The wife told me her Buick Envision started doing some weird crap, the rear dome lights would come on randomly. Not a big deal but she is working nights this month and it makes it hard to see, she has to wait until she gets to a light to reach in the back and turn it off.

I used my Google Fu and found a forum that was discussing the same problem, a few said the factory battery was the problem. Testing revealed only 11 volts which makes the ECM do weird shit

I searched online and it takes a H7 AGM battery, Advance Auto is usually my go to. They had their Die Hard platinum one for $269, a lot of other place were more. Walmart pops up with $188 for their 4 year platinum.

I got with one of the service writer here at work and asked him to price their AC Delco 4 year battery and I told him why I was replacing it. $269. He also found a bulletin about this exact problem and a full replacement while under the bumper to bumper which ran out on 11/30


Last time I checked the same manufacturer makes most of these store branded batteries anyway. I go on Walmart's site and a lot of the stores don't carry them so I decided to buy it online, I buy it at one near my home, the ones near work didn't have it. Just wanted to lock it down for a change out Saturday. I wanted to secure it down and just go to automotive and swap but curbside was the only option.

Removing the battery wasn't a two minute job like it should be, there's a cover over the negative, a monstrosity connected to the positive with several wires attached that would not budge. Found some clips that set it free and then three hold downs and another cover over the battery

I go to Walmart Saturday and park in the curbside parking. To let them know you are there you have to have their app or call the number on the sign and let them know what spot you are in. I call and let them know who I am and ask if they are taking the core and refunding core charge. He says What? I ask again and he says give me a minute, he comes back and asks me to repeat the question. I do and then he says to come inside. Shit. So I leave my spot because I am no longer curbside. As I'm driving to another spot he calls me back and asks if I am returning an item.

No I say, I am picking up a battery and leaving the old one.

Oh, what spot are you in?

I'm not in a spot, you told me to come in


Ok, just come in.

Where?

You know the just behind the entrance


Which one?


On the right


Oh, groceries?

Yes

I go in and see the door, it says do not enter. So I stand there for a couple minutes before someone asks if they can help me. I get my battery put in my cart. I ask about the core charge, he has no idea what i'm talking about. I explain and he says to go to customer service

I get there and have to wait about 10 minutes, I get to counter and I explain what I am doing. She scans my barcode on email and says she doesn't see anything. I show her the charge on my receipt and she says she can't do anything, go to automotive. I get there and have to wait about another 10 minutes to get to counter. She ask if she can help me and I say I hope so, this is my third try at returning core. She scans my receipt and say she doesn't see anything.

FUCK!!!

I wasn't having it, I was about to raise my voice and read this lady the riot act. Luckily what I believe was a manager walked by and told her how to do a core refund before I could begin my cussing. Done and done with curbside

Walmart's curbside pickup is horrifically bad and we avoid it like the plague now. I've sat out there forever and tried to call and got the runaround then got pissed off and went inside this area where they do all this and everyone was clueless.

Target on the other hand is scary efficient and fast, it's almost like they know you are coming and will come out with your stuff within one minute. It's clear they are held to a higher standard there.

I have no problem with Walmart’s curbside pickup, or any other companies’ curbside pickup for that matter. The way I see it, curbside pickup is for exactly that: you order and pay online, go there and quickly pick up your order and leave. It’s not for any other additional deal, like taking back this and refunding that. You waited until you got there then called and asked “if they are taking the core and refunding core charge”. That was completely not part of the original order. No wonder things went sideways. Not their fault, afaic. If there’s any additional details you didn’t mention to convince me otherwise, I’m all ears.

Btw, I just used Walmart curbside yesterday to pick a new DVD player. Stopped and left in less than 5 minutes.

I disagree, A core charge and refund are part of the deal. Always

Not my fault they suck

quote:

A core charge and refund are part of the deal.

Does the online order mention anything like that? If not, then it's not part of the deal. You had to call them after you got there and asked if they do. So, how is it part of the deal?

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

I have no problem with Walmart’s curbside pickup

You must have a better run Walmart than I do because I've never had a good experience with their curbside service. It's far less aggravation and time wasted for me to just go inside and get the item(s) and pay and be on my way.

I tried curbside pickup once and I decided it was not for me. They screwed it up, and also it was hard to straighten out. I just go in myself from now on.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I have no problem with Walmart’s curbside pickup, or any other companies’ curbside pickup for that matter. The way I see it, curbside pickup is for exactly that: you order and pay online, go there and quickly pick up your order and leave. It’s not for any other additional deal, like taking back this and refunding that. You waited until you got there then called and asked “if they are taking the core and refunding core charge”. That was completely not part of the original order. No wonder things went sideways. Not their fault, afaic.

This.

Living deep in the heart of Walmartland (about 45 minutes from where their HQ is located), Walmarts are abundant in my area, and I use Walmart Curbside Pickup for 90+% of my grocery and household item purchases.

It's convenient, quick, and efficient. I can plan my weekly menu, do all my shopping online at my convenience, and know that in the chosen pickup window I can get there, check in with the app, and be in and out in 5 minutes or less with all my items now sitting in the back of my car.

Beats the hell out of taking the time to go inside, wander each aisle, dodge other customers, pick each individual item out myself, wait in line, go through self-checkout, bag all the items, carry them to the car, load them in the car, etc. Now that Curbside Pickup is an option, my time is better spent elsewhere.

And best of all, it's free! Exact same price whether you do all the work yourself or you have them do all the work for you.

I've been doing this on a near-weekly basis for over a decade, so I figure that's around 500 Curbside Pickup transactions, and I can count on one hand the number of problems I've had and still have fingers left. On one or two occasions I've had a few items missing from my order. Annoying, but I got prompt refunds when I made them aware. On another one or two occasions I've gotten an item of produce that was subpar and that I wouldn't have picked out myself.

