Business

Caught on Vid: Shoppers Launch Tirade at Walmart Manager Who ‘Closes’ Early on Christmas Eve

If you’ve ever worked retail, you might side with the manager in this video. If you’ve ever had to do some very last-minute Christmas shopping, you might sympathize with the shoppers.

Angry Customers Yell at Walmart Manager Who Wont Let Them Shop on Christmas Eve

Either way, here’s what we know. On Christmas Eve, a few shoppers tried to get some last-minute shopping done at a local Walmart. They arrived at the store about 20 minutes until closing. However, instead of dashing down the aisles, the shoppers were greeted at the doors by a defiant assistant manager who said he would not allow them to enter the store because it was too late. That didn’t sit well with the would-be patrons:

Shopper: Can I come in?

Manager: No.

Shopper: It’s 7:40, I can’t come in? So you‘re telling me you’re closed, right?

Manager: Right.

Shopper: Posted hours are 8 o’clock, right?

Manager: Yeah.

[...]

Shopper: Why can’t I come in? Why can’t I come in? There’s people in there shopping right now.

Manager: Because they got her before 7:30.

Shopper: Where does it say that? Where does it say that you got to be in before 7:30?

The argument goes back-and-forth, and the manager eventually admits that the 7:30 mandate isn’t posted anywhere. It then turns nasty when one of the angry shoppers asks, “Did you not have enough Mexicans working for you, you gotta pay white people more money or something?”

The video, which has a few curious edits and jumps, ends with one shopper trying to enter but being blocked and one man threatening the manager’s job (note: there may be cause for a language warning, but it’s hard to tell what exactly some of the shoppers are saying in the background):

The video has sparked a lot of dissenting opinions, not only in the comments on YouTube, but also where it has been posted.

“I don’t know what the circumstances are for these people since it’s not explained, but they decided to shop at the very last minute on Christmas eve,” MPViral.com writes. “In my personal opinion, you can’t blame either side…the assistant manager or the people trying to shop. My only hope is that someone learned something for next year so this doesn’t happen again.”

“Nobody’s right, here,” writes another blogger. “It’s just fun to watch a Christmas Grinch take on some irate procrastinators who suddenly fancy themselves legal scholars.”

What do you think? Is the manager right to have done what he did? Or, are the shoppers correct to be angry?

 

(H/T: Buzzfeed)

Comments (436)

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  • JDF10487
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:30am

    I agree that the posted closing time is the posted closing time.

    However, no retail outlet should stay open past 6 pm on Christmas Eve IMHO. Retail workers like to be home with their families on Christmas Eve too.

    Have a heart.

    Also, 8 pm is a little too late to start closing down shop, especially since store employees are usally required to balance sales reciepts and straighten up the store before they can clock out for the night.

    Why did these shoppers put everything off until the last minute anyway?

    After all is said and done, my guess is the Store Mgr. will probably get into some trouble for trying to expedite the closing process.

    I am thinking he was anxious to get home to his family on Christmas Eve.

    Report Post »  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:47am

      With just a little pre-planning on the manager’s part, this whole thing could have been avoided and his employees home and happy.

      This is so easy it is really difficult for me to understand how others can’t see this. lol Have you heard about this problem at WalMarts across America? Surely this guy isn’t the only one who has a problem with “last minute shoppers!” lol

      Last minute shoppers are ALWAYS going to be.

      Haven’t any of us ever been a “last minute shopper?” Ya realize you’re out of formula or diapers for the baby. . . you need to pick up a medication. . . maybe just a gallon of milk. . . whatever it might be. If I know a store closes at 8PM and I arrive before then, then reasonably I should be able to expect to get in to the store. If I know it’s closing time, I move quickly to get in and out (because I’m aware employees want to go home). If I arrive at 8PM or after and I find the doors locked–I know it’s my problem. I didn’t arrive on time.

      This isn’t rocket science. ;-)

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • Liberalismsamentaldisorder
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:02am

      @justpeachy

      How about a little pre-planning on the shoppers part? Looks like the manager did pre-plan, he’s closing the doors at 730. The shoppers had a 364 day notice about the arrival of Christmas.

      Report Post »  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:19am

      @liberalismisamentaldisorder – I’m not saying customers should not pre-plan. But last-minute shoppers are also of NO surprise to retailers. If he had signs posted, ads saying, etc. that customers need to arrive by 7:30 then that would be one thing. He could have then simply locked the doors at 7:30–allowing people to get out, but no more to enter. With the signs posted that way, people would see it and know they were late. They still might not be happy, but they certainly would have less to complain about and would be less LIKELY to complain. People can’t really argue with locked doors and signs! They’d probably have just left. End of story. No bad PR for WalMart. Smarter move for manager!

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • Liberalismsamentaldisorder
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:33am

      @justpeachy

      OK let me get this straight. If he locked the doors at 730 he’s ok, but standing there telling people is no good? Yes, last minute shoppers happen. That’s why when retailers plan their hours, they generally stay open as late as they feel they possibly can. Also, since this is their business, they understand it. What’s the point of allowing someone into a 4 acre store 1 minute before closing? They cannot even walk directly to an item even if they knew the location of it. They stopped letting people in at 730, giving those folks 30 minutes to shop. They obviously wanted their associates to be able to leave as soon after 8 as possible. I see no bad PR here at all for WalMart. Just the opposite. A non-caring company might let people in as long as they showed up, forcing their employees to stay all night. I don’t praise WalMart much, but here, they’re right on. Start shopping now. WalMart closes at 8PM 12/24/2012

      Report Post »  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:47am

      @liberalismisamentaldisorder: You wrote:OK let me get this straight. If he locked the doors at 730 he’s ok, but standing there telling people is no good?

      If signs were posted ahead of time saying the store would be locked at 7:30 -yes. Actually to have him standing there, blocking the door is dangerous!

      And I imagine WalMart wouldn’t look on this as “good publicity” for them. It isn’t.

      So it is a lose/lose situation. Could have been different if handled differently. And safer for the manager, too.

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • Liberalismsamentaldisorder
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:33am

      @justpeachy

      In your opinion this is bad publicity for Walmart. In my opinion this is good publicity for Walmart. like so many things in life, it all depends on your point of view.

      Report Post »  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:27am

    The manager just wanted to close early and get home on Christmas eve. He got caught by late arriving shoppers, end of story. If I was WalMart, I would be on the phone with this manager trying to find out why in the world you’re closing the store early on Christmas eve?

    Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:35am

      Insanity is the inability to think separately from feelings. (http://www.ourcivilisation.com/moral2/test.htm) instant self gratification is just such insanity.

      Pavlov’s dogs were trained to recognize specific stimulus preceding food. “Consumers” are now trained to buy to satisfy their lust for self gratification in just the same way. INSANE.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:49am

      He would definitely be suspended for doing that on Christmas Eve or any other day without good reason.

      I know people who work in Fast Food who would be FIRED for closing early, especially since they work extra hard to build a late-night customer base.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • maumau
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:54am

      Yes, but I worked for wal mart they are very strict with no overtime and the managers get the heat so I could understand his stance he knows its going to take pass 8pm to get the people already in there out but he should have asked if any of the people are there for only a few items and he could have had employees run for them and had the people in line at the closest check out to the door. Something different should have been done anything but this, but people should plan for the holidays its hell out there and managers should plan to get off later because of it.

