[biglenr]

On Sunday... I was stupid. I closed my car door on my ultra light rod, breaking off the last 6". I'm not going to fix it, on an ultra light I want all of the feel I can get, and the last six inches are key.

Last night I went to the local Walmart to check out ultralight rods. Yeah, Walmart isn't the best, but my other choices locally are Dick's and Gander Mountain, neither of which I like either.

I found half a dozen ultralights with pricing stickers of $8.98 to $30. I checked each out, and found that I liked an ultralight from, of all companies, Duck Commander, with a $10.66 price tag. It seemed a little low to me, but I figured that like all the duck dynasty products that didn't sell, this was on clearance.

I took it up front, and the code rang up $37.

I said hold on, and showed the cashier the price tag.... She called the manager, who told me that the $37 price look up is correct, and that changing retail store price tags is a crime.

Of course, I did not change any price. And I didn't think that was a $37 rod, so I didn't buy it.

But I left embarassed that the manager implied that I had changed the price tag.... Fricking ridiculous. I spend at least $4k in that store every year.

To be clear... The price tag on the rod matched all other price tags in style... white, with Walmart at the top. I don't know if they had other Duck Commander rods or not, but I didn't have any reason to check, and all rods in any walmart are always jumbled up, not in the correct bins with the prices, so I don't generally pay any attention to them.

Any suggestions as to what I should have done? Should I have fussed more instead of walking out embarrassed?

 

[HotSoup]

I would have made a scene...not only "should" they have sold you the rod for the price advertised on it, they should have never have accused you of changing pricing. I would call the 1-800 number and report it, let them know how much money you spend there regularly, and let them know you will not be shopping in the store again as well as you are going to let everyone else you know how you were treated.

 

[pizzamanrob]

Personally I would have probably done the same as you, I'm not really big on confrontation. I suppose you could have made a scene, but you might have been escorted off the property, then you would have been even more embarrassed. Customer service as mentioned in another recent thread is declining, order one from cabelas, you will probably get a better rod, and it only takes a few days to ship! I would be willing to bet there will be no manager there to argue with you, or embarrass you!

 

[turtlestew]

I'm not big on confrontation either, but I probably would have verbally assaulted the manager over that. And I most likely would be reporting that to someone way higher up the chain. I would not take too kindly to being accused of a crime. That manager should know better than to accuse someone of something without any proof and should be fired over it.

 

[Island Man]

Im not real confrontational either but I would have given him two words before I walked out w/o the rod

 

[sundrop]

If they had others on the rack I would have gone back and brought a few of them to the register and said "show me every one on the register and if its $37 it's $37 otherwise you now owe me an apology and my rod. I am big on whats right and I get peeved real quick with idiots in these big box stores. Once I'm proved wrong I will then apologize and go on my way.. And to ACCUSE me of wrongdoing REALLY would have chapped my backside!!

 

[meenyt]

I almost picked up same rod this morning. Couldn't find price, like you said they are a jumbled mess! If I really wanted it, I would have made a scene. No way I would pay 37 bucks for anything with Duck Commander on it. Good deal for 10 bucks though I would have to scrape brand off of it.

 

[RouseD]

I am not a confrontational person either. If I ever get out of my circle of control, I can get ugly. Takes a lot, but if it happens, I don't care who is around. That is why I avoid confrontations. Not exactly sure what I would have done, but most likely, I would have just left before I did get out of my circle. Lots of good ideas here. The manager of that store should never have made accusations without proof. I would think that would be against Wal Mart's policies for for a manager to follow.
I have had several things to happen at Wal mart that I did not like. One of my pet peeves is at the check out. If you don't watch closely, you'll leave something on the carousel. If you don't catch it you'll spend a lot of time trying to get it straightened out with customer service. The clerk will not go back and get it straight, even if it is caught in line, but after the item or items have been wrung up. Ever notice that some of the clerks get peeved if you make a check on the carousels?

 

[Rod Wielder]

While a lot of these reponses are valid, and would not have been a problem doing...
..You did good. The manager didn't.
No regrets. Don't look back.

Plus Fishin'
RW

 

[OptiMystic]

WalMart discount bins are terrible about that. I always walk stuff over to one of the scanners they have all over the store and check it. There is a pervasive myth about stores being required to honor pricing errors, but it isn't true:

http://consumerist.com/2013/11/07/reminder-legitimate-pricing-errors-are-not-bait-and-switch/

Just the same, the manager handled it poorly. I would have gotten his name and filed a complaint with corporate. They likely have you on camera if they cared to look.

 

[Fish_Fiend]

Im not real confrontational either but I would have given him two words before I walked out w/o the rod

Your awesome, would have those words right?

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[Fish_Fiend]

Len I agree with you in the walking away. I would still call there 800 line and let them know about the manager.

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[ChltBnks]

I think you handled it perfect. The fact that you were embarrassed first and mad second just goes to prove you are the gentleman you portray on this forum.

Have you ever seen the videos of how people dress at Wall-Mart? Do you go there for great service or for the prices? Have you ever heard about how great the employees are paid there? How do you think he feels about himself every day dealing with some of the crazies that patronize that place. It ain't exactly Williams Sonoma

Sure the manager was out of line in what he said. He is human, not a robot. Anyone here who has never said something they regretted deeply later, please feel free to cast the first stone. Shake it off and move on there biglen. He mishandled the situation and you were embarrassed for only a moment. Imagine walking a mile in his shoes.

 

[biglenr]

What's weird....I AM confrontational.

But the fact that it was implied that I had changed the price really deflated me.... I felt like anything I did at that point would be wrong.

Technically, she (the manager) didn't accuse me of it.... She just mentioned that it was a crime. But still, even as blunt a person as I am could read between the lines and see that she thought I was trying to rip the store off.

Thanks for agreeing with me that the manager was a bit of a jerk.

I agree, the store is not REQUIRED to honor the price tag. But if you don't, as a consumer I really question whether there are a lot more mistakes that I didn't catch when the products were scanned. I am sure they happen, no system is perfect.

Anyway, thanks for listening to me complain.

 

[meenyt]

You did the right thing. No use getting heated up over it. Heck, if you wait a while they may be even cheaper when they reduce them like all the other quack quack stuff!

 

[Drum Runner]

I would talk to the day manager, or a different manager.
I'm not big on holding grudges.

I would simply explain what happened and was floored with the notion that I was price changing. Pretty sure if they cared or wanted to they could track your movements on video in that department just because of the ammo and firearms and would invite them to review the footage.

 

[Crabby Captain John]

I'd have been embarrassed being in one of those places. Have not set foot in one in nearly 30 years.

 

[dbeam]

nothing for you to be embarrassed about. They could have done whatever they wished about the rod and honoring their mistake, But I am pretty sure i would have lit in on the manager after the price change comment. I would also report her comment.

Darrell

 

[Island Man]

I was done reading this thread UNTIL the OH Great one of wisdom spoke, had to peek and see WWDBD

nothing for you to be embarrassed about. They could have done whatever they wished about the rod and honoring their mistake, But I am pretty sure i would have lit in on the manager after the price change comment. I would also report her comment.

Darrell

 

[papadave]

Think I might have asked her if she was accusing me. I suspect she would have backpedaled in your case. In any event nothing you could have said or done would have changed her attitude(for the better) even if it did change her demeanor.
It is worth a call to the customer service line, just for your own peace of mind, but dude, it's Walmart.