topic Re: Bad Service at Walmart in Get Support

Bad Service at Walmart

Em-735 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 07:42:38 GMT

So just another post complaining about Walmart’s terrible service. A few weeks ago I made the decision to switch to Public Mobile, partially motivated by $25 refer a friend deal. I had heard some of the issues with buying SIM cards from Walmart, but thought I would give it a try because of the postal strike.

So I asked the person at the cell phone counter for a public mobile SIM card, he initially tried to talk me out of Public Mobile, trying to convince me to go with another brand with similarly priced plans, and told me that I would wouldn’t like the service at all because there was no helpline I could call, only the online chat board. All in all this interaction was super patronizing, I came into the store already knowing what I wanted and he kept trying to talk me out of it and saying it was a bad decision.

When I tell him that I want to go with Public Mobile because of the deal, he says he will activate it in store but is not able to sell the SIM card. I tell him that I need to sign up online to get the deal, and anyways I don’t have all of my information on me so I can’t sign up on the spot, he tells me their system is the same as the online website so I’d get the same reward (does anyone know if this is true, based on the way the deal was worded it looks like it has to be done strictly online, and this guy was intentionally lying to me, but I'm not sure), and that I should just go into my contacts or message my friend to get their cell number, very pushy.

Anyways, I just told him I had to confirm my friend’s number and left the store to order the SIM card online instead.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

RobertQc — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:05:10 GMT

@Em-735The definition of "online" vs "instore" - It depends how he would have activated, if he literally just used a browser and inserted your information then it would be the same as you doing it "online" but then he would not be receiving any commission (unless he put his number in for the referral) but that is likely against policy and could lose his job.

If he used his internal OSL software through his portal then it would be "in store"

Depending on what "offer" we discuss- There are usually different deals for "online" vs "in store" but sometimes the same in regards to referrals... but either way at the end of the day most people have a poor experience at walmart.

Once you get your sim card, if you activate before Dec 16th you will be able to get the $25 referal bonus yourself by doing it online (At home, on your computer, using publicmobile.ca).

Having an extra sim cards on hand is always a good option anyway- in the case of possible mail delays there are many other retail stores that sell sim cards. I know that wal~mart didn't work out but usually other stores do.

The Mobile Shop. There are nearly 200 The Mobile Shop locations across Canada, located in places like Loblaws and Real Canadian Superstore. Find the store closest to you by clicking here.

Wow! Mobile boutique. Not very many but in a lot of major cities. Find the closest to you by clicking here.

London Drugs operates 80 locations across 35 major markets. Check here to see if there is a location close to you Click here

K Mobile has 21 stores, see if one is close to you Click Here!

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

cappaj — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:06:56 GMT

You can always send a message to Moderator_Team to let them know which store that happened to you at and the name of the rep, if you caught it. They've said in the past that they want a heads up on when this happens so they can follow up. (That said, it doesn't seem like any follow up they've done has made a difference, I've never seen reports of stores changing their policies after a complaint happened here.)

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

Em-735 — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:17:24 GMT

@RobertQc
Thank you for your answer!
Sorry I didn't specify exactly, but yeah it was the "Until December 16 - Get a $25 Credit for You and Your Friend by Referring them to Public Mobile" deal, so based on your response I likely wouldn't have qualified for the $25 had I signed up with him in-store.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

Em-735 — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:20:14 GMT

@cappaj Unfortunatley I didn't get the name of the rep (and as much as I feel that I recieved bad service, I still hestitate to report retail workers, I know it can be a tough job sometimes!), but I'll look into messaging a moderator with the store details! Thanks!

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

tehowennathe — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 22:38:10 GMT

Today went to Walmart and brought a Sim for my mom so she could switch. It's odd that they wouldn't sell you sim. The guy was more then happy to help out. I buy vouchers from them and it's always good experience. Not sure why they wouldn't allow it.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

astronaut — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 23:47:10 GMT

We had a simialr experience. The Walmart representative told us we could only activate in store because they have a problem with people "burning" their sim cards and then trying to return them. Eventually I convinced him to sell it to me after he wrote on the receipt no returns and made me sign it.

He also told me to go to London Drugs and they'd sell it to me for online activation.

I can give the mods all the details they want.. This guy was the Manager too. Desmond at the Port Coquitlam Walmart.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

kazoo — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 21:33:37 GMT

Similar service as OP at Uptown Wally in Victoria. After discussion, I said, "OK, sell me a SIM and activate it, please." Sales person responds, "I've just closed." Beauty. My general rule is to buy only groceries a Wally. Guess I'll stick with that.

Next day, sales person at LD on Mackenzie was super helpful selling me the Public Mobile SIM and setting it up. Number ported within a couple of hours. If there was any phone down-time, I didn't notice. Thanks LD!

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

Stormy — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 02:25:30 GMT

What is really sad with the BS that comes from Walmart about selling a SIM card versus activation is thast they don't do anything different than you would do at home. They don't have any access to PM or anything else, they still have to create an account using the self serve just like if you did it yourself.

