a Wal-Mart horror story regarding an Abbott & Costello DVD I have bought

I bought a DVD of 2 of Abbott & Costello's Colgate Hour shows complete with the original commercials, for $5.50 at Wal-Mart and one of the bits on the DVD is "Who's On First." When I got to the checkout, they had to ask if I was 17 or older before I could buy it and their is nothing objectionable about their stuff at all.

 

It's ok Bradley. What may seem a bit of an insult in your 20's will be a compliment in your late 30's.

Excellent price on Lou & Bud by the way!

 

The clerk probably thought it was the infamous "Debbie Does Abbott & Costello" video....

Evan

 

maybe she mistakenly thought it was the NC17 title "Who's On Fist?"

 

Isn't this redundant?

 

I take it you look much younger than Boxcar Willie?

 

Brad, in a few short years, you'll be thanking anyone who "cards" you, believe me!

As for Wal-Mart, I buy beef jerky there, and that's about it. Enjoy Bud and Lou, they're worth the trouble, believe me.

 

Didja ever hear the Walmart horror story where they got all these government subsidies, "paid workers near-poverty wages, drove out local businesses and violated environmental regulations"? That's a good one too.

 

Guys,
Let's keep the anti-Wal-mart rhetoric toned down. We have employees as members here, and this sort of thing can only lead to bad feelings...

Thanks.

 

Don't mean to threadcrap, but I purchased a Sharpie Magic Marker in one of those self service checkout lanes at a local Kroger a few years ago when the screen said "Check ID". I was about to go ballistic when a clerk told me its state law not to sell markers or spray paint to under 18 year olds because they might use it for graffiti. It's a Brave New World.

 

To be fair, is it really Wal-Mart's fault if they're threatened with litigation and/or criminal charges if they sell a magic marker, or an R rated DVD to the wrong underage person? These are just employees following management directives, that likely came down from the corporate office.

I do try to be understanding, but you're right, it isn't a good feeling to be browsing at your local "Big Box", and be surrounded and hounded by clerks checking to see if you're stealing merchandise (under the guise of "helping" you), or being treated at the checkout as though you're doing something dishonest. But this is happening industry-wide, unfortunately. These chains must be absorbing tons of losses in stolen merchandise and petty lawsuits. There are even rumors where I live that our local Wal-Mart wants to move their store across town. The current location is considered to be on "the wrong side of the tracks", and that store has apparently lost over 2 million dollars worth of merchandise to theft.

As odd as it seems to me to be defending Wal-Mart, I do see some of their point.


Incidentally, sometimes it's downright funny how scripted these clerk's routines really are. Over the weekend I bought some CD's at the local "Big Box", and I put the CD's on the check-out counter, with my "Big Box" credit card on top of the pile. The check-out clerk looked me right in the eye, and asked the memorized question "Will this purchase be going on your "Big Box" credit card today?"

 

How's the quality on the DVD. I just picked it up this morning, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet as I'm still working through the two sets of movies.

Thanks!

 

How about if you order Fries at the fast food places and they ask you "Would you like fries with that?"

 

The quality is scratchy and the sound isn't the best but for what it is, it is worth having, an original TV print on DVD from 1951 of Bud & Lou.

 

Probably one of those "public domain" titles (that may or may not actually be, "public domain", but that's another show...). Wal-Mart gets a lot of those, and they're usually pretty hit and miss.

 

Yep, it is public domain

 

I am a Kroger employee and I was surprised when the computer requested an ID for a PG-13 DVD. It was an annoyance at best.

Far be it for me to ever defend Wal-Mart for anything, but they, and other major corporations do what they can to protect themselves against frivolous lawsuits, and violations of any state laws there may be. A an obvious 60ish-looking year-old-man angrily complained to ME about Wal-Mart the other night. It seems they wouldn't sell him a carton of cigarrettes without an ID. Well, since it is NOT a state law to card anyone obviously over 30, I gladly sold him what he wanted, no questions asked. I told him he could always come here without a hassle, and he was happy. But, trust me, if he had looked like a 15-year-old, yeah I would have carded him! So, it seems that the 100% compliance policy is a Wal-Mart corporate one.

