went barefoot in wal-mart

so last night i was hungry as fuck and i wanted to eat cheap. unfortunately this required a trip to the nearest super wal-mart, which happens to be the only wal-mart i've ever had trouble with in regards to my shoeless ways. i've been able to get past the greeters there by simply walking in just such a way that you can't see my feet under my bell bottoms, but this time my toes slipped out right as we passed.

the nice old lady who stood there, sentinel of all things below the ankle, suddenly turned nasty.

"ma'am? do you have shoes on?"
"no, i don't."
"you need to leave the store."
"can i ask why?"
with a scowl, and a jerk of her thumb over her shoulder, "out."
"so you're not going to tell me why?"
"because it's the law."
"no, it's not. i'm aware of the law."
"leave now."
"i'd just like to know why."

this went on for a minute or so, with her giving me various reasons including, "you'll cut your foot," "because," "i said so," and my personal favorite, "i'll get someone over here who will tell you why" (said in a threatening manner). at that point she turned away, so my boyfriend and i continued walking. she then screamed across the store for management.

we picked out the merchandise we wanted and as we left the aisle there was another woman on a walkie talkie watching and following us. she stopped me and said, "excuse me, ma'am? you're not supposed to be in here without shoes on." and then she said into her walkie talkie, "they're walking to the door now."

we purchased our food and left. on the way out i smiled and nodded a greeting at the scowling greeter.

 

she sounds like a bitch ... whats it to her if you wear shoes or not....

 

LOOOL! I bet that made her feel better!

 

Walmart has no corporate policy against bare feet. A quote from the SBL-list archives (can't link, you have to be a member to access the full email archives): "They won't give us anything in writing, but [a fellow barefooter] spoke to Mrs. Roberts at corporate. She told me in no uncertain terms that there is NO "shoes required" policy for Wal-Mart. And BTW, the number is 1-800-WAL-MART"

 

I went in to the local Walmart Supercenter after midnight one night barefoot. No one initially batted an eye. In fact, I asked for help finding the canning salt. However, when I went to check out, the cashier asked me if I was barefoot. I told her yes. Then, she told me that they would get in trouble with the health department if I were seen. I told her that I've seen a letter from the health dept. to the contrary. She said, "That's not what they told us. I'll just pretend I don't know."

The cashier was pleasant about it. However, I think that I'm gonna have to print out the letter and show it to those who challenge me next time I decide to go to Walmart barefoot.

I don't know what would happen if I tried it again and saw the same cashier...might be more of a battle. I typically like to go in at night, shoes or not, simply because I like to avoid crowds.

 

i go to walmart barefoot all the time.

i just ask them, do you want my money or not?

as soon as you bring anything with value into the equation, people lose sight of everyone else, even if the money isn't even going to them, but to the corperation as a whole.

 

Ha, wow, that's some bullshit. Just deck the fuckin' bitch next time ha.

 

You handled yourself quite well Cavale. Glad to see you stick up for your rights

 

cavale, you did the right thing. wal-mart is very inconsistant in their barefoot policies. it totally depends on the store and the greeter you encounter.

 

I have been in more shops & department stores in New Zealand barefoot than I care to remember & I have only ever been stoped once they did not refuse me entry just pointed out my lack of footwear & informed me that they would not be liable for any injuries I may suffer due to my lack of footwear, I just said fine & kept walking.

I have been to many family restaurants barefoot without a problem however I know I would never get into any of the flash upmarket bars & restaurants barefoot but who amongst us would want to go to those places anyway LOL.

 

im so glad that people are sticking up for their rights. most people now these days are a bunch of rich-ass suburban republicans with no idea whats going on in the world. but im glad you shoved it up her ass she deserved to be treated like shit.

p.s. you shouldn't go to walmart, its an evil corporation which is shutting down good american jobs

 

Aw!! You did handle the situation pretty well lol
Sadly you are going to run into a lot of people like that when bare footing at stores.

 

I don't shop at Wal-mart, but a friend who has never gone barefoot wants to try it in a wal-mart so I may take him in a week or two.

 

But that's just the problem. I've had to tell more than one lower level employee that they don't get to decide how I will dress, it's not up to them. And frankly, I'm tired of upper management thinking it can tell me what to do. Next it will be shorts: "Long Pants Required" or "No Shorts." Rules to apply to guys, OF COURSE. I really don't know if it will go that far, given the recent liberalization in the shorts department. But the swing the other way with bare feet does have me worried.

 

Exactly! :cheers2:

 

I've encountered that a couple of times in various stores, and I basically told them (in a nice way, of course) to go fuck themselves, and continued shopping. Nobody has ever "thrown me out." The only time I ever really encountered a problem where some ignorant ass wouldn't budge was when I was boarding an Aloha Airlines flight from Honolulu to San Francisco. Some fucking asshole who worked for the airlines came and told me that I had to put shoes on, or he wouldn't let me board the airplane. After arguing back and forth with him, telling the dick that I was just going to take my shoes off again once I got on the plane so what the hell did it matter, I finally gave in and pulled the goddamn flip-flops out of my bag and obediently boarded the plane with all the other sheep. I mean, what could I do? Run the risk of not being able to go home? They want you to take your shoes off for the security check, and then demand that you put them on when you board? I'm sorry, but being barefoot is not a threat to national security, and I don't appreciate being subjected to Nazis like that turd.

For the record, I've boarded many flights barefoot, and never had a problem. Aloha Airlines evidently doesn't have any aloha spirit. But, sadly for them and that asshole employee, they're out of business now.

 

Next time just say that you don't have any shoes and you are there to buy some. lol I used to see people barefoot in Wal-Mart all the time, but recently it seems most people are wearing flip-flops instead. For me, its easier if at least one or two other people are doing it too. I don't like feeling like the center of attention, but I like the freedom. I'm a delivery guy in the South, so I find it interesting that most everyone I deliver to will answer their door barefoot or meet me outside their house barefoot but in public the same people always wear at least sandals or flip-flops. Seems to me a lot more people would be barefoot if it weren't for the few stuck-up control freaks that make it seem unnatural or hickish. I don't see why anyone would have a problem with it especially here in the South. I was in my small town library once reading magazines. I was just sitting in a chair and I decided to pull my shoes off so I could sit with my legs crossed without getting the chair dirty. I never walked around and I never even put my feet on the floor and the librarian told me I had to have my shoes on in the library. I was floored, I couldn't believe she would have a problem with my feet especially since they weren't even that visible. They didn't even have a sign. I've always wondered why people care so much. People like that are infringing on our freedom. If I have to look at their bare face, then they should have to look at my bare feet. Let 'em continue with their boring lives and keep their hang-ups to themselves.

 

I'm not a barefooter like you all (my feet are wimps and pretty ugly), but I once had to go into Wal-mart barefoot. I lived in Mexico but worked in the US and I didn't bother getting completely dressed for the border crossing. One day we cross over and that's when I realize that I'd forgotten to bring my shoes. It takes about 2 hours to cross into the US and there was no way that I was going to wait in that line again. So I walked into Wal-Mart barefooted and got some cheap-o shoes. Come to think of it, I had to do that twice. I'm not too good at that remembering crap. But nobody bothered me even though I felt like the most conspicuous person in the store.

 

I don't shop at Walmart, you know cuz it's pretty evil. But if I really really have to just for something small, I'll go in through the garden center. No greeters to hassle you

 

I shop at Asda quite often, which is Walmart owned, and the greeters there have no problem with bare feet. Probably too busy watching for shoplifters...