Walmart Closed Early and Ruined Christmas Dinner

I am A walmart associate, and i think that it is completely ridiculous
that you don't have any sympathy for the workers that are working at
walmart? you think your christmas dinner was ruined? what about the
associates that dont even get to leave work until after six and then
some how have to make dinner and entertain. and also it is your own
fault that you didnt have your shopping done in the first place. dont
wait till the last minute and you wouldnt have this problem in the
first place. it was your own fault, and it is just selfish of you to
be this upset because the workers want to go home and see their
families but what do you care, right? you dont have to work. we get
one holiday off a year and you want to be angry that they closed a
little early? ridiculous. the only person there is to blame is
yourself. maybe next year you wont wait till the last minute. i do not
think they owe you any sort of apology in any way.

I am a Wal-Mart associate while you were with your family making
dinner we were serving customers running around like chickens with
their heads cut off. Were do we do our last minute shopping? Guess
what when we got home we were tired but had to get energy from
somewhere to make dinner and entertain our families. Oh I forgot we
are just Wal-Mart slaves with no life. Right? Maybe if we realized the
true meaing of Christmas you would have thought about our families
sitting home waiting on us.

I understand that you are mad about it but you have to realize that
the employees only get one holiday off a year. I think that when the
sign says six no one should be able to get in after 545 or so. The
store associates need family time too. I know, I've worked at walmart
for 9 years and I want my family time too. It's bad enough that we
have to deal without seeing our families every other holiday. Let us
see our family on Christmas Eve. Quit complaining and do your
shopping before you screw yourself. It's your fault

This would make me angry too. I understand wanting the time to go home
to your family, there has been plenty of times I've worked holidays
where I would rather have been home with my family too. But the sign
says 6pm, that means open, available, etc. It's ridiculous to turn
people away before you are closed, no matter what day of the year it
is.

This is not the only Walmart that did this. Our Walmart started
closing at 545 and people were trying to slide under the doors to get
in. If you say you are open until 6, you are open until 6. You have
every right to make sure people are in line at 6. You don't get to
refuse entry to people. Never fear, Walmart used to be the nastiest,
most unAmerican company on the planet, but they have been replaced by
Walgreens. While Walmart did take a huge loss by closing on Christmas
Eve and remaining closed on Christmas Day so that their employees
could spend time with their families, Walgreens forced their employees
to work. Anti-American, Anti-Christian, Anti-Christmas Nazis!

I also agree that the sign should have been changed, but I care more
about the store employees getting home to their families at a decent
hour than I care about last minute shoppers who dont care about anyone
but themselves. I would have understood.

Just because 50 people are let in at 5:40 does nto mean they will be
done shopping by the 6:00 closing time,and you can't tell them to get
out, or someone will write a complaint in to a site like this.

If Christmas dinner was that important, you would not have waited
until 5:40 on Christmas Eve to do the shopping for itl.

I'd contact the corporate office and tell them about this manager,
since the closing time for the store was likely set by the corporate
office. It isn't up to the manager to decide what time his store
closes its doors.

I understand he was trying to do right by his employees, but if the
sign says the store closes at 6, that should mean people can get into
the store up to 6:00.

I understand and sympathize as I commonly forget items and have to
make that last minute run to the store.
The point here is that Wal Mart posted a 6pm closing. Not 5:45pm
closing.
Next holiday, or early close day, the notice should read,
Wal Mart will be closing at 6pm. The last shoppers will be admitted at
5:30pm. Thank you.
That should be clear enough...
Hope you had a Merry Christmas despite Wal Mart's closing. I wouldn't
let it ruin my holiday...laugh it off and gift the gift of a funny
note, a card and cash or check.

Yes, I agree that if the store posts a 6 p.m. closing time, they ought
to close at that time. I understand your frustration but to wait so
long to finish your shopping is really ridiculous. Did you really
think you'd get your shopping done in 20 minutes? Incredible. Remember
that those employees have to get the store cleaned up which takes
hours after the customers rifle through things and they want to get
home for their Christmas dinner too. My advice to you is to plan ahead
or do online shopping if you don't have time to drive to stores. IMO
you ruined your own Christmas dinner by not budgeting your time more
efficiently and waiting until the very last moment.

