razremytuxbuddy

But I think Andre whatever was doing a great thing for the kids. Shame on Walmart. They just can't seem to go any lower, but they do all the time.

lovelygirl

thalia

The Marionette

I just don't shop there. Too crowded. The stores are understaffed. The facilities are usually filthy.

Down the road is a Target. Never crowded. Stores are always staffed, and very clean.

They are probably not any better, but that's where I go.

planetdaddy

Kounji

The Marionette

TinkishDelight

pigeonpenelope

spinachdip

ChuckECheese

chucklebuck

dragonfire81

... Wal-man wheels water out...

"Who wants wa-"

"And that's why we're giving away 700 bikes!"

...Wal-man wheels water back...

elephantattack

ChuckECheese

MissedTheExit

*See, now THAT's racist

spinachdip

NinjaMarion

Agree.

I usually defend WalMart on these pages from the ignorant fools that think that making money selling stuff is evil. But I gotta come down with the folks that say that if nothing else,this was piss poor PR. Give them the damn water. Give them the ice. Then when they approach you in the future,set down some firmer ground rules.But don't look like an asshat factory outlet when there are kids involved. Sheesh...Who hires these store managers that don't understand the slightest bit about community relations ?

Snarkysnake

Even in the event of miscommunication, WM has access to ice and water upon a moment's notice. It's pretty clear that the lack of it was somebody's deliberate attempt at being mean. Things go awry in retail every day; taking it out on disadvantaged children is beyond sleazy.

ChuckECheese

puddleglum411

Anyways, this is lame of Walmart to do this. Bad karma and bad publicity.

LatherRinseRepeat

unohoo

"But they lost money on the 73 bikes that were not ordered." Not really, they just didn't make a sale so it was paper profits, and the fact they are selling the bikes in bulk for full retail means they were making a killing even after 73 of the bikes were not ordered.

If they did ship the bikes to the store, they still didn't lose money as the store could still sell those bikes at a profit, and if they were concerned about having 73 bikes taking up room in the warehouse just have a sale. Since summer is here and kids are getting out of school there are plenty of parents looking to buy bikes and they should move fast.

I agree that they may have had the legal right not to provide, but it is a truly penny wise, pound foolish move. Especially since I would expect the expense to be able to be written off taxes as a charitable contribution.

Tmoney02

PinkBox

Some volunteer or other underling was directed to call a local WalMart and inquire about how much 750 bikes would cost. They were quoted a price on the same bike. That quote was factored into the charity's budget.

Then someone at a slightly higher lever dispatched a letter to WalMart that something like 'we buy the bikes if you'll donate water and ice'. WalMart readily agreed.

As the event drew near, someone noticed that the recipients of the bikes --who probably were a wide range of ages-- couldn't all use the same size bike. So the order had to be modified, and as a result, the number of bikes purchased decreased by 73 bikes.

I'm not saying this is the charities fault AT ALL. But a simple miscommunication can lead to such glitches.

Now on the WalMart. They were promised an order of 750 bikes and a sale of $XX each. But they lost money on the 73 bikes that were not ordered. They had two choices: overlook the mistake and provide the water and ice as promised, or declare the original contract VOID because the terms were not met. Legally, WalMart may be in the right, but I still think they are asshole for being so nit-picky.

ceejeemcbeegee

spinachdip

FYI - I am a minority!

thegirls

Jesse

seasongs

boxjockey68

You know, not everyone who is poor or underprivileged is african american or latino.

Its more insulting that you seems to have concluded that race and poverty are terms that can be used interchangeably.

Sonnymooks

Alright, to the issue at hand. If what APFPilot read is true, it sounds like he didn't get what he ordered so he bought the part of his order that matched what he did order and didn't buy the rest. In that case, I think he pretty much did what any of us would do in not accepting delivery of an incorrect order, and Wal-Mart got pissed.

I think one thing to remember is that the bikes were ordered by the Foundation. Even with a rich athlete's name tied to it, it's still a charitable non-profit which probably can't afford to shell out money on things that aren't the right things.

chucklebuck

jjason82

APFPilot

I understand the reaction, but you gotta be smarter than that.

GreatCaesarsGhost

It's the government's job to give out health care, anyways, isn't it? No? Anyone? Bueller?

Toof_75_75

xamarshahx

But really Wal-Mart already employs their parents for 35 hours a week with out health insurance. Now they also have to give them ice water.

sir_pantsalot

Seriously, where was that manager's head? (okay...I know the answer). You are presented with a tremendous opportunity. 700 kids (and relatives) are at your store. Set aside a section of your parking lot for the event. Give each kid a helmet. Bring in cycling safety volunteers, police officers to teach the kids proper cycling skills and safety. Grill up some hot dogs/hamburgers, dish up some potato salad and serve some cold drinks. Don't forget to invite the local news outlets. Sure, it won't be cheap, but certainly the powers that be would approve a few bucks (and I bet the bicycle and helmet company would kick in a few to help offset costs).

Nope...let's not do that and get some great publicity. Let's be petty and childish and not even serve ice water.

Next time call the local Costco...I bet they'd be happy to help!

rolandsherpa

nedzeppelin

I didn't really see race mentioned in his post. Man we have some paranoid people on consumerist.

Saboth

sir_pantsalot

sir_pantsalot

Sorry

thegirls

I don't find the statement racist at all. The ACLU is an equal-opportunity defender.

Actually, race wasn't brought up in any posts or the original story until you spoke up.

wgrune

AlteredBeast

Johnson ordered 750 bicycles to be given to underprivileged kids at an event sponsored by the Andre Johnson Non Profit Foundation. In return for the purchase, Wal-Mart agreed to donate water and ice for the May 3 event.

But there was a problem.

Johnson had ordered the bikes in various sizes for both older and younger kids. But the bikes didn't comes as ordered (more small than large), so Johnson only purchased 677 -- at full retail price, mind you.

Well, Wal-Mart didn't take too kindly to this, so on the day of the event (it was 84 degrees out) they wouldn't fork over the water or the ice. AJ's people were told that Wal-Mart would not be donating the ice because they hadn't purchased the 73 remaining bikes. That's cold!

APFPilot

Wormfather

I think I'm going to go "buy more happiness" or whatever the hell they're slogan is right now.

Wormfather

thegirls

Uriel

bravo369

sir_pantsalot

I actually expected to read they offered juice and snacks, or something...but offering water? Wow, fancy. "Today, Wal-Mart went above and beyond by offering underpriviledged kids water during an event where a third party bought hundreds of bicycles from the company."

AlteredBeast

RandoX

scoobydoo

SonicMan

RandoX

ajc308

Wal-Mart still sucks!

tmed

selectman