Another Unfortunate Death at Walmart

[One Sweet World]

Walmart's practice of apprehending shoppers at the door and demanding receipts has grown violent recently. In my first ever foray into a Wally World about a month ago, I was accosted by an old lady at the door who clasped my wrist as if I was stealing her life savings.

Now it appears as if things have gotten worse.

Wake Up Walmart, with whom I'm working, is linking to this Al Norman post today:

A 38 year old caucasian man, identified as Russell S. Palmer, died Monday night, February 2nd while struggling with two Wal-Mart security guards as the result of an alleged shoplifting incident.

The fatality was a repetition of a similar death-by-shoplifting scene that took place less than two months ago in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when 53 year old Patrick Donovan died while being wrestled to the pavement by Wal-Mart employees.

I don't know if these men were innocent or not. All I know if that three deaths at America's No. 1 retailer and No. 1 employee in a matter of months (the 3rd one was Jdimytai Damour on Black Friday) is simply unacceptable.

Walmart needs to clean up its ugly business practices. Walmart needs to find a social conscience.

[AndyA]

1. People need to stop shopping at Wal-Mart.

It does more harm than good to the American economy, and their employee rights violations are disgraceful!

And now, apparently, you can lose your life shopping at Wal-Mart. It just isn't worth it.

[rurallib]

5. yet as the economy gets worse, more people go there.

[MineralMan]

2. I think you meant "social conscience", right?

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Maybe not, considering that the opposite 'social unconscious'

pretty well defines WalMart.

[One Sweet World]

9. Ha, yes, thanks

[damntexdem]

3. Just one more reason to boycott WalMart.

[sister taoist]

4. Agreed, but something is a little amiss with this story

People tend to get major attitude when asked for their receipts. I imagine an outlet like Walmart gets a higher ratio of shoplifters than Tiffany's. Why this is, I cannot fathom. I was asked to open my backpack at an Aldi's (don't know if it's national; it's a low end food outlet) and I remarked to the cashier that if someone was going to shoplift, why the hell would they choose Aldi's?!

If you haven't done anything, comply with the rules. If you have, then give up the goods and face the music.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Fact is, if someone is reduced to shoplifting at Aldi's

they're probably pretty desperate - I'd let them pass.

[sister taoist]

10. I can't say for sure, but I am doubtful of that claim

The reason is that many shoplifters don't steal for actual eating purposes. Yes, food stamps don't pay all that much, but there's also the WIC program, as well as food banks and other charities. I believe that most shoplifters will sell the stuff they lift (and it seems to be baby formula, cold remedies and not green peppers...). Even homeless people who beg for money (ostensibly for food) are usually using it for drugs/alcohol. I have been burned more than once on that one. One time a young couple asked me for money to buy food, saying they were homeless, and I told them that I would buy the food directly instead of actually giving them the money. They agreed and I took them to the store and had them pick stuff out. I wasn't working at the time, I should add, but I wanted to help. During the shopping they kept telling me all these problems they were having and after I paid, sure enough, they hit me up for money! I now feel that they were heroin addicts because they were young and White and many kids out in the exurban areas come into the city to score. Lots are addicted to heroin, too.

[Mist]

7. Shoplifting from Wal-Mart is like stealing spam when you could go for steak. On the

other hand, there's a new slogan for Wal-Mart: Prices to die for!

[rsdsharp]

11. I haven't been in Walmart in years

but I do go to Sam's Club occasionally. I will never understand why I have to show my receipt to get out the door.

I have to have a card to get in. I have to have a card to get them to take my money. There is nothing to shoplift between the check out and the exit, anyway. AND, (and this is what really pisses me off) they virtually never check the receipt against the items in your cart. They just swipe a marker over it.

I understand that shoplifting costs retailers a ton of money, and increases prices for all of us, but how does making me stop (and often stand in line) just so my receipt can be glanced at, help stop shoplifting?

[Art_from_Ark]

12. I think it is supposed to work in a similar way

that passing through customs does. They don't stop everyone, but they do occasionally pull someone out of the line to make an inspection. It's supposed to keep people honest by letting them know that they could be searched. When I went to the Sam's Club in Sam's hometown, they actually did check my receipt against everything in my cart.

[blue97keet]

13. My checkbook was stolen

a year ago and the thief wrote a check at Walmart after I closed the account. They don't check the ID's of check writers but they tackle people for receipts! Pretty stupid policy.