Complaint Review: Walmart

I moved to this town about 6 months ago. I had been searching EVERYWHERE for a job in this town for a long time. I had put in applications everywhere, including K-Mart and Wal-Mart.

I was hired into K-mart quite easily I guess, had my interview and started eventually working. It was mainly stock work. I was told I'd be making minimum wage etc etc and that normally even part time employees would get 40 hours a week. So I came in, in my ugly a*s red shirt and awful pants, to a bunch of weird.. weird people. The store manager was a b***h. We had a "Group opening" working on turning cosmetics face up for an hour... thats right... 20-30 people, putting the cosmetics face up... for one hour...

Whatever. I was scheduled 8 hours, we finished our main job in like, 3hours. Ok.. so they sent me home. So I'm thinking "This is going.. to SUCK." They didn't call again for a week saying I was scheduled one day. Needless to say, I never went back. I didn't have time to wait a week to get hours when I needed my own place soon.

Eventually I quit, and Wal-Mart here in Bedford called. Needless to say, I knew before I Even went in, "If I get this job, at least I can get my own d**n apartment at least". Needless to say, I went in, did the interview, passed the drug screening and eventually started my work in, -drum roll- Produce.

So at first, my dumb moronic self says "YUCK! I don't want to cut up fish all day this is going to SUCK." However, I knew I was getting above minimum wage, and a guaranteed 32 hours a week.

I noticed the managers during my orientation were ALL very very nice. The enrollment people, all nice. In terms of the building, everything was how it should have been. No **** blocking the doors, no leaking anything, friendly people, good enviroment, good employees, (Some weird but hey, we're not all perfect) and in general, a good place. (Now if we could only find a way to shoot every bird in the store)

I started working in produce, the first 2 weeks, sucked. I was slow as hell. But they didn't jump down my throat about it, they gave me a chance to work. The only discussion we had was when I first started I was missing a lot. Which is fine, and I was told I was slow and had some concerns. Nothing degrading, just something to work on.

Now, needless to say, imo, I'm one of the fastest people back there. I fill what needs to be filled and I go away everyday knowing I've done my job, and a d**n good one.

All the managers truly are nice. Theres no fighting. No arguing. Everyone usually works at a team. (Nobodies perfect)

Things may have been horrible however many years back, but things change. I have only been working here for 6-7 months, but it doesn't take long to know when **** isn't just right. You get your hours, you get your pay. You do your job, you don't necessarily get rewarded, but you get the sense you know people know you did your job and thats all that matters.

Stop looking for the perfect job, the perfect managers, the perfect place, it won't happen. You'll never be satisfied. Go to work, do your job, earn your living, go home, repeat.

That's life my friends. If you don't like your job, leave. Be glad you even have a job.

A letter was sent to the "Rip-off Site" berating the Bedford, Indiana WalMart. I would like to send a letter to the rebuttal box, and supply information opposite of the negative remarks made about our store. First of all, how dare this person defame our store! There are so many things that I would remark about the letter writer, but, then, I would be lowering my standards to his. But I will address some of the issues being claimed. I, also, am an employee of the Bedford WalMart. I have been here for 7 years and with the WalMart company almost 14 years. In all these years, I have experienced true respect, one of Mr. Sam's important beliefs, from management, and my co-workers. I am outraged about the "stabs" that this person took on our store Manager, Assistant Managers, and Associates. To begin with, he stated that three assistant managers took demotions just to get away from our store Manager. This is as far from the truth as the moon! In fact, some of our assistants went to other stores to be prepared to be co-managers! A very nice promotion!!

This letter writer went through a terrible tragedy that he spoke about. Our store Manager and Associates showed compassion beyond expectation! We raised a huge amount of money for the family, and because they had no insurance, some of the associates got with the trusties of that Township and County, and were able to get them to pay for all the funeral expenses for the child. How dare he mock that, as if we made them take the money and help to support them!

