Getting a store to accept a return isn’t always easy.
Sometimes, returns are as simple as dropping the item off and getting a refund. For example, Costco has a famously lax return policy, even allowing customers to return items years after a purchase.
Other times, getting a store to accept a return, even if they’re supposed to, is a headache and a half. Now, one user on TikTok says that her attempted Walmart return was not only a failure, but gave her the “ick.” Here’s why.
What Happened at Walmart?
In a video with over 37,000 views, TikTok user Bethany (@pnw.bethany) says she recently went to return some supplements at Walmart.
“I used them for a couple weeks, didn’t feel any different, and I thought, ‘All right, I’m gonna return them,’ ‘cause they were kind of expensive,” she explains. “I had my receipt. It was within the 30 days.”
When she got to the counter, however, she was told that the pills could not be returned if they were over halfway used.
“So I said, ‘Well, it could be pretty close to that, because there’s 60 pills in there. It was two pills per day, so 30 days’ worth,’” Bethany recalls. “So she goes, ‘Well, I’m gonna count them.’”
In order to do so, Bethany says that the worker poured the pills into her bare hand. She then proceeded to count them, determined that there were fewer than 30 pills, then put them back in the bottle and handed them back.
Why Did This Experience Give Bethany The ‘Ick’?
Although Bethany says she understands why the return was not processed as expected, she takes issue with how this assessment was conducted.
“I totally understand if that’s the rules, but the lady just dumped them into her hand and then put them back in the bottle and then handed them to me,” she explains. “So, the issue I’m having is that her hands are now all over these pills that I have to take home because they won’t return them for me, and it just — it grosses me out!”
Bethany says that, in response, she’s probably “just gonna chuck them.”
“Am I wrong in thinking that, if they’re gonna open the pills and dump them all out in their hand, they definitely should have used a glove or asked me to put them in my own hand so I could count them out?” Bethany asks.
The TikToker then compares it to the experience of being in a restaurant.
“It’s kind of like when restaurant workers hand you silverware,” she states. “You don’t touch the tip of the fork, right? You set it down by the handle.”
What Is the Return Policy For Supplements at Walmart?
Walmart’s return policy allows many items to be returned within 90 days. This includes supplements.
If the supplement has already been opened, things get a little murkier. A few internet users claim that Walmart will simply accept the return. However, if a significant amount of the item has been used, the chain may need to find a method to determine whether the refund will be accepted.
In Bethany’s case, it appears that they decided that they would only accept it if less than half had been used—though, if this is an official Walmart policy, it does not appear to be listed publicly.
Many internet users also report that they have successfully returned food to Walmart. This includes food with missing pieces or food that has spoiled. While this is not the same as a supplement, it shows that Walmart’s return policy isn’t exactly straightforward.
Should The Employee Have Worn Gloves?
This is also a matter of opinion.
As noted by the World Health Organization, wearing gloves does not inherently mean that one has cleaner hands. For example, someone who has just used hand sanitizer or washed with soap and water likely has much cleaner hands than someone who has been wearing gloves for a significant amount of time without washing.
While Bethany makes a comparison to food service, many food service workers are also not required to wear gloves. In fact, they touch many things without gloves with which a customer directly interfaces, such as the silverware, plates, and food itself.
Plus, the worker likely believed that the item was simply going to be disposed of regardless of its pill count. Consequently, they may have had the understanding that they did not need to be especially clean throughout the whole ordeal.
This does not excuse the behavior. That said, it may explain why they thought it was OK to do with (potentially) unclean hands.
@pnw.bethany Weigh in on this! Am I right for feeling this was an “ick” situation? @Walmart #walmartissue #walmartfinds #walmart ♬ original sound – Bethany | Beauty + Fashion
Commenters Aren’t Sure
In the comments section, many users questioned why Bethany was returning a supplement in the first place.
“Normally if it was just a basic item then I would return it right away. But since it’s a supplement, you need to use it for a week or 2 to see if it works,” she wrote in response to one such comment. “Does that make sense?”
Apart from that, commenters were divided as to whether Bethany’s “ick” was justified.
“If I don’t like a supplement I take an L and cut my losses. Its grosser to try and return them than for her to check and see,” wrote a user.
“Nope I would be talking to management,” countered another.
“Why does everyone think it’s weird to return them? The policy allows it, and the product didn’t work the way you expected,” stated a third. “I would have asked for a higher manager.”
The Mary Sue reached out to Walmart via media relations contact form and Bethany via email.
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