      Report Post » maumau  
    • TheBMT
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:54am

      yea our walmart closed at 8pm. Didn’t have any issues. Its funny how these things get on video. its almost a setup if you ask me.

      Report Post »  
    • taxedout
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:54am

      Christmas is the same day every year and everyone knows about it well in advance, these late comers had plenty of time to plan and it was right that the manager denied them access. I truly believe retailers esp., walmart need to go back to closing their stores at night to give their employees time to restock and clean with shoppers in the way and closing on all Sundays and all holidays.

      Report Post » taxedout  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:13am

      So all the workers in the store have to wait to go home to their families, while one or two idiots walk into the store at 7;59 , then browse for the cheapest toilet paper for two hours then decide to not buy anything and go home to their doublewide. Tough Crap.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • lel2007
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:22am

      Not only the manager, but every other employee wants to get home for Christmas Eve. These idiots who wait for the eleventh hour to do what they had 363 days to do should not expect Walmart or any other retailer to cater to their last minute whims.

      Report Post » lel2007  
    • Smokey_Bojangles
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:23am

      Christmas is the only day Wal Mart Closes. If They keep letting people in before 8 they will not clear the store before 9:30.Then the employees have to get the Chicken bones out of the hand bags,the DVD cases out of the toilets and zone the isles.So maybe by 10:30 or 11:00 they will get to go home to spend CHRISTmas with their families. Why Begrudge them a head start? This guy is Probably the ONLY manager that any Wal Mart Employee ever liked!

      Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:48am

      Okay; ‘meat head’ is let in at 8PM; “shops” for an hour, and may or may not purchase something. Let’s see, it’s now 9PM…I agree; ‘incoming doors” shut at 7:40; everyone OUT by 8PM!!

      Report Post »  
    • ConservativeCharlie
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:48am

      Wow, just wow. This is just becoming all to often in this country. We all know it, I just dont know how we fix it. At any rate Happy New Year! Here is a song for conservatives, tea partiers, and libertarians to play on new years great song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BWD9GWHGiI

      hopefully 2012 we will regain control of this country and start to repair the damage.

      Report Post »  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:41am

      13th Imam

      They were scheduled to be open. They ought to be open. The time states 8pm, it should be 8pm, not 7:30pm because the workers want to get out of the store right at 8pm.

      The workers are being selfish- they’re scheduled to close. The store is open. The workers don’t know what it means to be a closer. Closers close. Part of closing involves serving customers up til the time stated for close. The work you do after close is part of your job, you have to get that store clean and closed and you don’t have the option of closing early so you can get the work done early and leave the store right at 8pm.

      That’s BS. I‘d fire your ass and hire someone who would keep my store’s doors open until the time posted, unless there is an emergency.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • TheRev1776
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:51am

      As a line cook this happens way to often. After killing yourself through a busy Saturday dinner shift you are given a closing time of 11pm. While we will serve you at 10:59pm I think it is rude that customers walk in 5 minutes till close, order appetizers, drinks, then their meal and then finally getting out 45 minutes after we shut the door. While most may not understand but the service industry (retail included) is a tiring job and come closing time we would like to go home as well. Plus, nothing worse then having to postpone the clean up by 30 some odd minutes for someone who decided to eat at the last minute. I know my tone is a bit biased against the consumer but I hold the belief that the customer is not always right. In fact, customers can be downright rude to my servers and usually only complain about something knowing full well “free” is on the way. I am completely with this manager. Last minute anything has it’s consequences. Deal with it. And if your kids gifts are that low on the important scale you deserve to deal with that. My nieces and nephews gifts where first, my wife and I are still waiting for ours to arrive…order of importance. I believe it should be posted: Close at 11pm, must be sat by 10:30pm to be served. Meaning after 10:30pm you get to eat Taco Bell. Just my two cents. I always ask, would you the customer be willing to serve me at your place of employment 3 minutes before you close ? Most likely not since I have seen places close ea

      Report Post » TheRev1776  
    • toto
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:33pm

      I would fire this manager, he was clearly out of line. Politely asking the shoppers to hurry up and get what they needed because the store’s employees needed to go home to their families too, would have been the best way to handle this. The Manager is a selfish man and not acting in the best interests of anyone but himself.

      Report Post »  
    • Rosemary416
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:47pm

      If they wanted to be out of there by 8 then they should have posted that they were locking the doors at 7:30. If a store is open till 8 they should stand by their WORD and be open till 8.Everyone in retail knows that if the store closes at 8 you are going to be there till at least 8:30 counting out, ect. The store manager was wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • Charles
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:13pm

      He wasnt trying to close early he was trying to close on time. If you let people in 15-20 minutes before closing there will be people wandering around and trying to check out at 8:15 or 8:30. The losers who want to shop at 8:00 on Christmas Eve need to learn a lesson about procrastination. Emphasis on losers.

      Report Post »  
    • Yeah_Buddy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:40pm

      Merry Christmas last-minute-racist-shoppers!

      I mean you only have 364.9 days to shop for Christmas and even I, a self-avowed procrastinist, was able to complete shopping by 5:00 pm Christmas eve.

      You have clearly been naughty this year!

      Report Post »  
    • PALE RIDER
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:03pm

      interesting comments back and forth- but lets be honest- 20 minutes is not enough time to shop and PAY FOR any item. The rule is the doors closed at 8pm- The people in the store( workers) didn’t leave then- no- they had to stay and pick up the store from the people (shoppers)—– maybe you haven’t noticed (I know I do- and it is in every store- not just walmart) people behave like pigs- they pick up cold food and leave it in the clothes section. They allow their spawn to graze in the store ( without paying for it) and leave the empties where they fall. They also allow said spawn to play with toys and leave them all over the store—– say a barbie doll in the tire and lube section……or basketballs in the frozen meat counter. …… and why can’t the people on X-mas eve want to be home with their families (Most of the workers got out at 10pm after the big clean up)….. The shoppers are——- where is their compasion for the workers?

      Report Post »  
    • Classical Liberal
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:04pm

      What the manager should have done was let in the customers but let them understand that the registers are closed at 8 on the dot. Then it’s just a matter of ushering them out of the store so hopefully the customers would be clear by 815. Give a last call to shoppers for check out and then have security escort everyone out.

      But some belligerent last minute shoppers may become violent when they are told the store is closed. Maybe this manager did make the right decision with that perspective in mind.

      Nevertheless, I have absolutely no sympathy for the last minute shoppers. They can be mad all they want but showing up at the last store to close on Christmas eve with 20 minutes to closing was a long shot to begin with.

      Report Post » Classical Liberal  
    • scheduler
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:16pm

      Yeah who cares.

      http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos

      Report Post »  
    • Mr. Oshawott
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:20pm

      I have to side with the customers on this one. If the time chart states that your business is open until 8:00 P.M., you let your business stay open until 8:00 P.M. The manager really made a stupid mistake trying to close prematurely.

      Report Post » Mr. Oshawott  
    • little big man
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:24pm

      The manager is correct, I worked in retail for many years, and you always got these jerks come running in for a big order with 10 or 5 minutes to go.
      You wonder to yourself where the hell were you all day, and now you just figured out you needed this stuff.
      The manager should have waited to about 7:55 pm and then locked the doors made an announcement at that time also that the store will be closing in 5 minutes please bring your items to the registers.
      Also have someone man the key in the locked door to let customers out, and to stop people from trying to get in.

      End of story.

