June 2023 by Louis M.
I was recently banned from both Wal-Marts in Grand Forks, for a year. I spoke with Mr. Kevin G., one of your marketing managers, over the phone a couple days ago. He was pretty hostile, so I couldn't get clear answers about what exactly I said or did that violated their stores rules for customers.If his direct supervisor happens to be reading this, would he reach out to Mr. Kevin and ask him questions about what sort of proof he used against me? Some companies take different stances on free speech and a customer's right to use social media to defend themself against poor treatment in local stores.I think Wal-Mart is a large and powerful corporation and the little guy, the customer needs to be free to use social media without fear that the company will react harshly and try to punish him. Without that freedom, a customer will feel afraid. I don't think Mr. Kevin wants his customers to be afraid of him or of speaking out. Small businesses don't have any rules in the matter and they can treat the customer harshly or ban him, based on his comments on social media, alone.I was under the impression that I would be judged based on my direct communications with the company or the local store and my behavior in the store. If Mr. Kevin wishes to change those rules, then the company should learn about his ideas and make sure they are in line with company policy.I would also like to lodge a complaint against him for not talking to me in a professional manner. I was being polite to him, but he kept threatening to use the police against me or ban me for life. If I was being rude to him, over the phone, then his behavior would be appropriate, but I was trying hard to be polite.I would also like to lodge a complaint against him for not giving me accurate information about the terms of the ban against me and hanging up on me. He was the first WM employee I spoke to about being banned. The first person to inform me of the ban was the policewoman who came to my house, a day after my visit, with the no trespass order for me to sign. I also phoned the asset protection officer at this store to learn the terms of the ban, so I could follow it more carefully. Mr. Kevin's explanation of the terms of the ban contradicted with what the policewoman and the asset protection officer told me, so I was frustrated with the encounter.I would also like to lodge a complaint against Mr. Kevin regarding not being sensitive to how dependent people have become on WM and how removing our shopping privileges is a form of hardship in many communities.Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter!