He also made it seem as if we are a racist store! That is completely said with malice , and no validity. We almost bend over backwards to make any minority group feel especially welcome; because we want all of our associates to be treated with respect and dignity! It is so sad that this person is alleging these accusations. We all at Bedford WalMart take pride in each other, our management teams, and our store! We will not sit idly by and let someone distort the truth! Our supervisors of our different areas try their very best to schedule fairly. Management even put this person and his fiance on the same shift so that they would have an easier time to cope with the tragedy that struck them. All of us gave our hearts to this couple, and rallied around them to support them through this sad time in their lives.

In conclusion, no one knows what someone goes through at all times. I can say this truthfully and with conviction, that our store could never be successful if all these allegations were true! Some people seem to be in another spectrum of space. I am proud of our Management Teams, our Dept. Mgrs, our Supervisors of the ICS Team, and all our other Associates. So, in retrospect, I hope this person realizes how his own words condemned him! By this person trying to characterize our store as a " pool of snakes", he has only shown what his true character is, and in the end, he will be judged at another place and time, for all the cruel and lascivious things he has said. Then I will feel sorry for him!

A Proud Associate

I suspect that the issue between Sherry and Cindy is simply a issue of miscommunication. This happens very easily in a company of our size. One has to remember that one person hears is not necissarily what we are saying. There is a quote for this that comes rushing to mind, "Diplomacy is the art of saying Good Dog, while looking for a bigger stick".

The larger issue of the situation may fall into the responsibilities of the ICS team. I am currently an ICS team leader and a thirteen year associate. I have been in upper managent prior to this point, and have to wonder if it is fair what they "push off" on the ICS team. I know that my team is expected to take care of everything that is not done by our third shift crew, take care of the bins in the backroom, making sure that shelf outs are filled, running registers, cart pushing and running frieght from new trucks.

While I admit this is "mostly" in our job discription, it makes it very difficult to do with 6 to 8 people a day. In essence expecting us to be responsible for our entire store.

I don't mind it, but certainly see how it causes a HUGE burn out rate for my associates. How are they supposed to feel when they are the only ones held accountable in the store, and are at times paid less than half of the people that "should" be expected to do their job.

I am fairly sure that this is a store management issue. It takes care of our customers in the end so I suppose I can't complain too much, these are after all our pay check, and without them we have nothing.

Just because Mel posts something doesn't Mean I agree with it too. Mel posted HIS opinions Not Mine.

When I Left Bedford,Wal-mart I left it as it was. Yeah I had my problems with the store manager and the ICs team leader,I had NO problems with anyone else in that store. I do not agree with Most of what Mel has posted, SO is it fair to Attack Me because of My finacees Opinions? I think Not!

As for the post that is about Christmas eve......For One I WAS NOT TOLD by anyone that i'd be getting help in a half an hour, as a matter of fact I was told that as soon as those girls were done with the candy they would be going to OTHER departments and I would not be getting help that day. Hmmm,funny how that one incident is getting all twisted by certain people. There were people In that incident that should have never been there to begin with. As for curseing people In the backroom ask ANYONE that was back there that day, I WAS NOT CURSEING!!! I don't appreciate being slandered.

There ARE a lot of great people in that store, people who are willing to anything to help you. It was proved when Our daughter passed away. On the otherhand there are a few that are not as nice, and do/say things just to stir up trouble. That has been my expierence with not just Bedford wal-mart but other wal-marts too. I believe that it's like that no matter where you work. There were a lot of people in that store that I got along with just fine, actually Most of the employees at that store I got along with just fine.

I don't appreciate being drug into something that I myself didn't know anything about until a few days ago. I am angry about this. Things were said that wasn't true, and Now I'm being attacked for Mels opinions!! My opinion is this, this happend months ago, it should be left alone and everyone move on with their lives. That INCLUDES Mel.

In short "Let dead dogs Lie"

I too work at the Bedford, In. Wal-mart. I have been there for almost 15 yrs. In that time I have seen alot of people come and go, some because of a better job offer ,some because of family and some because of conflict with others.

Thats what happened in Mel and his girlfriends case. To say that it didn't happen, that just isn't true, to work at Wal-mart you work as a team. Not you against me or me against you.

On the day that this happened, we were in the Christmas rush. This meant moving people around for about half an hour to help get cleaned up and ready. This also meant that there would be people working on their own in their regular jobs. I do mean, the job they were hired to do.Thats where the trouble began.

