Friday Blog Round-Up: Happy Valentine’s Edition

Wal-Mart has foolishly thought that the formula they had in the U.S. would work everywhere else. Unfortunately, they failed to take into account different cultures, buying habits, and loads of other things. They just ASSUMED that what would work here would work everywhere else as well. But their assumptions have proven to be wrong. They got an “F” in Germany. And now it appears they are headed for the same grade in Japan. When are they going to finally learn that they CAN’T BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE?

Prattville Storm Now Identified as Category EF 3 Tornado

...damage to well known businesses like Walmart, RBC Centura Bank, and Whitney Bank.

Two banks and a Wal-Mart. Is God trying to tell us something?

Parents beware! Wal-Mart money card scam I did buy the card as a birthday gift for my 13 year old son.
It comes with a temporary card a that says it can be personalized and reloaded after activation.
When we tried to activate it on line it could not be finished and I had to call the call center. I was told it could not be activated because my son was not 18. They told me they could activate the temporary card but it could not be reloaded, or I could purchases a second card in my name and have an additional card in his name. I don’t need a prepaid visa and I am not going to pay an additional 8.94 for a second card. So what I originally paid 48.94 for was not what was advertised. Wal-Mart money card advertises a prepaid rechargeable personalized card. No where on packaging does it say you must be 18 to activate and use the rechargeable personalized card. The online activation also requires a social security number address D.O.B. and phone number, not advertized on the package so I am not sure who I was giving my sons personal information out to for a prepaid card. Paying 8.95 for the card is enough b.s. but then to be told it will not be personalized or rechargeable is crap. This is a scam all parents need to know about. I demanded a refund of the 8.94 purchase price for the card and the $40.00 I put on the card the foreigner I was speaking to said it would be in the mail with in 7 days. Parents beware this is not a use anywhere gift card for your kids it is a rip off they try to get you to by more cards in order to be able to use the one the way it is advertised.
Do not buy this card.

Tell your story here,here and here, for starters, Carrie.

As you point out, these gift cards offer Wal-Mart another opportunity to increase their personal info data. Today Wal-Mart’s computer database is second only to the Pentagon’s in capacity.

Scarey, huh?

Parents beware this is not a use anywhere gift card for your kids it is a rip off they try to get you to by more cards in order to be able to use the one the way it is advertised.

The WM Money Card is a financial tool meant for those over 18 who can not/does not want to get a more “traditional” means of money management.  Of course, WM (and others who sell them) has to collect “some” information, as these cards have the ability to accept direct deposits, etc.

Carrie should’ve done her homework and bought a Visa gift card (yes, WM sells those, too—and they don’t collect any personal information for those).

Furthermore, as Ken pointed-out, Carrie should’ve also done her homework and not posted her gripe on a website who has a totally different set of issues with WM.

Another bagless store for the environment, while Walmart puts in a few new skylights and lightbulbs.

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/StockNews/1110209/

Atlantic Superstore in Halifax becomes Loblaw Companies first bagless store in Nova Scotia
Tuesday, February 19, 2008; Posted: 11:14 AM


BRAMPTON, ON, Feb. 19, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX)—L | news | PowerRating | PR Charts—style=’font-size:11px;’> << - Fourth Canadian bagless location continues leadership in green retailing >>

As a more responsible GREEN retailer, and in response to Canadian consumer support for environmental initiatives, Atlantic (Quinpool) Superstore, scheduled to re-launch February 21, 2008, will be the first major grocery store in Nova Scotia to eliminate traditional plastic grocery bags at the checkouts. This location will be the 4th Loblaw banner store to go plastic-bagless following recent launches in Milton, ON, Langford, BC and Sherbrooke, QC.

With the recent launch of PC(R) Green(R) Canada’s Greenest Shopping Bag, a new reusable shopping bag, customers will be encouraged to shop with reusable bags. Additionally, customers can opt to use the PC(R) Green Box(TM) which has been designed to fit in store shopping carts and can hold up to the equivalent of 3 to 5 grocery bags!

Supporting this bagless initiative will be Halifax Regional Municipality’s Adventure Earth Centre “H.E.A.T.” (Helping the Earth by Acting Together) whose youth members will be in attendance providing assistance to customers.

First major grocery store in Nova Scotia to eliminate plastic grocery bags at the checkouts.

R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

Carrie: I had not heard of that.Thanks for the info. In regards to another blogger’s rude comment that YOU should have done YOUR homework before buying your son a giftcard ,I was under the impression that your son is of the age to be doing homework,not you.However, it would be a wise lesson for all of us to “do our homework” where ANY WalMart purchase is concerned.