Walmart’s Algorithm Problems

Todd Starnes of FoxNews in writing for townhall.com reports on the family-owned business of Domagron who for the past 9-months has been selling “All Lives Matter” bumper stickers on Walmart’s online marketplace.  But on October 11 the company received a notice from the nation’s largest retailer that the bumper sticker had been removed from its marketplace.  The notice implied that the bumper sticker had violated the company’s “prohibited products” policy.

Owner Dominick Agron was stunned – so he fired off an email to Walmart demanding to know why the “All Lives Matter” bumper sticker was prohibited.  Later that evening he was astounded to receive the following message from Walmart:

“‘All Lives Matter’ has been deemed an offensive term.  These types of items are not appropriate for the Walmart Marketplace.”

Agron was furious.  “Walmart should be ashamed of itself,” he said.  “To advocate a view that not all lives matter is deplorable.”

According to Starnes, Walmart has not officially responded to his inquiries about the incident.

Meanwhile, Agron wrote a letter to the company’s board of directors announcing his intentions to terminate his relationship with Walmart.  In the letter he wrote:

“As a result of Walmart’s blatant discrimination and formal position that “ALL” lives do not matter, we are terminating our relationship with Walmart effective immediately.  I am disappointed in your views, but we cannot transact with such a morally corrupt organization.”

Apparently, Agron’s message was received loud and clear at Walmart headquarters – because they recently reinstated the bumper sticker.

Agron said, “They had blamed the removal on a system issue.  While we seriously doubt the veracity of the claim, we are taking it at face value.”

Agron is right to be suspicious.  “Someone needed to code the algorithm in the system to consider the term ‘All Lives Matter offensive,’” he said.  “A computer can’t do that on its own.”

As a good faith measure, he decided to reinstate all of his other products on the Walmart marketplace.  “However, we reserve the right to cease dealing with Walmart once again,” says Agron.

You may recall, last month a Walmart in Georgia refused to decorate a cake with the words “Blue Lives Matter.”  Facing a media firestorm and national outrage, the store had a change of heart and agreed to comply with the customer’s wishes.

Starnes says, “Sounds like the Walmart bakers may have had the same algorithm problem that resulted in the bumper sticker getting banned.”  Starnes concludes, “Walmart might want to look into that - or else they might have to come up with an algorithm for disappearing customers.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel