Walmart — Local services in Mount Olive

I recently ordered an item from Walmart.com, and unfortunately, I received the wrong item. This was already an inconvenience, as I now had to go through the hassle of returning the incorrect item to get the correct one. The subject line of the return instructions email, "In-Store Returns Are Easy," could not have been more misleading, as this process has been anything but easy.

Following the email's instructions, which stated I could "return this item to ANY Walmart store," I went to the Walmart location closest to me. However, when I arrived, the store associates informed me they could not process the return because the item was not in their inventory. Instead, they insisted that I needed to return the item to the Walmart store where it originated.

To make matters worse, the employees downplayed the situation entirely. They laughed and told me, "Just return it to the store you got it from," and, "It’s not a big deal." While it may not have seemed like a big deal to them, their dismissive attitude only added to my frustration. They failed to understand how much more time-consuming and inconvenient this process had become. The store they directed me to is a 30-minute drive away, meaning I would need to waste even more of my time—an hour round trip—just to correct an issue caused by Walmart.com.

To clarify, I specifically ordered this item online and had it shipped to my home because I lacked the time to go to a store in the first place. That is the very purpose of ordering online: convenience.

As someone with a background in retail, I know that Walmart stores typically accept returns for items purchased on Walmart.com, regardless of inventory status, and then process a refund or exchange. This is standard practice in retail, and customers should not be required to locate a specific store to return an item for an online order.

This situation has been frustrating on multiple levels:

-Walmart.com inconvenienced me by sending the wrong item. -I had to take time out of my day to return it. -I was met with unhelpful and dismissive employees who failed to take the issue seriously and directed me to drive to a different store far from my location.

To the employees and manager who laughed at my frustration, I ask you to consider this: Imagine yourself in my situation, especially during a busy time like the holidays. You ordered an item online for convenience, only to receive the wrong item. Then, when you try to return it to the store closest to you, you’re told you need to drive 30 minutes each way to correct a mistake you didn’t make. That level of inconvenience and dismissive customer service is unacceptable.

I hope Walmart takes this feedback seriously and makes meaningful improvements to its communication, return policies, and customer service processes. No customer should have to endure this level of frustration and wasted time to correct a mistake...

Worst experience I've ever had in a store. One of the lady's in the pharmacy department here makes me sick. I doubt she was a pharmacist just a glorified cashier. I have type 1 diabetes and she refused to sell me insulin and syringes Not because of anything I did or said but because of my age and the way I look. I travel for work and every now and again I stop at a Walmart pharmacy to get whatever I may be running low on untill I can get home. I have been to other walmarts pharmacies and never have I been treated like this, in fact I've always had a positive experience. But this pharmacy cashier was the exact opposite. As soon as I started talking I knew immediately what that lady behind the counter thought of me. I said hello then began by asking for the type of syringes I use and she acted like i was a problem dog, something not even worth listening to. The second she heard the word syringe It didnt matter what I said to her. She saw a young guy with tattoos she didnt recognize in her small town and assumed the worst. In reality I'm just a father trying to provide for my children only way I can on the road. I shouldn't have to deal with this cashier blatantly lying to my face, Insisting I needed a prescription because of some new company policy she just made up. I told her that's not a real thing and I am not required to have a prescription to buy insulin or syringes in NJ it takes all of 30 seconds to Google it. She insisted i needed to have a prescription for insulin and as far as any needles are concerned that she wasn't going to sell me any regardless. Her words. She assummed I was a drug addict and that's all I wanted was a few syringes. I am not one to complain about others but her acting like some sort of judge decciding who needs what based off of her perception alone is actually psychotic. If that was an emergency what could have happened? What If I only had enough money to afford Walmart's insulin being as it's the cheapest? Do I have to roll up my sleeves and show I don't have track marks to be allowed to buy my medicine? Or do I have to go without it so that maybe one drug user can be stopped from performing safer injections on himself? Insulin is expensive and Walmart pharmacies are actually doing something to benefit regular people by making it accessible and affordable. Tonight I was refused both, because of a prejudice against people who use drugs. An outdated way of thinking that has been proven ineffective. The gall that woman has to reject people struggling with addiction the abilty to purchase a clean needle, for absolutely no reason except the fact that she can. Makes me lose a bit of faith in humanity. Oh yea it sucks the store...

I don’t know who is doing the hiring for the front end here, but some of the employees working are rude, unprofessional, lack baseline customer service skills.

I had one item and still ended up waiting over 20 minutes in the express lane because the cashier didn’t have a key for the locked item I needed. Instead of apologizing or showing urgency, she started having a full in-depth conversation with coworkers right in front of me as if they were on a lunch break — completely ignoring the fact that I was standing there. Eventually I was so annoyed I ended up walking away.

Before walking out, I decided to just go to customer service to ask for a Lead or Manager and even then I waited another 6-8 minutes just for a manager/team lead to arrive. After quick explanation, the manager empathized Abe acknowledged my frustration, but even then one of the same employees who had been part of the issue was eavesdropping on our conversation and as we parted ways, I heard here make an insensitive comment completely missing the entire point which shows lack of awareness, emotional intelligence, and accountability.

At the end of the day, this wasn’t about a key… it was about the way the situation was handled. The lack of urgency, professionalism, and basic courtesy was unacceptable. There’s no reason a customer with one item should be treated this way. and that’s why I opted not to spend my money. After that, I’d much rather drive the extra 15 minutes to target to purchase what I Came for. Was disappointing is I’ve worked at Walmart before and that target before and it just seems like the standard at Walmart has just plummeted and it’s disgusting how some employees don’t take pride in their job, especially one that is client-facing where customer service is A top requires skill to have. Anyway, I’ve said my piece as someone who has been patronizing the store for over 20 years.

In conclusion, the goal of this review is simply hoping that concerns like this that highlight foundational disconnects don’t get swept under the bridge but instead motivate management to better vouch and train employees on customer service especially as it pertains to isolated events much like my experience.

On another note, shout out to that Team Lead who redeemed a little of my experience. I still Opted not to go back and bother purchasing anything, but the way he handled it was top notch, and exactly the example everyone should follow Whether in...