Yeah, that's frustrating. If they have posted 6pm, closing should be
6pm. Walmart was very successful this year unlike competitors I hear.
I'm sure headquarters will be very dissapointed when they hear this!
What has happened to customer service? It's pretty bad that there are
web sites to issue complaints! Good luck! They should issue you a gift
card to make up for the gas wasted.

I think Christmas was ruined for the people who had to go hungry.

Ok...generally once I have made up my mind about something I rarely
will change my mind...however I happened to be out to dinner with my
son yesterday and afterwards he remembered he needed to stop at our
local grocery store to pick up milk, bread and some luncheon meats. We
arrived at the store at 5:55pm and the sign on the door read they
would close at 6pm.
They allowed shoppers in right up until 6pm and then turned them
away...those who were able to get into the store just before th e6pm
closing time were reminded over the intercom that they would
appreciate it if all shoppers would complete their selections ASAP so
they can be checked out. They then announced to have all stock or
other employees to the front of the store to help with bagging.

So after seeing for myself that this can be done in a an orderly
fashion if the manager knows how to organize an early closing the
Walmart manager could have done just as this grovery store manager
did.

But I also reminded my son he still should have not waited until the
last minute to shop for these items. He was lucky that the store was
still open otherwise he would have had to go to a "convenient" type
store to get the items he needed.

i used to work at a hotel restaurant that closed at 1:00 p.m. and then
reopen at five for dinner. you wouldn't believe the people who showed
up at dust particles before one and expected us to be happy to serve
them. we weren't. we were calling them horrible names in the
kitchen. but--we had to serve them. why? because we closed at ONE,
at 12:59 and a half, we were still open. is it rude to show up right
before any business closes? you bet it is! but do you have to deal
with them? yes, because you are still open. i think there should be
a "phase out" interval with businesses, where the businesses are still
technically open, but only to wind up current customers, not accept
new ones. pfb has gotten quite picky with calling a spade a spade, so
i won't, but we still know,don't we?

My store closed at 6 pm..... at 615 after repeatedly telling one
person we were closed(she HAD TO GET A GIFT FOR HER BOYFRIEND
THOUGH!!!!!!!! ughhhhh) I started counting my registers.... I have
a family too... Christmas wasnt a surprise this year it comes every
year..... next year I will turn people away at 545.....

Bravo to Wal-Mart for taking their employees into consideration!
Apparently management wanted to make sure the store employees actually
got out on time to spend the holiday with their families, instead of
being stuck waiting for those inconsiderate shoppers (and I'm not
saying you're one of them) who come in at 5:59 for a "last minute
Christmas gift" and refuse to leave until they're done with the
shopping they should have completed long before.

I highly doubt this ruined your Christmas dinner. You spent it with
your family, right? That's more than a lot of people got to do. And
I'm assuming you were missing one ingrediant - you didn't actually
intend to shop for the whole meal at 5:40 PM, right?

They were scheduled to close at 5:00, but when I arrived at 4:45, they
were already turning people away.

As annoying as it was, I never would have imagined blaming them for
"ruining" my holiday. First of all, it's just a meal and secondly,
I'm the one who waited till the last minute to finish my grocery
shopping and I'm the one who didn't go straight to the store when I
left work at 2:00.

Put it in perspective, at least you work for an employer that either
1) gave you Christmas Eve off or 2) let you out in time to get to the
store at all. Can the WalMart employees say the same?

