On November 2013 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE Symbol: WMT) and their CEO Mike Duke failed to follow due diligence in product pricing for a slight portion of the millions[1] of items they have to offer. This momentary lapse in administrative judgement led to an erratic but brief error in pricing as expected by the corporation. Wal-Mart (WMT) spokesman Ravi Jariwala told a journalist "The issue has been resolved and Walmart.com is open for all" and that "we will send these customers a $10 e-gift card that can be used toward future purchases at Walmart stores and Walmart.com.[1]"

       Wal-Mart (WMT) has been producing profits of 24% or more year after year since 2008[2], the corporation prides itself in operating online and offline 24 hours a day. This extremely short instance of unfortunate profit loss did not hinder overall operations and shareholders themselves. The oversight occurred during morning hours in which most consumers would not have been active, potentially inebriated,[3] or otherwise prone to have loose wallets.

      Wal-Mart (WMT) customers who followed typical protocol for purchasing goods while heeding terms of service paid for merchandise as advertised[4]. In return for all of these consumers following this well established protocol orders have been canceled and tokens offered[1]. This token, a gift card, is of course only spendable at Wal-Mart (WMT).

      Wal-Mart (WMT) should immediately honor purchases at the prices they advertised to consumers. All items purchased/paid for should be rendered to the consumer, canceled orders should be undone when possible.


Make the best out of an unheard of event for this corporation, as this upcoming holiday season is soon upon us and customers may not be as such for Wal-Mart (WMT) then.


[1] http://abcnews.go.com/Business/walmart-super-low-prices-website-glitch/story?id=20804317

[2] http://www.walmartstores.com/sites/annual-report/2012/financials.aspx

[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/business/online-retailers-home-in-on-a-new-demographic-the-drunken-consumer.html

[4] http://kptv.membercenter.worldnow.com/story/23894394/wal-mart-blames-price-errors-on-technical-glitch