Walmart Is Pulling This Product From Shelves After Major Backlash
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One of the biggest shopping frustrations is not being able to find what you’re looking for at the store. When your local Walmart runs out of certain products, it can be doubly annoying, as these locations are ideal for those of us who prefer to get all our shopping done in one fell swoop. Products are pulled from shelves for different reasons, most often due to safety concerns and related recalls, but some items end up causing more of a stir. Walmart is currently facing major backlash for one such product, which has already been removed from stores. Read on to find out what you won’t be able to purchase on your next shopping trip.
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So far this year, Walmart has been forced to remove different items from stores and its website, including a children’s bicycle helmet , pancake mix , and certain sneakers . On May 4, select lots of Parent’s Choice baby wipes were pulled, with the retailer citing a quality issue. Consumers alleged that the wipes left behind colors on the skin and caused irritation, while others claimed the wipes were contaminated with toxic metal—a claim Walmart later stated was false . While the company did not provide detailed reasoning for removing the products , Walmart confirmed it was “working closely with the supplier and FDA to investigate the issue” in a statement to the Miami Herald .
Now, Walmart has found itself in hot water yet again, but this time it has to do with marketing tactics.
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Walmart introduced a new Great Value-branded ice cream flavor in recognition of Juneteenth—that day that commemorates the ending of slavery in the U.S. on June 19, 1865.
While the ice cream’s packaging said it was a “Celebration Edition” and asked consumers to “Share and Celebrate African-American culture, emancipation and enduring hope,” the dessert quickly garnered criticism as a marketing ploy. Amid the ongoing backlash, the ice cream was removed from Walmart freezers , Fox 7 Austin first reported on May 23.
“Juneteenth holiday marks a commemoration and celebration of freedom and independence,” Walmart said in an email addressing the issue. “However, we received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers and we sincerely apologize. We are reviewing our assortment and will remove items as appropriate.”
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The Juneteenth ice cream had swirled red velvet and cheesecake flavors, and Twitter was flooded with opinions on the controversial product. Several users claimed Walmart was capitalizing on the holiday in order to turn a profit.
“I would prefer a black owned company profit off Juneteenth ice cream than Walmart of all companies,” one Twitter user wrote on May 22.
Speaking to this, other tweets called out the flavor’s similarity to one from Creamalicious, a Black-owned ice cream company in Chicago. To complicate things further, Creamalicious sells its Right as Rain Red Velvet Cheesecake flavored ice cream at Walmart locations, USA Today reported. Twitter users have taken this opportunity to promote the brand’s ice cream, asking shoppers to support Creamalicious instead.
“In all seriousness … If you have seen the Juneteenth Ice Cream from Walmart, go ahead and grab some Creamalicious Red Velvet Cheesecake instead! Walmart could have used this opportunity to highlight this brand instead of making a cheap copycat for OUR independence day,” another Twitter user wrote.
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Also for sale at Walmart is LGBTQIA+ Pride-themed ice cream, which is a mix of white chocolate-flavored ice cream, brownies, and cherries. Twitter users are not thrilled about this branding either.
“So…they didn’t stop at a Juneteenth flavor,” Stephanie M. Smith , Maryland state delegate tweeted, adding that commemorative flavors should be left to the popular ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, which would have a “call to action” and a “focus grouped flavor.”
The ice cream was another Celebration Edition product introduced for Pride Month in June , which honors the 1969 Stonewall Riots and celebrates LGBTQIA+ rights. While many believe an ice cream flavor may not be the best nod to Pride Month, no formal announcement has been made about whether or not this “celebratory” flavor will remain available for purchase.
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Ex-Walmart Employee Warns This is the One Question to Never Ask
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If you shop at Walmart , chances are you’ve interacted with someone who works there. In the U.S. alone, Walmart employs nearly 1.6 million associates who oversee operations, man the registers, stock shelves, and perform managerial duties, among other responsibilities. Customer care is key for many big retailers, including Walmart, which lists “Service to the Customer” as one of its foundational beliefs . But according to one former Walmart employee, there is one thing you should avoid asking certain workers while shopping. Read on to find out what question won’t get you very far the next time you head to your local store.
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As a one-stop shop for everyday necessities, Walmart boasts a dedicated base of shoppers and bargain hunters. And former employees have aimed to help out by sharing secrets, tips, and tricks that customers would otherwise be unaware of on social media. One previous worker took to TikTok, posting a video about the self-checkout machines, which are programmed to display warning messages if you are purchasing an item that is age-restricted or recalled, or if you’ve missed a scan. A separate video from another ex-employee also claimed that Walmart workers can actually pause your self-checkout process due to concerns about theft or skipped scans . Now yet another previous employee has addressed secrets about Walmart, including a common request that will likely not be met.
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Former Walmart employee Paris Mars , known by her social media handle HeyParis, took to YouTube to discuss her time as a Walmart employee. In a video on her personal channel, she cautions shoppers against asking Walmart associates to check for an item in the back.
If you’re hoping for extra inventory hidden somewhere on storage shelves, you may be out of luck. While this may not apply to all Walmart employees, HeyParis said it is unlikely that the typical associate will actually go and check for you. “They’re going to go to the back, they’re going to talk to their friends, and come right back out,” she said.
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According to HeyParis, if you need someone to check the back, your best bet is talking to one of the employees who work in the back area of the store. These are the employees who generally move larger boxes and crates often using a wheeled platform or a dolly.
“If you ask one of them, they’re more likely to actually look in back for the product you’re looking for than an actual Walmart employee,” she explained.
Alternatively, you can approach an employee with a price gun. The associate can then check on the spot to see how many items the store currently has in stock. And while it seems like common sense, being kind and polite when speaking with associates or management may help your case.
“Be nice to the managers and you will always, always, always get your way,” HeyParis said. “If you talk with a normal voice and you’re just explaining stuff, I promise you the managers will respect you and will do anything in their power to make you happy.”
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In the same video, HeyParis stated that Walmart employees are not fully trained before being assigned to a specific department, claiming that employees “learn as we grow.” Aside from the electronics department, where employees are typically hired by the phone companies themselves, Walmart associates are also unable to answer product-related questions. HeyParis alleges that Walmart instructs employees to “read the box” for products, in the event a customer asks for help.
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