ICS,stock our shelfs, they are a big part of our store. They work very hard and sometimes they are needed to help do other things, Thats what happened that day, We had just got done moving all but a few carts, I asked two of the girls(the first ones I seen)on ICS, that if they could finish this, We could finish setting the new out. It only took that 1/2 hr or so to do.

When I went to the back with the other girl to get the rest of the items we needed, Mels girlfriend was loading regular freight to go up, she was mad because she was by herself at that time. I told her that the other girls shouldn't take to long, then they would be back to also pull freight. There are many times that only one will be filling a dept. this is not new, this is our job. At that point it became very ugly, the words that she said should not have been said to anyone, for any reason, this hadn't been the first time.There was no need in this, she was asked to do her job no more no less, not because of who she was, but because it was what her job was. nothing more.

If I had seen her first she would have been on the carts, but to talk to anyone the way she did was wrong, there was another person there who heard her, not just me. I don't know what happened behind the closed door, but I do know what she said and how she said it was wrong, and any time someone refuses to do their job,because they don't want too then that needs to be addressed.

Did I feel bad, yes, because it always becomes one persons side over another, that splits the store.

I feel for Mel and his girlfriend, we all did and still do. The people at our store try their best to help each other, we are very proud of that. I'm sorry the way things turned out but to take all the blame, no we won't. I hope things turn out for them but I also know you can't change a persons mind or actions, only they can. I hope anyone who whould want to come to our store would feel happy to be here, do we have our ups and downs, yes, ask the many employees who have worked here for all these years.

To Mel and his girlfriend,I will always feel bad because of your loss, and I will always wonder what was said or added to what I said, that wasn't true but I hope we are all grown up enough to let the blame land where it needs too and keep the store as a whole out of it,because we are a great store, who cares for others and do still care about you.

First off, Mel acted by himself, I myself had nothing to do with this, So I feel that I should not be attacked!!

We both had our problems with the store manager, and certain other Associates of the Bedford, In store. Upon my seperation from Wal-mart, I left it at that. Saying that I was a "Walking time bomb" was innappropriate. I was never rude to anyone, with the exception of the Ics team leader, because of the way that she spoke to me. As for me blowing up in front of other employees in the breakroom, Someone hasn't got the story correct. I did voice my opinion when EVERYONE I was working with on the ICS team was talking about it on our breaks, But I did Not "BLOW UP". Mostly we spent our time playing Euchre.

I enjoyed My Job at wal-mart, But under the circumstances I could not handle the stress, of constantly being "barked" at. Christmas eve was a hard day for everyone who was working that day. I Still feel as though the store manager disregarded the "open door policy" reguarding what happened that day. The store manager did make the comment about me being ungrateful,as Mel stated, And I still feel as though she was reffering to the help We recieved When our Daughter Passed away.

Wal-mart Does have some wonderful people working for them, But IN MY OPINION, for every 5 great people working for the company you are going to find 1 "bad apple", and I know it's like that with every single company out there. I myself had no problems with anyone in that store other than the store manager and the Ics team leader.

Wal-mart DID help us out a lot when Our daughter passed away, we Actually had 2 stores helping us, because we both worked at 2 stores here in Indiana. The Money that was given to us was put towards Our daughters final expenses, and we were even given enough to buy her a Headstone, For that I am forever grateful to everyone who was willing to help a total stranger in a time of need. As for the associate in need fund, we didn't find out about that Until later,And I was A little Uncomfortable about it, BUT it helped us finish off what we needed to do with the funeral and afterwards I was greateful. Yes, Wal-mart gave Us plenty of time to grieve, I do believe the exact words used were "Take as much time as you need to". We took exactly 2 weeks off and then returned to Open arms. As for this being used for "leverage" I don't know about. I had My problem with the store Manager that was QUICKLY resolved by district,As for Mels situation,I can only go by what has been told to me,And I refuse to go into that here.

