I have loved every Sam's Club I've ever shopped at--until this one. Every single time I go in there the lines are 4-5 people long and no one is opening more lines and I inevitably get stuck behind someone who doesn't speak English or has three items that all require manager price changes or a big cartful with six separate transactions. Last week, it took a couple 25 minutes to ring up three items with all their issues. Ugh.

But today took the cake.

I had bought a camera online at http://samsclub.com and straight out of the box it had a huge scratch on the LCD screen. I could NOT live with that, so I took it back (first making sure the instructions allowed me to return online purchases in-store). It was a Saturday. I was told that since I paid with a Visa (and brick and mortar stores don't deal with Visa), they couldn't call [whoever they needed to call] to process the return. Ooookay, somewhat plausible reason, but still a pain.

So I went back on the following Monday and first they tell me that I have to take it to Photo. I went to Photo and there was a sign saying "Back at 12:30." Um, no, I'm not waiting 25 minutes, so back to Customer Service--where it was like they had never ever returned anything purchased online. No one knew what to do and they had to get other people involved. She asked where the memory card was. I say that camera doesn't come with one. "No, the one listed here" and she pointed to the receipt. Oh, you mean the other item on the order? I'm KEEPING that. Okay.

So they finally get it worked out (20 minutes later) and show me my return amount, which was MINUS shipping and handling. Ohhhhh no. I said "The item was damaged, I was told I would also get the s/h back." The girl goes off to check (i.e. ask someone else). Nope, she tells me the box wasn't damaged. I said "But the ITEM was damaged." She checks again [with another employee] and the answer is still no. You got it--they were refusing to refund my shipping because the product BOX wasn't damaged, even though the actual ITEM was. The girl who was helping me was very nice, but the other woman she was asking was showing attitude (I could see it from where I was standing), like "Who does she think she is?" type of thing.

Seriously? I was ready to ask for my membership fees back. But I asked to talk to a manager.

She came over and I repeated my story--that there was a SCRATCH on the screen, the item was damaged, and I should get ALL my money back. You could tell she wasn't buying it, either, and basically told me (implied) that anything you buy online at SamsClub.com you never get refunded shipping when you return it.

WHAT?!

But then she agreed to give me a gift card (somewhat begrudgingly it seemed), since they couldn't actually process the refund (due to it being a Visa) and they couldn't do it online [for whatever reason].

I tried to have a reasonable chit-chat type conversation with the manager to get clarification on their return policies and you could tell she didn't want to be dealing with me and she thought I was scamming them.

I should have just ate the $10 shipping and asked for my $40 membership dues back...I would have been $30 ahead.

Just another reason I am NOT renewing my membership.

I was treated like a criminal at the Mishawaka, Indiana Sam's Club store by manager Dywayne Johnson because I tried to purchase alcohol and my 19 and 21 year old children were with me. He refused to sell me alcohol to me even if they left the store and returned without the children. In the next lane was a lady with a small child in the cart buying wine and she was not questioned and allowed to buy these items. Mr. Johnson stated to me that since my 21 year old Sam's presented her card we neither one could buy alcohol due to the fact that we had a minor with us. He stated it was Indiana state law. I was not allowed to make my purchase even though I am 60 years old and member in good standing with Sams club.

I saw a writing desk on clearance but the price was more than I was willing pay and the manager stated that if I call in a few days the price may get lowered. I called again after couple days and they were right, it dropped dramatically. I asked if they can put a HOLD or if I can pay for it. They said that is not their policy so I would have to come in. I drive in within the half hour and someone happened to take it right when I was walking in. I complained to the managers and they said sorry - first come first serve.

I think this is very unfair since I requested it and cause I got there 5 minutes late, I missed it.

I went to Sams Club as a member, and ordered a set of 4 Michelin tires that don't stock for my 2003 Toyota Camry on April 10, 2009, and paid for upfront.

On April 14, 2009, I received a call at 4:10pm that the tire set was in, was told they were not busy, and I could go in and have the set installed in about 45 minutes.

I went in, paid the installation fees, and the car was driven into the bay area, while I stood behind the glass window outside the service area to watch the process. One tech on the east side of the car took two wheels to install, and another on the west side took the other two. The one on the east side -closer to my window post- looked nervous and in a hurry -even though I was told they close at 7:00pm- and when he installed the tire in the rim, and took it to the balance spinner, he stroke the alloy wheel rim 6-8 times with an all metal hammer where he put a balance weight. He, then, left the wheel spinning, while he fitted the second tire on its rim.

Upon fitting, the second tire, he returned to the spinning balance bay, and again stroke the alloy wheel rim another 5-6 times -without any further spinning!

I knew right away that a balance weight doesn't need about 15 hammer strikes to set in, and upon installation I took the car to the corner of the parking lot for inspection. I expected the weight to look really smashed, but it look pristine - no scratch. However, next to the balance weight, the alloy wheel was hammered flat!!!, and a piece had broken off!!

I returned to the store within 7 minutes, but the technician who had broken my alloy wheel had vanished! I told Sandy, the cashier who handled the transaction about the damage, and she came outside to inspect the car with the technician who had installed the West side tires. They said that 'the broken piece came off when their technician pulled off the old weight!' But their nervousness, and the disappearance of the culprit technician right away -2 hours before closing time- showed that they knew about the damage done to my car, and they had the excuses ready. 'We have nothing to do with that, ' Sandy said. She then, brought a camera, and took a picture of the battered wheel for the back of the flat hammered spot that made the damage almost invisible to the camera - except the broken chip section. Then they told me that 'we have cameras everywhere, ' we will find out what happened.

A few days later, I received a message from David Horton, of Claims Management, Inc. (CMI) who told me he represented an insurer fro Sams Club, and lauded the good services to its customers. But from a letter I received from CMI, it doesn't look to me like an independent insurance carrier; it looks like a Walmart branch that disposed legitimate customers complaints, and probably get bonuses for saving Walmart money.

To add insult to injury, David called me two days later, and told me that he watched the tire installation video, and look at the damage picture, and there was nothing improper and no damage!!!

And that is the epitome of ARROGANCE of a behemoth company that can do damage to anybody, and nobody can tough them - even legally. That dawned on me because I watched some time back an NBC documentary in which a woman judge is Texas said she had issued several Court Orders to Walmart, but Walmart had ignored ALL OF THEM!!!

The Epilogue of this sordid Sams Club damage and denial to my automobile, and the inability even of the courts to make that behemoth beast comply or take responsibility for its actions, shall serve as a warning to all those who try to save a few bucks: You may save a few bucks, but you may also get much more damage to your car, and you will have no recourse - even with a lawyer. State courts, and state attorney generals are no match for Walmart. Only the U.S. Justice Department can tackle Walmart, but they have no jurisdiction on local consumer complaints.

The moral of the story on this Rip Off report. The bigness of Walmart and Sams Club affords them the Power of Arrogance, the Power to defy State Courts, and the Power to Damage Your Car, and then ignore any legitimate complaint with impunity! Their bottom line is profit, and covering their damages will reduce it. Deal with them at your own risk!

I went to Sam's Club and my bill was higher than I expected. I asked why and the cashier said the extra charge was for your card upgrade. I did not request a card upgrade. They TRIED to charge me for a membership card upgrade without asking or telling me. I had the cashier remove the extra charge.

I have been a member at Sam 's Club for over 10 years but I will not renew my card because of this kind of unethical behavior.