Know your consumer rights; especially when you are at WalMart

I purchased Claritin tablets yesterday, and realized this morning that I should've gotten the Liquid Gels. I HATE to return anything but didn't see the point of being out of $20 more when I've spent several hundred at Walmart over the weekend.

So on my way back from my son's basketball practice I brought the Claritin, as I had purchased it, and the receipt to the Customer Service desk.

Since there was a line, I figured the best use of my time would be spent reading the return policy. By the time my turn came up I was familiar enough with the 5 or 6 paragraphs on the sign to feel prepared.

I told the lady, I want to exchange these Claritin tablets for Liquid Gels, and what did she say??? A LIE!!!!!!

This ignorant redhead looked me in the eye and said, "Walmart's return policy will not allow me to return or exchange those."

As an informed consumer, I asked her what any informed consumer would ask. "Ok, where is the policy because THIS WalMart policy doesn't mention it."

Next lie. "This policy is specific to the pharmacy, so it's on a sign in the pharmacy."

Fortunately, I'm not AT ALL lazy, so I walked the 20 or so steps to the pharmacy and looked on EVERY shelf and wall. Nothing.

So I walked back to the Customer Service desk and asked the same lady to come show me the sign. I said, "I want to take a picture of it."

She said she was busy, so I stood in line and asked the other lady behind the desk the same request. Poor thing obliged.

This time the two of us walked the 20 or so steps back to the pharmacy, searched every shelf and wall and found no sign.

So, she walked up to the pharmacy and asked the pharmacist. Not the tech, but the woman in charge that should know better.

The pharmacist said, "It is not a Walmart policy, but a pharmacy policy. Would you want to purchase medicine that was opened? If we let you return it, we have to throw it away."

"No. I understand that. But as a consumer, I have rights," I replied. "For instance, I have the right to know BEFORE I purchase a product that I will not be able to return it. So, show me the sign or give me my money."

She sighed. She rolled her eyes. She stared at me. But wrong is wrong, so when she was done, she instructed the lady from customer service to refund my money.

I didn't want it. As I initially intended to, I just returned the tablets for liquid gels. And walked my 9 year old, who was with me during all this, through the lesson of "When you are right, you don't have to be ugly, stay calm, and stand your ground."

I'm a little disappointed by what happened at Walmart. I spend WAY too much money there, and will rethink that decision. I don't want to support a company that would try to pull a fast one on me.

Like the title implies, you MUST know your consumer rights, and exert them.