I am not saying that the manager was right,but you should have
expected something like that to happen,he must have shut down at 5:30
so people could not walk into the store at 5:30 and right before 6
like people tend to do and then everyone has to wait around while the
customers get what they need and take there time doing it and we have
to understand it is Christmas Eve for them also and they have families
they need to get home for also.I am a Retail store manager for 10
years now and one thing I have learned is people always come running
in when it is closing time and holidays and don't ever think about the
person having to wait on them and realizing they have kids and family
they want to get home to also, thats why there is a closing time.It is
store policy that your sposed to close at the closing time on the
door,I had alot of last minuet things to get on Christmas Eve as well
but I made sure to get them in the afternoon hours.it is bad enough
how busy it is one christmas eve and people can be so rude and nasty
.I am sorry that that ruined your dinner and by store ploicy and
common courtesy being that it was christmas he should have let you in
until the designated time atleast,hopefully next time you will figure
out a way to get there alot earlier or makesure everything is done
ahead of time.


I still hope you had a Merry Christmas,
Melissa

Just an update to this whole thing. A manager called me from store and
apologized for this.

Hopefully next year they will not close earlier than posted on their
sign is all I ask.

Not that I'm justifying what happened but under the circumstances I
think you need to anticipate poor service at all times. If I was only
getting paid minium wage or close to it I would have closed the store
even earlier. Honestly it's not like I would have any incentive to do
the bare minium to keep from getting fired. Besides if I were to get
fired it's not like I couldn't get a better job elsewhere that either
paid the same or even better. Rather than deal with last minute
shoppers I'd close the store and go home to my loving family which is
far more important when it comes down to it.

Is there a problem with the websites timekeeping device? My computer
is showing me that the letter was posted at 12:00 pm (noon) on 24
December, but the incident occurred in the future time of 5:40 pm on
24 December.

This is really sad... It does not matter why the OP was there so
close to closing time, only that it was more than a few minutes (say
5) prior to it. 30 minutes-20 even is ridiculously early to stop
allowing new customers in. Now there is nothing wrong with a manager
or designee standing at the door and saying something like "Store
closing in 20 minutes!", but to not let someone in is unacceptable.

What if it was not just a food product that was needed? Last minute
stuff comes up all the time. I hope you were able to eventually find
a place to purchase what you needed.

I hope you hear back from Wal-mart and that they are at the very least
apologetic.

I really don't understand the debate. Yes, it's Christmas Eve, but
Wal-Mart already made a concession to the holiday by closing at
6:00pm. It would be different if they were normally open until 6:00pm,
but decided to close early because of the holiday. In this case, it's
like any other day. If a store had posted hours and decided to close
early sometimes because the employees wanted to go home, they would
probably alienate their customers long-term.

Just because it's a holiday doesn't mean that the store can close
whenever it wants to, and I'm willing to bet the corporate office will
say something to that effect.

Here are some thoughts on this letter:
1. The workers do not get to leave right at closing time. I have
worked retail, and know this. There is time required to count down
drawers, clean, and re-stock. While some employees might get to leave
right at the posted closing time, then so be it, they can leave or
stay a few minutes late to get some extra hours. And I bet most Wal
Mart workers would appreciate extra hours in these economic times.
2. Stocking. When I worked retail, we didn't shut the door at closing
time, turn off the lights, clock out and leave. We would close, but be
there for HOURS, sometimes until 1 or 2 AM stocking and getting the
displays PERFECT. There would still be people in the store working
after closing time. I can see the manager limiting traffic AFTER
closing time, but during open hours, you are free to go in.
3. The registers shutting off idea is ridiculous. What about employees
who need to be rung up, etc. Plus, I bet their time and attendance
records are maintained through the POS.
4. Here is my solution- Retail situations like this should work like
polling precincts. You either get in line by closing time or get out.
All the people in the store should be required to be in line and have
their final selections made by closing time or leave the store.

My question to the OP is: "How long did you stand there arguing with
the manager?" You state that you arrived at 5:40, yet didn't arrive
at another store until 6:15, 35 minutes later. I live in the
Baltimore area, and I am very familiar with Severn. There are plenty
of grocery stores up and down Ritchie Highway that you could've driven
to well before 6 pm.

