The south end of the beach at Hua Hin, Thailand.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Hua Hin, Thailand.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Maldives on March 23rd.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Arguing with Walmart

Some people don't like Walmart. We do. On an overall basis, we have found they have the lowest prices, and to us that's all that matters. And they have a policy that they will price match advertised sale products from other stores. This means we do virtually all our grocery shopping at Walmart.

Yesterday morning it was raining (again!) so we did our weekly run into the city. Starting now, and for the next two months or so we won't be able to go together because it will simply be too busy here at the campground.

So what we do to maximize our grocery purchasing power is we check the store flyers online before we go. Then, we stop in at the stores who have sale items we're interested in, and Ruth just runs in and grabs their paper flyer. It's no extra trouble because all of the major grocery stores are close to Walmart anyhow.

Then we head to Walmart and do our shopping. the problem always occurs when we get to the checkout. Always. Every single time, the checkout person doesn't know how to do a price match on the register and they have to call a supervisor. This time, one store had their "store brand" eggs on sale for $2.29. Walmart's store brand eggs were $2.78 so they had to credit back 49 cents each, or 98 cents for the two dozen we were buying. But when the supervisor came over, she said they wouldn't price match because they don't sell that brand.

But, I argued, they have done price matches on store brand butter and eggs before for us. Oh, she says then they made a mistake. I argued that their policy is written so that it says "identical product", it doesn't say anything about "identical brands".

But she was adamant. So I told them to process the eggs at regular price and I would follow up at customer service. So we did.

I had all three girls at customer service telling me that they would not price match that item. One of them was pretty rude about it and the discussion got pretty heated, but I was sure I was right. At one point, she actually looked over at another customer and said "I hate customers like this". Can you imagine? I asked to get the store manager involved.

So one of the girls stomped off to get him. She was gone about ten minutes and came back saying he was out of the building (yah, right...) but that she had made some phone calls and sure enough, I was right! She was so apologetic.

Apparently, the managers knew about this, but the supervisors had never been told. She blabbered on about this for a while and now all three were profusely apologizing. Especially the one who had been rude. Not very good for someone in customer service! Anyhow, they WILL price match on store brand products, including any of Walmart's "Great Value" brand in comparison to another chains home brand.

Chalk one up for the good guys! I know, most of you think I'm nuts for arguing and going through all of that for a buck. But it's the point of it, and for those of us who are frugal will think it was well worth it.

We had a very interesting storm roll through here yesterday evening. The pictures tell the story...

You could watch it turn darker!

The sky looked black.

Those are some dark clouds!

And then there was lightening and thunder and buckets of rain for about 20 minutes.

And then it moved off as quickly as it had come.

It was a weird storm!


35 comments:

  1. Kevin I would of done the same thing but I just like to argue to prove my point,now Girlfriend would have ran to the car or ladies room...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes I want to go and hide too but not this time.

      Delete
  2. It's funny how many people will argue for $1 at a discount store but never write or call their political 'representative' about issues that really effect our lives.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Probably because writing or calling our politicians has been proven to be a useless waste of time...

      Delete
    2. Nice return lob, Kevin and Ruth.

      Delete
  3. Good job making them honor their own policy. I love watching storms come in but this year I am just tired of the rain wish we could move some of it to the west where they desperately need it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We love watching them too and it has been pretty neat here. Saskatchewan is known as being "the land of the living sky" because the sky is forever changing. We have had enough of the rain too, it has been a very wet June.

      Delete
  4. Raised heart rate and blood pressure for one hour means at least one hour off your life. $1 is a cheap price for that extra hour! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think Kevin was getting to hot under the collar, he is pretty calm, he just likes to make his point. Remember to that we get lots of exercise so that adds to our life! :)

      Delete
  5. Watched my wife one time argue over a dime, she was right, of course (she's always right in my book).

    Good for you sticking to your guns, bet those eggs tasted that much better because you were right! :c)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we have been known to do that as well! The eggs were great. :)

      Delete
  6. Not sure if I would have haggled or not, but once you're committed, there's no sense backing down. I probably would have refused the product at the checkout and bought elsewhere.
    I've actually taken items back to a store and returned entire bags full of goods. When asked why, I explain that it was cheaper elsewhere. I'd prefer not to pay more than a fair margin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can't say we have ever returned our groceries. It seems to me that would take even longer to deal with but as you say it is the point you want to get across to them and that would make a statement for sure.

