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Credit Where Credit Is Due

I have been meaning to write a followup on my scathing Walmart post, which I actually rather regret, by the way.  At least I wish I’d been a bit more coy in naming the store.  I try to stay away from writing negative things, particularly calling someone out by name, and I don’t want to use my blog as a way to lash out at anyone.  But what’s done is done, and without my post, I don’t even know if I would have my popcorn maker right now.  In fact, I’m still not sure if it was the manager at the local Walmart or my post that finally got the attention of the higher ups, because I never asked.

But the short story is that I got a call one afternoon from one of Walmart’s VPs, well after I’d given up entirely of ever receiving my popcorn maker.  He apologized for my experience and assured me that mine was not the sort of experience they want their customers to have.  He issued a refund for the popcorn maker and then had a new one sent to me (in a true comedy of errors, the original somehow got sent back to the distribution center, by accident, before the manager at the local store could get it to me.)  I really appreciated the refund as well as the follow through on getting the elusive popcorn maker to my doorstep.

In addition, they also sent me a gift card to use in their stores as an incentive to give them another chance, which was certainly a kind gesture but not necessary.  I admit, I felt a bit like a kid who had thrown a temper tantrum in the candy store and got his way plus some, but I thanked him profusely and assured him it would be put to good use.

So last week I made a special trip to Walmart (this time the one that I like to call the not-so-skeevy Walmart; I don’t plan to return to the scene of the crime again for a long time) and used the gift card on my kids’ back-to-school supplies.  The trip was uneventful, which is always a good thing.  I’m pretty sure I’ll never use Site to Store pickup ever again, although it’s my motto to never say never, so there you go.

Meanwhile, feast your eyes on this loveliness.

popcorn

Kindly ignore the shadow.  This wasn’t my greatest photographic moment, but you get the drift.

The kids were delighted.  It didn’t last long.

popcorn-hands

They kept saying, “It smells like a movie theater in here!”  Which is because once upon a time, before the advent of corn oil and trans fats, movie theaters actually popped their popcorn in coconut oil, which is very nutritious by the way.

Plus it’s just fun to turn the crank.

popcorn-C

Okay, who needs a hairbrush?

Anyway.  We added melted butter and sea salt and enjoyed our popcorn feast.  YUMMO.  All we were lacking was the movie to go with it.  But that could be arranged.

Here’s the popcorn maker, if you’re interested.

popcorn-maker

And the coconut oil I bought.  Believe it or not, that’s a good price.  Right now, for some reason, the gallon jars are reduced substantially.  I just ordered one.  I probably should have ordered more.  I’ve been using it in homemade granola and baked oatmeal too.

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24 Responses

  1. I think you were right to post the store name on here. I’ve worked in retail for 20+ years and I know that it’s so much easier to do whatever you can to make the customer happy when you’ve made an error. Glad you go the popcorn maker!

  2. I think you had every right to call the store out, I would have. You were mich nicer than I would have been any day. lol

    I am so glad that you a positive response from a higher up with Wal-Mart. With as much of a bad rep that they get, they do actually do pretty well by me for Customer Service.

    Now…how much was that popcorn thing? I think I need one…

  3. i just used site-to-store pick up. and it took a month (A MONTH!!!) for our tv stand to arrive at the store.
    but my pick up was an absolute breeze!! sometimes, its worth the extra $7 to have it delivered.
    the person in front of me – who i wanted 20 minutes for – was having a really hard time. Some of her items were missing, etc. i had it sent to the not-so-skeevy walmart though 😉

  4. I had a particularly bad experience at Walmart one day. The cashier tried to be helpful, but the problem was not one that she could fix. After I returned home I called the store and spoke with the manager. He apologized profusely, said that hey had a renewed interest in giving their customers a great experience in the store. He was o kind and gave me just he response I was looking for. It made me sort of not hate Walmart so much.

  5. I’m glad you finally recieved your Whirlipop! I traded mine in for an air popper in hopes of cutting down on fat. I may have to look into the coconut oil.