      Report Post » little big man  
    • saranda
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:27pm

      This manager is a hero and should be commended by Wal Mart not punished. He was standing up to a couple meat heads who typically left things to the last minute. By the same logic of the meatheads, stores like Walmart should have the right to clear the store at 8 pm despite some not being finished shopping. Yet you don’t see that happening.
      Love to see meatheads try to use logic to defend their position no matter how wrong they. A private business can close early if they see fit and they can refuse entrance to anyone they decide. These people were caught being a…holes and leaving stuff to the last minute. I bet they could find some corner store that will be open all Christmas eve night to buy their batteries and liquor.

      Report Post »  
    • Mr. Oshawott
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:30pm

      @Classical Liberal

      Reimu Hakurei, is that you?

      Report Post » Mr. Oshawott  
    • Mr. Oshawott
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:47pm

      @Saranda

      “A private business can close early if they see fit and they can refuse entrance to anyone they decide.”

      I agree with you on that notion. However, should a business decide to close prematurely, the owner of that business must accept the huge risk of losing his/her customers as a result. Had there been a notice saying that Wal-Mart was going to prematurely close up shop, the manager wouldn‘t have found himself on the receiving end of the customers’ outrage.

      Report Post » Mr. Oshawott  
    • SFsuper49er
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 3:05pm

      The point is… If they were there before the posted time, they should have been let in. The doors should have been locked at 8:00 at the posted time…

      Report Post »  
    • black9897
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:01pm

      @ al. They need to close early. geez..it’s Chrstimas eve. It‘s amazing the places that should be closed that aren’t. They should have bought their gifts before christmas eve.

      Report Post » black9897  
    • theaveng
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:43pm

      I worked retail, and the doors stayed open until 8 o’clock. You could walk-in at 8pm, grab an item, pay for it, and leave. It‘s understood that the store might have to accommodate a customer or two after the 8 o’clock cutoff (so they can pay for whatever they bought).

      This Walmart manager will likely get reprimanded for closing his doors early. (Yes that’s effectively what he did.)

      .

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:00pm

      If they close at 8PM, there has to be a cut off on allowing people in. What are they supposed to do? Let people come in until right at 8:00 and then close down the registers so they can’t purchase what they have? Most stores I’ve been in have a “we’ll be closing in 30 minutes, please bring your purchases to the registers” announcement. I thought it was common sense, guess they didn’t.

      Report Post »  
    • saranda
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:59pm

      @MR. OSHAWOTT – you are correct that they risk losing customers but what of restaurants and bars that routinely close for “private functions”? Do I have the right to stand and berate the manager because he did not give me enough notice even though I am a walk up customer.
      You and I both know that these kind of “people” would not have accepted a sign posted of early closing either. They left something important to the last minute and got caught in their procrastination. I have no sympathy for them and only hope the employees got home at a reasonable hour to enjoy Christmas eve with family.

      Report Post »  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:24pm

      TheRev1776

      That’s how you want it to be, but you aren’t the store owner. You don’t get to change the rules to suit you. You get written up. And I’m forcing you to sign your write-up and holding your check ransom until you do it, forcing you to make a decision between your own personal feelings and being subordinate to the rules as set forth. Becuase if you don’t sign your write up, then I’m going to send your check in the mail AFTER YOU ARE FIRED.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • orionreplay6607
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:33pm

      He wasn’t closing early. He was limiting new shoppers from entering and prolonging the 20:00 closing time. Having worked retail myself, I totally understand. Closing time IS 8pm, not you walk in at 19:59 and then expect to shop until 9pm… especially on Christmas Eve.

      People always believe that when “closing time” is a set time, that if they can just sneak in one minute prior, they are good to go… shop away for 5, 10, or 45 minutes. Negative. Closing time is closing time. Saw it all the time with idiots.

      Report Post » orionreplay6607  
    • TEXASGRANNY73
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:56pm

      Medusas head was here first. These people had 324 days to shop for Chistmas gifts yet waited until closing time brought the kids in the back of car to get a gift? No class. Those doors should have been locked.

      Report Post »  
    • Uranium Wedge
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:28pm

      Customers were right

      Report Post » Uranium Wedge  
    • Rob in Katy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:45pm

      @V_MACE: they were open, there were people inside checking out and finishing up. if they close at 8pm that means that they have to finish everyone up by 8pm or else it is not closing by 8pm but we stop letting new people in at 8pm. You even been out clubbing? last call is a 1:30, usually they stop letting new people in then and allow 30 minutes for patrons to finish up. How about you try and push your way into a bar AT closing or 15 til. Now maybe it is me, but I notice all the “CLOSED” signs on shops and stores and there is NO ONE INSIDE! GET IT? IT MEANS CLOSED NOT CLOSING, NOT STILL LETTING CUSTOMERS IN – CLOSED = EVERYONE GONE! Sheesh…

      Report Post »  
    • Rob in Katy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:50pm

      @LORIANN12, common sense is a scarce commodity these days as evident in this thread by those that don’t know what closed means as opposed to “closing.“ The sign did say ”CLOSED @ 8″, not we will start closing at 8. English can be confusing, closed at 8 is pretty simple for most…

      Report Post »  
    • jakobar
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:28am

      He was trying to get him and his staff home at a decent hour on Christmas Eve. I beleive bussinesses need to start thinking of their employees welfare more often. Bravo. Late shoppers: Get off your ass earlier than 7:30 on Christmas Eve.

      Report Post »  
    • TheRev1776
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:30am

      @Vman
      You confuse me with someone who fears those in charge. Beauty of life is I can leave my employer for another. Another beauty of life is I am a damn good line cook who actually is valued. I never ever feared unemployment because I don’t stay unemployed for long. And guess what I make enough to live pretty decently without having to fear the loss of income. Having a skill and being good at it will pay off. Always has and always will. I have held, left and found a job during the ENTIRE down economy and I will always find and have one. I was simply saying that customers should have more compassion; we will feed you regardless. I will always do my job but I wish more humans out there would understand 10 minutes before close is a hard thing for a kitchen to swallow. But swallow like a *orn star we will.

      Report Post » TheRev1776  
    • cin18868
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:42am

      WalMart use to close at 6:00pm when I first started working for them in 2003. They then changed in 2007 and started closing at 7:00pm. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is the only time during the year that employees have off to be with their families. Everyone knows that WalMart is closed at this time. What kind of Christmas shopping can anyone do in 20 minutes. It is obvious how little customers respect WalMart employees and their right to be off as well. The employees don’t leave for another 30 minutes to an hour after the doors are locked because the entire store has to be straightened and merchandise put back. You can never do enough to make customers happy. If you closed at 12:00am they’d still be outside looking in like what are you doing closing. All other business’ close early for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’ve worked on Thanksgiving Day and there may have been 3 customers come in between 7:00am and 3:00pm. I think WalMart should be closed on that day also. That man just showed how much he really cared about his family by waiting until the last minute on Christmas Eve and then ran to WalMart of all places to buy a gift!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:00am

      Possibly…just possibly, the store manager felt something for his employees and wanted THEM to get home ON TIME for Christmas Eve.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • IMAWAKENOW
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:24am

      I have run a small business before. No matter when you say you are closing there is always some A$$ Hole wanting to walk in just before the door gets locked. I don’t see the difference between this and last call at the bar. These people have families and lives of their own. The jerk wanting to go in had a month to get his shopping done. I can only imagine how he would react if his boss called him in to work on Christmas eve.