The only think I buy at Wal-Mart are the Maxell CD-R Pro discs, because it's the only place around here that sells them, and maybe a pack of light bulbs or something. I go to Target if I can.

 

Who?

I won't bash Wal-Mart in this thread, but most of their employees, many of whom just happen to be, or have been employees, including close aquaintences, friends, and family members(!) of mine, bash them constantly!

 

I was at my local music store and the check out clerk asked for ID concerning a "parental warning" labeled CD I was trying to purchase. I politely aksed "why do you need to see ID"? I was told they had to ID all warning lable purchases. I left everything on the counter and politely asked to speak with the manager. When the manager arrived I aksed why they need to see my ID to purchase the CD's. "Thats our policy" he replied. I explained that it is a nice thing that they are looking out for the younger croud, that they are probably following some state laws concerning underage purchasing, and they are most likely trying to not be sued by lame brains. In my case however, I do not even remotely look like a person under the age of 17 years. I felt that the act of asking for ID was not so much an offense, as much as it was a cheap cop out for not having to think or make any decisions based on the reality of what is right in front of you, (in this case a guy who is definately over the age of 17) which is one major reason we are where we are with lawsuits and personal responsibility. I politely explained that if I did resemble an underage person, no matter how remotely, I would certianly understand, but this situation is just shotgun policy that helps no one, and angers the customer. In the very brief time I took while talking to the manager (about 5 minutes) I overheard three other, obviously of age, customers expounding the same concerns towards the shotgun policy. I told the manager I will not be purchasing any items here until the policy, and ability to trust employees judgement through proper training, and not shotgun policies, is taken care of. I thanked him for listening and wished him a good evening. He thanked me for conducting myself the way I did as he explained how he has been getting "yelled" at all week for this same thing. He also asked if I wanted to purchase the other items I had brought to the counter at this time. I said no thank you and left the store. I know full well that my $1000-2000 per year mean very little to this store, and company as a whole. I also feel that politely explaining to the managers why I am not happy with the situation is the only way anything might ever change. The ever growing presence concerning the removal of thought and policy has reached a level that needs attention. The fix is easy in concept but hard in practice. It will never change until people are held accountable for the actions they make, instead of being able to blame "them" and "they" for all the problems that have brought the status of "victim" into their otherwise perfect world.

 

Hey Abbott!

The quality of those Abbott & Costello TV shows would be marginal even if they had just been pulled out of the NBC archives. They were, of course, kinescope recordings. This being long before videotape. Kinescope is just a film camera shooting the image directly off a video monitor. You can imagine the video on the Wal-Mart copies after years of film degradation and transfers even with some digital enhancement.

 

Now this is starting to sound like a "Best Buy" story... one reason I avoid that store... I must look like "one of 'em".... also, quite a few years ago I was at a Tower Records with a guy friend and he got hauled off by security and taken to the back room and searched just because they thought he was "looking around too much".... and at the same Tower a clerk accused me of returning a cassette that I hadn't even bought yet.. good thing I checked in with the guard on the way in! One of other interesting things is Russ Soloman was working at the store at the time (Sunset Blvd.) and we even knew each other at the time, but I didn't tell him about either incident.

 

\

Dan,

Please don't blame the cashier or the manager for these policies. Many companies will dicipline, up to, and including termination for "having a brain". I know from what I speak! I am happy, however, that I do have the power in my position to select who I will check for ID. When it comes to alcohol, I can be a real sonofab*tch! This state pulls random liqour "stings" by hiring underage military personnel and local teens to attempt to buy alcohol from unsuspecting merchants, clubs, bars, and resturaunts. I will take NO chances! I will check the IDs of everyone in that party, record the info in a book, and enter the info into the computer. If I see one of them slip out the door, I will request the ID of the person that just left! If they can't all produce the ID, I will call up the other area stores and alert them that the customers are on their way, so they won't sell to them either. I even card for tobacco products. Yup, i'm real nice. I know all of their tricks and lies.

 

Whoa, How did I miss that one???

Wait till I go to the next VSDA show!