I admit that the Store was mostly run by women, but I do not agree with the Men, leaveing because of that reason. I also don't agree with the accusation that that entire store was "Racist" I only felt that One person employed at that store was. The Information on Black people being employed in that store came from another employee, it was not made up. If it's incorrect then Mel is not at fault. Wal-mart being a fire hazard I also don't agree on, because I see it this way, If the inspectors thought it was bad, then wal-mart wouldn't be open for business.

As for the rest that Mel posted, That happened AFTER I left wal-mart so I don't know what really happened with that. I myself, Honestly don't remember anyone getting hurt at the bedford,In store while I was employed there, I also don't remember the "back-up sewage" in the radio grill, maybe, If that happened, it happened after I left.

I can say that the return policy is a COMPANY policy, not just a store policy. I was a cashier at the Bloomington,In store and we were not allowed to return an open cd,game,software,etc. The customer was allowed however, to exchange it for the SAME unopened item. This policy is used to prevent scams,Not only to the Company,but to the Customer too.

All I can say is that I was not Involved In a lot that Mel has posted about, and I get attacked. Is it fair to attack me Just because Mel posted something I did not even Know about?? Mel and I have very different opinions about what happened, you heard his, Now hear mine.

a week I was told something interesting by few people I don't even talk to anymore who may or may not work at the store that I posted. The ripoffreport was brought up and I didn't think about it. Then a few more people started to tell me and then today I was told the same thing.
I was told certain persons did not appreciate the report. You know we are all for the 1st amendment. To have someone who was not involved get upset is a waste of time for themselves. To be opnionated is a better than to get your pants in a twist. For RESPECT purposes only I did not note any names. I was told there was going to be a response by a lovely lady of who I respected dearly. Yes I dislike the store I worked at but not everyone is in position to be mad or upset. That is one main problem in that store and that is gossip. We all did it including myself. But let me continue with the incident.

Today May 13th 2004 I went into Wal-Mart and bought a few things for home. I wanted to see some of the great faces I HAVE known and respected. That was cut in half. I was given a rude stare (UN-NAMED) and then voices of some that you usually hear a greating of "hello" was replaced by silence and some with fear of their losing their job
Why is it that the Open door policy is in affect but in some instances it is made to look as if the person who is (an unlike person of management) get turned into the bad guy? (This not only being of me and my girlfriend) You look for this to be of help. But have you noticed the management who read that Employee Handbook very well looked at the fine print. Let me make it easier: If you complain to management and they don't like you it will be turned into your fault., If you have a problem that the management does not want to hear then it is again your fault or will take weeks or months the fix., If you prove to management that something was done to you that you will not have to worry it will be looked into (sometimes never).

Hear is the best part of it....

If you say something to someone it will be spread like wild fire and then to management and then it will come back to you as you spreading a rumor but when you hear it it is never exactly what you said. It has been twisted and reformatted to make it more outrages to keep someones interest and the GOSSIP going.

This will probably be printed and placed for other employees at the Wal-Mart like the one I wrote before. I will then be given an even worst look like I was geven today. Then what will be even more funny if I was told never to come into the store again or followed like one of those people who look like they steal or have. Then I would be motion to even file a destined report that will then make more and more mad that are involved. I'm going to love it truthfully cause it can happen. What will be even better is being told by police to vacate. Which will be even better cause then Nespapers and various news related sources.

Reason said is now I'm not letting people walk all over me. Please post what you like. Or I can give an email address later. So we can talk like respectable individuals and handle this.

So thank you to all who have taken the time out of their day to waste time like I just did today to write this. I respect and individual who can simply ask "why?" For those that this was written about I will state their position only. District mgr and Store mgr. To make this clear. Oh did I mention free speech!!

God bless and God speed!!!

Being a 16 year associate of the Bedford, IN Wal-Mart, I took great offense to this report.

I am a woman & I am neither sexist nor racist. I agree with the fact that the store is primarily ran by women. This is not a sexist issue. Most men in our community are in search of higher paying jobs to support their families. (A little above minimum wage doesn't do much to support a family.) It has nothing to do with being a woman to hold a job or position in our store. That just happens to be the work force we have to work with. As far as Mel being the only black person employed in our store in 5 years, that simply is not true. We have had at least 2 cashiers & a stockman (within the last 2 months) in the last couple of years that were black. It has nothing to do with racism that there are not more black people employed at our store. It has to do with the fact that we are primarily a white community.

