I should have bought a lottery ticket last night. Clearly, it was my lucky day as I was able to take delivery of a set of towels from Walmart’s “curbside” delivery with minimal effort.
Recall I had written yesterday of my ordeal in trying to accomplish this previously. I’d followed guidelines and stopped by after 6 p.m., actually 6:37-ish and 7:07-ish and both times found the many pickup spots filled and got verbal confirmation from a worker that even if I could find a spot, I was looking at an hour wait, maybe more.
Also, as mentioned here previously, the granddaughters had their winter concert last night and I decided I’d try Walmart again after that, making my arrival time in Richland well past 6, but considerably before the advertised 10 p.m. cutoff time for such service.
The wife came along, with a stop along the way in her manic search for caramel chips for baking purposes. Can’t find them locally, it turns out.
When I reached Walmart, there were many open pickup parking spots, so I chose one (24 as I recall). The wife ran in to look for the chips – unsuccessfully – and I dialed the number on the sign.
The cheery, female-sounding person who answered (I was thrilled to get a person quickly considering my previous failures with Walmart’s Richland phone system) was eager to help. She took my name and said someone would be right out.
This call was made at 8:32 p.m. I settled in to listen to an investment podcast on my cell phone while I waited, but shortly I was aware of motion behind me and to my left.
It was a woman with the towels. The ordeal of the towels had ended.
Walmart communications put the exchange time at 8:37 and I will accept that because I was so stunned that the whole thing had taken mere minutes, I didn’t bother to note the time myself.
What have I learned from this?
First, make sure when ordering that Walmart doesn’t default you to “curbside” pickup.
If you don’t notice such beforehand, cancel the order and re-enter it to get home delivery.
If you want to brave the “curbside” operation, go much later than the recommended 6 p.m. to avoid dinner rush. I’m presuming my 8:30 time would work in most cases. Walmart also advises avoiding noon, but I’m not sure by how much. Would 1 p.m., work, or 2, or 3, or 4? I’m not interested enough to find out.
To borrow from Shakespeare, we will conclude all’s well that ends well. But I’m going to lean on the anonymous advice, learn from every experience, if only not to repeat it.
Sam Ross Jr's site 