      Report Post » IMAWAKENOW  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:54am

      You are an idiot. I used to be a Wal-Mart store manager and this video was mild compared to the abuse I have experienced when we had to kick people out of the store after closing time. I have never been swore at more in my life than on Christmas Eve. Everyone that works at any retailer deserves to be able to go home on Christmas Eve. The customer has 363.5 days to shop before Christmas and if they procrastinate that is their problem.

      Report Post » NOT A CRAZY  
    • Gorp
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:06am

      @Taxedout:

      Come on now! Are you trying to tell me that in 2012 Christmas is going to be on December, 25th? How can that possibly be? Is it on the same day every year?

      Report Post » Gorp  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:59am

      Rob in Katy

      You’re making a lot of excuses for this manager closing early by placing himself at the door when the door is open and the store is open until 8pm.

      I know from your comment that you don’t supervise anything. Customers get a 10-15 minute warning that the store is about to close, meaning that they are in the process of CLOSING, and there’s still shoppers allowed to come into the store during that time. I know because I have done it during closing time and never had a problem at all. They simply tell you to hurry up because they’re about to close and lock the doors. Sometimes the doors are already closed and locked the the manager STILL lets customers in (even though he doesn’t have to). This manager was simply being a dorkdouche.

      TheRev1776

      It isn’t about FEAR. Its about following the store policy. If you close my store early before the time posted, then you are getting written up, and you can take your experience being insubordinate to my store policy as set forth and find yourself another job.

      The beauty is I can find myself another employee that will be subordinate to my store policy, because then I wouldn’t have to answer for customer complaints and lose business thanks to jackasses not following the store policy.

      You want to make special exceptions for holidays, and this is where my business might make the most money. You’re hurting my business for your own interest. Selfish.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • TheRev1776
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:36pm

      @Vman
      Then maybe capitalism has it all wrong and is run by greed. Maybe the lefty lunatics might have a point. As for store policy it is said to close by 8pm. Meaning will you be done and out of my store (yours in this case) by 8pm ? Bar rules at my job dictate that last call be given at 11:45pm (as dictated to us by the state) and all people, employees including must be out by 12am. Should we let that one person in 10 till 12 and allow them to chug one down ? What the manager did here was simply stop allowing another set of customers in which would have hindered his ability to close at 8pm on the dot. Punctuality is so cherished but it seems not when it comes to closing. Yeah, this manager is going to get heat for it, yeah the customers could have been a bit more understanding. ALL I was saying earlier is we humans need to have a bit more compassion for each other. I have stopped my car in a torrential downpour to move a shopping cart that was in the middle of the parking lots thru-ways and moved it to the proper location for carts. Did I have to do this ? No. But my compassion for some poor slob driving through the lot not seeing this black cart and ramming it took over. I’ve walked in to many a places and been told we close in ten minutes and said thank you and walked right back out. Simple. Americans lately have been very selfish not appreciating the plethora of late night services and now simply expecting them. Taking into no consideration of the person.

      Report Post » TheRev1776  
    • MetalPatriot
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:44pm

      Two things:

      Don’t be a ****** and wait to do your shopping last minute. There’s 360 or so days to shop. Siding with the angry shop-mob is akin to saying it’s ok to not be prepared.

      It’s always the “little guy” that works the holiday, not the executives or even middle management. Siding with the company is akin to saying that you’d be happy to work the holiday along with the employees.

      Some will try to argue the “at least they have a job.” I bet those that say it are people that have jobs and don’t work holidays. It’s a wonderful thing to have a paycheck and not be with your family that benefits from it.

      Merry Christmas

      Report Post » MetalPatriot  
    • MetalPatriot
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:51pm

      @ V-Man

      Following your reasoning, which isn’t entirely flawed, the store should be open until 8pm as posted. Agreed. If the store is closed at 8pm, all shoppers should be out of the building by 8pm to abide by the same rule.

      At what time would you allow the last purchase to be made if the store closes at 8pm?

      Every try to close a retail business that has customers still inside well after posted closing hours? I have. One part of you struggles because you want the sales while the other side knows that you will be chastised for going over your labor costs. I can testify absolutely that you will not be thanked for increasing sales but will be punished (or least reprimanded) for adding 15 minutes onto your schedule.

      I love all the comments from people who haven’t experienced it for themselves.

      Report Post » MetalPatriot  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 4:14pm

      TheRev1776

      That’s pretty liberal of you to conflate my concern with the profitability of my business with greed. You’re also making an illogical comparison of Walmart to a bar, which is hilarious. You’re placing some imaginary deference to your employees above the profitability of your business by disregarding your customers concerns at a critical retail time of the year. I bet next year he won’t go to Walmart. That’s perhaps where the bread and butter of building a customer base and peak profitability is, and you just ruined it by closing early in order to assuage your workers who’re SCHEDULED to close on a holiday.

      MetalPatriot

      I‘d let the person shop if they’re in the store by 7:59pm if the store closes at 8pm. But that’s just me making a decision to show deference to my customer base at a critical retail time of the year… which in turn may affect whether or not the business is profitable…which may determine whether or not you get a raise or get LAID OFF…

      You want to jeopardize all that for 15-20 minutes to leave right at 8pm… In terms of labor, that‘s why you pick the persons who will do the job and get it done and not complain that it took an extra 30min to close the store because that’s someone you can depend on. I‘ve had closers walk out leaving the rest of us to pick up their slack because they couldn’t cut it or wanted to leave right on time.

      Can’t take the heat…then get out of the kitchen.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • Dabldo
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:52pm

      Ruler4You!
      Well said. Could you come over and explain that to Bunches of people i have had in my life??? I would pay you for every one that apologised to me for what they had done to me because of THEIR insanity they tried to pin on me.

      Report Post »  
    • dhrector
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 8:07pm

      I have worked at a big box store for over 10 years and company policy is you lock the doors only at the posted closing time, not before. If the posted closing time is 8:00PM, you close at 8:00PM, not 7:59PM or 8:01PM. If a customer is coming inside at 8:00PM you let them enter, then you lock the door and you close down the registers only after the last customer has finished shopping. I have been in my store up to an hour after closing waiting for a customer to finish shoping. If this manager had been one of the managers at my store and had closed the store before the posted closing time he would be looking for a new job if the customer had reported him closing the store early.

      Report Post »  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on December 29, 2011 at 11:23pm

      dhrector

      Yes sir! 8pm it is!

      That’s the rules!

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:25am

    .
    Last minute shopping at Wal-Mart. So why in the world would you turn away someone and his or her money? Bottom Line Dufuss, You Sir should have been fired, right on the spot……

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:43am

      And the hell with the employees and their families? Christmas was coming for a year, and if you wait until the last half hour they got what they should have expected! I would give the manager a raise for putting up with those idiots.

      Report Post » pavnvet  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:13am

      If the sign says closes at 8 then it should close at 8… Period , i side with the customers on this one…..

      Report Post »  
    • GrannyATL
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:15am

      Pavnet, you don’t get it. I’ve worked retail.

      Every retail employee — especially at an all-purpose store like WalMart — knows that closing time doesn’t mean the store is vacant at that point. There are always people who are still shopping when the doors get closed to incoming shoppers. The managers make allowances for that and have one or two cashiers who are the closing registers.

      What this manager did was wrong. Instead of closing the doors, he needed to ask these late-comers to help him out by hurrying with their purchases — make it more of a Christmas wish. ie., “Hi! I see you’re coming here for a last-minute purchase. Can I help you find anything? We’re all anxious to get home to our families, so please don‘t hesitate to ask for help if you can’t find what you’re looking for.” Then make sure that there are employees who are available to help anyone quickly find their merchandise.

