Marine Collecting for Toys for Tots told to stand outside Medina, Ohio Walmart

Courtesy of ufpnews.com
@DWDavis (25797)
United States
December 20, 2016 7:57pm CST
Walmart has a company wide policy against charitable organizations collecting money and items inside their stores. They allow it outside in the sidewalks, but not inside the stores at all. Until this year, the Walmart Store in Medina, Ohio made an exception for the Marines who collected for Toys for Tots. For the last 15 years, the Marine volunteer was allowed to stand inside the store to receive donations. This year, the new manager of the Medina, Ohio Walmart informed the Marine that she was no longer going to allow him to stand inside the store and she didn't care if he had been doing so for 15 years, it was her store now and he would have to get out. Walmart is reportedly investigating whether the manager was rude and disrespectful in informing the Marine that she was going to start adhering to Walmart corporate policy after 15 years, but supported her decision to enforce the corporate policy. Since I already don't shop at Walmart for numerous reasons, I cannot decide to stop shopping there because of this situation. Also, I have been aware of this policy, which many larger chain stores have, from many years of working with the Boy Scouts and Lions, so I cannot fault Walmart for having the policy, since it is standard in the retail industry. What I am upset about is the way the incident was handled on social media. The woman who first posted the story of Facebook included the name of the Medina, Ohio Walmart Manager and her phone number so anyone who saw the post could call the store and vent their feelings. Calls to boycott Walmart, as if that would happen on any large scale, have already been made. Do you think the reaction to this incident is an overreaction, or do you think demonizing Walmart and this store manager is justified under the circumstances?
13 people like this
15 responses
• Philippines
21 Dec 16
He's a soldier he can survive the weather outside. He can take it, just make sure he has sweater in case of snow storm.
3 people like this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
I'm sure he can take the weather, but he is a 69 year old retired Marine. The part of the story that upset me wasn't him having to stand outside, it was the rudeness and disrespect shown to the Marine by the store manager.
5 people like this
• Agra, India
21 Dec 16
@DWDavis yes...it could have been dine politely as well
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43711)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Dec 16
I hate Walmart, but including the manager's phone number is a bit much.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
Walmart is my store of last resort, and sometimes I will do without rather than shop there. But I agree that putting the store manager's name and phone number in the post was a bit much. When CBS reported the story and used the photo from FB, they redacted her name and number.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238428)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Dec 16
I agree with this statement. We don't know what pressures she was under.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
@TheHorse I think in the initial instance the manager was enjoying throwing her weight around and enjoyed showing the Marine veteran she was the boss now and things would be done her way. If there was pressure on her, it was to apologize to the Marine, and politely explain the store policy.
@GardenGerty (169603)
• United States
21 Dec 16
I think it is unfortunate that they have this policy, but it is not unusual. Here it is the same, but the persons collecting donations get to go inside for warm ups. I think the manager should not have been rude, and also hope that instead of turning into another Wal Mart bashing campaign this would turn to be a force for good, making people aware of charities and causing them to open their hearts and pocket books. Then this publicity would be worth something.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
Most major retailers have similar policies as Walmart regarding charities collecting at their stores. In this instance, two mistakes were made. The first was the previous management ignoring the store policy for 15 years, setting up an expectation of perpetual allowance. The second was the way the new store manager chose to start enforcing the policy. Both mistakes were local, not corporate.
@LeaPea2417 (40064)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 Dec 16
I think different Managers have different rules. It shouldn't cause a boycott. The Marine can stand outside to collect the toys. I have seen other types of people stand outside Wal-Mart collecting for Charities and I have even seen Girl Scouts stand outside Wal-Mart selling Girl Scout cookies.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
I don't think having the Marine stand outside is so much the issue as is the rude and disrespectful way the new store manager went about informing him she was going to begin enforcing the corporate policy. I've stood outside Walmart and Sam's Club on behalf of the Lion's Club, Boy Scouts, and other causes, in all kinds of weather, because we knew that was corporate policy.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502979)
• Italy
21 Dec 16
Every move in our day is followed by an over reaction. I disagree with the decision of this Manager, but she does not deserve to be insulted as this is a common practice. This is a sad accident.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
The manager's decision was in keeping with company policy, but the way she is reported to have handled it was disgraceful. Even so, two wrongs don't make a right. If more people around the world remembered that we would have a much more peaceful world.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502979)
• Italy
22 Dec 16
@DWDavis You are so right, everything now becomes "a case" and people over react instead of being reasonable.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238428)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Dec 16
Oh heck. This is one of those stories where I feel like I'd have to be there to know what really happened.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
@TheHorse I have my theories, but I'd need to know more about her background and upbringing to narrow down which one I'd stick with.
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
The local CBS affiliate actually picked up on this and investigated. That the manager was rude and disrespectful to the Marine veteran seems born out by the fact that she was evidently forced to issue an apology.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238428)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Dec 16
@DWDavis I wonder why she acted that way.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
21 Dec 16
I am upset with the treatment he received, as felt she was rude. Yes, its policy, but tell him nicely. If I saw my name and number on Facebook I would be really angry.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
21 Dec 16
That is is pretty crappy and as much as I hate Walmart, I put that on the store manager. Could have just told him politely.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
The policy has been in place since 2000 and I have had to abide by it myself when fund raising for Scouts or the Lions Club. I agree it is the attitude of the manager, and not Walmart itself, that is to blame.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (148813)
• Roseburg, Oregon
21 Dec 16
I think the manager should have got a hold of someone over her to see if she could still allow them to be inside the store.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
The manager wasn't wrong to enforce store policy. Walmart corporate backed her up on that. What was wrong was the way she handled it, lording it over the Marine in what comes across as a power trip on her part.
@Tampa_girl7 (54748)
• United States
21 Dec 16
I think that Facebook is never a good place for complaining.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
Yet, these days, "putting it on Facebook" seems to be the first resort of so many people.
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
21 Dec 16
Now, who is the Grinch? I think it is Walmart, in this case.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382817)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 16
I think this is way out of line - a huge over-reaction. It is a shame if the Manager was rude about enforcing the ruling but I think the FB woman is way out of line. These sort of happenings are the reason I don't go near FB.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
21 Dec 16
I agree the woman who posted to FB overreacted, especially in posting the manager's phone number, though I believe it was her number at work, not her home number. Still, if this had not been brought to light, the store manager would have gone on believing she could be rude to veterans, or anyone else she had a beef with.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Dec 16
There is a vendetta against Walmart and certain groups jump at any opportunity the demonize the company.
1 person likes this
22 Dec 16
In my opinion manager was not wrong but rude. He should have politely handled the situation. Apart from all this the main culprits are the people spreading this issue on social media in a negative way.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Dec 16
Rudeness to a marine is wribg when he is collecting for toys for tots wrongwroing I shop there but I do niot lkike them
1 person likes this