Sam's Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

thcri · Dec 20, 2003

Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

Since Walmart got a couple of posts here in the last few weeks I thought I would add another one. I don't mind shopping at either place but have refused to go to Sam's because of their checkout procedures. And now I see Walmart doing it more and more.

The thing I really hate is you go through the check out line and within 10 feet another person is there making sure you have your items, so they say. I feel like they are checking me to see if I stole something. You feel like your standing there and the world is watching you as if you did something wrong. I asked the guy if they think I stole something and they tell me it is to make sure I got all my stuff. The whole thing doesn't make any sense to me.

Now since Walmart is doing it I don't think I will shop there anymore.

murph /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Inspector507 · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

If I go in and buy 57 items, are they counting all of them?? I think not.......they do it here too......I have no idea what they think they're accomplishing.

Bob_Skurka · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

I think they are chasing away the thiefs, and probably many good paying customers too.

I'm not a fan of Wal Mart, just my opinion but they seem to dominate the local economies of small towns and put too many independant small businesses out of business. I think they also sell lots of low quality stuff too, but I suppose they serve a purpose.

I did go in to one of their stores this year and found the same thing that they were checking your bags as you left the check out and went out the door. Pretty insulting. But as I only go in there once or twice a year, I don't think I'll miss them when I continue shopping at stores that treat me like the honest paying customer that I am.

beenthere · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

I think they are really checking on their cashier/checkout people, as they have found too many can skip items at checkout and share in the theft with people they know. The volumes of merchandise they go through, apparently warrants the checkup system. Also, it is a place to again 'greet' the customer.
I am a shopper at Sam's but do very little at Walmart. I had a good experience when the item counter noticed that I had paid for two 12-bottle boxes of beer, whereas I only had one in the cart. I waited while someone ran back into the store to bring me the missed box. The checkout person was supposed to catch that, but didn't. So there are good things that can happen. Likewise, probably stopping theft at the exit door is another reason, and I don't blame stores for trying to cut down on the large volume of thefts of their goods. We all pay for that in the long run.

Junkman · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

If you want to learn more about how Walmart does business, then read this news article.... very informative..... Walmart Article.......

pruntyc · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

Yes I also think its to stop the thieves, as that cost them a lot of money.. I know of a K-Mart that was in a big city, and they closed it before they started closing them. They were losing to much money from the thieves stealing way too much. They tell me, that things could be sold much cheaper, if stores didn't have to charge more to cover what is stolen. And from what I have seen, I believe it. I deal at Sam's and Walmart. I don't like paying what Sam's charge for a card, but in the long run I buy enough from them at a big enough saving to pay me to shop there.

Junkman · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

( I don't like paying what Sam's charge for a card, but in the long run I buy enough from them at a big enough saving to pay me to shop there. )

I won't pay anyone to let me in the door to make a purchase.... Can you imagine if the super market started to charge to let you in the door???? If they need to scalp me for $25 or $30 just to sell me bigger quantities, I don't need them. I have compared prices at the "discount stores" that do charge an admission fee with independent merchants and have found that these so called "shopping clubs" have no better deals and many times it costs more. If it were not for their free invitation to come in to look around, I never would have set foot into the store! Give me a break..... I just can't see paying a merchant for the privilege of taking my money. Would you pay an auto dealer for the privilege of quoting you the price of a new car?????

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

 I think they are chasing away the thiefs, and probably many good paying customers too. Ever check your prices on the reciept against the posted "sale" prices?? The stores can be the biggest thieves of all...... and many people don't check the receipts till they're home and usually won't bother to go back to the store if the overcharge is minimal. The scanner charging too much is still stealing.............It should be taken every bit as serious as shoplifting.........yet it gets blamed on the computer..........YEAH RIGHT !!! Like they aren't aware of it at "corporate HQ"..........NOT !!!!

MossRoad · Dec 20, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

 I feel like they are checking me to see if I stole something. 

That's exactly what they are doing. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

RobertN · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

I bought 2 bags of Jolly Rancher, and a $8 toy for an event I went to. Kmart came up with a price of $32. I knew I had an $8 toy, but never checked the price of the candy. I thought it was expensive, but was in a real hurry! Well, my card did not run through the first time. While running it again, I looked at thier screen. They had a $27 charge for the $8 toy. I caught it that time. I probably would not have caught it if it was in with a bunch of other stuff with an expected higher bill.

They get you too, by having it marked on the shelf, but not on the item. Once you walk away from the shelf, you do not have a price reference... It aint like the old days when everything had an actual price tag on it.

Gatorboy · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

( I won't pay anyone to let me in the door to make a purchase.... )

No one is forcing you to go into their store in the first place -- and you have that choice to make.

I save more than the membership fee in gasoline alone at the BJ's Wholesale club I frequent. So, when my yearly dues come up for renewale, I gladly pay.

Gatorboy · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

( The thing I really hate is you go through the check out line and within 10 feet another person is there making sure you have your items, so they say. )

Seeing that theft is what causes the prices of items to increase, I don't see any problem in them putting in extra measures to curb such violations.

Other stores do this same thing -- Best Buy, comes to mind immediately.

I think you will find that stores that deal in larger items that aren't bagged are going to have these measures in place.

