A simple solution would have been to match his purchased cards with an equal number of free ones and then post him under a sign saying, "Season's Greetings from Wal-Mart".

That would have turned a negative incident that will certainly cost them lots of business into a positive one. But that doesn't seem to be part of the Wal-Mart company culture. The place has certainly gone to hell since the days when Sam Walton ran things. I wonder what the old boy would have thought of this?

Additionally $440 is nothing to spend on the amount of PR that gave them.

While it may only apply to the stores in the town in question, I'll take any fire wood I can add to my hatred of walmart

@WhitneyGH:

What to share with us some evidence?

Hell, I remember when the Red Cross charged evacuated soldiers for coffee and donuts. The S.A. gave these away with a smile and a blessing i.e. "thank you"; glad you're back!

@thrid001:

You really don't understand Sally's position on gays, nor their position re: other religions or denominations, do you.

Learn, and learn to appreciate, you simple person.

on a related note, why didn't he just stand out front giving out $10 bills? it's a lot easier to get 44 of those from the bank.

@courtarro: Because they sell affordable items to people who can't afford to spend much money on higher quality items when a lower quality item will work sufficiently for the time being.

@Ghede: Hey, his name is unobservant... cut him some slack :-)

"Santa" shoulda just dumped the cash in the bell-ringer's bucket. SA is hurting this year. I guess he was mostly in it for the publicity.

This guy was GIVING these things away. I think this was very dumb of that Walmart to do. They're certainly not encouraging anyone to be charitable with this kind of behavior. What possible damage could this guy have actually done? I can see it now... A customer complains that a man standing in the vestibule gave them a gift card for free. How dare that man just give something away without asking for anything in return. It's just scandalous!!!

I've been trying to convert some of my coworkers who are diehard Wal-Mart fans (WHY?) to the beauty and wonder that is Target. So far I have had no luck. But I refuse to give up.

[www.norwichbulletin.com]

Target is sooo much better than chinese wal-mart.

"I am giving people money that they HAVE to spend in your store during an incredibly bad economic time."

"We cannot allow that, you're disrupting foot traffic, go to Target."

Chock full of awesome.

I'm surprised Walmart* hasn't sued the estate of Jdimytai Damour for interfering with contractual relations by lying dead in the doorway blocking customers.

Once upon a time (the 80's) Wal-Mart used to treat people well and probably would have helped th guy hand them out. These days the place is successful in spite of itself. They seem to pride themselves on seeing how lousy they can b.e

People at the nearby shops in the strip mall (Including competitor #1 Target) would see people crowding around one guy, and come over to see what the fuss was over. Then, they get $10 for free to spend in the store right next to them, go inside, and from that point on, anything they spend over $10 (likely, as WalMart is a store that sells near-everything and almost everyone needs something at any given time) is money in the bank for WalMart. Of course, then WalMart ruins it and Target gets the foot traffic instead. Hmm, at least the vestibule was clear because the customers are now at the other store.

@aaron8301: I personally like Target more than Wal-Mart, but The Target store in my city is such a COLOSSAL pain in the ass to get to. It's located inside this little private district that was built by the outfit that owns our shopping mall. Traffic flow through the damn thing SUCKS and Target has no direct access from Interstate 40. Which is why I end up going to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart actually seems to put forth an effort to make their stores easily accessible from major public thouroughfares.

If Target built a store that wasn't inside that little Mall parkway clusterfuck I would never shop at Wal-Mart ever again.

Also the whole thing about being a crappy charity. I donated money to a charity I actually like this season, so the bell ringers can eat their bells for all I care.

Private property!

It's easy to call Walmart a Grinch for stopping him from doing this but I bet that you'd all hold Walmart responsible if someone got hurt because another riot of greedy customers broke out.

[www.answers.com]

@unobservant: As used in trashy pornography novels everywhere.

Besides - they don't care about HIM - it's the 50 or more Santa wanna-bes who'd show up tomorrow (if they let him do it), and the mob that would ensue.

@gamabunta: There is a new return policy sign at the local Walmart. It says "we gladly exchange or refund merchandise with a receipt within 90 days of purchase." There are more details, but the gist is that no mention is made of what happens if you don't have a receipt.

How stupid can you be?

Yeah...like almost those scary machines at every bank in the country.