That's it. (Okay, there were one or two other occasions in which I get more groceries than I ordered, but that was an error in my favor, so I don't count those.)

The other 99.9% of Curbside Pickups have gone flawlessly, and I've saved literally hundreds of hours of my life that I would have otherwise spent wandering the aisles inside and doing it all myself.

But yes, to 12131's point, it's Curbside Pickup. Not Curbside Exchange. Not Curbside Return. Not Curbside Maybe I Want To Talk To A Manager Or Perhaps Customer Service.

Pickup. (Only.)

Order. Pickup. Leave.

Anything more complicated necessitates going inside, rather than selecting Curbside Pickup.

This was simply user error. You've never used it before so you didn't know better, which is fine, but I wouldn't then totally write off Curbside Pickup altogether when you're the one who didn't use it for what it was actually intended.

In fact, battery replacements are one example of the few situations in which I don't use Curbside Pickup when buying from Walmart. Instead, I bring the couple tools I need, park outside the automotive entrance, pop the hood, remove the existing battery, carry it inside, buy a new battery and do the core exchange at the same time, carry the new battery out and install it in the parking lot, then drive home. Takes 10 minutes, tops.

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
Not my fault they suck

You hadn’t an inkling this wasn’t going sideways when you placed the order? You’re pulling our legs. Otherwise, the corollary of your statement above is also true.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
But yes, to 12131's point, it's Curbside Pickup. Not Curbside Exchange. Not Curbside Return. Not Curbside Maybe I Want To Talk To A Manager Or Perhaps Customer Service.

Pickup. (Only.)

Order. Pickup. Leave.

Anything more complicated necessitates going inside, rather than selecting Curbside Pickup.

This was simply user error. You've never used it before so you didn't know better, which is fine, but I wouldn't then totally write off Curbside Pickup altogether when you're the one who didn't use it for what it was actually intended.

In fact, battery replacements are one example of the few situations in which I don't use Curbside Pickup when buying from Walmart. Instead, I bring the couple tools I need, park outside the automotive entrance, pop the hood, remove the existing battery, carry it inside, buy a new battery and do the core exchange at the same time, carry the new battery out and install it in the parking lot, then drive home. Takes 10 minutes, tops.

^^ THIS ^^

Legendary auto executive Lee Iacocca famously challenged the "customer is always right" mantra. When the customer doesn't have realistic expectations there is no cost-benefit in a business meeting the customer demands. Instead, better educating the customer is where time is better spent. Perhaps a warning that "battery core exchange isn't part of curbside for batteries" when somebody purchases a battery and selects curbside.

I use the curbside pickup for OTC meds and such. The main reason for that is that the pharmacy / med section in my local WM is sometimes very unorganized. So, rather than waste MY time looking for something, I place the order online and let an employee spend THEIR time finding and getting what I need. Then I wait until I get a text telling me that my order is ready for pickup, and then I go to the store and park in the pickup spot.

Other items, I will usually go into the store.

(Crotchety old(er) man who’s patience wears thinner every day)

I swore midway through the Covid scam that if I heard the word “curbside” ever again it would be too soon and that people using it should be hung by the neck until dead.

Have we really become so fargin’ lazy that we can’t walk into a store and buy/exchange things? I’d venture that 99% of the people using this service could do just that, and a little exercise might do you good.

Second, I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some minimum wage flunky pick out my groceries for me. Nope. Not going to happen.

Howsabout we just just start walking into the damn grocery store and getting our own shit like we’ve done for, oh…I don’t know…, forever?

If you had a leg blown off in battle or are a quadriplegic, you have an excuse. Otherwise? Nope. The good Lord gave you two feet. Use ‘em.

And, yeah, I agree… Curbside() is/should be no different than a drive-through. Pick up only. If you want to exchange something or do something more complicated than opening your window, go inside.

If they don't put such a warning on the order page, perhaps they should.

Ha That's great egregore

Still not ever going to use it


When shopping I check expire dates and often shit is expired, especially at Kroger. I'm not trusting anyone to pick out groceries for me

Buy it online for curbside, you don't get curbside core services, while it seems logical, on the web page and if you google walmart battery core return process it's clear you take it to the CS counter with your receipt and bobs' your uncle.

I've always bought it at the store and brought the old battery with me when it's dead and I don't/can't keep the vehicle running and choose a WalMart with an automotive service section.

The lawn mower battery, I just take it in with me, pick up the pre purchased online new battery and return the core at the counter.

Curbside doesn't work that way, you have to take delivery at the curb, get your receipt and schlep the old one to the CS counter.

Customer service sent me to auto dept

I've never done a core exchange at CS. Always at the automotive counter, which is also where they sell the batteries.

I have to agree that a core exchange is not a curbside function. You can buy the battery curbside without the exchange no problem. As for the customer service not knowing what to do that's another issue.

Call me contrarian, but I think I’m with BigSwede on this one. Buying a new battery — at least for me — has always involved handing back an old one.

Walmart’s software ought to be smart enough to ask at purchase time about a core return. Seriously.

Now, to be fair, maybe the system didn’t ask, in which case it’s reasonable to think the employee bringing the new battery to the customer hasn’t a clue that he may be handed something back and have more work to do. And I get that the retailer wants an employee (a “runner”) to go to the customer’s car once and hand things off, not run back and forth dealing with a core exchange.

But I still think — going along with the statement, “not my fault they suck" — that if the retailer offers for sale parts that commonly involve core exchanges, and offers said parts for “curbside pickup,” then the system ought to be designed to handle the potential exchange in addition to just the sale.

Now, having to bounce back and forth between Automotive and Customer Service would be maddening. I think even I would have been to the point of being impolite after all that.