      Report Post » GrannyATL  
    • Just A Private
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:02am

      @Spank
      I responded to your remark on the “vocal fry” article. If you get a chance to read it and it makes you mad, just punch your computer screen really hard. I will have my face pressed against my screen to see if I can feel it.

      Report Post » Just A Private  
    • Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:08pm

      Spank is right. If your objective is to be out of the store by 8, then next year just say store closes at 7. Bottom line is, if you say you are open til 8 then keep the door open til eight. If you want every one out by 8 then just start turning off the lights. Customer service is a thing of the past!!

      Report Post » Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist  
    • TXVET48
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:23pm

      Worked retail for a few years. If our closing time was 6 PM on Christmas Eve, than the doors stayed open until then. 6:01 PM, they closed and no amount of bullying, crying, or threatening would open them. As it was, some of those late arrivers would loiter through the store and take over an hour to finally check out. The associates working the later shift were scheduled to work an hour or two after the closing time to ensure the customers were taken care of. Great customer service brings back customers.

      Report Post » TXVET48  
    • drago
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:12pm

      Spank, you are half right, the manager was wrong, but so was the customer. Why in the hell would anyone wait til the last minute to christmas shop.Only a fool would do that, and dont say he may have forgotten something, make a list, and check it twice………..

      Report Post »  
    • little big man
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:30pm

      The signe says closed at 8 just because you lock the doors at 7:45 does not mean your closed stupid people. their are still people shopping in the store till 8pm.
      By locking the doors 15minutes early does not mean you are closed just means you are not letting other customers in. when the last customer leaves then you are closed.

      Common sense people, oops most of you have none.

      Report Post » little big man  
    • midnightvelvet
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:50pm

      Oh…I can guarantee he will be reprimanded. I work at Wal-Mart and have often joked that if I was punched by a customer, I would be counseled for getting in the way of the customer’s fist.

      Report Post »  
    • GUNNSUP
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:17am

      Wakmart err I mean Walmart, has some real doozies shopping there…they do have good ammo pricing though.

      Report Post » GUNNSUP  
    • IMAWAKENOW
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:10am

      To spank and all others who said the manager should have been fired, Where were YOU on Christmas eve? Probably sitting on your backside watching TV. Common sence is as dead as being considerate of others. I hope some day you find yourself working a thankless job for next to minimum wage and have to deal with someone like the late customers in the story!

      Report Post » IMAWAKENOW  
    • cemerius
      Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:08am

      If you look closesly the Manager has blue eyes and sandy blonde hair…..oh yeah the “customers” have no natural tans either…I am thinking that NOTHING will come of this but the Manager will have a reputation as a hard “ask” and the employees who were wanting to get home to their family will appreciate him but none the less I am sure some jackwagon delayed their departure at 8 pm because they couldn’t decide between winnie the pooh or dumbo underoos for their great nephews brothers sisters son……..

      Report Post » cemerius  
  • CannonFL
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:24am

    Every place I’ve ever been to allows you to enter right up until the posted closing time. Closing time doesn‘t mean that’s the time employees get off work. This manager was wrong.

    Report Post » CannonFL  
    • unsafe
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:59am

      This tells me you never work a day in your life! These ppl get into the store and take there time shopping, others would like to go home to their families. But morons like you think every thing has to go your way or the high way.

      Report Post »  
    • patriotic pony
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:31am

      I bet you have a job that lets you spend Christmas eve at home. Or at the least you get off early

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:42am

      Probably never had a job. But if the welfare check is late .. WATCH OUT.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:13am

      CONNONFL .. is right … they would warn them as they came in that the store closed in say 5 minutes or so .. and then at the closing time would announce that the registers were closing in another 5 minutes .. we never got out right on the time of “closing”. We would have to also walk the department and make certain no one was left in the store. This included and was especially true on Chrsitmas eve .. when the husbands decided that they BETTER get SOMETHING for thier wives ;-)

      Report Post »  
    • TheValley
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:29pm

      V-Man,

      Stop being such an ass. If the store is open until 8:00, that means business ceases at 8, no time for more “shopping” after the close time, it only makes sense to shut the doors at 7:40, learn to plan a little better and stop inconveniencing others.

      Report Post » TheValley  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:37pm

      Wife and I worked for Wally World for a few years, never saw a managment type that would turn away customers if the sign 8 o‘clock it meant 8 o’clock. We always had customers in the store after closing time, most understood we wanted to be with our families and tried to hurry.
      I beleive Wally World would have fired a manager for closing early and arguing with customers, you were polite regatdless of how beligerant they got. I had a man tell me he was going to whip my ass one night and I very politely told him where to find me when he got ready – he never showed up.

      OMG

      Report Post »  
  • Fighting4America
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:24am

    The store hours were posted. Retailers should honor their hours up to the last minute. Maybe they just needed a gallon of milk. In challenging times you mean to tell me they don’t need the sales???? How many times have you walked into a store at the last minute to pick an item up?? We have all done it. If Wal-Mart did not want shoppers in their stores they should have not been open. Shame on that manager.

    Report Post » Fighting4America  
    • lel2007
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:28am

      I would agree retailers should honor posted hours, ONLY if the store is equipped with an automatic exit vacuum to instantly suck any and all shoppers out the door at the designated time.

      Report Post » lel2007  
    • dangmc
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:38am

      As a former retail manager, (small store) I was taught that you don’t EVER open late or close early. People plan their shopping according to your posted hours, and you can’t have any way of knowing how far a person might have driven, possibly under adverse conditions, just to make an important last minute purchase. Sales people in any retail business are well aware of the need to assist your customers in a friendly manner until every shopper has left. It’s certainly ok to give your customers a friendly reminder of the time-you don’t make them uncomfortable! I think Walmart should fire the manager who did this; I’m sure the district manager is well aware that there is probably another retailer waiting to welcome your customers. A good manager will constantly remind his/her staff of these tenets, a great manager will allow his cashiers and sales associates leave on time for such an important event and then he/she together with floor supervisors can assist the few remaining shoppers.

      Report Post » dangmc  
    • Rob in Katy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:55pm

      @DANGMC, well then what does closed mean? Every time I see it on a store, the store is empty, yes? One would reason that at 8pm or shortly after the store should be empty, not still letting new customers in. Logic is very difficult for some. Now fast food, that may be different, but we are not talking about that are we.

      Report Post »  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:23am

    The manager and the workers have planned their Christmas Eve to begin at * o’clock. They worked out a way to do that. People should be more considerate. If he didn’t draw a definite line somewhere, they would have still been there saying “Just one more minute” at 10:30.

    Been there, done that.

    Report Post » qpwillie  
    • Tordil
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:47am

      Completely agree – I’ve done retail. They showed up 30 min b4 close to start their Christmas shopping… they wouldn’t have been out the door at 8, they would only add to the lines of people waiting to checkout after 8.

      Although mgr could have allowed in but told them the registers close at 8… but then they wouldn’t have left, This guy was already acting like an fool.

      Report Post »  
    • 65Mustang
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:59am

      Agree totally, were the stupid, lazy shoppers who thought they should be allowed in at 7:40 going to be out by 8:00. It is all about the “ME” mentality.

