Source: BroBible
Summary
A Florida woman placed a Walmart curbside pickup order but found items marked “unavailable” when she arrived. She ended up shopping for herself and discovered the items were available on the shelf. The incident, shared in a video with 2.4 million views, led her to vow never to use the service again. Walmart’s curbside pickup allows customers to order online and have items brought to their car. However, stock discrepancies can occur, leading to frustration. Employees sometimes take photos to confirm unavailability, but some claim the system prioritizes speed over accuracy.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Customers order online, then show up to find items missing.
Employees mark things unavailable, then later they’re on the shelf.
Shoppers end up doing the work they paid to avoid.
Unavailability is just a suggestion, not a rule.
Author: Evan Null
How Does Walmart Curbside Pickup Work?
Walmart’s curbside pickup allows customers to shop online or through the app.
Shoppers can select a pickup time and have employees gather their items. Customers then check in and have their order brought directly to their vehicle. This should eliminate the need to shop inside the store.
However, an item can become unavailable between the time an order is placed and when it is picked. This can lead to discrepancies if stock levels fluctuate or inventory counts are out of sync in real-time.
Walmart may offer a substitution or remove the item from the order. This can leave customers frustrated when they later spot the supposedly unavailable product on the shelf.
Walmart may offer a substitution or remove the item from the order. This can leave customers frustrated when they later spot the supposedly unavailable product on the shelf.
Walmart Employees Weigh In
In the comments section, current and former employees shared their experiences shopping for customers. One said, “When I shop for customers, I take pictures to show them that it’s really out of stock for this very reason.”
But one commenter gave a completely different perspective.
Another viewer claimed that as an employee, managers encouraged her to move through the orders quickly and warned the system would “kick you out” if she took her time. “In my opinion they’re too focused on speed and not about getting the customer what they ordered,” she stated.
Employees sometimes take photos to confirm unavailability, but some claim the system prioritizes speed over accuracy.
Employees sometimes take photos to confirm unavailability, but some claim the system prioritizes speed over accuracy.
Is This Common?
Brenda’s experience struck a familiar nerve with other shoppers. One commenter said they had been given an unavailable notice for an item they considered difficult to believe was actually missing.
A shopper wrote, “They told me that didn’t have floss like gtfo they’re so lazy.”
Another viewer suggested customers should receive something extra for the inconvenience when they have to come into the store themselves to find an item that was listed as unavailable.
“I fully believe we should get gift cards as an inconvenience for having to do this when this is in stock,” they wrote.
Another viewer suggested customers should receive something extra for the inconvenience when they have to come into the store themselves to find an item that was listed as unavailable.
Walmart Employees Weigh In
In the comments section, current and former employees shared their experiences shopping for customers. One said, “When I shop for customers, I take pictures to show them that it’s really out of stock for this very reason.”
But one commenter gave a completely different perspective.
Another viewer claimed that as an employee, managers encouraged her to move through the orders quickly and warned the system would “kick you out” if she took her time. “In my opinion they’re too focused on speed and not about getting the customer what they ordered,” she stated.
Employees sometimes take photos to confirm unavailability, but some claim the system prioritizes speed over accuracy.
Employees sometimes take photos to confirm unavailability, but some claim the system prioritizes speed over accuracy.
Is This Common?
Brenda’s experience struck a familiar nerve with other shoppers. One commenter said they had been given an unavailable notice for an item they considered difficult to believe was actually missing.
A shopper wrote, “They told me that didn’t have floss like gtfo they’re so lazy.”
Another viewer suggested customers should receive something extra for the inconvenience when they have to come into the store themselves to find an item that was listed as unavailable.
“I fully believe we should get gift cards as an inconvenience for having to do this when this is in stock,” they wrote.
Another viewer suggested customers should receive something extra for the inconvenience when they have to come into the store themselves to find an item that was listed as unavailable.