The men in management that left did not leave under the circumstances stated. One stepped down because of family reasons, & two went to another store to get experience in a supercenter so they could move up to a manager position. There was a conflict of personalities with the store manager but it was not their primary reason for departure.

I am very hurt & disheartened by the remarks about our associates in regards to the money we raised to help Mel & his fiancee. Some even sacrificed a lot of money out of their own pockets to help this family that had only been with us maybe a week or so. They were mere strangers to us but we helped anyway & they didn't seem to mind. One associate contacted the city Mel lived in because they knew that city had a policy of paying for a funeral if the child was under a certain age & they did. We did the right thing, so there are no regrets, but the way the situation was portrayed was that we are bad people that expected something back in return. That simply is a lie. I don't know what was said by the store manager or district manager to Mel, but I do know they allowed him & his fiancee to be off work for as long as they needed & allowed Mel to work a different position & shift when they returned so they could be together. I agree with the fact all of that shouldn't have been used as leverage if it was, but they probably felt they went out of the way to help & for what?

I liked Mel & his fiancee, they both worked in my department on several occasions, but I do feel like they were both walking time bombs. No one could say anything to either of them without them being offended. You can't lead people who won't follow & they were in positions that required they follow direction & they seemed to have problems with that. They were both concerned with the way they were talked to but they need to look at how they handled themselves. Going to the lounge & blowing up in front of other associates is not the way to solve a problem. I know Mel was talked to incorrectly by the store manager but 2 wrongs don't make a right.

To say "don't work at Wal-Mart in Bedford, IN because they'll make your life a living hell" is inappropriate & unfair to the innocent associates that do work there & do care about one another. Yes Mel, we even cared about you, with several associates going higher up over the way you were talked to & this is how they are repaid.

As far as the condition of our store, how do you expect a 17 + year store that's only had one renovation to look? Things, especially buildings, don't last forever. That is why we're supposed to be in the works for a brand new store. When issues are pointed out they are usually repaired as best as possible. To my knowledge, no one has been hurt by any of the things insinuated. The only thing I know Mel could be referring to is the lady who tripped on the rug that got kicked up in front of the water fountain that was there to prevent slips.

As far as customer returns, I feel we're too lenient. People use stuff & then return it expecting a full refund. We usually give it to them. I had an item yesterday that was clearly used (It was a fish tank with residue of grass & dirt & twigs in it) yet the customer received their refund & I had to mark it down & throw it away. As far as software returns, that's company policy, not just our store.

In conclusion, I don't have any ill will toward Mel or his fiancee. I do hope if they feel the need to share their story in the future they will include all details & not just go on half truths or opinions & think about how what they say will affect those of us who are proud to be part of the Wal-Mart family in Bedford, IN.

I too work at a wal-mart. My store number is 5127, in La Crosse WI. I have been working for wal-mart for about two years and have worked at three stores. I moved for personal reasons, but my experience at wal-mart was different. I started at store #2813 in Marshfield, WI and that was my first experience with wal-mart. Our store manager on down really did excercise the open door policy. We had helped many associates whom had had hard times. I do agree that beiing an associate at a wal-mart store because there is a large sense of dis-satisfaction, but our store manager tried to make associates feel as comfortable as possible. We were expected to work when we were beiing paid, and one of my curren managers even has the expression "you have time to lean, you have time to clean" Keeping a store presentable to the public who sems to think that stores are their personal butler service is frusterating. When is the last time that you left a mess in a store that you would have cleaned up at home? My second store I was disappointed. the attitude of associates and some management sucked. I was unhappy, and if the oppertunity to transfer to a new supercenter hadn't presented itself, I would have quit. At my new store, I am again hapier, even though it is not perfect, but what is. our managers actively listen to what we say even implementing some of our ideas to make for less work around. I feel comfortable going to my manager (and, yes she is a woman) about a problem with a manager, or homelife. she works very hard to try to provide the best for both customer and associate alike. btw, on busy days she is cashiering beside us and is an impressive cashier.