'Someone Failed Training': Woman Claims She Bought Cricut, Received Trash in Viral Video

A woman hoped to gift a Cricut to her mother, but she claimed in a viral TikTok video that upon opening the box, trash was found packed inside instead of the machine.

In @jessimmar's video, which amassed more than 1 million views since it was posted on December 28, she explained that she spent about $400 on the device and the accessories that went with it at Walmart. But when her mother opened the box, she claimed that she found a broken glass vase, paint cans, plywood and other miscellaneous items.

Cricut is a brand of computer-controlled cutting machines meant to help people with their craft and design projects. At press time, the starting cost of one of the Cricut machines sold on Walmart's website was $128.99 at press time. These machines can cost up to $399.

Although she said she would simply return to the store location and speak to a staff member about correcting the situation, things got more complicated for @jessimmar.

"The amazing person who helped me told me it was impossible and there's no way it could've happened," she said in her video.

She said the employee told her that she did not believe that the trash was inside the box. The TikToker offered to show text messages from her mother about the matter, but claimed the employee told her, "there was no way that could've happened."

Despite telling the employee that she was not interested in getting her money back and simply wanted a replacement Cricut, @jessimmar said the employee was firm in not giving her a machine.

"The employees that handle returns are required to open the boxes for stuff like this BECAUSE OF THIS," a commenter wrote. "Someone failed training."

Many other commenters echoed the sentiment and said it was likely that another customer took the machine out of the box and made a return after filling the box with the garbage.

Walmart's verified TikTok account commented on the video as well and asked @jessimmar to provide further information about the matter.

In a follow-up video, @jessimmar said she spoke with a customer service representative who told her the store manager would reach out to her, but she had yet to hear from them. She also said that she was told she would be put in contact with the appropriate team to handle the situation, but she had not heard from anyone, either.

However, she remains undeterred.

"I'm definitely going to reach out to somebody or call somebody like I'm not going to give up," she said. "Maybe I'll go back in store again and talk to another manager or team lead, whatever. But, I do feel very defeated right now."

The official Cricut TikTok account also asked @jessimmar to DM them her contact information on her follow-up video.

Cricut CEO Ashish Arora told Newsweek that the company is working on remedying the situation and plans to notify Walmart's management of what happened.

"I am sure they would have fixed it," he said. "In the meantime, we want her mom to have a great experience."

Commenters urged Walmart to replace the item or offer a full refund to @jessimmar on her videos, as well as in the comments section of the company's TikTok videos. Some also shared their own experiences when dealing with the company.

"Walmart managers NEVER call people back," a viewer commented. "I had to wait weeks to get refunded for an almost $300 delivery order that the driver STOLE."

Several others urged @jessimmar to remain persistent until things were resolved.

"I would get a lawyer involved," one suggested. "Big companies like this try to make you wait as long as possible so you just give up. Whatever you do, don't give up!"

Newsweek reached out to @jessimmar and Walmart for further comment.

Update 01/04/22, 5:00 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a comment from Cricut CEO Ashish Arora.