      Report Post »  
    • recoveringneocon
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:07am

      That BS willie, didn’t you hear him, the poor guy left his kids in the car sleeping. The manager should of set one of the mexican workers out to babysit the kids and let the man shop. Your a jerk.

      Report Post » recoveringneocon  
  • JustPeachy
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:17am

    I don‘t think I’d have described this as a “tirade,” Mr. Seidl. The shoppers were obviously trying to argue their point–and in this case, I do think the manager was the one in the wrong. He may have had his reasons, but if it was not posted *ahead of time* anywhere that shoppers needed to arrive by 7:30, then the customers had reason to believe they would be able to shop up until 8:00 – the time of the store’s closing.

    IMO, any manager/store should keep in mind that likely they won’t get out right at closing time, but may be 30-60 minutes after that. If they wish to get out “on time” then why not simply adjust the “closing time” to allow for the extra time that might be needed? Or – simply adjust one’s thinking and realize you and your employees can probably bank on an extra hour? (I realize this means more cost to the store–but more money is likely to be brought in as well.

    If I were a “higher up” in WalMart, I’d likely be upset with how this particular manager handled this situation and his store (unless he was TOLD by some “higher up” to do this). If so, then perhaps someone over that person wouldn’t think this a wise decision. . .?

    This is a bad PR move for WalMart (what this manager chose to do or was told to do). This one incident will reflect badly on all WalMart stores and on WalMart in general. So whoever decided to do this–whether it was the manager or someone over him: “Dumb move!” It likely may have cost WalMart more than the few buc

    Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:41am

      Stores often don’t let people in just before closing. I worked in an automotive dealership as a general manager and saw many times people coming in 15 minutes before closing. It is impossible to purchase a vehicle in 15 minutes. Mind you this is after we had been open for 12 hours that day. I use to think, okay the salesperson and I will stay as long as necessary to help the customer. What I learned was (and this is sometimes staying 2 hours past closing): this type of customer was one that I didn’t want in the first place. I could count on one hand (after doing this for years) the number of times it resulted in a sale. My policy evolved to going around to each customer 10 minutes before closing, if they were not right at the point of closing the sale, I introduced myself and offered them an appointment to come back at a later date. I also gave them a coupon they could use at my service department for any car they owned whether it was purchased from me or not.

      The customers that commented that I was rude and they would never buy a car from me, I just smiled and said that is surely your right. However, John here (or whoever the salesperson was), is a family person also and I am sure his family will be expecting home.

      On several occasions over the years, I even told some folks because of their behavior that I see we would not be selling them a vehicle and would they please leave. This was rare. However, it was when were either threatening or abusive to an emp

      Report Post » pavnvet  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:10am

      Pavnet, that is a different scenario than a WalMart. People are not generally looking to buy anything nearly as expensive as a car!

      I’ve never worked in a car dealership, but it seems to me that each business needs to come up with its own solutions. The best ones (in my opinion) are ones that make both employees and customers happy.

      But the time to work out any possible problems is BEFORE they happen, NOT after. Of course AFTER something occurs, that can serve as the incentive to come up with ways to avoid it happening again.

      This is when I think brainstorming with employees can come in handy (for ideas, solutions, etc.) and once an agreed-upon plan set in place–it can be carried out. Some of it can be trial and error–some things may work while others do not.

      Anyone dealing in retail or service KNOWS they are dealing with imperfect people. I’ve worked in both areas so I know all about great customers and not-so-great ones. It’s ALWAYS a challenge, but it is a part of “doing business.”

      IMO, the smartest business people figure out ways to solve problems or at least diminish bad consequences. They also learn from their mistakes. They strive for excellence and don’t settle for mere mediocrity. They’re creative and often think outside the box to come up with solutions. They are people-persons, although it doesn‘t mean they sometimes don’t get flustered or discouraged. They take the good with the bad, the bad with the good–and “call it a day.”

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
  • dmforman
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:13am

    As my father would often say, piss poor planning on your part, does not make an emergency for me.

    The Walmart Manager had every right to close the store early, so that he could get the shoppers already in the store out. Letting in shoppers fifteen minutes prior to closing on Christmas Eve would mean that many employees would not be leaving on time. Common curiosity is what is often missing in our country today. Too many are all about themselves and without care for others and the rights that they also have.

    Report Post »  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:22am

      The WalMart manager may or may not have this “right.” We don’t know that for sure. If he’s given this authority by someone over him, then yes–but if not, then perhaps not.

      I would think stores like WalMart would “build in” this time factor–just as stores do with costs. They could say they close at 8pm, understanding they are likely not going to close until 9. Plan accordingly. Lock the doors at 8. If the time is posted, most customers then understand that closing at 8 means closing at 8 and the store is well within its rights. There’s no arguing with locked doors. Seems pretty plain and simple to me–this whole fiasco could have been avoided (and bad publicity).

      Dumb move on the manager’s part or someone who may have ordered him to do so. Whoever is responsible should be corrected about how these situations should be handled.

      I haven’t heard any problems at any other WalMarts in this regard–so perhaps it was just this one manager (or someone over him)?

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • rlmeals
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:05am

      @JUSTPEACHY: Exactly, the same thing goes with the restaurant business. If the restaurant closes at 9, people are let in until 9, and they serve whoever is in the restaurant. I worked in the restaurant industry for nearly 5 years through high school and college. It may have annoyed us a little when customers came in at 5 minutes to close, but it was understood that those were the rules, and we would be there for a couple hours after close anyway to clean up, so it’s not like we were going home any time soon anyway. I also worked at wal-mart for a few years, as did my husband, and when we closed for Christmas, we always had people coming into the store until closing time, at which time the doors were closed and management didn’t let anyone else in (I don’t recall that the doors were locked, as there were still people inside…fire hazard, I think). The point is, we didn’t get out of the store at closing time, we had to clean up. And the messages would go out on the PA: 15 minutes to close, 10 min., 5 minutes, please take your selections to the checkout. I don‘t think it’s all that unreasonable to go to a store 20 minutes before close to run in to get something. I think the manager was wrong, and I don’t really care if the customers were waiting until the last minute, because it was really 20 minutes and that was reasonably enough time to run in really quickly, especially if they just needed an item or two (we don’t know that, but does it really matter?).

      Report Post » rlmeals  
  • Tipdog
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:12am

    The manager doesn’t have to let any one in, period. Sure, it might be bad business, but it’s his store.

    Report Post » Tipdog  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:25am

      Actually, it’s not *his* store. It belongs to the WalMart Corp.

      It’s really up to them to decide if they like how this manager handled this situation – or not – and to correct it – or not.

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • ReallyAmazed
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:06pm

      Agreed. And I am thinking the poll questions might have been better to have given us more capitalist options, rather than options that led most to judge by relating personally. For example: Do private retailers have a right to operate their own business as they see fit? vs. Should mob rule dictate store policy?

      Report Post »  
  • PrivateSectorContractor
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:10am

    I think ALL retail stores should close their doors at 4:00 PM on Christmas Eve. and New Years Eve.

    Report Post » PrivateSectorContractor  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:34am

      Exactly!

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:00am

      Why would you wait until the very last minutes to shop? I worked in a store as a kid and once in these last minute shoppers are hard to get out of the store…we had to start turning off the lights and announce we were closing the registers

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • CM Sackett
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:07am

    GOOD GRIEF, Charlie Brown!

    I worked retail when I was a kid… we were OPEN until closing time.

