Woman Knocked Unconscious By Wal-Mart Shoppers

[PatrickS]

I don't know if this was already posted...

---

Witnesses: Shoppers Stepped Over Woman Having Seizure

ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- A 41-year-old woman was knocked unconscious and then trampled by a mob of shoppers who continued to step over her as she suffered a seizure during a Friday sale at Wal-Mart in Orange City, Fla., according to Local 6 News.

Authorities said that Patricia Van Lester arrived at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. for an early sale on a DVD player for her mother. When the store's doors opened at 6 a.m., Van Lester grabbed the DVD player but was quickly overcome by hundreds of shoppers rushing into the store.

The woman was knocked to the ground, slammed her head on the ground and
suffered at least one seizure, according to Local 6 News.

HTTP://www.local6.com/news/2670095/detail.html

[drfemoe]

1. SUE Their ASS

Ellzey said Wal-Mart officials called later Friday to ask about her sister, and the store apologized and offered to put a DVD player on hold for her.

Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Karen Burk said she had never heard of a such a melee during a sale.

"We are very disappointed this happened," Burk said. "We want her to come back as a shopper."

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20031129_451.html

[Deja Q]

2. Well, they're honest about ONE thing:

Burk said, "We want her to come back as a shopper."

Everything else is insincere.

And he's only DISAPPOINTED that happened? People should be OUTRAGED, no less!!!!!! x(

[drfemoe]

8. It's not like they can't

GIVE her the effin player?

[Touchdown]

14. Screw the player.

She should send them her hospital bills. They caused it with their race to the bottom sale in the first place.

[drfemoe]

27. of course they have liability

why do you think they phoned her? She deserves more than hospital compensation imo.

[angka]

34. well,

as a manager of a major consumer electronics store, i can tell you that this completely bug-eyed frenzy—in the hopes of saving about $10—is disturbingly common in american life. these are people that you presume are not complete douchebags in the rest of their lives, but snap into their own private 'nam when somebody dangles, for example, an absurdly cheap dvd player in front of them.

moments like these are when you realize that you are living in a spastic, morally debased society.

and if you need any of those piece of shit $30 dvd players, we've still got a pallet load of `em, though now at $38 a copy (but at least you won't get trampled).

[JNelson6563]

39. after 20 years in the retail sector

that has to be the most accurate description of the shoppers mindset (in America anyway) I've ever seen. "private nam" hahaha Funny, accurate and sad all at once.

Julie

[Myra]

55. Isn't that amazing drfemoe!

They'll set an effin player aside for her?!
Ooooooooo! How incredibly kind and generous!
Wal-Mart's the company with a heart.

Then when she gets out of the hospital will
they give her a coveted position at the front
of the mob so that when they open the doors
for the day she can block the other frantic shoppers
with her crutches in case they try to grab her
"set aside" DVD player?!

Un-effin-believable. And notice how they avoid
saying they're "sorry" or using any language that
could underscore their liability. And don't refer
to her as a person but as a "shopper."

God bless 'Merka, er, Wal-Mart, er...same thing.

[philosophie_en_rose]

3. Such suffering for a 30.00 DVD player

Especially since Walmart designs those 6-11 sales to be brutal, I'm surprised that there haven't been more injuries. Or accidents in the parking lots.

[ikojo]

31. There probably has been many accidents

during their sales but because no one had to be airlifted to the hospital it's easier to keep it out of the media.

Just because it's not reported does not mean it has not happened.

[devinsgram]

17. After that they should have given her one

but we are talking about Wal-Mart. Might cut into their billion dollar profits.

[Walt Starr]

21. They should seek not one penny less than ONE BILLION DOLLARS!!!

Yep, that's "billion" with a "B".

That should be the amount sought as punitive damages for their predatory practices and thier "Festival Shopping" (ala The Who Festival Seating concert tragedy in 1979).

[jiacinto]

38. I am sure that this woman's family will indeed sue Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart would be better off simply offering to pay for this woman's medical care and any other related expenses surrounding the accident. They would be better off also giving her some money as compensation.

They don't want to end up in court over this matter. They are already sued all the time as it is.

[JNelson6563]

40. trust me, I've worked for the whore of babylon

and they've already tried to settle.

Julie

[camero]

4. Time for the annual Christmas shopping riots.

What are these people going to do when FOOD becomes scarce? Never mind, I answered my own question.

[kaybea]

10. Yes, you answered your own question...

and chilled my blood. I see the same scenario developing that you see.

