Walmart Rant 3.9.2021

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Dallas, Texas
March 9, 2021 5:28pm CST
We had been trying to shop at Walmart but for several weeks we often find it harder to shop there for one reason. The reason is, Electric Shopping Carts for disabled persons have been unavailable due to theft and misuse. So, after a few attempts to shop at a particular Walmart and being told they have no available electrical shopping carts, we had to turn back and go find another place to shop. Today, the Walmart in Duncanville TX had new electric shopping carts for the elderly and disabled. One was offered to me for my wife. I took the cart out to the car, parked just outside the store. My wife got into the cart, and we proceeded to shop. But, after we paid for our items and showed our receipts to the store greeter at the exit, the lady told me, "You can't take the cart out of the store." She proceeded to offer me a regular shopping cart. I explained that my wife can not walk and that our car was parked just outside the store and that I would bring it back in. Due to the new rules the store managers gave to the Walmart employees at the exit, they were instructed to tell all shoppers that these new carts were not allowed outside the store. I became furious. Why? you might ask? Well, I'll tell you why. My wife required the cart to go from point A, the car, to pint B, into the store then back to point A, to the car and I would bring it back in. And when the lady asked, "How did your wife get into the store if she can't walk?" - To that I said, "Because I brought the cart out to the car to get her." My wife explained her situation and after a moment of consideration the clerk allowed her to take the cart to the car then I brought the cart back into the Walmart, and parked it by the wall, next to the electric wall outlets and plugged it back in. When I got out, I apologized to both the security guard and the greeter. But I still don't understand why they think a person who is disabled and has difficulty walking can only use the cart inside the store but not to get from the car to the store and back to the car? I know what the situation is. The people who often abuse the privilege of using these carts leave them outside in the parking lot, unattended and often they get out of power, and the rain gets on them and the store clerks have to spend time retrieving them and putting them back to charge. My suggestion would be to tell each customer to provide ID at the customer service desk then, after returning the cart after loading their items in their vehicle, since if a person is disabled, they will always have someone else with them who is able bodied, who can easily return the cart and retrieve their ID. Due to theft and customer abuse and neglect, the electric shopping cart issue is ongoing not only at Walmart but at Kroger. The stores that provide ease of access to their vehicle and back to the store provide clerks to see to the cart's retrieval and in most cases, unlike Walmart's IN STORE USE ONLY, the customer can easily get to and from the store to do their shopping without incident. So, the final argument is, Is the customer considered a liability or an asset when it comes to people who are disabled or handicapped for one reason or another to be denied favorable treatment or is this an attempt to make it so difficult for such persons, customers, to have no choice but to stop shopping at stores that cater only to able bodied customers? I was angry at the thought of making it seem like if a customer has a physical requirement to use the cart in the first place, to be limited to IN STORE USE ONLY and be subject to having to be carried out to and from their vehicle via a wheel chair or have to resort to ordering things online and not ever entering the brick and mortar Walmart stores? If so, let me know in comments.
9 people like this
7 responses
@kaylachan (58425)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Mar 21
I can see both sides of the coin here. On the one hand, Wal-mart has the right to decide how their eletric carts are used. And, if a person can't get from the car to the store, then they shouldn't be using one of the eletric carts in the first place. They should have a mobility aide of their own, (eletric or manual wheelchair, walker, etc) To say that a disabled person, will always have an able-bodied person with them is wrong. I am not one to get sensitive over some things, but you cannot generalize a statment like that because every disability is different. If your wife can't walk, how does she fuction at home? How did she get to the car to get to the store in the first place? Why should a store bend the rules, for one person? If that walmart has had trouble losing carts, they have every right to say it's for in-store use only. Because, I don't know many people who can't walk the few feet to get the cart. I don't know anyone who is going to always have 24/7 help all of the time. Those that do, don't go into stores. Those that do, have their own wheelchairs, scooters, etc. Those who do, don't rely on others, and if they do, others do the shopping for them. The walmarts here don't seem to have issue with people leaving carts out in the middle of the parking lot, but not all walmarts are the same.
4 people like this
• United States
10 Mar 21
Come to think about it, I never see them in the parking lot. They have a buggy man, that collects regular carts. They should have someone over the electric carts also. Sorry you and your wife had to experience that.
3 people like this
• United States
10 Mar 21
@kaylachan You are so right. I don't know if anyone have this problem, I just use a regular cart, as we know Walmart stores, are huge. They move their products all the time.. Which makes you have to walk more, its frustrating.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (58425)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Mar 21
You're right, I rarely-if-ever see eletric scooters out in the parking lot left behind. My husband has told me, the eletric carts do say for in-store use only. What I find interesting, is how Wal-mart only noticed when you tried to leave the store with groceries, but didn't stop the person from bring the cart to his wife, who (again) should have her own wheelchair if she's paralized to the point she can't stand and take any steps at all. @popciclecold
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73803)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Mar 21
If a person is disabled and need to get into the store by an electric shopping cart I see no reason why that cannot be done, However, if there has to be such a hassle all the time then I ask Is it worth it? Perhaps ordering online is a solution you can consider,
4 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73803)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Mar 21
@lookatdesktop then there should have been no problem with taking the cart out to the car, I mean they could have even had a security guard watching you if that is what they wanted.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
12 Mar 21
I told the Walmart associate that I would promptly return the cart and I did just that. we were lucky we found a parking space close to the entrance. Most often than not, we have to park a long way from the entrance as the lot is often completely full.
1 person likes this
• China
10 Mar 21
Walmart should not change the rules at random,just because of a rotten apple.Coustomers should always come first.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
13 Mar 21
I agree.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
9 Mar 21
*sigh* Yes, Walmart expects a disabled person who comes to their store to get from their vehicle in the parking lot and back again to use the same way they got from inside their home to the vehicle and back again... Unfortunately, that makes logical sense. I am not condoning it, I am simply answering your question. I wish I could tell you something else, but can't.
4 people like this
• Dallas, Texas
12 Mar 21
The parking lot is huge. Most often we try to park close. I will have to stop shopping there and we spend thousands of dollars at their store. Oh well, win a few, lose a few.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
12 Mar 21
@lookatdesktop I'm sorry. As I said, I wish I could tell you something different.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (95026)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Mar 21
Shame on Wal Mart for treating people who pay their salary that way. Show more hearts of gold.
4 people like this
• Dallas, Texas
12 Mar 21
thanks, I appreciate you.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (95026)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13 Mar 21
@lookatdesktop You are welcome.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157489)
• United States
10 Mar 21
Walmart used to allow people to take the scooters out to their car. Sometimes they even graciously came out to pick them up and drive them back to the store. Giant Eagle Supermarket does this on a regular basis. I agree with you wholeheartedly; but I guess the problem of people leaving them in the parking lot is a problem. I don't like leaving my ID with anyone; but maybe that is the solution. I would leave it with the person in the scooter area.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
12 Mar 21
Thanks. Target did this for a time, due to people leaving carts out in the rain or powered on and blocking parking spaces. If people followed common sense there would not be any issues and as for Walmart, they are shameful in their lack of empathy towards people with disabilities.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157489)
• United States
13 Mar 21
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134738)
• Roseburg, Oregon
10 Mar 21
Someone could walk with you to your car and take the cart back. That is a good question how are you suppose to get to your car without the cart.????
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
12 Mar 21
The idea that she should bring her own cart is absurd. It will not fit in our car. LOL. And I don't think people who take their health for granted have a clue as to what my wife has to go through but appreciate that you understand and thank you for your comment.
1 person likes this