Rick's Ramblings

Friday, March 12, 2004

Customer Service, NOT!

I just had the most bizarre experience. Lynne and I are planning to make a provisioning trip to the cabin tomorrow, taking up large and bulky items we need like paper towels, dog biscuits, etc. And, we needed to leave this morning, early, to take Daisy to a vet for X-rays in Castle Rock. So, I took off about 8:30 this morning to do the shopping.

At about 9:30 I stopped at Sam’s Club to get the bulk paper towels and dog biscuits. I flashed my membership card as I entered the store, as I always do, and was refused entry! “You cannot shop until 10:00.” The store was clearly open and people were shopping. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open, “what do you mean I can’t shop until 10:00?”

I was told that until 10:00, only “business owners” were allowed to shop. Okay, interesting policy, but what if I only needed some paper towels and dog biscuits and needed them now so I could get out of town? I was told to go to the service desk and tell them my problem.

I expressed my frustration at the service desk and said that I did not want to be a member anymore if I couldn’t get my dog biscuits and paper towels. The guy behind the counter, without saying a word, took my membership card, canceled my membership, refunded me $35.00, and wished me a good day!

As I exited the store, the woman who first refused me entry asked if the problem got resolved. I told her what happened and she was upset claiming that a manager should have been called and that a manager would make an exception and allow me to shop. So, she called a manager.

When the manager got there, I explained my problem. He gave me a lecture on how restricted hours had been a policy of Sam’s Club and even Pace before them. At the end of the lecture, he did offer to allow me to do my shopping on that day. I told him that I no longer had a membership card because of the earlier actions where it was canceled and I was refunded.

He said, “Oh, well then we can’t allow you to shop at all if you don’t have a membership card!”

So, clearly, I’ll not shopping at WalMart or Sam’s Club any more.

Comments:

1. Lynne thinks I may have overreacted a little. Maybe. But, it sure seems like they could have handled this better by asking me a few questions and trying to help me out.

   Posted by Rick  on  03/14/2004  at  09:29 AM

2. Rick, Yeah I’ve found Wal-Mart/Sam’s bureaucracy to be really frustrating too.  Even though I have a business account (which I really should cancel) they have told me a couple of times when I get to the cashier with all my stuff that my account is no good!  Then I have to go to customer service and have them call credit dept. and after being assured the account is good they still can’t get their store computer to take the charge.  At one point they set up another account and then I started getting two bills, so I called up to cancel one and the credit department said “I don’t know why they did that, there was nothing wrong with your account!”  The only reason I haven’t canceled it is so my son can use his auxiliary card when he’s in Mexico, as it is the place to shop down there.  If you get a Costco in Ft. Collins go to it.  It’s better than Sam’s anyway. That’s where we always do our big shopping now. John

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/14/2004  at  12:05 PM

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