I mustn't have been paying attention. I didn't read the part where it said "Target put the Wal-Mart gift cards in a shredder and will not do anything with them."

Wal Mart did not make the "better business decision." While that guy was at Walmart, I bet PLENTY of people got on their cell phones to let their friends know some dude was giving out gift cards. Then called them back to say, "Nevermind, they kicked him off the property."

Target spent $440 to let the public know they are customer centric and in the giving spirit of the holidays. Sounds worth it to me.

@suburbancowboy: Also, not to mention that if you buy something from Wal-Mart that isn't name brand, like Sony or something, then you're going to buy the same crap three times.

So many people (my parents are like this) feel that when there is something on sale, for example a microwave, for $50 instead of $100, they have to buy it. And then 6 months later it breaks, so they just go right back to Wal-Mart to buy a new one. And it happens again and again. and before you know it, they just spent $200 in 3 years when they could have gotten a good one for $100 in the first place and it would have lasted much longer.

The are a liability since they are unearned income (Unearned revenues).

Only after gift cards are redeemed (earned) are they considered profit (revenues).

When I get a $20 gift card, I spend at least $40, telling myself I'm getting stuff for half off. It's consumer mentality. Wal-Mart could have made a lot more money allowing the cards to be used, especially at the time of year people are ready to spend.

I bet Target is the same way, but actually saw this as a way to make them look good.

If Wal-Mart was gone, and mom and pop stores came back, wages would be higher, not to mention the fact that Wal-Mart tells companies that if they want to do business with them, they have to move their factories to China, greatly reducing the number of factory jobs in the U.S. No wonder it is all they can afford.

Word.

That's the best publicity that Target could have paid for, and it was cheap! I can only imagine the Store mgr of target is probably tickled pink to rub it in Wal-mart's face!

Good job target!!

1. Allowed an employee to be trampled to death, then reopened its doors to make more money mere hours after he was murdered. Gotta make more more money off cheap trinkets.

2. Wrote "Happy Birthday Adolf Hitler!" for the past three years for that wacked-out family. When Shop-Rite refused, Wal-Mart continued it's tradition of accommodating white supremacists. (yeah, yeah, i know the little boy didn't do anything wrong)

3. Denied a good samaritan to promote good will in the spirit of the holidays.

In addition to paying workers pennies an hour, no health care, and in the hotseat for not promoting women.

Why does anyone shop here? It's not any cheaper than Target, or Kmart for that matter. We need to come together as a nation and boycott this warehouse of crap.

That's what happens to people at the WalMart by me :(

Luckily Target's right in the same complex here so I don't have to shop at FailMart.

blocking the vestibule. Lame excuse. if that was what is happening they could simply direct him some place else that doesn't block traffic. Like next to the Sally Ann volunteer. Besides how long do you think will 130 cards be disposed off? I'm quite certain that it would be gone in under an hour.
Target did know how to capitalize on the situation.

@Mr.SithNinja: You don't think this is at least $1300 worth of PR for Target?

We only have one here, and it's all the way on the other side of town. Apparently they think the people on the North side don't have any money.

We don't, but that's beside the point.

And I want Boston Legal back, too.

@TheGuinnessTooth: i live in delaware, the land of tax-free shopping. i've heard quite a few stories from friends who bought things at a wal-mart in delaware and tried to return them to an out-of-state wal-mart. it's always a huge debacle--the cashier refuses to believe delaware does not have sales tax, has to call a manager, fails to look at the receipt and see there is no sales tax being charged, thinks the customer is making things up, thinks the receipt is fake...etc.

I won't cross the threshold of there store, never again. The last time I was in a Super Wal-Mart it looked like Night of the Living Dead. Customers and Employees.

It's just a bunch of stuff made somewhere else to sell to down on their luck Americans.

Wal-Mart is bad for America. Pass it on.

@zigziggityzoo: Only on the PR front. Financialy Wal-Mart is up $1,300 on gift card sales that will never be redeemed and Target is out $1,300 for buying them. Huge props to Target for doing it, but given that Wal-Mart cares about nothing but cash. In their eyes it's a 100% win.

