Wal Mart and their ridiculous practices

cassanova · #1 03-05-2009, 02:54 PM

So I'm coming out of Wal Mart today and I see two of my friends. One of my friends was on the ground with 2 people on him. (Very much like a police take down.) They both were also both wearing Wal Mart name tags. Going against my better judgement I grabbed one of the goons that were on my friend and threw him off of him.

Long story short, the goon told me that my friend was suspected of stealing something and that when the police get there I was going to be arrested too. I was a bit confused by this, because they're not police and as far as I'm concerned they have no right touching anyone.

Any who, while in the office I was told that this Wal Mart has a hands on policy. If I understood correctly that means that they can tackle you and use force to prevent you from leaving with unpaid merchandise. So my dumb ass tells them "Well I have a hands on policy too, when I see two people attacking a friend of mine, I do what it takes to protect my friend."

The cop gets there, asks my friend to empty his pockets and guess what, he's got nothing on him. He explains what happened to the police. The cop later asked him if he would like to press charges. He said yes. So the two goons from Wal Mart were escorted out of the store in cuffs. It was quite nice to see actually.

What I'd like to know is who in the Hell do these corporations thing they are and where do they get off thinking they can use force on you? I can see if they are police officers and the suspect is combative, but I know this guy very well and he would never get physical with anyone. I really hope that he gets a huge settlement when he sues them for their actions. He's got a very nasty gash on his head from those 2 jerk offs tackling him.

Needless to say I am banned from this Wal Mart but thats ok with me.

End Rant.

Mazatleco17 · #2 03-05-2009, 02:57 PM

Damn, so they have the "right" to get physical now.. even if they're no even sure if you are actually stealing something.

Trevorus · #3 03-05-2009, 02:58 PM

I'm wondering if that's a local thing. Most places I have worked for tell you never to try to do stuff like that. I really doubt Wally World is any different.

MatticusMania · #4 03-05-2009, 02:58 PM

You should walk right back into that Wal-Mart any time you'd like. They have no right to ban you. And I hope to see the employees sued to ****. How can a Corp. like that enact a "hand on" policy when they can't even prove someone if in possesion of stolen merch? I would go to that Wal-Mart, walk around suspiciously making anyone watching me on camera assume I have stole something, wait for someone to tackle me, then walk away with a hefty some of cash to not press charges.

username n/a · #5 03-05-2009, 03:03 PM

That's gotta be a local thing. Wal-Mart's policy is, in layman's terms, If somebody makes it out of the store without paying to just let them go. My local Wal-Mart loses about $2500 a month because of it. But when you remember that Wal-Mart is the word's highest grossing corporation $2500 doesn't seem like a lot.

Relic · #6 03-05-2009, 03:03 PM

I've heard of this hands-on crap happening several times now in various Wal Marts. I really don't get it... it's pretty stupid. In almost every case that I've heard about, the employees were the ones who ended up in trouble and not the "suspect/customer".
The ones around my area are all pretty mild by comparison. I cant imagine the 85-year old retiree at the door checking receipts tackling me..

alembicguy · #7 03-05-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevorus

I'm wondering if that's a local thing. Most places I have worked for tell you never to try to do stuff like that. I really doubt Wally World is any different.

+1 Im with you on this.

gold_member_321 · #8 03-05-2009, 03:04 PM

Walmart = giant corporate @%^holes. A friend of mine sued Walmart last year for damages done to his car while in the Walmart service department overnight. He got nothing, and wasted his own time and money in the process in court. Being that the case involved violence and your friend actually sustaining an injury I hope your friends case better then my friends did.

I'm banned from our Walmart to btw, only I'm banned for riding razer scooters around.

MatticusMania · #9 03-05-2009, 03:08 PM

My brother worked at a Wal-Mart. His girlfriend worked there too. So did some guy who liked my brothers girlfriend. Some **** talking occured. Then a fight took place in the parking lot. The video surveilance only shows my brother starting a fight, as audio was not also recorded. He doesnt work there anymore, but not because of that incident. He was fired and banned for riding around in a security golf cart.

gold_member_321 · #10 03-05-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

*snip*
He was fired and banned for riding around in a security golf cart.

I wish our Walmarts had security golf carts. I got fired from my second job ever at Kmart when I was 16 for riding the motorized handicap scooters around on my break.

MakiSupaStar · #11 03-05-2009, 03:14 PM

You're banned? I bet you they don't remember you when you walk in again. What do they have a picture of you posted by the cash register that says "this guy's money is no good here"? Bah. I say bah. If you want to spend your money in Walmart then go right ahead. Spend lots of it. That'll show 'em.

username n/a · #12 03-05-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Your banned?

NJL · #13 03-05-2009, 03:16 PM

i hate going into walmarts, really i do, but with the economy, i'm going to have to start shopping there more often.

cassanova · #14 03-05-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevorus

I'm wondering if that's a local thing. Most places I have worked for tell you never to try to do stuff like that. I really doubt Wally World is any different.

Thats what I was wondering. Every retail position I've ever held all had the same type of policies in place. We were not allowed to touch the suspect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJL

i hate going into walmarts, really i do, but with the economy, i'm going to have to start shopping there more often.

I don't like going there either and avoid them as much as I can. They are actually more expensive on certain items than other places are.

UnsungZeros · #15 03-05-2009, 03:35 PM

Yeah, that's some BS. I also can't stand how they check your receipts and your merchandise as you leave. $^#@ you. I just bought it. I own it. It's mine. I don't have to show it to you if I don't want to. Way to show that you value and trust your customer by treating them like they're all thieves.

Needless to say, I take my business elsewhere.

L-A · #16 03-05-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

You're banned? I bet you they don't remember you when you walk in again. What do they have a picture of you posted by the cash register.

You'd be surprised. I once worked at a relatively big store that turned 3-4 people a week to the police. Depending on the security the store employs, there are agents that often have reunions with other agencies, to keep everyone aware of who it is important to keep an eye on, what organizations plan what, etc.

And yes, there was a binder with every suspect's photo.

Croox · #17 03-05-2009, 04:17 PM

I'd press charges against the store manager and Wal Mart too. If that happened to me at the local wal mart by me, I'm pretty agile I would have beaten the **** out of both of them.

hbarcat · #18 03-05-2009, 05:06 PM

WalMart corporate policy is to not touch anyone suspected of shoplifting. They will only follow and verbally confront a person if they have clearly witnessed a person shoplifting and even then they must not touch the shoplifter and can only call the police and hope they get there before the shoplifter leaves the premises. This policy is taught to all WalMart employees and they are tested on it (among other things such as safety, employee rights, customer service etc..) as part of their training procedure before they begin working the floor .

I'm skeptical that any local WalMart manager would instruct their employees to violate this unambiguous corporate policy - I just can't see it happening. If the story happened as in the OP, then it's almost certain that the employees were acting on their own, knowing that it was against company policy. If so, then they deserve to get sued and to have criminal charges pressed against them.

steve21 · #19 03-05-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnsungZeros

Yeah, that's some BS. I also can't stand how they check your receipts and your merchandise as you leave. $^#@ you. I just bought it. I own it. It's mine. I don't have to show it to you if I don't want to. Way to show that you value and trust your customer by treating them like they're all thieves.

Needless to say, I take my business elsewhere.

You are legally not forced to show your receipt in any store that you do not have a paid membership (e.g. CostCo) at. Next time tell them to go suck a lemon.

machine gewehr · #20 03-05-2009, 05:24 PM

I never go to Wal Mart.They can't touch me.

Can't touch this baby...