Saturday, May 23, 2009

Wal-Mart's Institutionalized Thievery Strikes Again

Yes, I realize my one longtime reader is rolling her eyes and thinking he's not going to go on about Wal-Mart sucking again, is he?

Why, yes I am. Earlier this month I blogged several times about how Wal-Mart, system-wide, was charging $2.00 for a gallon of milk, when their shelf price signs had it at $1.98. After the 3rd or 4th time of being overcharged 2 cents, I went to Customer Service, assuming the longstanding practice of totally refunding the price of a mistake was still in play, but instead I just got my 2 cents worth back. And the satisfaction of blogging about it.

I then got a very long comment from some guy who I found out later has a Wal-Mart Sucks Blog. He referred to Wal-Mart's pricing scams, which have become chronic, as Wal-Mart's Instituionalized Thievery.

Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to shop at Wal-Mart anymore, but, other than Sprouts, where am I to go? Sprouts is 12 miles north. I'm not going to go there every time I need something. And today I needed bread. I got only 6 items. Of the items, the bread was the only item I had noticed what the price was.

I usually get Wal-Mart brand whole wheat bread. For a long time, for some reason, Wal-Mart wasn't stocking their Wal-Mart brand whole wheat bread. They substituted locally made Mrs. Baird's whole wheat bread for the same price, that being $1.47. Mrs. Baird's whole wheat bread is usually $1.78.

Today the Wal-Mart brand whole wheat bread had gone missing again. And once again, there was Mrs. Baird's in its place, with $1.47 once more as the price.

But, when I checked out, the bread scanned at $1.78, a 31 cent difference. I know you're thinking if I went to the bother of going to Customer Service to get my 2 cents worth I certainly would do that again to get a whopping 31 cents. Well, you would be wrong. Even though there was no line in Customer Service I wasn't going to waste time to get a measly 31 cents.

I have other ways of making Wal-Mart pay for their Institutionalized Thievery...

3 comments:

twister said...

So, comparing Sprouts to Central Market, what is it about Sprouts that makes Sprouts a superior experience. Myself I've been to the Central Market on West Frwy numerous times. I've never been to the one in Southlake tho. I'm about halfway between the two but because it's all freeway to the westside that's where I usually go. Comparatively, trying to get to Southlake, which is stoplight, stoplight, stoplight...

Durango said...

Central Market is obviously the best grocery store around these parts. But I think it's overpriced. Sprouts Farmers Market has a good selection, high quality and lower prices. I'm all about saving money.

angnts in the pants said...

I found that out the hard way too. I was buying fruit which is sold by the pound and I used the scales that you know who provides... I had exactly 1 pound of grapes according to the scales located in the produce section. I get to the check out and the scales are calabrated heavier! Needless to say, I found myself at the customer service desk disputing this discrepancy(bitching)... Now, I go to the registers in which I will purchase my groceries and get my weights there... My job of annoying people just does not stop at my front door... More people ought to do the same and take their heads out of their fourth point of contact...