Americans are some great people, aren't they? So much more worthy than any others on Earth. I know I'd lay my life on the line for people who'd trample the body of a sick woman for a cheap piece of shit. Because they're pro-life by the looks of it.:eyes:

[camero]

12. pro-life, obviously

It's more than what I posted coming up with that scenario. A few more things as well.

Nobody grows their own food anymore.
Neighbors don't say hello or look out for one another.
Membership in community groups falling.

Just one more nail in the coffin. Yes, Americans seem to be very self-sacrificing aren't they? :eyes:

[madrchsod]

5. my daughters boyfriend

works overnight at a 24 hr. walmart. this job thurs night was to guard the pallets of stuff in the aisles so no one would cut open the shrink wrap before 6 oclock. his co workers told him this happens every year..

[loudnclear]

6. Shows the Freeper mentality of Wal-Mart shoppers

I can't begrudge families who might HAVE to shop at Wal-Mart because there are no other shopping options avaiable nearby, but I just can't support those of us who have the wherewithal to shop elsewhere but continue to shop at Wal-Mart. We have to be able to sacrifice something for the greater good.

[PatrickS]

11. Consumerism gone wild

This reminds me of the Oprah favorite things show were she gave the audience thousands of $$$ in merchandise. The audience was completely nuts.

[KittyWampus]

29. The SURVIVOR Mentality Takes Hold

It is ME against the rest of civilization.

[Sting]

7. that makes me sick....

all that just to save a few extra $'s. I went up to Wal-Mart yesterday at 3 pm, and they still had many of those DVD players on sale.

[democratreformed]

13. I'm kicking myself in the behind

Stupid me. I hadn't been to "the sale" at Wally World in several years. Yesterday, my daughter and I got up very early and drove to the store. When we arrived, like the above person said, there were workers standing around each pallet guarding them. There were people lined up in lines everywhere. "Forget this", I said. We went to sporting goods and looked around. We put a few things in our cart. I was not in an area where I could see what went on at 6 a.m. But, oh I could hear it. There was this sudden noise that arose. You could hear people squealing and yelling.

My daughter was closer to one of the aisles. She said that, just before 6, the workers who were not in the aisles said "Ooh, I have to get over there where I can watch." At 6, an announcement came over the speaker saying, "It's time." At that, people began ripping plastic off the pallets and grabbing things like animals. "Forget this", I said again. We left our carts sitting in the aisle and cut a trail toward the front door. It took us about 20 minutes to get out. People were everywhere and you couldn't get around them.

Near the door, a relative of mine said, "Where's your cart?" I said, "Back there where it's going to stay because I'm headed out the door."

All day yesterday, I told everyone I met about "the craziest crap I have ever seen in my life." If Wal Mart wants to enjoy people acting like animals, they can do it without me. I will NEVER do that again. It was the most demeaning, disgusting display I have ever seen. And, I am not kidding or exaggerating.

[shanti]

26. appalling

i did not go shopping yesterday, and that is exactly why i refuse to shop on "black friday". the greed and materialism disgusts me.

[devinsgram]

60. Agree whole heartedly,

I did not even get into my car yesterday. I refuse to be part of world of greed. Ten to one those dvd players will break down the first week of being used. Nothing but junk.

[ShaneGR]

9. The Battle of the Panasonic DVD Players

Complete with Hi-Fi Stereo sound no less.

[Muddleoftheroad]

15. Metaphor

This incident is a perfect metaphor for all that is wrong with Walmart. Selfish people stepping on others to save a buck.

[camero]

24. Actually

This is a perfect metaphor for all of America. What have we come to?

[Muddleoftheroad]

45. No, we aren't that bad

But Walmart is.

[camero]

46. I would think

that the people doing the trampling had brains. It's just more of the "every person for themselves" mentality. It says much about our society.

[Myra]

52. This *is* the mother of all metaphors!

I totally agree Muddleoftheroad. I couldn't help
but see it as a metaphor for the US when I read the
story. America is walmartized. The middle class
is being eliminated and decent paying jobs sent overseas.
And it's very very intentional on the part of our corporate
government.

Then people ask the logical question: But if they eliminate
the middle class and all their income, who will buy the products
these corporations produce?!

The answer is in this news story.

People are so broke that they'll shop at Wal-Mart so they
can afford a DVD player just like a real ol' fashioned middle
class 'Merkan. And in supporting Wal-Mark, they then support
Wal-Mart's tactics of forcing manufacturers to leap from one
third world country to the next, each country and sweat shop
offering less and less in hourly wages to their desperate workers
in order to be a Wal-Mart supplier. And this practice insures that
the plants supplying Wal-Mart can't be in the US, because the
wages would be too high to allow Wal-Mart to pay the low wholesale
prices they demand, even at minimum wage.

