Man Claims He Received Lifetime, Worldwide Ban From Walmart For Aggressive Ad-Matching « CBS Las Vegas
An Arizona man and possibly Walmart’s biggest fan found out that taking the company’s ad-matching promises too far can get you banned from every store for the rest of your life
An Arizona man and possibly Walmart’s biggest fan found out that taking the company’s ad-matching promises a bit too far can get you banned from every store for the rest of your life.
Joe Cantrell, of San Tan Valley, Ariz., said he was handcuffed, humiliated and banned from every Walmart in the world following a dispute about Christmas ornament ad-matching at the store that he visits at least twice every day, KNXV-TV reports.
“I was handcuffed, humiliated and embarrassed in front of everybody at Walmart,” Cantrell told KNXV. “I just love Walmart and that’s why I go.”
Cantrell says he’s a perpetual discount shopper that scours paper coupons and other printed advertisements for the lowest advertised prices for identical products. Given Walmart’s touted ad-matching, he often finds the biggest discounts and then heads over to his favorite Walmart store.
However, last week, Cantrell had local police called on him after complaining to store management that an employee had refused an ad-match for Christmas ornaments.
“When I left, he turned around and called the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and said he felt intimidated and threatened. I was upset but never once did I ever say anything – no contact, nothing,’” Cantrell told KNXV.
When he returned to the store four days later, three deputies reportedly cuffed him, gave him a court summons, and a notice of restriction that bans him from every Walmart on earth, for life.
Walmart’s ad match guarantee states: “We’re committed to providing low prices every day. On everything. So if you find a lower advertised price on an identical product, tell us and we’ll match it. Right at the register.”
The company’s corporate website states that ads featuring specific items for a specified price, preferred shopping card prices for specific printed item ads, fresh produce and meat, and buy one-get one free advertisements will all be matched.
Among other specific limitations and guideline restrictions for the policy, the site notes that Walmart does not honor ads where the actual price for items cannot be determined, Internet pricing, misprinted ad prices for other retailers and “Going out of business” or “closeout” prices sales.
In a statement provided to KNXV on Tuesday, Walmart responded to the situation: “We make every effort to make sure our customers have a good experience in our stores. As in previous situations, we attempted to work with this customer. However, in this situation, the associate felt unsafe and so we contacted local law enforcement. We are continuing to cooperate with law enforcement on their investigation.”
Cantrell said he avidly discount shops at the store at least twice each day — once in the morning with his grandmother and again in the evenings. And after being a professional wrestler for eight years, Cantrell said he suffers from a series of injuries that keep him from making the money he could in the past.
“Sorry I get a little emotional about this because I’m disabled,” he told the station. “I felt shamed. I felt like I was the bad guy. And I know I’m not a bad guy.”
Deputies eventually agreed to let Cantrell go after being handcuffed in the store. However, he still faces charges of threatening, disorderly conduct and intimidation
