I Walked Out (possible SS)

[LillFilly]

Ehe, I had to do that once too. In my defense, got a radio call while I was grabbing a snack on-duty. Responded, came back to my line, and my item was still on the shelf that I'd had to drop it on, so no harm done. I think you were justified; the situation wasn't handled well.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I had to do that once myself . . . due to the EFT machines going down and, of course, no annoucements were made so for at least 10 minutes I stood in line, checking in on FB for ten minutes with NO LINES MOVING ONE INCH before I heard someone closer to the checkout register say that the Debit/EBT was down.

I didn't have cash that day, nor did I think to bring the checkbook. So for me that day it was either debit card or nothing.

I left the basket and walked out. Ended up having to go back to work to get what we needed, so that was another hour before I finally got to walk in the door at home.

[Kristev]

Believe me, Wal-Mart is an awful place. No matter what time you shop, it's nothing but stress and dumbbunnies. The shoppers are, 8 times out of 10, horrible, stupid, and up to something. The only real reason to shop there is because prices are generally low. (This is because the wages are low and the competition is being destroyed.) 75 % of the workforce there tries to work, but the mismanagement team won't let them. They'd rather make them go do someone else's work, caused by intentional understaffing and a nonsensical way of scheduling that ensures there's never enough people at any given time to accomplish anything.

By the way, former employee there for six years. Worst six years of my adult life, actually.

But therre is a way to check out quickly. The electronics, jewelry, garden, money, phone, and customer service centers can handle transactions of up to 20 items with no problem, if you have nothing to be weighed. That's how you get out of Wal-Mart after you've done your shopping. Never use the express lanes. That's where the dumbbunnies flock to.

[blas]

This is why I hate having to go to a pharmacy other than Walgreens.

I decided to do my best to make sure I'd get my meds on the weekend, even though the store would be busier, I simply cannot lose sleep during the weekdays staying up later waiting for their pharmacy to open. Otherwise, trust me, I attempt to only shop at Wal-Mart when it's very quiet. I cannot stand the crowds of inbreds and idiots.

I use SCOs, but it never fails that someone with a huge cartfull of stuff and NO IDEA how to scan UPC codes will get ahead of me. I do use SCOs for my big shopping as well, but when no one else is around and I'm very fast and efficient at scanning and bagging my stuff.

Yesterday, I had to do two seperate transactions because my pills go on my HSA account. Some couple thought it was so funny their kid was standing right next to me, watching me bag.

I had to fight saying back "You think your kids are so cute? Not everyone thinks your kids in their bubbles are cute."

[Draco]

As a cashier, I would have had someone try to take you elsewhere if it was possible (and if I couldn't get the transaction suspended for whatever reason). Though I'm not sure about the setup at the Big W, our baskets are under/at the front of the aisle/belt. So I confess, I would be more than slightly annoyed at you putting your items back under there rather than handing them to me. Why? Because there are so many damned stupid customers who'll keep trying to pile baskets on top of the items.

It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine, because I've also seen people do that with things they decide they didn't want. Well, put it in the basket or hide it behind magazines. Instead of telling me. The best ones are the fish or frozen products!

*grumbles*

[Zenova]

Whenever im on checkout, and come to something with a torn, missing or non-scanning barcode, i usually lock the till and run and get the code myself.
If its something new, or something that I dont know where it is in the store (not many things) I call for someone to get the code, scan the rest of the items, and then save the transaction on the till so I can serve other people. When i eventually get the code, i recall the transaction, add that item and checkout that customer.

The place I used to work for had a better system, if something didnt scan or had no barcode, we could type in a description and manufacturer on the till, and it would bring up a list of items matching that, and you picked one. Wish all places had that :-/
I doubt SC was trying to scam, as if she was she would have just put the inserts in the shoes, and chucked the packet somewhere, so she would have got them free instead of just getting $2 off. Probably just being a moron.

[Kristev]

Don't forget milk and meats. What a waste.

[Dreamstalker]

Also, as a former cashier, unless they've changed things recently (which I highly doubt), suspending the transaction requires a manager/CSM, so no, the cashier couldn't do that by themselves.

This. Suspending a transaction at my store requires the manager to use a physical key. It can be hard to find a manager when you need one; we do have 'help me nao' switches on the poles, but one CSM says we can't/shouldn't use them (so what exactly do you suggest we do?).

If a barcode won't scan, I try to type the UPC in manually (one CSM says I can, one says no but at the same time I can't use the department buttons...so what am I supposed to do to credit it correctly?). We aren't supposed to leave the register and I'm not even sure if it can just be locked mid-transaction. Technically, if an item won't scan it's free (that also requires a manager to verify), but I've been told that we only honor that if both the barcode and UPC are borked in such a way that there's no way it can be entered properly. ASM told me that if I can read the code to type it in.

[Kogarashi]

Dreamstalker, some of your CSMs are nuts.

The second Walmart I worked at, the CSMs told us not to use the lights, but that's because there was an action code to send a page to a device with our specific request instead. But then the CSMs would leave the pager at the podium.... Yeah, I used the light when I knew the pager was there.

As for punching in the UPC code by hand? Why shouldn't you do that if the barcode won't read? It enters the same way. It's not the same as screwing up the inventory with the quantity key or by entering things by department instead (which we were still allowed to do if there were no usable UPCs anywhere in the store). Some of your management calls there are just plain confusing.

That's probably my biggest complaint with Walmart (which has otherwise treated my family great, and the majority of my customers have been average to stellar rather than cretins). I can never seem to find two managers in one location who agree with each other on certain policies.

Oh, and I think the official policy is that if the item doesn't scan, you get it for free if it's under $3, or get $3 off your transaction otherwise. Except that most cashiers and managers don't know that or at least don't follow that. Most don't even seem to know the correct price override code to use for that, but one exists.

[Redbeard]

Nope. No self suck there.
You were patient, and finally left when they couldn't meet your needs

[Dreamstalker]

Dreamstalker, some of your CSMs are nuts.

I agree. I'm finding so many policies that are pointless or contradictory...'good customer service' does not mean catering to the few nutcases.

As for punching in the UPC code by hand? Why shouldn't you do that if the barcode won't read? It enters the same way.

I think that has something to do with lowering IPM (takes a few extra seconds; big deal, it keeps inventory happy)...but there are so many external factors that impact it that I'm surprised anyone takes it seriously (my ASM has told me to just do my best and don't worry about it at all). Some of the registers are so bad that when they decide to act up, the only way to input something is by typing the full code.