I do not like Wal-Mart. I don't go there unless I have no other option.
However, when you are in the Middle of Nowhere, sometimes you find yourself in the unique position of considering just such options. Like, needing a corkscrew when you have wine and no wine key.
So into the abyss I went, with my two fellow adventurers, off for supplies. I, for limes to complement my cervezas, and my fellows for a corkscrew. My fellows were in front, and I slightly behind carrying my laptop bag containing my laptop and its accouterments that I refused to leave in the van. The greeter, a middle-aged woman, smiled and greeted the others, and gave pause at me (still smiling) and asked me if she could hold my backpack. "I'd rather not, ma'am." One of my buddies said, "Maybe you could check it in at Customer Service?" I looked at him, and looked back at her in time for her to say, "We really don't allow backpacks in the store." I said, "There's a $2500 laptop in this bag. If you can put it under lock and key, and guaruntee its safety until I return for it, then you can have it."
The smile left her face, and she said, "Go ahead, sir."
*******************
Yes, I may have seemed harsh, but here's the deal. I have a pretty powerful laptop entrusted to me by my employer. Anything that happens to it while it's in my care is my responsibility. I don't have that kind of money to spend on replacing the laptop and all the stuff that comes along with it. So I will not be leaving it with a small lady at Wal-Mart who would assuradely be defenseless against a larger, stronger thief who would lay claim to it. And without a guaruntee from Wal-Mart for my computer's safe return, I think I have better odds of keeping it if I keep it with me.
Besides, there are more cameras in even the most podunk area Wally Worlds than there are in some casinos. They can watch me all they want. They can even ask me to leave the store, and I will walk away politely and without incident. But no, you may not hold my several-thousand-dollar backpack, thankyouverymuch.
tweaker
Saturday, April 18, 2009
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5 comments:
It's a wonder they didn't search you on the way out.
I go to Wal-Mart frequently, mainly because of proximity and hours. I have read somewhere that Wal-Mart calculates the minimum amount of service that people will put up with and try to adhere to it. The folks who work at WM are ok, though these days a lot of them are sloppily dressed. Never have enough cashiers, though.
And welcome back!
Someone recently took a fake bank card with my number and made several purchases in 2 wal-marts, at least 1 casino and an atm. According to the Fort Worth detective on the phone, those cameras are worthless.
Personally I think he's trying to find reasons not to leave his comfy chair, but apparently that's the official policy.
Walmart sucks, but it's the only game in town for a lot of things (where I live, that is). So I end up there often, even though I hate it. I wouldn't let them watch even one dollars' worth of my belongings, because all the greeters here are either small, elderly, or both. Nothing wrong with being either or both of those things...unless you're safeguarding something that belongs to me.
I've taken tote bags (not a backpack, of course, but same general idea--a large potential shoplifting aid) into Wal-Mart more times than I can count. No greeter has ever asked me to leave it. I'm not sure whether that's because I'm a woman or because the "greeters" in most Wal-Marts, in my experience, completely ignore you on the way in.
Well, except for that one guy in CT who decided to hassle the Mexican family for bringing in a piece of min-blind to make sure they got the right size.
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