@kreatre2009:
I've found the pharmacy in my local Target nothing short of extraordinary. I have a lot of complicated medications and so does my husband and they are seriously on top of their game. I don't think you can say that any discount retailer will have substandard employees. It will vary by location and local management's standards, but I refuse to set foot in a WalMart. I don't care if people think I am being snobby, I just won't condone their business and employment practices by giving them my money. I can get things for almost as cheap at other places that aren't so abhorrent. I'd rather have the peace of mind than save some pennies.

That said, I also won't shop in Whole Foods for similar reasons. I don't discriminate just against Walmart, I just vote with my wallet, which is the only thing you can do against corporations such as these.

Anyone who claims otherwise hasn't been paying attention.

Gift cards are profitable because so many are never cashed in. By preventing him from giving them out, they make a profit.

Target took an expense, for a PR stunt like this. Not saying the PR wasn't worth it... but it took this cost on.

Walmart walked away with a profit.

This won't win Target any more of the market.

IMHO Walmart made the better business decision. Target just wanted to take advantage of Walmart's situation and try and gain some good PR.

I'd probably walk right past him too because i would assume he wanted me to sign up for a credit card or phone service or something.

We are too conditioned to see offers of 'free' as being a hoax.

Failure rate = 1 per 30, apparently.

Not bad for a comment post, really.

Should "high pitched" be hyphenated? Perhaps I fail in determining failure rate!

@CreativeLinks: Before or after you are trampled to death?

DAMNIT i need to get a screen cover or something.

But my point still stands- wal-mart didn't know what he was doing out in front of the store.

It's cold and flu season, of course they're breathing through their mouths.

I think I get where Walmart is coming from here, I mean, the last thing they want right now is a crowd of people clustered in an entrance.

/too soon?

I don't think Walmart is all that bad. In any discount retailer you'll always find substandard employees. The ones that are really good eventually get fed up and leave. I had a problem with the pharmacy once and instead of listening to my problem, the manager brought some ugly goon with her to stand there and try to intimidate me while I told her about how incompetent the pharmacy techs are. I called the corporate HQ the next day. That manager won't even look me in the eye now and the goon she brought with her who actually followed me to my car has been fired.

Oh, I'm sure there's levels of retardation that they haven't even begun to explore yet.

They just sold $1,300 in gift cards. The last thing they really want is those cards coming back into their store. When someone uses a gift card to buy something the store is not showing a profit again because they already made that money when the card was first purchased.

I used to work at a Chuck E Cheese and we would host company holiday parties. There was one company that would always buy gift cards from a different CEC and their store would get the sales and then they would come to us and pay a $5,000 - $7,000 tab on gift cards. and at the end of the day we really wouldn't get credit for the sale. Not that I cared either way because you would have to be a general manager to even get anything extra but it is annoying trying to scan a few hundred cards.

@cecilpl: CURSES! caught by on-the-clock skimming of articles! MY ONE WEAKENSS.

Two weeks after I had bought a large package of toilet paper, I went into my local Target without my receipt and said that I was double-charged for the toilet paper (which I was, I'm not making this up). I only received one package, but I was charged for two. All they needed was my credit card that I used and they looked up my order and immediately refunded the extra charge.

Not only that, but every time I bring something up to the register that doesn't scan or doesn't have a barcode, they don't hold up the line and take 10 minutes to go find another item. They ask me politely "How much was this?" and they just enter it into the computer manually.

Seriously, Target is awesome. At least mine is.

Walmart keeps near $1300 of pure profit, sales are not affected much, as Walmart is still the #1 place for poor people to shop, and there are more poor people around than ever.

I'm going to use that from now one :)

@catcherintheeye: It's just like when people are quick to blame to victim (which also happens a lot). There's a really tired and cliche, pent-up vitriol against Walmart...much of it founded, much of it personal axe-grinding.

@tande04: actually, you can't do the whole quantity thing with gift cards. They have to be scanned individualy, and then the amount that is to be assigned to the gift card punched in manually.

scan card
key in $10
and repeat as necessary

@Drowner:

In my part of the world, Wal-Mart entrances are CONSTANTLY surrounded by bell-ringers, Boy Scouts, kids' soccer teams, and other community organizations selling candy, raffle tickets, or god knows what else. I can't imagine it's much different elsewhere.

Companies, like people, generally don't receive a bad rep without reason (exceptions apply of course).

I'd hesitate to use one, half expecting the walmart black helicopters with commandos to descend upon the register for using one, thinking it's fraudulent.

