It happened again.
Guess what I got in the mail on Saturday? Another check from Walmart for nearly $140.
This is the third such check in the past four months. You may recall that I vented about this in May after the second check arrived, and, at the advice of yet another customer service representative, I sent it back voided and with a note.
Then, on Saturday Jeff came running up the stairs with the envelope in his hand and we realized that we were right back to square one.
Some people wouldn’t be so frustrated by “free” money, but this is frustrating to me because I HATE Walmart. I don’t want their money. I don’t want to shop in their stores. I don’t want my name and address in their system.
(Case in point: Last Wednesday, Jeff and I stopped by the Walmart in Mt. Pleasant to return a baby gift that we had received in duplicate. The parking lot was a death trap. We finally got a spot and walked into the store with our return. We were headed towards customer service when a random shopper stopped us and told us that we must tell the greeter inside the door that we intend to return the item so she can properly mark it. So, we walk back to the greeter and wait while she marks a whole line of people’s returns, including one man’s suspicious collection of unopened packets of blank VHS tapes. Then, while waiting at customer service, we can’t help but notice the rather large, lit sign reading, “Restrooms need cleaned.” Good to know. We’ll steer clear. We make the exchange (and get cash not store credit thanks to a gift receipt!) and head out. We are just getting in our car when we hear yelling. Two people in a car pulling out of the death trap parking lot are screaming at each other for all the world to hear. We both just started laughing, cautiously pulled out, and left.)
So, my blog readers, I am now faced with a dilemna. What should I do with this latest check for $140? Is it time to cash it? Start a college fund for Baby Lorow? Spend it at a competing store like Target or Kmart? Donate it to some downtown improvement fund in a city where Walmart has desolated their downtown shopping district? Send it back? Shred it?
Please weigh in and leave me a comment with your best suggestion!
Sounds like a baby gift to me!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pmI suggest that you deposit the check in an interest bearing account and use the proceeds for Baby Lorow’s college fund. This will also help in 10 years when Walmart realizes what they have done and sends you a letter stating that you owe them $140. Wouldn’t it be funny if you just kept getting checks…maybe you could eventually quit your job. This maybe the reason my grocery bill is higher. (I do shop at Walmart…hope we can still be friends…)
July 14th, 2009 at 2:22 pmI say buy something for Baby Lorow at a competing store. Please not Sears!
July 14th, 2009 at 6:41 pmI like Ruth’s idea! Definitely starting a baby college fund…and knowing Walmart, they may just decide you owe them money somewhere down the line.
I have to say that I only shop Target, not Walmart for many of the same reasons as you!!!! 
July 14th, 2009 at 10:02 pm