You Want A What?
Posted by mike on July 14th, 2007
I went to Wal-mart tonight to purchase a gift. In the interest of time, and since I only had one item, I hit the “Express” lane (10 items or less). Of course, it’s also the liquor and smokes lane, so it sometimes slows down while people try to decide between Mad Dog and Boone’s Farm, or which brand of cigarette is cheapest. I’m also convinced that Wal-mart, more than anywhere, needs a “no-food-stamps” lane.
Anyhow, after waiting for the clerk to get help re-opening the register to retrieve the $20 she forgot to give the guy in front of me, our exchange went like this:
Walmart clerk: (scans my item and reaches for the next person’s stuff)
Me: This is all I have… that is not mine (scan my credit card)
Me: I would like a gift receipt with this, please.
Clerk: (stares at me)
Me: Umm…
Clerk: You scanned your card. How much did you want on your gift card?
Me: I don’t want a gift card. I said I need a gift receipt (with emphasis).
Clerk: (stares at me)
Me: It says you need to hit a “credit” button
Clerk: (pauses) You want to open a credit card?
Me: NO. The card scanning machine says “please ask the clerk to hit the Credit button”.
Clerk: Oh… (searches for button). It looks like it missed the gift receipt. Well, you have your regular receipt.
Me: (sighing) Uh, I really needed that. This is a gift.
Clerk: Oh. (picks up phone) I need a CSR to come to register…
Me: (leaving) Nevermind.
Aaargh! I have personally worked the registers at Wal-mart, and while granted things have changed a bit since 1991, you have to be a complete nimrod to not understand the process. This girl had NO CLUE, and was running the EXPRESS lane! Where do they find these people?! And how are they even smart enough to apply for the job in the first place? Amazing.