not sure where to start -- because, come on. this is Walmart. you know exactly why you are there, and you know what to expect (and what not to expect).
so, Rule #1: you think you're smart shopping at midnight on a Saturday coming home from a ball game? Like you'll have the place to yourself? Nope. Everyone thinks like you; there were only 3 lines open; the self-check-outs were closed so all the one-item people were stuck in those long lines as well; they are severely understaffed at that time of night; and the entire place is being re-stocked at that hour and you can barely move through the store. And the staff is annoyed that you are there at all.
I left hubby asleep in the car and went in to do the week's shopping alone. I broke Rule #2: don't go it alone. It is a terrifying experience.
Okay, so here is what happened. Try to follow and to stay awake.
I braved it alone, and finished my shopping in a little over an hour. I had a fairly loaded cart. I make the turn to the checkout lines, and I see what I am facing.
Oh, well. Three lines open, each line snaked back through Junior Wear.
I get into a line and make small talk with the guy behind. We both chuckle LOUDLY at the one-item guy who rudely and boldly just butted in front of us, mumbling "I was here." Hey, buddy -- no you weren't, and had my big, strapping husband been with me, he would have told you that clearly and showed you the back of the line. But this guy knew an easy mark when he saw one, and chose me to butt in front of.
Oh, well. remember -- he has one item.
So all of us had picked the slowest line (you know those checkers; they look dazed and confused). Finally, one-item line-jumper is up there checking out. I begin to load my stuff on the belt. I have half of my groceries on the belt when me and chatty guy behind me realize there is a problem with one-item line jumper. We can't hear what's going on as I continue to load.
THEN
No Walmart staffer speaks DIRECTLY to me. Our slower-than-molasses checker and what appeared to be a screech-owl supervisor simply shout out into the universe: "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. THE COMPUTER HAS FROZEN," or words to that effect.
Again, no one speaks to me, just to the air: "They will have to go to another line."
I shout, "No, I won't."
THE SCREECH OWL SUPERVISOR REPEATS: "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. THE COMPUTERS HAVE FROZEN."
At no time did anyone say the magic words (which would have made everything okay), "Very sorry; let me get someone to assist you repacking your goods and you can go to the head of this line which we will now open."
NOPE. NOTHING WAS EVER SAID TO ME. Should I have demanded a supervisor? Hey, anybody out there in Yelp Land ever ask to speak to a manager at a Walmart? At midnight, or any other time?
I stand there exactly 10 seconds assessing my options. No one was going to help me. I had just spent 90 minutes doing my weekly shopping and waiting in line to this point, and it would have taken me another 30 minutes to re-pack my cart, then I would have to go to the BACK of one of the NOW TWO lanes open, and re-check out.
So what did I do?
I left -- and left my mess for them to clean up.
But you know they won, right? Because my choices were: Shop at the 24-hour ACME down the road and pay 1/3 more; find another Walmart Super center that had groceries that was open 24 hours; or come back to this Walmart at a later time and do my shopping AGAIN.
Walmart -- you won. you always do.
I would LOVE for the manager of this Walmart to reach out to me. You can check my story: Midnight, Saturday (Aug 10). read more