I am expecting my first child and planning a baby shower. Due to the scattered geographic locations and the graduate school status (read: financially strapped) of many of the invitees, Walmart seemed a logical choice for a baby registry.

I went to four different Walmarts in my area only to find the registries broken. The store in Millersville, Md on Crain Highway did not have a scanner. The store in Bowie, MD on Rt 3 South did not have one either. In the Hanover, MD store the clerk had never used the registry for as long as she worked there because, to her knowledge, it had never worked (most of the workers from each store told me the same thing). Upon further inquiry at this store, a Customer Service Representative advised me to go to Capital Heights, Md as they were the newest store in the area and likely had a working machine. Capital Heights is 45 minutes plus from my home so this was not an option.
The store in Glen Burnie, MD on Ritchie Highway, the last store I visited, was the most frusterating. I went there on two occasions to register. The first time I was told the printer did not work. I went again the next week (this store is very close to my home unlike two of the others) and the printer was in working order. I was very happy! Unfortunately, my happiness was short lived as the representative had NO idea how to start a registry even though instructions are clearly printed on the scanner sheet. Even if she did know how to start it, she would have been unable to do so because upon further inspection, the scanner was not charged.

I called the district manager's office. I do not remember what his name was but the number began 410-480-XXXX. I, of course, was not afforded the opportunity to speak with him directly and spoke with a receptionist finally after leaving several messages. She told me that "they would work on it."

I must admit I have not been back to any Walmart to check the status of the scanner since my phone call to the DM's office more than two weeks ago. However, as my shower approaches and invitations are being made I am getting more and more aggravated that Walmart very likely won't be an option for my guests.
I am aware that I can register on-line. But my fear is that guests will encounter the same problems with the registry machines when they get to the store. I just don't think that guests will be inclined to print out the registry from home before going to Walamrt and further, if they did, they would not be able to update the registry as they purchased from the list.

I would like all of these registries to be fixed immediately. It is not fair to consumers that you offer a service that, in my experience, never works. Also, it would be nice if you could call me when they are fixed so I don't have to keep going back and forth. I would still like Walmart to be an option for my guests, but my time and patience are running out.