- Report: #530217
Complaint Review: Wal-Mart - North Dartmouth Massachusetts
Reported By:
Jared -
New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Wal-Mart
506 State Road North Dartmouth, 02747 Massachusetts, United States of America
Phone:
5089847771
Web:
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Wal-Mart Empty Box North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
I purchased a $229 Microsoft Zune from my local Wal-Mart on 11/28/09. After heading back to my car, I excitedly took the box out of my shopping bag only to see that the seal had already been broken. Upon further inspection, I realized that the box itself contained no product whatsoever.
I immediately returned to the store, heading to the electronics department. The associate who had sold me the Zune immediately redirected me to customer service. After waiting in line, I politely informed the customer service rep. that I had purchased and empty box. The rep. redirected me to one of the store's assistant managers, who very rudely told me that it was "not her problem," and all but accused me of trying to rip the store off.
I was told that my only course of action would be to call the manufacturer, as there was "no possible way" Wal-Mart could have sold me an empty box. After calling Microsoft, they confirmed my belief that this was an issue that could only be resolved by the store, and not by the manufacturer.
I returned to the store, with my father, and again spoke to the assistant manager. By this time, both my father and I were visibly upset, and were asked to leave the store or else the police would be called.
We waited patiently for the police to arrive, hoping for a resolution to our problem. The police responded by again virtually accusing me of theft and telling me that there was nothing that can be done.
I have been instructed to speak with the store's manager on Monday, but was given the impression that this would be an empty pursuit. As far as the store is concerned, I am a thief and a fraud, rather than a customer who has fallen victim to a very costly retail mistake.
I currently drafting letters to both the Wal-Mart corporate office as well as my local newspaper. Hopefully something can be done to replace my $229 empty box.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
JBooker
New Bedford,Massachusetts,
United States of America
Update: Resolved
#2Author of original report
Mon, December 07, 2009
Just to let everyone know, my situation was, thankfully, resolved.
I was able to set up a time to speak to the store manager (who, mind you, was never informed of my situation.) He listened to me and then tried his absolute best to help me. I informed him that my product had already been opened before I purchased it, which was clear because it did not have the hard plastic sheath that the other Zunes in the department had. (This was a fact that the assistant manager disputed, saying "some come from the factory in plastic, some don't.") He quickly checked the security tapes and was able to confirm that the box did NOT have this plastic, and therefore had already been opened when it was given to me.
I was incredibly happy that he took my side of the story into consideration, rather than writing me off like his assistant manager had. I would have understood if she (the AM) had told me she didn't have the authority to check the tapes, and that she would inform the manager and try to help me out. Instead, she flat out called me a liar and asked me to leave.
The store manager won me over with his exceptional customer service, and restored some of the faith that his AM had destroyed.
Lesson learned: ALWAYS check your product before you leave the store.
WWWeb
Anytown,Texas,
United States of America
I don't think so...
#3UPDATE Employee
Sun, December 06, 2009
Wal-Mart is in the business of making money at the expense of consumers, employees and the communities in which their stores are located - but is usually a bit more shrewd when it comes to separating a consumer from their money...
Unfortunately your experience is not one that is limited to Wal-Mart. If you were dissatisfied with the experience you received at the store - you should request to speak with the district manager. The store where I am employed uses advanced security mesaures to ensure merchandise does not "walk off" such as strapping an alarm to the boxes of more expensive items, placing special tags on select lines of clothing, locking up certain items, placing some items in plastic cases that cannot be opened without a special key and alarming electronic media (such as games for Wii) -I am not suggesting you are trying to commit a fraud - but if this store was doing their job with appropriate security measures in place - clearly the deck is stacked against you.
Marianne
Ithaca,New York,
United States of America
Next Time check the packaging
#4Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 03, 2009
More often than not it's another customer in the store that has stolen the product, and secretly placed the box back on the display/shelving, thus leaving an unsuspecting customer to purchase the box with no knowledge that it has been stolen.
Next time you buy an item, ask the cashier to open the box and check to see if everything that is supposed to be in the box, is in the box. I know with items like MP3 players that the weight of the box can be deceiving. Those players couldn't weight more than a pound. Also, check around the seal to make sure that it hasn't been previously opened.
$229 is a lot of money so I would pursue this further. I hope you can get a refund once everything is said and done. Good Luck to you. Let us know how everything went.