Wal-Mart has been trampling Americans, figuratively, for years.
And now they're doing it literally.

I'll never shop there.
When I die it sure as shit won't be in a friggen Wal-Mart stampede.
(I'll probably slip on a bar of soap in the shower. :))

[Corgigal]

16. I did that last year

they had a basketball hoop set on sale and money was tight last year.
Woke up early and took two kids with me. I never in a million years thought it would be as crazy as it was. I made sure the kids stayed close and you couldn't even get the basket through the flipping store. I did not do it this year.

However on a nice note when my daughter (aged 12) and I tried to pick up the backboard and put it into the van we found out no way could we do that. It was still dark and was so cold that year. Out of no where I heard a man say let me help you with that. After he was done we thanked him and told me under no conditions should he enter the store.

Walmart needs to stop this. I don't think shoppers know its going to be a bad as it is until you're in the middle of it.

[loudnclear]

18. "Wal-Mart need to stop this?" We need to stop this

The only way to get Wal-mart to stop is for us to stop!

[Touchdown]

20. No. This is all Wal-Mart

They fired a blaring siren, which causes an uproar in mobs to begin with. One lone employee tried to help. Where was security, the Store Manager, any other employees? It takes approx. 10-20 minutes for paramedics to arrive anywhere, and people were still walking on her? Where was the store personnel then, and why didn't they block off that section?

Did they offer to pay for the hospital bills THAT THEY CAUSED with their creation of this hypnotic/shark infested feeding frenzy atmosphere? No. They didn't even offer her the DVD player for free. THEY STILL WANT HER TO COME BACK AND BUY IT! Pure greed, and selfishness! No, they taught their customers to be this way, not the other way around.

They are an EVIL company.

[ikojo]

32. AMEN!! Americans need to stop supporting this

kind of behavior.

One of my friends was shopping at KMart on Thanksgiving. She had the nerve to call me as she was en route. I gave her a piece of my mind, saying that those people at Kmart deserved to be with their families and that if people like her were not in the store then it would not be beneficial for KMart to be open on Thanksgiving.

She said that she was doing her mom's Christmas shopping, that she had a list of things her mom wanted to get and that they were on sale. OF COURSE THEY'RE ON SALE....the store owners want to encourage people to shop on what should be a day off for everyone! I find this a lame excuse. She then said that people have to work the rest of the year so it's good that KMart is open on Thanksgiving.

She then got into the store and saw that there were very few people actually shopping. I was happy. I told her she should not have been their either. She also said they didn't have what she had come there for anyway (a cheap DVD player for her niece). I did tell her about Radio Shack's cheap DVD player.

[carrowsboy]

19. People are stupid.

Why wait til the day after Thanksgiving to do this crazy shopping shit?

It's not like these morans don't know that Xmas is going to fall on Dec. 25th!

Not to be one of those obnoxious shoppers, but yes I did finish my Xmas shopping about 2 weeks ago. A little here, a little there, you'd be surprised how quickly and painless it goes.

No goddman DVD player (especially some $29 cheap shit that'll last about 6 months) is worth getting hurt.

I'm sure Jesus (if there is one) is shamed.

[Scott Lee]

22. "We hope that she will continue to be a customer."

Yeah, believe it. That's what the Walmart spokesman said about the trampled woman.

The arrogance is stunning.

[PatrickS]

23. I agree

That's all they care about. Sheesh!

[maggrwaggr]

25. Americans finally get passionate about something and it's ...shopping

disgusting

[fujiyama]

56. Remember the words..

of the idiot *, a few days after 9/11. It was "Go and shop".

It wasn't a few inspiring words like FDR's "We have nothing to fear but fear itself"..

It was to go shop...

This isn't just Walmart. This is the society America has created. It's an overly consumeristic society. It's so crass and obnoxious. This is the race to the bottom, that AMERICANS created. We can bitch all day about the Walmart, corporate mentality, but they are doing nothing more than what we are all encouraged to do from an early age. Material greed is good. Others don't matter. This really is the GOP mantra.

Disgusting!

[sleipnir]

28. Screw her, you shop at Walmart you pay the price

Not to be insensative, but what the hell was she doing at a 6am shopping rush to Walmart? What, the lack of wages/union/overtime/decent conditions weren't enough to drive her away? I'm not overly sympathetic to her plight, sorry.

No wonder she got trampled, the rest of those people at 6am don't give a damn about humanity either probably, just a cheap buck.


Other thread is about to get locked I'm sure..

