Wal - Mart - Winnipeg, Manitoba review: Don't get scammed by Wal-Mart! 2

Wal-Mart store #3117 - Unicity Mall, Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB Canada

I was looking for a sub-$600 laptop, and noticed that Wal-Mart was advertising a $469 laptop. I visited the Wal-Mart, and after looking at the selection, I decided to try out one of the laptops which were locked up in the glass "cage". It was the only unit they had, and the box was already opened. I didn't get a good look at the unit's details, and asked the person from that department that if I didn't like it, whether it would be no problem to bring it back. She said no, as long as you have your receipt.

I paid, and left the store. Once I got home, I opened it and found out it was one of those "glossy" LCD displays, which I don't care for. I decided to give it a bit of a try, and I plugged it in, and turned it on, and accessed the BIOS. I made my mind up that I really didn't want this laptop, and decided to return it, not 45 minutes from the time of purchase.

I returned to the same Wal-Mart, and attempted to return the laptop. The cashier at the register said it would have to be approved, that she can't authorize a return like that. I found that odd. The Assistant Manager, Daniel, came out and said that, unfortunately, Wal-Mart cannot accept returns on an open-box Laptop, even if it has not been used. He said I would have to deal with Compaq. I became irate, and asked where this policy was stated, as on the wall right behind him it said that they have a 30 day Satisfaction Guarantee on computers and computer accessories.

He said it was an "internal policy" and it's not published for the public. I told him that half of the laptops in the display were open box, so what about consumers who purchase those, to which he replied that they would inform those customers when they purchased them that they could not return them.

I said I was going to call the Store Manager and the District Manager, and he didn't care. The Store Manager had gone home for the day, and the District Manager is not available on weekends.

An email to Compaq confirms my suspicion that you cannot return a product to HP/Compaq which you have purchased elsewhere. They said to deal with the retailer.

I find this manager, Daniel, and Wal-Mart itself, very un-customer friendly, and I am refusing to do all business with them from this point forward.

The funny part about this story is that I was returning the Compaq to Wal-Mart only to exchange it for the Lenovo they had. Now I have no intention of buying any item from a store who will not stand behind what they say they do.

I think I will also be taking ads out in the local newspapers detailing my story, so other consumers don't get scammed by Wal-Mart.

Cam Giesbrecht
Winnipeg, MB Canada