Walmart — Local services in San Bernardino

So my friend, who stands about 5'3 weighs maybe 120 and has recently had to quit her job in order to take care of two of her family members both recently having a stroke one of them caused blindness. For the time being until the government assistance kicks in which is delayed as usual, she was forced to go on EBT food stamps. Already feeling well let's say out of sorts, after she called me last night to accompany her to the Walmart to get items she needed for her family members I got dressed real quick took her there before they closed since we had items and one cart together and that whatever she did not have I was going to cover with my cash we separated the items some of which were mine anyway as we were self-checking out two associates hovered over us and made me feel uneasy however I didn't say anything I just continued about my business with my friend's current state of mine she felt very awkward she made that note like why are they standing up for us like we're stealing when we had over $400 worth of items. First of all to just assume people are stealing is wrong that's stereotyping that's profiling that's wrong the number one rule in customer service which is a very easy thing to do treat people the way you want to be treated. This made my friend feel very uneasy so she started discussing it with me to which the other I guess manager Margaret, as a security guard pointed out that's Margaret with an M, is that an insult to the intelligence? Regardless the associate Margaret immediately jumped to the defense and accused my friend of offending the gentleman who was hovering over her making us both feel awkward like we're doing something wrong I've worked for a government for over 30 years one job. I guess because I threw on some Dickie shorts and an old skater t-shirt I got profiled, to make matters worse when my friend said they don't need to stand over me like I'm stealing , Margaret popped off and with her heart bent on obviously kicking us out immediately without even any thought just looking for any excuse she told us leave our stuff. That just cost the company about $400 because of a power trip hey self-checkout manager or whatever she is felt entitled. She kicked us out it was us who were offended number one, number two I have expensive koi fish which I needed some algae chemical as well as dog food as my dog was out of food which I was denied and told to leave and I didn't even say a word. Now Miss princess Wally world Margaret I'm no guru or anything but I believe this is how you should have handled with proper customer service etiquette , let me state that again CUSTOMER service, I DO APOLOGIZE YOU FEEL THAT WAY MA'AM, HOWEVER WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A HIGH VOLUME OF THEFT AND WE ARE JUST EXTRA PRECAUTIOUS I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

Does Margaret just lack the intelligence or the common sense of common courtesy. Would she like to be treated like that no she profiled us, because my friend was wearing short shorts not overly short and I was wearing Dickies I'm 49 years old. To make matters worse some 6'5 shaggy looking Scooby-Doo character guy decided to stand 4 ft behind a security guard and run his mouth to the 5'3 friend of mine. He doesn't even work there or if he did he was not in work attire I would like to run into him again when he's not standing four feet behind a security guard mouthing off to a short sweet petite lady yes a lady. The actions of Margaret, with an m m and shaggy resembling bell bottom wearing dude, forgiven is the security guard I'm sure he's only doing his job and he at no other choice I would like to think. Anyways this is unacceptable at all levels number one you don't treat people that way and then tell them that we are offending them number two who gave you the sheriff's badge Miss Margaret with an m, is your company aware that you threw away $400 because of your own personal thoughts and irrational behavior. I would like a meeting with the general manager but I probably won't...

This review is about their curbside pickup. Hopefully this will save some people some headaches.

Spoiler: the curbside pickup area is further up Hallmark Pkwy, past the stoplight near the main parking lot entrance. About a half a block beyond the light is a driveway to a small parking lot with curbside pickup numbered parking stall plates.

I recently placed an order for curbside pickup as I just needed 2 of a specific item and wanted to avoid holiday shoppers and lines. I didn't see any special instructions and I've done curbside at many retailers. It's the same experience everywhere, right? Wrong.

Now I've been going to this Walmart since it opened, but I guess this is the first time I've done curbside. At least since the pandemic. It's about 9pm, so it's fully dark out. I'm sure this played a not-insignificant role. Anyway, I drove up Hallmark Pkwy and made a right into the parking lot at the light, as always. Virtually every other retail store that offers curbside, has designated parking spots for curbside. So I see signs for "pick ups". The first sign I saw seemed to be pointing toward the gardening section, but it was dark and didn't seem right. So I looked for parking spots near the front of the store but none of them were for curbside. So I drive down to the end of the row I turned on, come back up, and I see other "pick ups" signs pointing straight ahead.

At this point I'm still not 100% sure if "pick ups" is what I'm looking for either. So I pull out my phone now to start looking for information. The Walmart app provided a link to click when on your way to the store, which I had done. I didn't think I needed to use the GPS navigation directions in the app to get to the store, so I just turned off my screen and drove to the store. I see the map says I'm not quite in the right area. So I follow the voice navigation. Sure enough, it has me leave the parking lot and puts me back onto Hallmark Pkwy, but it has me make a right turn out of the driveway with the stoplight. About a half a city block ahead, on the right hand side, is a driveway with a a single row of parking spots with numbered plates for each one. Finally.

If you've done curbside at any other store, you probably are like me and expect the spaces to be in front of the entrance, along with the handicap spots. And if you know where the store is and have been there, you're probably not going to use the Walmart app 's navigation to take you to the store. I think Walmart fails here on a couple key points.

The app doesn't seem to indicate or bring attention to the fact that their curbside has an entirely separate, dedicated parking lot. I don't know of any other store that does this, so I think it would be an important thing to bring attention to. Like a big "PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PICK UP AREA IS SEPARATED FROM THE IN-STORE CUSTOMER PARKING." and a little map photo showing the store, shopper parking lot, and the pick up lot highlighted.

Sign placement at the store. I would change the wording to "Curbside Pickups" or even just "Curbside". I would also indicate on the sign that "Curbside Pickup Parking At Rear Of Store" or something to indicate that these arrows are directing you out of the parking lot and back onto the street. You wouldn't expect a small sign that says "PICK UPS" with a little arrow, to be directing back onto the street. Fewer signs that are larger and more informative would make a huge difference here.

As for the pickup experience, there was a car waiting when I arrived and I waited about 10 minutes for the guy to bring me my bag. Longest I've had to wait anywhere for curbside.

Overall, it still beat going into the store a week before Christmas, but definitely the most frustrating and long curbside pickup experience I've had, and I've used curbside with most major retailers...

This is one of the worst Walmarts ever!!! Everything is locked up and when you push the red button for assistance no one ever comes to unlock the cabinet for the item you want purchase... I've had this happen several times when I've shopped there. The employees are rude and don't seem to ever wanna help. I was there on Sunday and as I was shopping I had reach into my purse to get my phone I had several items in my hand and then I walked over to the paint department where I pushed the red button and waited and waited and waited and no one ever came and employee walked by I asked her if she could open it and she said she would find someone no one came I found another employee on another aisle and and said excuse me several times before she finally looked up from her either phone or the device she was looking and only after I asked her to get a manager did she ask if she could help I was then told I need to go to the front of the store to speak to manager ... Instead of a manger a team came and I was so annoyed and upset because while I was standing in paint area waiting for someone to come helpe I noticed the security guard come waking back to that area like he was checking to see if I was stealing . I tried explaining the whole situation to the team lead ... I felt he was more worried about that fact that I was so upset I raisingy voice and had use a curse word than what had actually took me to the point of being that upset .... The customer service in this location is horrible... And then he handed me a post it note with the managers name and number of the store ... I've called 10 times since then and no one ever answers the phone no matter which department you select ...so that'sa whole joke that they're all probably laughing about when customers ask for a manager they know we'll never get to...