To all my Walmart shoppers....can you tell me when their return policy changed?? According to Mililani Walmart (verbal) it changed in October 2017. Funny thing is they have a hard copy printed nicely on a mousepad with a plastic protector over it dated May 2, 2018.
So here's the deal:
We were gifted diapers for Aria. Unfortunately she can't wear Huggies (she gets a rash). So in short we didn't have a receipt because it was a gift. We wanted a gift card so that we can get Aria something later. We didn't want to get another box of diapers in case she grew out of that size. So it made sense. Anyways, so we get to the register in the customer service area and the clerk tells us our total for the exchange. So okay, fine. We go about the store for about 20-25 minutes gathering items. So finally we return back to customer service with our new items and another clerk tells us we can't use the items for the exchange and that the items all had to be from the infant department...wait, what? How come we were not told the first time, we just spent all that time looking for stuff to equal the total we were told earlier. Ok, so we go to the formula and baby food area (not a big selection and didn't have her formula either) so we finally a few items bibs, baby food, baby spoons, & a teether (another 20 minutes) we go up to the customer service again and as we are waiting to get rung up for the exchange I notice the return & exchange policy on the counter and started to read it...
No where on that policy does it state that the exchange items had to be from a certain department. Also, on the policy it does state that gift cards are issued for returns with or without receipts. So we bring this up to the clerk and show her the print out and she tells us that policy changed in October of last year, we showed her the date printed on the hard copy on their counter dated last month. Then by a "manager" she tells us "We don't follow the policy in Hawaii each store can use or refuse at their discretion" Again, we don't see that stated on the policy. I don't get it, Walmart is a national chain!! It's not like a local restaurant where they have a right to refuse service. I'm sorry if I sound like a B right now, but this is friggin ridiculous. I mean seriously? It's not like we are asking for cash back, we just want store credit or a gift card because I know we will be back to shop at Walmart. After all the hoopla, we decided NOT to get an exchange. Instead, we got contact information of higher managers which we will take these issues up to. We just hope that the names we were given exist (we were given JUST first names no last names). How does a manager not know the store manager's full name? Sorry for the long rant as you can see our frustration.
This is all just a matter of ethics and principle.
1. You have a policy...Follow the policy or don't have one at all!!
2. Train your staff...so they give out the correct information so customers don't waste their time.
3. Who gives you the right to "modify" policy or not follow policy? If it's from a national chain shouldn't that be enforced by corporate not a store manager, assistant manager, etc..
4. With all changes or modifications to a policy, shouldn't that be printed on the hard copy and not just verbal. I mean, isn't that why a policy is printed so that customers know the policy and therefore avoid situations and complaints.... DUH!
I still gave 2 stars because I still will shop here because of the prices on items we use a lot and the fact it's down the street from us. But as much as possible will NOT return or exchange stuff until they get their policy issues straightened out. read more