The suggestion that others have made about shutting down the registers
at precisely 6:00 - I can see that causing even more problems. What
happens if they shut down in the middle of an order? What happens if
a conscientious cashier, realizing there was only 1 or 2 minutes left,
hurries through each order, which would likely cause mistakes to be
made? How about rude people shoving their way into the front of the
line, knowing they only have a minute or two left? How about the
numerous people with full carts of items waiting in line when the
registers shut off, forcing them to leave everything in the carts on
the sales floor, and the resulting job of the employees having to put
everything away?

Closing 20 minutes before the posted closing time seems a bit
excessive. However, one must use a bit of common sense, even if the
customer doesn't. What would be a reasonable amount of time to expect
a customer to be finished shopping and in checkout? I would be a bit
more sympathetic to Walmart if they stopped allowing people in at 5:50
or 5:55. After all, it's not reasonable to believe that someone can
shop in 5 minutes, considering the circumstances.

I understand employees want to go home at 6:00pm when the store
closes. But having worked in retail I know that this never happens,
your going to be there until the last customer is rung up. (This
sucks, but it's part of working retail)

My problem was the fact that there was a sign up on the entrance that
said "we are open until 6:00pm" and the manager locked the door before
5:40pm. The second the door was shut, they should of replaced it a
closed sign.

I had all my gift shopping done, I figured I'd stop on my way home
from work to pick up the foods for a last minute dinner. (this happens
to alot of people, not just on christmas either..)

To use that internet favorite phrase of mine: "Your lack of planning
does not make it my emergency". A thought that was echoing through the
mind's of the retail workers as they tried to leave work to make their
OWN Christmas dinners.

I actually *gasp* plan ahead by making a complete list of every item I
am going to need and shop ahead of time so there are no last minute
trips.

Wal-Mart didn't "ruin your Christmas dinner", you did that all by
yourself.

The manager was trying to close at 6pm...letting customers in past
5:30pm would have made it next to impossible for them to clsoe right
at 6pm as posted.
Store employees have lives too. I am sure the ones worked did so for
the pay, but they were probably glad to be getting out at a decent
hour on Christmas Eve.

And, with 20 mins to closing time you were going to run in and pick up
the needed items? Even if you know where everything is located its a
Super Walmart and the store is huge. It was most unlikely that you
would be out by 6pm.

Walmart did not ruin your Christmas...you did for not planning ahead.

What a wonderful present - a letter that brings out many different
opinions and results in a fairly evenly divided audience.

That said, I'm wondering how the OP made out with a possibly
unsatiated future mother-in-law, a half empty gas tank, and no apology
from the manager. Not to mention all the fellow shoppers the OP said
had ruined Christmases as a result of the alleged rude and thoughtless
behavior on the manager's part. I guess we all can't be happy at the
same time...

I agree to disagree. Anyone headed out for "bargains" tomorrow? I
hear Wal-Mart opens at 6am, or at least I saw that advertised on the
door. I'll be sleeping in.

Would you have been happier if you had been allowed into the store and
then saw all the registers shut down promptly at 6 p.m., whether or
not you had completed your purchase?

On the contrary, I think you would have been absolutely outraged that
you were expected to find your item(s), get to the register, have your
purchase rung up, pay for it and then actually leave the store, all by
the time the store doors were locked at 6 p.m.

I also find it difficult to believe you and the other customers
expected to complete your shopping in 20 minutes so Wal-Mart's
employees could leave on time. Despite your assertion that the store
manager was "rude and inconsiderate," I think the truly inconsiderate
ones were the customers who expected employees to work past closing
because it was more convenient for those customers.

While I do think a sign could have been posted to the effect that the
"doors close at 5:30 p.m.," I can't blame the store manager for trying
to get his employees home on time.

The store manager acted appropriately as he no doubt knew how many
customers were already in the store and how long it would take them to
check out. Allowing more people in the store so close to closing would
have only delayed employees and possibly "ruined" their holidays. If
shopping at Wal-Mart was so essential to the OP, then he should have
gotten there in time to shop and leave the store by 6:00 p.m.

