the 20+ people in line behind me that the fabric return I had (with receipt!) I had stolen...

I hate WalMart.