My apologies for the extra lengthy review! I typically do not air my concerns online, but the managers left me no other choice:
On Monday, December 11, 2017, my son and I visited the Arroyo Grande Walmart for the sole purpose of choosing names off the Senior Citizen Mitten Tree and purchasing gifts for those recipients. We chose three names: Robyn, Mark and Dexter. I took a picture of my son holding the Mitten names because we wanted to promote this worthy cause on our Social Media accounts.
In all, we purchased two flashlights, two large tins of Christmas cookies, two large men's T-shirts, a package of men's socks, and two candy canes, totaling close to $60.00 (please see the attached store receipt: Ref # 734500259741). As a single mother, I work very hard to provide for my son and myself, but I also want to instill in him the importance of helping others, especially those in need.
To ensure the items went to the appropriate recipient, I made sure our cashier, stationed at Terminal # SCO11688, bagged the items in separate bags, tied each bag closed and secured the corresponding mittens to their respective bags. The cashier then called up another associate to take the bags to the back of the store.
A little over a week later, on Thursday, December 14, 2017, I returned to the Arroyo Grande Walmart to pick up mine and my son's Christmas cards from the photo center located at the back of the store. As I walked past the Senior Citizen's Mitten tree, a familiar name caught my eye: Robyn. The reason this name caught my eye was because of the unique spelling. I took the mitten off the tree, turned it over, and sure enough, it was the exact same card! I searched the rest of the tree and found Mark's card had also been repositioned on the Mitten tree. I did not find the third recipient's card, but at this point, I was so distraught over my discovery, I went to find a manager.
I first spoke with the customer service manager, who then called the front end manager up (forgive me for not having her name). This second manager was neither apologetic nor helpful; in fact, she was rude and combative. As I tried to explain the situation, she cut me off mid-sentence and said, "We have nothing to do with that tree or the mittens placed on it". I told her to allow me to finish, so she did, after crossing her arms. Once I was finished explaining the situation, she said, "What do you want me to do about it."
I told her I would go out to my car, retrieve my receipt, and they could refund my money for the items purchased. She said she would not refund my money. I then told her it I thought, perhaps, one of her employees had put the items back on the shelves and returned the mittens to the three, to which she responded, "I stand behind any one of my associates. None of my employees would ever do anything like that!"
I then suggested maybe the organization who manages the tree was at fault, for which she said I was happy to contact them. I took the following picture of the letter attached to the mitten tree, but there are so many names associated with this program, I did not know who to contact.
As I became more upset, this manager then called up the store manager, Shelly Wallace. At this point, I was in tears standing in the store entrance. The store manager, while she expressed some concern and remorse, was no more helpful than the previous two.
It was clear I was not going to receive the type of help and support these two store managers should have offered, so I left with the mittens. After giving myself a few days to calm down and process this experience, I have decided to contact every name associated with this Mitten tree, as well as Walmart's Corporate Offices.
While the total amount purchased was only $60.00, the fact that a program meant to help others, especially at this time of the year, is recycling recipient's name cards on their giving tree is an atrocity! I was so disheartened and discouraged when I discovered the names had been placed back on the tree, but I was enraged and shocked by the lack of empathy and desire on the part of the Walmart managers to make this situation right. I should not have to be the one spending my time researching and contacting all parties involved. That should have been offered to be done by the Walmart managers.
If Walmart is going to host a fundraising effort, such as the Senior Citizen's Mitten Tree, they ought to have some accountability for how it is run and managed.
At this point, all I want is to shed light on the corrupt nature of this experience. I do not know if it was Walmart or the associated organizations that are recycling recipient names on this giving tree, but the public should be made aware so they can make an informed decision as to whether they want to contribute to this cause, or to continue shopping at Walmart. To help bring awareness to the public, I will be sharing this experience on my Social Media accounts. read more