I'm not defending walmart or target either. In fact, not even going to touch that. Just looking at the situation that provoked the whole thing. Who does that?

@Drowner: And they're not in the actual "vestibule", where it's warm and cozy. They're outside.

@Drowner: Whoever said the internet is fair? Mob mentality is SO much funner than, like, analyzing stuff.

"Here, poor people who shop at WalMart. In my previous job as a mortgage lending money-gouger, I talked you into buying homes you couldn't afford and now you're struggling. I'm taking my last $1300 to make it up to you, now that I'm destitute just like you."

People dress up as Santa and hand out gift cards outside of stores all the time. Didn't smack of a stunt at all!

Apparently the race to the bottom with wages, combined with forced labor off the clock, denying promotions purely based on gender, and other nice things Walmart does isn't conducive to attracting people who give a shit about how they do their jobs.

Combined with the overall feeling of those Walmart stores, I often wonder how low your socioeconomic level has to be to subject your soul to regular visits there.

THAT'LL really grind their gears when they realize how many customers you sent over to Target.

@kreatre2009: 1) Yes it depends on the store and 2) Those organizations ASKED first. BEFORE they set up outside.

Like I have always said,
"People go to Walmart because they HAVE to,
and they go to Target because they WANT to.

@failurate: I could get behind the cow bell thing, definitely.

Corporate's response of "While we appreciate the customer's patronage, we understand that he was interrupting the flow of foot traffic in the store's vestibule" was not exactly heart-felt.

If the "Consumerist Way" is so awful, I'm sure there are plenty of other websites you can patronize. Just make sure you don't block the web-site's vestibule.

Eh. Most Wal-Marts have a policy that you can't stand in their vestibule and sell/offer/solicit/gift-give without store approval. If the let him do it, they would have to let everyone do it- church groups, boy scouts, nursing home bake sales all clogging up the front. Them's the breaks.

The dude could have always went to the manager and asked first (FUNNY, he went to Target and asked them. That's more courtesy than he gave Wal-Mart). THAT way, the store knows what you're not just some creepy dude handing naked images to children. TRUE STORY.

People always give Wal-Mart a bad rap without thinking stories all the way through.

I wonder if Targoof can just verify a purchase via credit card used? They use these very frightening mechanical boxes that "suck" in your card and then spit it out. I always wonder if and when the thing will malfunction and I'm going to be on the phone to my bank telling them to cancel and send me a new one because of Target's funky machines....

I'm not 100% sure how Wal-mart's system works (never worked there never bought a gift card there) but if its like other places I have gotten gift cards from they also have to run the card through the register on the card reader and I could see where that would be a pain.

@CreativeLinks: It also said weekend adventure. There are no details on if he gave them away at once or during certain times. He also may have choosey on who he gave them to as opposed to giving them to everyone that walked by.

Alas, I'm a slave to Wal-Mart's low prices and turn a blind eye to the crappy service (a la Randy Marsh on South Park).

@ophmarketing:I guess you have never bought wm gift cards each one has to be indv. slid and the amount entered to activate. I just did 12 the other day and it took awhile.

He's fortunate the headline to the article isn't "Wannabe Santa Killed in Wal-Mart Stampede".

Nah. That was easy work. It's not like he/she wouldn't have been scanning and bagging something else in that time if not gift cards.

I pity the people behind him in line.

Hmm, I don't get the math.

He bought 130 cards. He stood outside a Walmart at Christmas and he still had 44 left.

That has to be the least trafficed Wal Mart ever.

If you stood out in front of the Wal Mart by me with 130 gift cards, they would be gone in 5 minutes tops.

So ironic, considering TGT's attitude towards bell ringers in years past. And I love how everyone is so quick to jump on corporate over some local co-manager's dumbass decision. That's the Consumerist way, though.

I'm off to Target tonight to help my boyfriend with his last-minute Christmas shopping. Yay, Target!

Wow, I have never been so glad a Super Target is going up next to my house than right now. I think I will bypass Walmart every chance I get now. Way to crush Christmas cheer Walmart.

The internal ear wasn't quite the first vestibule that sprung to mind...

That's the most beautiful negative publicity I've ever heard.

Hooray for Target. And fuck you, Wal-Mart.