    That said, am I the only one who remembers the generally ‘pleasant’ female voice (chosen purposely, to raise less ire in the male shopping force) coming over the intercom system at 5 minute intervals to announce:

    “Attention $$$-mart shoppers. Your friendly $$$-mart store WILL BE CLOSING IN 15 Minutes.”
    “Attention $$$-mart shoppers. Your friendly $$$-mart store WILL BE CLOSING IN 10 Minutes. Please begin making your way to the registers for checkout.”

    …and at 5 till:

    “Attention $$$-mart shoppers. Your friendly $$$-mart store WILL BE CLOSING IN 5 Minutes. Please have ALL PURCHASES AT THE REGISTER NOW.”

    Point?

    1. The manager could have very easily “served” these folks by letting them in DURING OPEN HOURS. Then followed a generationally proven protocol of letting them (and anyone else still in the store) that time was RUNNING OUT.

    2. The store hours, publicly posted stated CLEARLY that they were to be considered OPEN until a given time. If that were not the case, then why post publicly your hours of BUSINESS?

    3. In all the years I worked in the SERVICE industry (and contrary to current actions on the part of many staff, at many different establishments – from SquirlMart to DedLobster, etc.), “closing time” was NEVER considered “WEHEADEDOUTDADOOR!” time form employees.

    Report Post »  
    • LIBSALWAYSLIE
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:16am

      Its easy, dont wait til the last minute. Morons

      Report Post » LIBSALWAYSLIE  
    • gwssacredcause
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:24am

      You correct. I worked in a Auto Parts Store, Service Station and Auto Repair Garage when we posted hours of operation whether we owned the business or not we were expected to be there and provide service during the hours of operation. If we had customer come in 5 minutes before closing time we looked at it as our obligation to provide service to that customer. Those were the days when employees knew that the success of a business depended on the customer getting good service and a good product. The customer was not always right but if you did not do everything you could to provide the best service for that customer you were not right and you would have fewer customers. We were taught that we needed customers they did not necessarily need us.

      Report Post »  
    • hannahh
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:50am

      WAA WAA walmart won’t wait for me! Those stupid employees who have been working ALL DAY just want to go home on Christmas Eve. What’s wrong with them, why won’t they serve ME?!? Waa Waa

      Report Post »  
  • Dagnabbit5
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:07am

    On one hand, they did get there before closing time and probably had time to shop.
    On the other hand the manager probably wanted to get the store closed up so he and
    employees could get home.

    Kinda a no win situation. Maybe stores should close earlier so people are home with
    their families and friends.

    Report Post »  
  • xstone1970
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:05am

    I have posted Housrs on my business as well… but I may take a late lunch, or close early to go to my kids events… Its my business, I have the right to refuse sevice anytime… Sorry that you forgot it was Christmas, I mean its only been on the calander all year long, but now 30 min before close you want to do your shopping? Ever think the people who work there might want to go home and spend Christmas eve with family and friends. They already have to work until 8, but you come in at 7:59 and keep them there even later? How selfish is that.

     
    • BrotherWill
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:16am

      And that attitude is exactly why I will never shop your business. Customer is always right even when he is wrong. WTF happened to America?

      Report Post » BrotherWill  
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:31am

      I agree. Businesses have rights to run their businesses as they see fit.

      And customers have the rights to shop at the businesses as they see fit.

      I find the better the customer service, the more customers there are.

      Funny how it works that way, but it does seem to be the way it is.

      I’ve known people to shop at one WalMart over another, even when they’ve had to drive further to get to it–because of poor customer service in one and good customer service in the other.

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
    • good brother
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:47am

      @BROTHERWILL, I work in retail too and I know how frustrating it is when a customer comes in at the very last minute to “browse” the store for an item he might or might not need. I also get calls literally at closing time asking me to stay an extra fifteen to twenty minutes so they can come in and get something they did not need in all the hours I WAS open for that day. It’s frustrating when I want to go home and see my wife and my son and spend some quality time with them versus spending time with some customer.

      In this case with the Walmart manager, I do believe he should have let the shoppers in, it wasn’t closing time yet. I won’t kick a customer out preeminately because the goofball showed up at close to closing time, but it drives me nuts when they are not respectful of my time. Perhaps I need to get to a store before they close and this lolligagger is prohibitting me. Did they ever think of that?

      Oh, and the customer in not always right, even when they’re wrong. Sometimes they are just wrong. I work in an auto parts store and I can tell you that when the “right” customer orders the wrong part, it doesn’t automatically fit their car. Customers need to be considerate of shop and store owners too. Remember the old saying that used to be posted in every store, shop, restaurant, and business around? “We reserve the right to refuse to anyone. A.N.Y.O.N.E.”

      Report Post »  
    • Rosemary416
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:19pm

      I don’t think these particular people were selfish. They did not get there at 7:59 they got there at 7:37 and probably had plenty of time to pick up an ugly cheap sweater for Uncle Floyd and a stinky bottle of perfume for Great Aunt Ethel! And still be out by 8! I doubt they were doing all their shopping at that time. Just a few last minute things. I can see refusing entry at 7:55 or maybe even 7:50, but to say you had to be there at 7:30 when you were there at 7:37? That manager was wrong and it may cost him his job! I think he was very selfish and wrong.

      Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:04am

    In the female brain: Shopping = Sex!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • JamesMA
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:04am

    Having worked in retail in my youth for about 4-5 years I understand when the frustration of workers when people arrive to shop minutes before closing. However, if you close at 8, do not shut the doors at 7:30, especially if that is not common practice at the store and it is not stated in writing for the customers to see. People should not wait until the last minute to Christmas shop, but when people have the expectation that it is a possibility and then have that possibility taken from them that is wrong. If you close at 8, close at 8, and not 7:30. The asst. manager was wrong.

    Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:47am

      I’ve been in this situation on Thanksgiving. I let a guy in my store right at closing because he just needed one thing (cool whip). He proceeded to fill up a cart and my staff had to wait on him. Eventually, after many announcments that the registers were being shut down, he shows up at the front of the store (with a full buggie). To his surprise, the registers were shut down. Now I had a man in my store that was yelling and screaming resulting in myself needing to call the police just so I could get my store closed and my employees home to their families.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
  • jharper
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:03am

    I feel sorry for the manager. Walmart works it’s employee like slaves. Remember they were opened Thanksgiving 24 hours. This is ONE day that they close early so employees can spend some time with loved ones. When I worked there, I worked 11 hour shifts. We were not permitted to sit down except on break. Other employees would work 12 hour shifts with only six hours before their next 12 hour shift. The public is just as unsympathedic. They treat the employees everywhere like garbage without any regard to how overworked and underappreciated they are. You know that if the manger let him in, at 8:00 he would have REFUSED to leave the store.

    Report Post »  
  • RCN598
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:00am

    To close the store by 8:00, they have to stop letting new customers in ahead of time, all businesses do that. I’m also sure the manager and the employees want to get home to their families as well. 100% on Wal Mart’s side here, and the customers are idiots for their stance on this. I am embarassed for them.

    Report Post »  
    • Plutos_Pal
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:08am

      Wrong. I worked retail for years. I never worked in a store that refused admittance to customers prior to the posted closing time. Closing the store down is done AFTER the posted closing time. Employees who close the store know that they will be there after the posted closing time.

      Report Post »  
    • ninja97
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:09am

      I’ve worked plenty of closing shifts and my fair share of minimum wage jobs in my lifetime. You’re OPEN for your entire posted business hours. That’s life 365 days a year. I never got to leave at closing time. Closing time is when my cleanup and closing time duties started, not ended.

