Trouble returning merchandise to WalMart - help?

[ade06]

As Kyle stated... go to the general manager or keep going up the chain of command until you're satisfied. Good luck.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by kzm007

Well I got high priced cards for family, as I was walking away, mom commented that they were awfully high - I guess hers was only $25...so I went to customer service, and here we are.

Now, question. Can I have this card broken into small denominations?

Kegan, No disrespect intended but shouldnt you be asking WalMart this question?

As has been pointed out, Gift cards are entirely different from merchandise. The laws vary from state to state and store to store.

If you choose to challenge the policy and speak to a manager, remember that it is up to him to make an exception. Speak to him/her calmly and make your point quickly. Do not raise your voice or threaten to take your business elsewhere. Good luck.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by floydpink

I would make a very large scene in the midst of as many shoppers as possible. Bet you get your money back in two shakes of a lamb's tail.

Either that or you will be taking a free taxi ride.

Disturbing the peace is not advised.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Either that or you will be taking a free taxi ride.

Disturbing the peace is not advised.

You're right. It's the Jersey in me that I still can't seem to shake after leaving 20 years ago.

It is actually a bad way to act and unfortunately in the place I work, the sqeaky wheel gets all the oil.

I retract my suggestion.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by floydpink

You're right. It's the Jersey in me that I still can't seem to shake after leaving 20 years ago.

It is actually a bad way to act and unfortunately in the place I work, the sqeaky wheel gets all the oil.

I retract my suggestion.

After working many years in retail at all levels of management, I can assure you that in most cases the squeaky wheel does get the oil. But I never granted an exception to an irate customer, easier to call security and have them escorted off the premises.
But persistence can pay off. Flashing skin does too, but I dont think that's an option for the OP.

It could be, for the right price. And Wal-Mart always has the right price . Anyway, I'm probably either gonna break the card into smaller monetary chunks for more gifts through the years, or swap it online like some folks do...that seems interesting to try out...$375 Wal Mart for the same price at Macy's lol

And Jersey is a good thing, be a man! Tony Soprano

Sadly, Olean NY doesn't have taxis...probably a nice black and white car with shiny lights though.

I'm gonna see about both of my ideas, and as for bobarian, no harm done, I'd be good. I just thought maybe someone here could advise me, give me a course of action, that's why we had all my questions.

Merry Christmas, all! Or happy holidays for the others

Good news: mom is going to keep my $375 gift card, and a $25 Kmart card...and give me the $400 in cash.

Bad news: She's decided I'm to start paying $100 monthly to aid in the bills, and is keeping the $400...next $100 payment due in May.

So I break even FML lmao.

Adulthood sucks...where's my blankie, damn it?!

[ade06]

Originally Posted by kzm007

Good news: mom is going to keep my $375 gift card, and a $25 Kmart card...and give me the $400 in cash.

Bad news: She's decided I'm to start paying $100 monthly to aid in the bills, and is keeping the $400...next $100 payment due in May.

So I break even FML lmao.

Adulthood sucks...where's my blankie, damn it?!

$100 a month to help out in bills don't seem like bad news to me. I only wish my mortgage and bills were limited to $100 a month.

[shvictor]

Originally Posted by ade06

$100 a month to help out in bills don't seem like bad news to me. I only wish my mortgage and bills were limited to $100 a month.

Sounds like a sweet deal to me

[nayslayer]

http://consumerist.com/ Great site for this kind of stuff. Im sure you can find a number or an email address to help you get what you want

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by baldanders

Think you are out of luck.Electronic and plastic Gift Cards: Not returnable or refundable for cash, except in states where required by law.
http://www.walmart.com/returns

This is their policy. It's in the fine print. It sucks, but it's there. You cannot return a DVD or game to the electronics dept. b/c you could have copied it and returned it for a full refund. Gift cards are somewhat similar. I see their point. Wal-Mart is not a bank; they are a business that sells goods. I know it sucks for you, but many, many, many people have tried to cash out gift cards at Wal-Mart for cash. What kind of benefit is this for Wal-Mart? I know you purchased it, never left the store with it, but that's their policy. You now have $400 dollars that you can spend on whatever you so desire as long as Wal-Mart sells it. You can also use those cards to make purchases online. Other than cigars and vehicles, what do you need that cannot be purchased at Wal-Mart?