Even sadder is they but up all the BS about it for a measly $5 in commision (was told that at a WOW Boutique) for doing it for you.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

JeanetteO — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 11:12:30 GMT

I actually had the exact opposite experience at Walmart. I expected them to try to convince me to go with a more expensive plan, etc. but the guy set me up with a free sim card, put all my info in online and put the sim card in the phone for me. Not once did he try to sell me anything. Funny enough, when I left Bell they asked me where I was going and when I told them they said "sorry to hear that" and I just kind of said yeaa and he said "no really, I am sorry to hear that, you won't like the service" Anyway, I haven't been a customer for long but so far, the talk, text and data are working perfectly, my bill has been credited as expected and the only complaint I have is that I didn't hear about PM sooner!!

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

Carld123 — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 11:29:53 GMT

@JeanetteO

Good to hear someone say they are happy for a change.welcome to PM..the biggest complaint against Wal-Mart is they generally refuse to sell a sim card only...and as lots of PM deals require online activation by the customer people either get miss informed or in most cases dont read the full terms of a promotion..something to keep in mind for the future incase you decide to bring another friend or family member on board and take advantage of referral bonuses etc...

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

tehowennathe — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:49:51 GMT

@JeanetteO wrote:
I actually had the exact opposite experience at Walmart. I expected them to try to convince me to go with a more expensive plan, etc. but the guy set me up with a free sim card, put all my info in online and put the sim card in the phone for me. Not once did he try to sell me anything. Funny enough, when I left Bell they asked me where I was going and when I told them they said "sorry to hear that" and I just kind of said yeaa and he said "no really, I am sorry to hear that, you won't like the service" Anyway, I haven't been a customer for long but so far, the talk, text and data are working perfectly, my bill has been credited as expected and the only complaint I have is that I didn't hear about PM sooner!!

I guess it really depends on the person working . Maybe they never tried PM and just say that because of what they read online . The walmart in St Constant Quebec is always more then happy to help with sim cards and payment vouchers. My mom just bought a Sim from them and they said we are more then happy to help you activate or if you rather do it at home and have a quick question we are happy to answer.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

tehowennathe — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:51:51 GMT

@slash407 wrote:
im not suprised he was patronizing, again. Reps wanna make a sale ona contract.

I find that weird that he wouldnt sell u the card outright, I remember someone else having this problem, walmart doesnt allow u too buy the sim outright, thats messed.

Wal-Mart sure does allow you to buy sim out right. I brought 4 family members and they always bought it outright and activated at home.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

mimmo — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:55:49 GMT

@tehowennathe agreed there are some locations that allow purchases of sim cards, but it is more often than not we hear of bad stories. (I have encountered the negative from both my local walmarts, one of them even at one point put up a sign saying we do not sell sim cards without activation or something similar).

it could be that being a forum we hear more of the negative than positive interactions.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

tehowennathe — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:59:51 GMT

@mimmo wrote:
@tehowennathe agreed there are some locations that allow purchases of sim cards, but it is more often than not we hear of bad stories. (I have encountered the negative from both my local walmarts, one of them even at one point put up a sign saying we do not sell sim cards without activation or something similar).

it could be that being a forum we hear more of the negative than positive interactions.

Seems only the bad experiences are posted. I try to post the positive to let people know it's not all that bad. I had family members buy at 2 different locations and it was fine. Maybe its a provincal thing .

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

chenmi — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 15:12:42 GMT

It seems like this problem is still happening. I was at Walmart located at 500 Earl Grey Dr yesterday around 7:45 pm. The rep even sent me to Best Buy, saying that they sell SIM cards. What should I do? I was trying to time this so I'm not going to be paying two different phone bills next month. I kind of have to go out of my way after work hours, and I don't want to waste my time again. @CS_Agent

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

Lieux — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:58:45 GMT

Hello @chenmi sorry for you too give the information to the moderator @Mary_M she has already a list of walmart like that....

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437

And no best buy don't sell any public mobile simcard..yet... but...

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

cappaj — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 18:37:43 GMT

I had the same problem at that Walmart - the south Kanata Walmart will tell you the same thing. I had no trouble buying a SIM card on its own at the WOW mobile boutique in Bayshore Mall, you could try there. Or maybe The Mobile Shop inside the Superstore? No matter what, I definitely recommend calling ahead to confirm they'll sell you just the SIM, without requiring you to activate in store - you could save yourself a bunch of hassle and driving around with just a phone call or two first.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

cavemantoronto — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 00:26:42 GMT

@cappaj wrote:
I had the same problem at that Walmart - the south Kanata Walmart will tell you the same thing. I had no trouble buying a SIM card on its own at the WOW mobile boutique in Bayshore Mall, you could try there. Or maybe The Mobile Shop inside the Superstore? No matter what, I definitely recommend calling ahead to confirm they'll sell you just the SIM, without requiring you to activate in store - you could save yourself a bunch of hassle and driving around with just a phone call or two first.

It's too bad retailers are giving customers a hard time. Why not just order online? Only reason not to would be because you're in a hutr to get the sim. You can then activate at home, don't have to wait in line and then wait for person to activate if they force it and don't to argue or convince person to sell.

Re: Bad Service at Walmart

cavemantoronto — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 00:28:05 GMT

@chenmi wrote:
It seems like this problem is still happening. I was at Walmart located at 500 Earl Grey Dr yesterday around 7:45 pm. The rep even sent me to Best Buy, saying that they sell SIM cards. What should I do? I was trying to time this so I'm not going to be paying two different phone bills next month. I kind of have to go out of my way after work hours, and I don't want to waste my time again. @CS_Agent

Best Buy doesn't sell Public sims.