Wal-Mart Incident

[Corleone]

Today, I shopped @ Wal-Mart.

First of all, I went around and helped my mom get the groceries, then once I had helped her with most of it, I went over to the electronics section. While over at the CD's in the electronics, I noticed a hunting section and went over to the hunting/sports area of the store. I had a good bit to spend because I had babysat the entire week, so I decided I would look at BB/Pellet Guns. I came across this nice one that was $120--it shot big game, small game, and great for target practice. I began to pull the box, which the gun was in, out and then out of no where I hear BB's all over the floor... Whoever picked up some BB's had put them in front of the BB gun box that I had pulled out to look at, and that is why BB's went everywhere. The manager in charge of that section came over there and told me I wasn't old enough to buy that gun anyhow, and I shouldn't be looking over there for that reason. He didn't say anything at first, he just starred me in the eye and gave me a disgusting look, which made me feel uncomfortable. Then, he didn't say anything and took the box out of my hands... I felt bad at first, because I had made a mess, and I was going to pick up EVERY BB that hit the floor... Until that manager gave me a hard time, that is when I explained the situation, and walked off. I was going to buy the gun later on, I would just get my mom to buy it for me, then she would let me have it once we got out of there, but since the manager was rude and nasty, I left him to pick up the BB's and he did not receive my business.



*I was going to pick up the BB's & offer to BUY them since I spilled them, then, later on have my mom buy the pellet gun.



Also... I am old enough to LOOK at BB guns, but I can not purchase one, thank you very much.

 

[Nebulous]

Just because he was rude, doesn't mean you shouldn't have cleaned up your mess. After all you were the one who made it.

 

[Corleone]

Beyond rude, to the point I felt uncomfortable for an honest mistake that was not my fault, neither was it his fault. If he had been calm and understanding, meaning he would have discussed it with me politely, I could have explained the situation and then he would know why the BB's fell off the shelf. The BB container was supposed to be on another isle, it just so happened to be misplaced on the corner of the shelf where the Pellet/BB guns are located. Once I noticed I had accidentally knocked off a misplaced BB contain full of BB's, I began to put the box back on the shelf, but before I could even put the box on the shelf to begin picking up the BB's, he snatched it from my hand, looked me intensely, and then walked off real mad and red faced. I felt threated and completely uncomfortable, because I'm sure if I didn't walk off he would have had a tantrum or worse. Point fingers to who's fault it is and who is responsible for doing what, but in the end I never went into Wal-Mart to cause trouble in the sports/hunting section.



At the time, I felt extremely uncomfortable, and I left the scene because I feared this assistant had been worked up about it, and decided it would be best to leave than give him a chance to do or say anything he would regret. I understand we are all humans and will make honest mistakes, but we need to take responsibility for our actions.



Was it right of me to leave the scene? Yes & No.

Was it right of him to scold me? No, but I understand his reasoning.

Should I have picked up the BB's? Yes, but after he had been aggressive and assertive, I had to leave or I could have caused him to explode.



When you spill a drink in a restaurant, the manager does not make you pick up your mess, but it is still the right thing to do. When I was younger, I spilled my drink all the time, but I would get on my hands and knees every time I made an honest mistake and dry up the floor and let the people know that I had spilled my drink, but I picked it up. Never once did I feel threated or intimidated by the restaurant staff, neither did they scold me and give me any trouble. They were extremely polite and appreciate me picking up for what I spilled. Same case, different scenario. I shop at Wal-Mart a lot, and I've brought them A LOT of business throughout the years, especially in the hunting/sports section, but for an employee to be as aggressive, assertive, and intimidating as he was is uncalled for.

 

[Nebulous]

Well if I worked there and walked over and seen a huge mess, I wouldn't be in the best of moods either and probably would have sad/done something rude myself.



If I made the mess, I could understand that someone would be frustrated with me for making it and I still would have at least apologized and offered to clean it up.



.................just saying.

 

[Corleone]

I regret not apologizing, but was I even given a chance to say sorry or did he walk off without a word being said? Should I have followed him and got jacked slap? lol He is an older man, I'm a teenager. I understand how you would not be as intimidated and could have stood around to say sorry and pick up the mess, because you're much older. At 15 years old, I've learned to respect others who are older than me, but at the time I was not sure what to do, so I just left since he had walked off and I didn't want to make anything worse. Yeah, I look back at it and feel bad I didn't apologize and wasn't the bigger person to stay around till he cooled down and didn't pick up the BB's.



If you were a kid my age, would you have not been intimidated if an older man approached you and snatched an item out of your hands and gave you a nasty look with a red face, and then walks off without saying another word?

 

[Nebulous]

I doubt it would have gotten any worse, as he would lose his job if it escalated any further. I doubt he would have jacked slapped you. Whatever that means..



I'm sure he expected you to just walk off and leave him to clean the mess, as that's probably what every kid who makes a mess does.



He probably deals with that sort of thing all day long and is fed up.



I know I had to deal with stuff like that all the time when I worked in retail, it got old fast.

Maybe you could have been the one kid who shocked him and actually took responsibility for your accident, therefor giving him a life changing wake up call which lead him to leave his dead end minimum wage wal mart job and pursue a career helping trouble youths.

Just kidding.

 

[Corleone]

Good point. Next time around, I'll risk it and pick up the mess.

Here is the gun I want: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=5913355

Should I go back in there tomorrow and get the gun I want? lol

Maybe apologize in the meantime?

 

[Nebulous]

Looks cool.

 

[Princess]

Nice looking gun. It's really better to look at things like that with an adult present, simply because the staff doesn't need the extra hassle of kids trying to purchase things they aren't old enough to purchase.

Hubby was the dept manager of the sporting goods section at 4 different wal-marts in 2 different states.....

Yeah, you should have apologized for the mess, but he should have said we'll get someone to clean that up

I'd chalk it up to a stressed out Saturday.

 

[Nebulous]

[quote name='Nebulous']Just because he was rude, doesn't mean you shouldn't have cleaned up your mess. After all you were the one who made it.

It's Wal-Mart we're talking about. All employees and managers at that store are rude and don't care to help customers.



And alot of times the customer never has to pick up the mess anywhere even if they caused it.[/quote]

I know they dont have to pick up their mess. When I worked at a store they told us not to let the customers clean up messes they make. But that was for wet spills and things they would need a mop, rags, towels or whatever for. Spilling BB's all over the floor could have been handled by the customer though. I'd rather have someone at least OFFER to clean it up rather than just walk off.