Letter to a store manager
I'm not the biggest fan of Walmart, but it seemed like every one in the store was there when I needed them.
Oct.27, 2023
Store Manager Jarad
Walmart
Lockwood Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34243
Dear Jarad,
While I spend several thousand dollars per year at your store, I have never experienced so much help from many of your associates until today.
You see, I lost my phone. Frankly, I was very scared and upset. For one thing, I do not drive. I have to depend on Uber and that means I need my phone or I am marooned in your building. I. had nightmare visions of spending the night sleeping on a table.
Anyhow, here is what happened. First, I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and get my flu and Covid shots.
After that, I picked up some groceries. And then, I checked out. While checking out I had a problem with one of my credit cards. I thought I had properly activated it, but failed to do so, and used my debit card instead.
Anyhow, I decided to check out the Holiday store. For more than a decade, Walmart has sold cute little holiday teddy bears with the year imprinted on the foot. It isn’t available yet, which is not unusual. But I used the phone to take a photo of a Christmas tree I was interested in. Then, while shopping for some gift bags, I got a phone message from my credit card company telling me why my credit card was refused and how to activate it.
Anyhow, I went to the register to pay for the gift bags and discovered my phone was missing!
Not think very straight, I went to the first place I used the phone – the pharmacy. I had a notice when my prescription was filled. They didn’t have it, but the pharmacist on duty was kind enough to dial the number to no avail.
Next, I went to the register where I checked out. The cashier was gone and the lane was closed, but one of your associates was using the area to apparently organize merchandise. He too, called the phone, again to no avail. But he referred me to another register which was designated for use as a lost-and-found station. The person there (perhaps a CSM?) went through the drawers but didn’t find it.He also tried calling the phone with the same results.
It was on to the Christmas tree area where an associate went throughout the entire area ringing me and searching for the phone without any results.
I then went to the area wheI I found the gift bags to no avail.
Having worked for five years at Walmarts on Long Island, I finally realized that just about the only person in the store who could walk around with me searching would be a manager.
Now, nearly hysterical, GM Coach Carrie arrived and in a calming voice asked me to review what I had done. I finally had figured out something of the last place I had been and we headed towards the Christmas section. She dialed my number and immediately found the phone by the gift bags. I had left it upside down and it was difficult to see and hear with my older eyes and ears.
She continued to talk to me, further calming me down and I was finally able to order an Uber to get me home.
Again, so many people expressed their concern and willingness to help that I have to congratulate you on the magnificent core of associates you have.
Sincerely,
Michael Munzer
