Would you be upset? Of course you would!!!

1. Follow blondie's advice and just go to the store and check
yourself.

2. Don't ask for something as ridiculous as free shipping on a $400
product when you know that's probably never gonna happen, no matter
how much you beg or whine.

get up off your A** and walk in the store........

First of all, we're talking about Walmart - - a discount retailer not
known for their customer service.

You claim that the first time you called the 6 stores, none were
helpful at ALL in answering your question except for one - - and I'm
assuming that by this you mean that no one had the swing set in stock
and didn't know when they would be getting one.

Yes - - Walmart may be open 24 hours but that doesn't mean that it is
reasonable to expect someone to answer your phone call and do an
inventory check at 2:00 a.m.

I think you need to understand that if it costs $200 to ship this item
(I checked walmart.com and it does), that it's huge and Walmart does
not want to take up warehouse space in their stores to keep them in
stock. Also, the website says that the item is available at
"selected" stores so that tells me that they probably only carry them
at their larger stores - - if at all.

Finally, I think it is safe to say that if you want this swing set you
will have to pay the "freakin' shipping" or find one at another store.

I wish if stores like WalMart aren't going to be adequately staffed to
answer customers questions that they at least offer consumers the
ability to check their inventory online. I understand your point -
why waste a trip if they don't have it?

& while I think the premise of you letter is great, the tone and the
way you present yourself leave something to be desired.

But since others have already gotten on you about that, I'd like to
make a suggestion.

There is a wonderful company that sells awesome residential jungle
gyms that outdo anything Walmart might sell. They are called:
http://www.rainbowplay.com/. They might be a little pricier, but the
quality will be far better than WalMart's and there are factory stores
in just about every state so you can pick it up yourself and save on
shipping charges.

You can also check your local Home Depot - I know in their design
center they have plans and people to help you gather the appropriate
supplies to build your own. It will probably be cheaper over all,
better made and you can specify exactly how you want it. My parents
did this figuring they were going to be assembling whether they did it
themselves or bought a manufactured one and that thing was like a
fortress.

My mom sold her house 10 years ago and it's STILL in the yard to this
day.

You asked for a free swing set for your daughter and free shipping
because you can't get through on the phone. It's WalMart for pete's
sake. What do you expect? Your letter is also very, very whiny. Not
at all attractive. You should try Sears. They answer their phones.

Good luck!

Hello Melissa S! (haha like me!)

I can understand the frustration, but I suggest in the future if you
are going to write a letter to a company, expecting results, maybe you
re-read it and make sure the emotion is not clouding the message.
Sometimes it might help to have someone re-read it. Someone from
wal-mart corporate is going to read this, and most likely dismiss it
because it comes off as a little irrational. Freakin' does not bode
well when informing a company that their customer service leaves much
to be desired...

Now another thing about phones. A lot of stores like this have
salespeople from the floor answer the phones to answer stock
questions. During the day they are staffed to the minimum to cut costs
(i will not disagree in saying that it causes alot of problems and
DOES result in a drop in customer service). Honestly, customers IN the
store have a much higher priority then customers calling to check
stock, and it is very rude to stop helping a customer mid-sentence to
answer the phone. (I'm sure if you drove all the way to your local
Walmart to purchase something you would agree with me and not want the
salesperson dropping you to answer the phone) Its highly unlikely that
this will ever change, especially in Walmart, unless you want the
prices to rise.

Hi Melissa. I tried to call my local Walmart last week, and my first
bad feeling came when I saw they didn't have a phone listing, though
the freakin store has been there for 8 years.

Needless to say, I quickly gave up and just drove there to have my
question answered (by my own eyes). It WAS inconvenient, but I don't
have little ones to look after.

I understand your frustration, and you made a good point about their
lack of customer service over the phone. Other have commented on the
use of "freakin", and they have a good point. It doesn't bother me
personally. Used between you and the others here, it is fine.
However, a company is not going to receive it well at all.

I hope you get the item you are looking for.

I believe you have a valid complaint, although good luck getting
anyone to listen to it. Walmart isn't exactly known for their
excellant customer service! If you are still interested in obtaining
the swing set through them, try going to the nearest location.
Approach the customer service counter and request in person that they
look the swing set up to see if they have any available. If they
don't have any at this location, request that they call the other 5
locations for you. Typically they have no problems doing this. The
only issue with looking availability up on the Walmart website as
suggested in previous posts, is the accuracy (or lack there of) of the
inventory control system.

Hey, I'd be annoyed too. I mean, maybe a swing set isn't a matter of
life and death, but when you're trying to find something and the
stores are completely unhelpful (or just plain incompetent) it's
infuriating! I went through a similar experience with Walmart when I
was trying to find an outdoor picnic table set one time.

I think your letter was fine until you used the word 'freakin'. That's
where you stop sounding reasonable and start sounding like a teenager
having a hissy.

Hopefully someone from the company will contact you and help you out.
I think you have a legitimate gripe.

Yes, I would be upset, of course I would. But sometimes when I'm upset
trying to get someone's help, I get tunnelvision and it trips me up.
As Julie Pie suggests there is another way to go about it that may
help you get your answer AND your swing set. Sometimes stepping back,
allowing some time to pass, and then writing a letter would help make
it more effective. The word "freaking" and the entire premise of the
last sentence just dosen't sit well. Again, I understand the
frustration and emotion.
Good Luck and I hope you get help finding the swing set!

What, Walmart is the only one with swing sets? Sorry, I think you are
overreacting just a wee bit. I understand you are frustrated, but it's
only a swing set, not a new kidney.

Would I be upset?????

NO!

I would have gotten off my tush and gone to the store to find out for
myself!

imagine, you spent a WEEK on the phone. It would have take a few HOURS
at TOPS to drive to the store and find out.

I understand your frustration, but I would never even think to call
Walmart, not even in the middle of the night, because that's when
they're short staffed. I'm sure you don't have to be reminded that
generally Walmart's customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

There are six Walmarts in your area? If I was so determined to buy
this item from Walmart, I would simply drive to the store and check
for stock. It still would be a lot cheaper than the cost of shipping.

If you see the swingset online, you can choose the option to pick it
up at the store with no shipping charge. Why don't you give that at
try. Walmart, in my experience, doesn't handle phone calls very well.

have you looked on the website? If you did.. did you see it? if you
did.. order it there! if not.. get it somewhere else.

Next time let your 4 yr old write the letter. It may sound more
mature.

If it's a stock item you might do better checking availability on the
website and having it shipped to you. I'm not sure how much they would
charge for shipping on it (its large) but at least you can see if they
have them in their inventory. When the carseat laws changed here in
NJ everyone scrambled to get one and the stores were empty. We went
through the website and since they had them in other states it was
shipped immediately. The shipping happened to be low on them (we were
thrilled) so for that it worked out great for us.

Ugh. Another letter that has a valid complaint buried it in, but is
overshadowed by the drama and emotion.

Yet another example of how wise it is to step away from the computer
until you can compose a calm and rational BUSINESS letter.

I'm sure the will get right on waiving the freaking shipping. You
have a valid complaint and ruined it by getting all dramatic and then
making a demand using the word freaking.

You have a good complaint, except the emotion is a little over the
top, and the last sentence is silly.

Have you tried other stores, such as Menard's or other
home-improvement centers? I see wooden swingsets at those kinds of
stores (since they carry other make-it-yourself lumber projects).
Perhaps give one of them a try, and just admit defeat on Walmart.