In BJ's (or Sam's) there is their eatery located in the area past the checkouts, but also accessible without having to go through the checkouts -- so here you can pull your cart up to a table, order food, eat it, etc. before leaving the store. It would be very easy to have someone go back into the merchandise area and make it back to the eatery without being seen and plop your item into your cart.

If they didn't have a GOOD REASON do to this checking they wouldn't do it. Do you think they like to pay someone to stand at the door?

Chuck52 · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

How about a good Walmart story? In another thread, I told about ordering an Olympus D560 camera from a NY camera store...Hi-Tech Cameras. The local list price was right at $250 + or-, and Hi-YTech had it at $188. Even with $20 shipping, I would save $50 without the tax. So, on 12/9/03 I placed my order. I got one of those "please call to confirm address" e-mails, and was given a story about my credit card refusing because addresses didn't match. Then, I was later told that Olympus had made an incorrect shipment. Then I was told....I foregt. Anyway, after eight days I cancelled the order. The camera is for my daughter to take pictures of the grandkids. It's basically a digital snapshot camera, and I figure she'll save lots of money on film, since she takes lots of snapshots of the kids. I really wanted to get it for Xmas, so I figured I'd just pay the extra $ locally, or maybe get one of the other brands which may be just as good for the lesser price. Started going the rounds, and ended up at Walmart, where the camera was listed at $247, but there wasn't one on display. The mulit-pierced kid at the desk didn't have a clue about their cameras, and told me so, but called for the camera man. A fellow happened to be walking by and said he'd take care of it. Turned out to be the electronics manager. Now, many of the cameras on display had before and after prices, with the Happy faces, but not the Olympus I was interested in. So, I asked if maybe there was a recent price break on it. He said he didn't think so, but would check for me. None was available. Basically just making conversation, I told him how I had been jerked around by the NY camera store, and he said he'd had the same experience a few times. He then gave me a $25 disount and told me about a further $20 rebate from the manufacturer.

Maybe it's just that this town is where Sam went to school. Maybe it's because some of the heirs still live around here. Maybe it's because of my generally friendly attitude. I usually get good service from Walmart. I can't say I like the way smaller stores suffer in competition with the 600 pound Gorilla, and I don't do all my shopping there either, but it fills a need.

Chuck

Spencer · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

My biggest complaint about the system at Sam's Club is that I have to keep my receipt out. I have the habit of putting away every single receipt into my wallet the moment that the cashier hands it to me. Some times the cashier will remind me that I better not put it away because I will have to show the receipt at the door. Other times I get it put away and then I have to get it back out at the door. Then they smear a wet streak of yellow highlighter on my receipt and hand it back to me. I think that they should print out two receipts, let me put one of them away in my wallet where it belongs and give me another receipt for the door person. I would love to be able to take the receipt back after they smear their highlighter on in and crumple it up and.....

Bird · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

Murph, of course Sam's Club is checking in order to catch thieves, but I've never had Walmart do the same thing except if you have items that are too large to be sacked at the cash register, and only then if I didn't have any other items that were sacked.

pruntyc · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

I agree with you 100% Gatorboy. They have tables in Sam's where people get ice cream or other food and set and eat it before leaving the store. And yes I save enough in Gasoline to probably pay for my card. And if not on Batteries and tires and other things, that are a lot cheaper, than the retail stores. So that is why I keep paying for the card, I'm not ripped off, I come out ahead. There is somethings that is not cheaper, but that is true wherever you shop. And Walmart, I know of no other place where if something is not right, that you can take it back and get your money back as easy. Never any argument with them, they just give you your money back. There is a lot of places where it just isn't easy to get it back at all. And yes at most stores, as one fellow said, you need the watch you sales receipt, as they all will short you sometimes, if you aren't watching. I would say it was a mistake, except, it always seems to be in their favor.

Junkman · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

( If they didn't have a GOOD REASON do to this checking they wouldn't do it. Do you think they like to pay someone to stand at the door? )

This must be the reason for them charging admission... some percentage of their dues paying customers are known to be thieves!!!!

Merry Christmas ---- Gatorboy

WVBill · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiasco!!

( I think they are really checking on their cashier/checkout people, as they have found too many can skip items at checkout and share in the theft with people they know. )

A couple of years ago I had a neighbor who was the manager at Costco and I asked him about it. That's exactly what he told me they are doing, and why. He had no reason to lie to me so I believe him. There was also a story in the local paper recently about a Sams Club employee who was arrested for theft and that's what she was doing - it's also how they built their case against her.

pruntyc · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

( This must be the reason for them charging admission... some percentage of their dues paying customers are known to be thieves!!!! )

Yes I'm sure that some of their dues paying customers are thieves. That is true no matter where you shop, nice if it weren't so, but it is just a fact of life. No way to tell who will steal and who won't.

thcri · Dec 21, 2003

Re: Sam\'s Walmart Check Out Fiascal!!

You right Gator, I do have the right to shop elsewhere and I will. I refuse to go in to Sam's and Walmart is next on my list if they start to do the inspections. I do understand thief but how does one steal 10 ft from the cash register other than it never getting on the counter to checked out in the first place? Cash person should be watching for that.