I've worked retail as have many of the other posters. Yes, there were
times we had last minute customers who would stay WAY past close.
That isn't fun. However, the store posted they were closing at 6, not
5:30. We aren't talking a matter of a couple of minutes where clocks
could have been off. We are talking about a half an hour! I think it
was bad planning on the OP's part to have waited so long to purchase
items for Christmas dinner. But we really have no idea what the
circumstances were that led to this decision and really, it shouldn't
matter. The store closed early to new customers and the bottom line
is that this was wrong.

As a former retail employee who knows what it is like to be stuck at
work past the time because of last minute customers, you get ZERO
sympathy from me!

Maybe next year, you'll plan ahead.

Here is what happens: A person shows up 1 minute before close, Door
going In is all ready locked. Door going Out isn't. A person goes
Out the Out door and HOLDS it open for the other person to come in.
The person that comes In taks an hour to shop. Employes don't get to
go home on time. How do I know this? I have been there. I was
woking at a place that closed at 4 on Christmas Eve. At 6:30 (yes,
two and a hlaf hours AFTER closing time) a guy got on the intercome
and said "Our employees would like to get home to there families!
LEAVE NOW!" Everyone did. Yes, he did get in to a little trouble for
saying that.

What was happening was that as some one went out, they held the door
open for someone else to come in. The next year, managers were at the
door a half hour (like here) before closing and were NOT letting
anyone else in.

I feel for the people stuck working on Christmas Eve. But I can
imagine I'd be mad if this had happened to me. I think the manager
should treat the public like a dear relative who is always late. If
mom is always an hour late, lie to her and tell her everything is an
hour earlier than it really is (or do it just for special occasions).
If we know the public is going to do this on Christmas Eve, then post
the store's closing time as 5 p.m. That way, the employees still get
out by 6:30, which wouldn't have happened if the store closed at 6.

That was exceptionally rude of the manager to not allow you in when
you had 20 minutes to shop.

It doesn't matter if you could have planned better. Not everybody is
as organized as the regulars on this site... I know I was out
yesterday doing some shopping myself, and I was surprised at how some
retailers chose to close.

Additionally, the word "Ruined" is thrown out a lot around here, but I
think that the situation of closing a store earlier than posted could
actually ruin a dinner. It's not about the presents in this case- it's
what the guests were coming for, and without critical supplies that
were needed at the last minute, things could have not turned out. Sure
you have your family in your presence and in good health, but come on
folks, its about the food.

"I feel I wasted a entire drive over to this walmart when I could of
went to another competitor and got right in, but by the time I got to
the closest store it was 6:15pm and they actually closed at 6:00pm. "
This line says it all. They had a posted time, and they cut it short.
If he had known, Lawrence could have gone to a different store.

It doesn't matter what time Walmart posted as a closing time. They
could have posted 10:00am as their closing time and people would still
want to walk in twenty minutes before closing to do their shopping and
the employees still would get out late due to the last minute shoppers
and this manager would have likely still felt the need to block people
from coming in so he and his employees wouldnt have to stay any later
than necessary. Perhaps the effect wouldn't be as pronounced with a
10am closing but it would still be there.

Companies have a balancing act when it comes to setting holiday hours;
especially for the biggest one of the year, Christmas. They just arent
greedy when they remain open on Christmas Eve - they recognize there
is a need on the part of their customers and they're trying to fill it
while balancing the desire of their employees to get home to be with
their families. For a Walmart to close at 6pm on Christmas Eve is, in
our opinion, strikes a fair balance.

There is no way, however, that any company can eliminate the cold,
harsh reality which is that people will shop right up until the last
minute; especially on Christmas Eve. And this will cause those folks
who have to close the store to get out an hour or so later. A manager,
as in this case, who attempts to "shortcut" this reality and block
people from coming in during the last half hour of business does his
customers and his company a grave disservice and, as another commenter
pointed out, Walmart is very likely to take a dim view of his actions;
as they well should.

