International

Mystery Santas pay for $484,000 in U.S. shoppers’ Walmart purchases

By Kim Palmer

CLEVELAND (Reuters) – Secret Santas gave an early Christmas gift to shoppers at Walmart stores in three states by anonymously paying off $484,000 they owed on holiday purchases set aside with the retailer.

Walmart said customers at several stores in Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania had their balances on holiday layaway accounts paid off by anonymous donors.

With layaway, consumers make payments on their purchases, usually holiday gifts, over time and get the goods when they are paid for.

One person donated $106,000 to pay off accounts at two stores in northeast Ohio. Another gave $200,000 for layaway tabs at two stores in Gainesville, Florida, and a local Pennsylvania businessman who calls himself “Santa B” paid off $158,000 at stores in Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg, Wyatt Jefferies, a spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc, said.

Smaller payments totaling several thousand dollars also have been received, he added.

Jefferies said the company contacts customers by telephone if their accounts have been paid off. Sometimes they, in turn, donate to other layaway tabs, he said.

“We’re proud to be a small part of these random acts of kindness,” the company said in a statement.

(Reporting by Kim Palmer; Editing by David Bailey and Cynthia Osterman)

Copyright 2015 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Related posts

Australia seeks regional terrorism cooperation after Jakarta attack

EMTV Online

Ronaldo targets more Real glory after San Siro success

EMTV Online

Mudslide kills at least seven on Colombian highway

Reuters

Leave a Comment

error: Content is protected !!