Originally Posted by shvictor

Sounds like a sweet deal to me

Yes, it actually is very reasonable.

Originally Posted by nayslayer

http://consumerist.com/ Great site for this kind of stuff. Im sure you can find a number or an email address to help you get what you want

I did; I double-checked the return policy on their site, and the saleslady could have offered me CREDIT to my card, instead of cash; I understand why cashing out is disallowed - most people only shop there out of convenience for the 'low prices' and because we need something "right away." Our PA Wal Mart is 24/7.

Originally Posted by andysutherland

This is their policy. It's in the fine print. It sucks, but it's there. You cannot return a DVD or game to the electronics dept. b/c you could have copied it and returned it for a full refund. Gift cards are somewhat similar. I see their point. Wal-Mart is not a bank; they are a business that sells goods. I know it sucks for you, but many, many, many people have tried to cash out gift cards at Wal-Mart for cash. What kind of benefit is this for Wal-Mart? I know you purchased it, never left the store with it, but that's their policy. You now have $400 dollars that you can spend on whatever you so desire as long as Wal-Mart sells it. You can also use those cards to make purchases online. Other than cigars and vehicles, what do you need that cannot be purchased at Wal-Mart?

Frankly sir, I see your point, but my issue lay in the fact that I was not offered all of the potential options; I had to settle for what I was given, and it was only after I was fuming over it did I look online and read the fine print - the fact is, I was returning *my own* purchase for cash - that should be allowed. Furthermore, I could have been given a credit to my Mastercard, but I was not offered that choice, I had to discover it myself by reading the returns policy an hour later at home. Wal-Mart employees should know the policies well, supervisors especially so.

As for what I buy at Wal-Mart? Nothing, really. I haven't bought a CD in years, all they sell are a select brand of printers, electronics, etc. I like a better quality and a better variety, so I look online for the lowest price, and can almost always find it. Wal-Mart only price matches local competitor's prices if shown in print ads.

I know it's a business. I don't care. Everyone is out for a good deal, myself included. Thus far, online sales offer no long lines around busy holidays (easy on my feet) sales tax is often non-existent, which I hope remains, and in many cases, shipping is free or greatly reduced. That is why I was fighting for my money. It would've gone back into the economy, just not through Wal-Mart. There are plenty of good stores online, and eBay et al often has good deals if you're smart and a little lucky.

As an example, after sales tax, the $300 or so 32gb Ipod Touch I was going to buy from Wal-Mart? It was out of stock.

I went on Amazon, bought on used for $60 less, and hid the scratches on the back with a $5 protector; I've seen the same or similar protectors sell for 5x that much at Wal-Mart.

So I'm not meaning to bash you or argue in a negative or pessimistic way, I'm just saying, online has become the easiest route for me, and for many others, I'm sure, in shopping - clothing aside. If you're buying anything besides a hat, and it's a new item to you, you should go in-store to try it on just to be sure you really look as dapper as you think you will.

As for copying discs, I've heard of people buying a game or CD, and a plastic wrap machine. They take out the disc, replace it with a blank or a freebie disc (like the old AOL discs), and carefully reattach the white label on top (if any) and rewrap it, returning it for a refund. I've never heard of it done locally, but I've read stories through the news online.

Kegan

[doctorcue]

Dude you make your life way too complicated. Between this and the chic issues... jeez.

Well there's a slap to the face and my pride and yeah, I tend to overreact sometimes. Lately, though, things have just piled up, so small annoyances such as the above is like adding fuel to the fire, ya know?

I'm doing relatively better now, though. Such is life.

On a medical note, my surgery's been tenatively slated for April or May, if I recall correctly. It's a long way to Tipperary, as grandma used to say.