  6. That popcorn maker looks fun. My aunt used to make popcorn on the stove with a pan. I am glad walmart compensated you. I think I am going to ask for one of those popcorn makers for my birthday.

  7. Sounds like that was a nightmare. Hey, as long as you were honest, no problem speaking out. My dad had a really heavy pot. He would pour oil into it, heat it up a bit, add some popcorn and put the lid on it. We would sit and watch and wait as the kernels popped and kept popping until the lid of the pop raise right up off the pot! He always knew the exact amount to throw in so we got a great show!

  8. I’m glad Wal mart sorted this out for you…

    I also like what you said about not writing negative posts and calling folks out. I agree with you on that…although sometimes it’s hard. I try not to use my blog as a ranting place…unless I really need to;)

  9. Our Walmart is about 5 minutes from our house. For some reason, I am usually there 3-5 times a week. Hate that place! Unless you go at 8am, you have to endure a screaming child the whole time you are in the store AND you get to see how to be a horrible parent on top of everything else.

    At least you got something for your troubles :}

  10. Our Walmart is about 5 minutes from our house. For some reason, I am usually there 3-5 times a week. Hate that place! Unless you go at 8am, you have to endure a screaming child the whole time you are in the store AND you get to see how to be a horrible parent on top of everything else.

    At least you got something for your troubles :}
    Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!

  11. We started making our own popcorn too, just corn kernels & a little butter in a pan, on the stove. It’s the best popcorn I’ve had in a LOOOONG time and it’s just butter & corn!

  12. Hey there! Boy that popcorn looks good! My kids laughed when I made some on the stove…I think they thought I was SuperWoman or something. Had to explain that popcorn didn’t always some from the microwave.
    I’m the one in NC reading Real Food on your recommendation. Just got my Time magazine today (the August 31st issue) and the cover article looks interesting, The Real Cost of Cheap Food by Bryan Walsh. Thought you may want to check it out…

  13. Oh, so glad to hear you ended up with a good experience. My brother is a manager for WM in Atlanta and I actually love the WM by our house, (aside from one person that works there which I do not like very much). It is clean – it’s new. I also do love their prices – often the cheapest in the land and that is a good thing.

    Okay on the coconut oil – which size did you order?
    Love that popcorn popper. I air pop ours but then have to pour the butter and salt on after it’s popped which is not as good.

  14. I love those kinds of popcorn makers. You’ve convinced me that I will be getting hubby one of those for Christmas. He loves the popcorn made in those.

    And IMHO, there was nothing wrong in posting the name of the store. That kind of service is really unacceptable and if they don’t want bad word of mouth advertising then establishments need to pull up their socks. On the other side of the coin, I’m a big believer in also giving verbal or written bouquets when the service has been great. I totally phone managers and let them know when an employee has gone over and beyond.

  15. I always make mine just in a heavy pan on the stove, shaking it. This looks fun though!

    Hey, re: the coconut oil, I thought it was the coconut oil that made movie popcorn so high in fat. (Do you remember the big brouhaha a few years back about movie popcorn having more fat than a Big Mac?). What is it about coconut oil that is better? I haven’t come across that in my reading.

    Sometimes I make mine with olive oil. Yum!
    oxox
    Lain

  16. There’s plenty of reasons to hate Wal-Mart (watch The High Cost of Low Price documentary) but I quit going there years ago. Something stupid happened to me every time I went there. I have easily survived about seven years Wal-Mart free.

    Now to find me one of those nifty poppers…not from WM…

  17. I am so glad they sorted the problem out. WM is slowly getting better about this. And I have wanted one of those poppers for a long time!

    I can’t hate WM as much, dear MR E works as a computer programmer at WM home office isd dept. And with us living in WM hometown we are easliy spoilt to WM. With the home office (not couting isd, marketing, vendors and etc) employees nearly 3000 people your cashiers never know when someone they are helping is a ceo or wife/mother/etc to a ceo. So everyone is on their toes here all the time. I now can not stand to shop at a WM out side of where I live.

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