Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180059
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
TAMPA, Fla. - Virginia Berger says she was looking for the best buy on Tylenol, Maalox, Ben-Gay and other over-the-counter medications when a Wal-Mart clerk told her to put away her pen and paper. Jotting down prices, she was told, is against store policy.
``I was so angry and embarrassed. I thought they were going to throw me out,'' Berger said Tuesday.
She sent two letters of complaint to corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., but hasn't received a response.
A company spokeswoman - contradicting an earlier statement from a company spokesman - said the whole thing was a misunderstanding. ``All customers have the right and are invited to write down prices,'' spokeswoman Jane Bockholt said.
Berger, 60, was price-shopping because she and her husband live on pension and disability benefits. She started at the Wal-Mart near her home in Spring Hill, about 35 miles north of Tampa.
Wal-Mart spokesman Keith Morris said the chain has long had a policy prohibiting shoppers from writing down prices. The idea is to keep competitors from doing item-by-item comparisons. Wal-Mart applies the policy without exception because ``it's very hard to distinguish between who's a competitor and who's a regular shopper,'' he said.
After the Wal-Mart incident, Berger went to a Kmart, where she asked to speak with the manager before even walking down an aisle.
``I said, `May I write down prices in this store?''' Berger said. ``And he said, `I don't see why not.'''
- Associated Press
Newspapers list jobs on Internet
Six of the country's largest newspapers said Tuesday they have begun a job-listings service on the Internet that provides access to their combined help-wanted advertising.
The newspapers are The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The San Jose Mercury News and The Washington Post.
The service, called CareerPath.com (http:// www.careerpath.com), began providing electronic access Tuesday to the help-wanted advertisements printed in the six newspapers.
- The New York Times
Cartledge named retailer of year
George Cartledge Jr., president of Grand Piano & Furniture Co., has been named retailer of the year for Virginia by the Virginia-Carolinas Home Furnishings Representatives Association, a chapter affiliate of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association. Cartledge also will receive Furniture World Magazine's Award of Merit next week at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C.
Cartledge joined his father at Grand Piano in 1945. His son, George III, and nephew, Robert Bennett, are both senior vice presidents in the company.
- Staff report
by CNB