      Report Post » ninja97  
  • R4M0N
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:58am

    If the assistant manager has the discretion to close early to get the store ready for his employees to leave at a more convenient time to be with their families, more power to him.

    I’ve had managers in the past close early as a surprise Christmas gift of sorts to the employees. We all felt great to know that we would be getting home a few minutes (or hours) earlier than we expected.

    Report Post »  
  • Hank919
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:56am

    The manager is an idiot…your hours posted are your hours. I’m a shareholder, and I hope they demote him.

    Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:10am

      A shareholder. So you’re one of the many shareholders that are profitting off of chinese slave labor? I would like to thank you and you’re BS company for putting so many mom and pop stores out of business and enslaving the local population with low wages and crappy benefits. Rest easy in your nice comfortable house while you blindly remark about a situation you clearly know nothing about. The manager of this sweat shop is doing as he was directed by superiors. Just sit back and watch your stocks increase in value as the lives of many chinese never improve to the poverty level.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • Gary S
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:24am

      @JLGUNNER If you think it is a slave shop, DON‘T effin’ WORK THERE!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • ddg7
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:30am

      @jlgunner is absolutely right! The only store that sells chinese products is Walmart. I want the mom & pop store back so that I can pay more for the things that I buy. Then I want to pay more taxes and vote for a democrat. This is all the result of that pesky global warming!

      Report Post »  
    • jharper
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:44am

      Oh Hank, tsk, tsk! That salaried manager is paid for 40 hours while probably working 100 hours. He is taking orders from above. When WalMart donates food for a community food drive, did you know that it’s the EMPLOYEES that buy the food, NOT WALMART, so you get a greater return on your investment? Did you know that, Hank? But sure,call and demand that they demote him. Lower his salary, put him on the graveyard shift. You’re a real sweetheart, Hank!

      Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:38am

      @ gary where is it mentioned that I work there? Your anger seems to be hiding something.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • ohiochili
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:09pm

      I worked for Wal-Mart, oh glorious shareholder…you can get written up for overtime, and the managers can lose their jobs over it.
      All you Scrooges out there who whine about the evil manager- it’s one lousy day a year…you never had to stay to wait on shoppers in the store still shopping an hour after close on Christmas Eve when you have kids waiting at the sitters.
      Cheers for the Manager and Bah Humbug! to the shoppers.

      Report Post »  
  • DebbieFisher
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:55am

    Greed, selfishness, and strife are all contrary to the Infant who was born in a stable in Bethlehem,

    Report Post » DebbieFisher  
  • thebabyguy
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:55am

    The irate shoppers sound an awful lot like John Kerry supporters. I wouldn’t let them in either.

    Report Post » thebabyguy  
  • LibzLie
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:53am

    Wal-Mart is wrong! If you are open until 8 you don’t close the doors at 730-740. Unless it is posted.
    Bad move by the asst. manager.
    Confusing move by patron , why bring up mexicans,nigerians, elves, or reindeer?

    Merry Christmas

    Report Post »  
    • Tdude
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:02am

      Have you ever worked retail? Shoppers have a tendency to think that as long as they are in the store, the store can’t close until they check them out. People that work in the stores are on their feet all day, have to clean up after thoughtless and lazy shoppers, often take abbreviated/interrupted lunches and breaks, and put up with people with nasty attitudes for up to 8+ hours. In many retail outlets, after the doors close, they have to clean up the store BEFORE they go home. So when closing time comes, a good manager does all he can to make sure his people can get out as soon as possible. Especially on holidays. So I applaud the manager because his people meant more than profits.

      Report Post »  
    • dmforman
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:24am

      This entire incident looks like a set up. Why video tape? What has our country come to? You don’t get your way, so you try to get someone else fired.

      I hope that the manager has nothing happen to him. If he let these people in there, would be no way to get them out. They showed how little respect they had for anyone by bringing in Mexicans and such. If buying toys was so important for these people, than they should have come to the store before closing. The manager might have let them in if they had been nicer and not so rude.

      There is no law about stores closing early. These idiots really need a lesson in the constitution and laws. Too many in our country think that they are free to do whatever they want. This is so not the case.

      Report Post »  
    • mscotrid
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:38am

      The store was open to 8:00 as posted, he just refused to let some late arrivals to the party. I Bartend and we have last call at 15 mins till closing. If someone walks in 5 mins till close we refuse to serve. We have become a nation of ME. I remember when many stores were closed on Sundays. Really what the hell does a guy have to have so bad he needs to run out to the store at 7:30 on Christmas eve? Did his wfe forget to buy tape so she could wrap her presents? Did the guy forget to by batteries for his screeching kids to play their new toy?

      Store open till 8 pm no customers admitted after 7:30, get over it and get a life. Asst Mgr enjoy your Christmas Eve with your family. Customer at the door, F-off and go home quit being a whiney bi*%h.

      Report Post » mscotrid  
  • JohnnyBrillcream
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:48am

    In other words, “I didn’t plan ahead and waited until the last minute to shop, so your employees should put their evening plans on hold for me.”

     
    • JustPeachy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:38am

      Oh no doubt, many people are thoughtless toward others.

      But having said that, this whole incident could have been AVOIDED by simply locking the doors at the POSTED closing time: 8PM. No arguement. No filmed incident. No bad PR for WalMart.

      The extra time should be understood and built in, just as the extra costs for determining product price!

      Pretty simple, really. In fact, VERY simple. LOL

      Report Post » JustPeachy  
  • randy
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:48am

    Idiots……1st rule… A private business can close anytime they want regardless of posted hours.

    Report Post » randy  
    • BrotherWill
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:17am

      Thats not the first rule. The first rule of business is the customer is always right even when he’s wrong.

      Report Post » BrotherWill  
    • chasbronson
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:49am

      @ the brother,You are wrong.Only selfish,egotistical,spoiled rotten,entitlement minded customers THINK THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT. Stores and there employees put up with customers and their toddler attitudes all too much.Wal mart being as big as it is should have given its employees off with pay @ about 3:00.The selfish minded fools should have shopped earlier.

      Report Post »  
    • TXVET48
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:25pm

      First rule is the customer may be wrong but is always the customer.

      Report Post » TXVET48  
    • Livia
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:47pm

      The customer is not always wrong, just as they are NOT always right. When I have a customer throw a glass of soft drink and ice in my face and I go after said cusrtomer, they will find out right quick that they are wrong. I did my best to satisfy my customers in whatever job I was working, and I can tell you, some customers can be out and out wrong. I think these customers that wanted to get in were rude and obnoxious because of thier own stupidity. Sad thing about this is, these customers will try and show their @$$, just because they can and think the workers are supposed to lay down and let the customers walk all over them. I have been on the other side also, and maybe I couldn‘t understand why people were inside shopping and I couldn’t get in. I did not show my lack of class and breeding, I just walked back across the street and borrowed the milk I needed for my recipe. Folks are just caught up in “It’s ME, and I want it NOW” mentality.

      I agree with those who say these people have had all year or all month to get what they needed.

      Report Post »  
  • kentuckypatriot
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:47am

    I side with Walmart on this one. The shoppers should have been there earlier. It’s not fair for the employees to work later because of their stupidity.

    Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
    • davis51
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:04am

      Oh no You forgot to say that Obama says america is being lazy and also act stupidly. thats what this guys problem is. Jack wagon

      Report Post » davis51  
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