Walmart has an useful phone app for customers going to get their store pick up items. When you pull into their parking lot, a notification pops up giving you the option to check-in before going inside. I arrived at this store on 12/13 at 9:55 pm and used the app to check-in as I was walking towards the entrance. I immediately received a notice on the app that read "an associate is now preparing your items." However, when I walked up to the customer service area, I noticed there were no employees present and the all of the lights were turned off. I asked a nearby associate why it was already closed when it was not yet 10 pm. I followed the associate to where Selina, the Sales Manager, was standing at the front registers. She asked Selina if the customer service area was closed. She wouldn't even look up to make any eye contact, but instead very rudely said it was closed.
In a non confrontational tone, I asked her why the department was already closed when I walked in beforehand. She told me that if there is no one waiting in line, they close the department early. I then showed her on the app where it said an associate was preparing my item. The rude behavior just continued. She rolled her eyes, became defensive, and said she knew nothing about this app or the option of checking in. I'm pretty surprised that a Sales Manager has no knowledge of a tool that is useful for both the consumers and the employees. I told her my item was already paid for and I just wanted to pick it up. With another eye roll she said there was nothing to be done about it. I asked to speak with the manager on duty, who she called. When she got off the phone she told me that he was in a meeting for at least another 15 minutes or more, and therefore my only two options were to come back in the morning if I wished to speak with the store manager or wait until his meeting was finished. I told her I would wait. I shopped around for a few minutes and then made my way back to the registers. The meeting lasted longer than I was originally told, so I stood in front of the registers and waited.
I am appalled by the amount of attitude I received from Selina. It was completely unwarranted. My attitude was never negative towards her. I simply questioned why the department was closed before its posted time and how no one was aware of the app, especially a manager. Even as I waited for the manager on duty she would walk by and give me the dirtiest looks. When she came by to tell me that the manager was on the way, she didn't even stop and make eye contact with me. She just strolled right by me and muttered "he's coming."
A few moments later I was greeted by the manager. I told him the situation, how Selina acted towards me, showed him the app, and without hesitation went and collected my item. That entire ordeal could have easily been avoided if it was handled properly to begin with. Instead, I was treated like I had done something wrong by one individual. Plus I was in the store from 9:55pm until 11:45pm just to pick up one item that I had already purchased on the website. read more