[dand]

30. it is a known fact,

If you don't believe in evolution shop at Walmart

[jiacinto]

37. That's cold and rude

I am sorry. I don't like Wal-Mart's practices vis a vis their employees and their role as a corporate citizen either. But that doesn't mean that this woman deserved to be trampled. Sorry your post is callous and rude. That you would attack this woman is sick and digusting.

[Beaker]

47. that this woman, or ANYONE would ever shop at Wally World-

is what's sick and disgusting.
It's a perfect picture of what this once great nation has become.
Walmart shoppers are reponsible for the state of things to come.

[jiacinto]

59. That doesn't justify her getting trampled

And before you assail this woman maybe that's the only store nearby or maybe the only place she could afford to shop at?

This woman didn't deserve to be trampled.

[XanaDUer]

42. While I despise Wal-Mart,

I canot say anyone deserves to be trampled.

[XanaDUer]

43. While I despise Wal-Mart,

I canot say anyone deserves to be trampled.

[ozymandius]

54. So the penalty for shopping at Wal-Mart is aggravated assault?

Embarrassment maybe but not near loss of life.

[fujiyama]

58. At the same time...

I could say, screw the employees. They know what kind of atmosphere WalMart is like. They choose to work there. They should simply go work elsewhere.

At the same time, I can think "screw Americans...So many are supportive of this idiot *. They get what they deserve, especiallly if they vote for him in '04" (of course if they vote for him in '04, they DO deserve eveything that happens to' em)

[A-Schwarzenegger]

33. Calm down this is all completely normal and natural.

This is part of all normal human being's nature now.
This is just like the lions in the bush
when they get an antelope. There is a pecking
order of who gets to eat the antelope first. If
you get out of line you get knocked out. The biggest
lions get the antelope first, the bargains, the steamying
lungs and heart, the DVDS, and the weak ones get
knocked over and trampled. Maybe the lions that
get knockled out can sue Africa. No? Why not? Because
it's all natural. Do they have to advertise antelopes for lions to
want them? Is bloody raw meat more important to lions than bargain
DVD machine is to human beings? Who are we to say? It's
all a part of the big maginficient natural prosess of eating,
participatory socialization, and getting knocked out battling
for a good bargain to express the love of the birth of Jesus.

[camero]

35. You again?

Don't you have a lady to grope?....:P

[A-Schwarzenegger]

48. I can not comment while my investigation

of myself is going on.

[JNelson6563]

41. haha Good one!

It's all a part of the big maginficient natural prosess of eating,
participatory socialization, and getting knocked out battling
for a good bargain to express the love of the birth of Jesus.

That's what's been rolling around in my mind. These folks are acting like animals to do what? Get ready for Christmas? To celebrate the birth of the savior of mankind? I'm not even Christian and their hypocrisy sickens me.

Julie

[A-Schwarzenegger]

49. Love make people do many funny things.

Climb mountains, forge rivers, brave machine-gun fire,
stomp fellow shoppers.

[jiacinto]

36. That's sad

And Wal-Mart should offer this woman more than a DVD player. They should offer to pay her medical bills and compensate her fairly for her suffering.

[opihimoimoi]

44. Wal Mart will pay shit.

Tough luck lady for trying to save $.32

Sales Day means WATCH YO ASS DAY in AMERICA, we all knew that

Come, we go score for a dooby for the lady, erase the shoe prints off her body

[solinvictus]

50. Wally World

About 4 or so years ago when the Furby was the toy craze, we went to Wally World's Day After sale. The wife and I got there at about 4:30 AM, and it was CROWDED as hell. Keep in mind, this is a rural Wally World. Anyway, they announced the beginning of the sale and people were pushing, shoving, and taking things from each other. I believe Wally World had cheap Furbys, TVs, and VCRs that morning. People fought over $39 electronics. It was absurd. If people are this bad for cheap consumer crap, how bad would they get if we had another Great Depression?

[spooky3]

51. Every DUer should refuse to shop at Walmart because of its policies

It exploits workers around the world and at home. If necessary, we can buy one or two fewer items that we merely want but don't need (e.g., DVD players) per year in order to pay for the slightly higher prices at stores that treat people better. That would do more to help us live up to our values than anything else.

[sable302]

53. I'm 'greatly depressed' already

by the whole thing. Does that count?

[Rex]

57. What happened to this woman is horrible

What the hell is wrong with people? GD brainwashed consumers!

We live in McAmerica.

[PatrickS]

61. This story made the news last night on NBC

NBC briefly mentioned this story on their first news report about what was a great beginning to the Xmas shopping season on Saturday night's broadcast. The segment was pro-Bush but at least this story put a damper of sorts to the shameless cheerleading.