We are not a big fan of posting "gotcha" photos on our site however,
in this case, we made an exception because we believe this manager was
completely in the wrong and we're willing to let the letter writer
buttress their case by posting the photo.

They should have posted a sign earlier in the week stating thatthey
would not allow customers in after 5:30 in order to be able to close
at 6 so that their employees could begin their own celebrating, etc.

I agree with you that since there was only a sign stating they close
at 6, it means you can come in until 6.

I also think that you were on borrowed time anyway, thinking you could
locate and purchase a suitable gift for your future in laws, at Wal
Mart, in 20 minutes. I don't think I have ever been in and out of Wal
Mart in less than 20 minutes, let alone on Xmas eve.

I'm with Wal-mart on this one. Wal-mart is a big store that never
closes (at least none of them here ever close), save on one or two
days a year. Obviously, this is a difficult thing for them to do...It
is a large store and there might have been a lot of people in the
store already.

They are open...but I respect their rights to stop allowing customers
at a certain point. They need to focus on getting customers out and
letting more people in doesn't help.

We don't know this store's situation. There could have been things
happening behind the scenes that we do not know about.

Actually, I'm on the OP's side here. If a store is open until 6:00
p.m., then they are open until 6 p.m. Yes, I know it was Christmas Eve
and the employees wanted to go home. But the store was open until 6
p.m., not 5:30 p.m.

My sister worked for Walmart years ago, and they never EVER closed
early, even on Christmas Eve. Many times she was there until 7 p.m. or
later waiting for people to exit the store. It sucks, I agree, but
it's also part of working retail.

It sounds like the other store probably started turning away customers
a little earlier than six also. If they were still letting people in
until six then there probably would have still been people in line at
six fifteen. If Wal-Mart let people in until six the employees might
be lucky if they get to leave at seven.

Give those employees a break. I work at a Wal-Mart and Christmas Eve
is the only day we get to close early. We have gifts to wrap and
dinners to prepare also.

Granted they should have let you in if it there was still at least 20
minutes to shop, but, If the dinner was so important to you why didn't
you already have all the supplies that you needed?

wow-- this seems to be christmas spirit at its best

how bout this-- the nest time you have somewhere to go, i show up at
your house 20 minutes before you have to leave and just lolly gag
around until i feel like it-- bet that would truly ruin your day.

Have a Merry Christmas.

I would be upset if a store closed 20 minutes before the posted time.
Christmas Eve is actually the only day I would give the store a break.


I recall the last time I was running around Christmas Eve, doing last
minute shopping. I knew the stores were closing in the 4 to 5 time
range. When I finally got to a store that kept me from going in at
4:55, I was relieved my shopping was over. I wished the employee
blocking the door a Merry Christmas and went on my way.

I view the shopping being done on Christmas Eve as strictly last
minute tying up loose ends. I also respect the fact that employees
have a right to a holiday and have gotten beaten up by the rat race
leading up to Christmas.

If there were items needed for Christmas dinner, those should have
been given a priority and not left to the last minute.

There were probably already too many people dragging their feet in
there, and he knew that any more would give them no chance of getting
out close to when they should. The example of you getting in to a
store that should have closed 15 minutes earlier is exactly he was
there. He was looking after his employees and himself, all of whom
had lives they wanted to get back to. We see lots of people on here
whinging about stores not be open until the hours on "the sign". If
an employee took a magic marker and wrote the closing time as "right
now", would the whingers be satisfied? Of course not. It's just a
sign, and it's obviously not caste in stone as hours can and do
change.
If this ruins Christmas or even Christmas dinner, you really need to
plan ahead a little better.

The manager had no right to stop customers from entering the store
when the store hours were posted as being open until 6pm.

I understand that he may have done it in an effort to make sure all
the customers were out of the store by 6pm. Having worked many years
in retail, I can't begin to tell you how many times customers have
entered the store within 5 or 10 minutes of closing time stating they
only needed one quick item but stayed in the store at least a half
hour after closing, sometimes longer.

If for some reason they changed the closing time, they should have
updated the signs on the doors.