Thanks for the responses so far both positive and negative. Some of the suggestions on the messages here border on harrassment. Shame on yew.
Tempted as I am due to the idiot manager, it also goes against everything I believe radio should be. (See note below.)
My intention is NOT to stir up trouble. I just wanna say HELLO and GOOD-BYE and maybe occasionally ask where a specific product is that I might be looking for. Personally, I would think Wal-Mart would welcome this. I did chat with employees in the Lynchburg, VA store and they were very friendly and helpful. But unfortunately the guy in Bedford where I live seems to have an ego problem or be on a power trip. But as Canav844 said above, it is his right to ban me if he sees fit. Indeed, I am sure it is part of his very job description!
As for checking in with national customer service, that has already been done. A few hours ago I wrote the following to them:
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Hello, Wal-Mart.
I just wanted to send a quick note about an employee, DAVID, who appears to be managing the Wal-Mart store in Bedford, VA. Since as far as I know, there is only one Wal-Mart in Bedford, it should be easy to find.
Know first that I am a loyal customer who has been shopping at this store for over 10 years and I have given thousands upon thousands of dollars to your store in that time for groceries and other good and services. That said, today while I was shopping, I was checking out at register 15. I pulled out a little hand held radio and said, "Attention Wal-Mart. This is a happy customer leaving Wal-Mart. Please have a good night."
Now the only people who heard this are the employees at Wal-Mart who happened to be carrying radios. The frequency was 154.570 - which is a public unlicensed frequency. To be more technical, I was broadcasting at a power output of 1 watt, which is half the legal limit.
This man, DAVID, then approached me and told me that if I did it again, I would be BANNED from the store.
If I was yelling and screaming the F word over the radio, then maybe I could see it. But being NICE to the employees and saying good night? On a LEGAL frequency? Is this truly grounds to be BANNED from Wal-Mart?
This man wants to ban me for being NICE to employees in your store and I feel this is WRONG. Again, if I was being disruptive, then I could see it. But I have not been, and never will be, because it goes against everything I believe radio is all about.
Please consider having a talk with this man. Because to ban (or even threaten to ban) a loyal 10 year customer only for saying "good night" is pretty much the opposite of good customer service.
Thanks for your attention in this matter.
If you have a moment, please click here...
Appearance on Oprah - Thomas A. McKean's Media Gallery
..for a report the Oprah Winfrey Show did on me, featuring that very same Bedford Wal-Mart location.
Thomas
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Whether the Oprah link will help or hurt is yet to be known. But it is valid and y'all are welcome to see me make a brief appearance on Oprah at the Wal-Mart in question should yew want to. Just click the link.
I am certainly not expecting a favorable response, but who knows what will happen? My guess is that Wal-Mart will switch to a licensed business frequency and that will be the end of it.