      Delete
  7. Great pictures of the storm there. I too wish the rain would stop here and move out west where they really need it. We are flooding all over the place. Hope you don't get repeats of those clouds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saskatchewan has some of the neatest looking skies that we have ever seen, they are constantly changing. Hope things dry up quickly for you out there as well as here.

      Delete
  8. We've had good luck with price matching at Walmart. In fact, the last time it was milk and when I got to the checkstand I told the checker that Albertson's was on sale and he already knew the price to ring up. Heat is moving into our area - sure glad I'm not in Death Valley even though that is one of my favorite places.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The checkout guy probably buys his milk at Albertson's.

      I guess that may be one of the reasons how Death Valley got it's name. Hope it doesn't get to warm for you in your area.

      Delete
  9. I did the same thing at Mega this week here in SMA, two glasses, not part of a matching set, no price, and she wanted to charge me the price of a bigger more elegant glass. No way. I gave her an hour to get a better price. I'm not wealthy and every buck counts. Also, it is the principal. Because you stood up for it, it might help the next guy who may just have less money than anyone of us.

    Walmart is good for me, they know their business plus they let us overnight whenever we want. Can't beat that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, every dollar counts for sure. Every dollar we save is a dollar towards our trip to Africa.

      We don't have an issue with Walmart either.

      Delete
  10. I don't care for Walmart. In the long run we are going to be very sorry and pay big time for letting Walmart run all small business out for just a few dollars of savings. The only good thing about them is their return policy, other than that WE try to support our fellow Americans (Canadian, USA & Mexico). Sad people don't understand or realize what they are giving up for a couple of bucks!

    rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For us a few dollars savings means a lot. In Canada the food is already priced pretty high and if you were to go to a local (Prince Albert doesn't have one, they are all big box type stores) grocery store the difference would be a lot. In Mexico we do most of our shopping at the local market and stores.

      Delete
  11. Storms like that are the norm in Sask and Alberta. You will see alot like that. Come in, do the deed, and head out.
    Watch for the cyclones!

    Good on you for being right!!!! and standing your ground!

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are quickly learning that Karyn Lee. Love watching those clouds.

      Delete
  12. Good for you I would do the same thing In fact. I did over 59 cents the lady tried to go over and change the cost and I saw her do it even though she denied it but I did get my money

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, they have to charge you the lesser of the two prices, at least in Canada they do.

      Delete
  13. As you can see that worked thanks

    ReplyDelete
  14. Having lived in a small village and operated my own local restaurant for 10 years, I appreciate the small business and try to support them as much as possible, avoiding the large chains if possible. A lot of these places will price match Walmart as well.
    That said, it good that you pushed the point and set things straight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have no problem supporting small businesses as long as the price is reasonable. Unfortunately Prince Albert doesn't have any small grocery stores and for the most part Walmart has the best price and that is what our budget allows.

      Delete
  15. Have had same problem at wal-mart with their price match, but not with the local chains. Adny's gal Samantha loves to argue with retailers of any kind when she feels she is right. She was so upset yesterday because she didnt get to use her skills in this area. Andy's car battery died, it has a 3 year warranty and is only a year old...they took it back to Wal-mart...they said no problem, gave him a new battery with a new 3 year warranty and they were on their way. She was all set to get into a good 'fight' and nothing happened.
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walmart probably has one of the best return policies around, hard to argue with that.

      Delete
  16. Replies
    1. Good to hear from you! Hope you are enjoying.

      rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

      Delete
  17. I love customer service in Canada. NOT! Standing in line at C.T.C. and the lady at the till counts out $12.00 in C.T.C. money, it's all in 5 and 10 cent bills, meanwhile their are six people waiting in line.I make the comment that even if the person miscounted and was 20 cents short is it worth it to tick off six other customers for the 20 cents? She glares at me, makes the sign of the cross and starts counting over. Too funny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Canadian Tire money execpt when you end up in a line like that. My Dad bought a TV there once and paid for the whole thing with Canadian Tire money, I wonder how long it took to count out that money?!

      Delete
  18. Great job sticking to your gun!!

    ReplyDelete

There are more comments on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TravelwithKevinAndRuth

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.