WRITING AND SPEAKING EXERCISE:

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Luther Henderson was a long-term frequent Walmart shopper often spending $325 weekly on groceries

and other merchandise for his family of seven. That is, until he lost his part-time job that helped to

supplement his regular job as a police officer. Luther, however, knew that in a few months he would be

able to find another part-time job. Therefore, he was surprised when he tried to put $794 in holiday gifts

on layaway at his local Walmart and discovered that only $144 worth was eligible for layaway because

the firm had a policy of not allowing all merchandise to be eligible for layaway. In disgust, he departed

without putting any merchandise on layaway and also left $139 in groceries in his shopping cart. That

evening, he mentioned his experience to Sally, his wife of 19 years. Sally mentioned that her friend Karen

had a similar experience and decided to visit the local Kmart that she had not patronized for over decade.

At Kmart, Karen had no problem putting on layaway 15 holiday gifts that totaled over $700. Karen liked

the experience so much, and so disliked and was offended by the Walmart layaway policy that she decided

to boycott Walmart. Sally urged Luther to join Karen in her boycott. Luther reminded Sally that his

grandfather gave him $100 of Walmart stock when he was born in 1975 and that last year when they

prepared income taxes, his $100 of stock had increased to over $200,000. That evening Luther decided,

as a long-term Walmart shareholder, he should first write to the senior management about his concern

with the layaway policy.

Look up the senior management group at Walmart and decide to whom Luther should write.

Compose a letter that you think would be appropriate for Luther to send to Walmart.