DEAR SUN SPOTS: Hope you can get a straight answer on this problem. Walmart advertises that they accept the lower price from any competitor.

They have accepted ads from Food City (Lisbon, Turner) and Shaw’s, but when it comes to Market Basket in Biddeford they refuse to accept. Aren’t they considered as “any competitor”? What’s up with that? Thanks for any information on this matter. — Faithful Reader

ANSWER: An online search turned up a website called thewallyworldwoman.com (http://tinyurl.com/nekau6d) with more details on the price guarantee policy than what is provided at the corporate website (http://corporate.walmart.com/ad-match-guarantee).

Wally Woman offers this:

Walmart does not honor:

* Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined

* Internet pricing

* Misprinted ad prices of other retailers

* Competitor ads from outside of the store’s local trade territory. It is a store manager’s discretion as to what defines a territory.

* Going-out-of-business sales or close-out prices

The fourth bullet is the most likely explanation for your dilemma. Sun Spots recommends asking for a manager anytime you fail to get satisfaction. Store clerks may be uninformed, and they lack the authority to deviate from the rules. 

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do you know of any television repair people who would come to the home to repair? Mine has a loose wire that makes the picture go out and comes back when I touch the wire.

The television is too heavy for me to bring somewhere for repair as it is an old TV with a large back. It works great other than the loose wire. Hopefully, there is someone who can repair it for a reasonable price. Thank you, Sun Spots. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Television repair is one of those skills that used to be ubiquitous but is now less common. There are still three advertised in the phone book, however. Deny’s Service Center advertises in-home service. You can find Denis Castonguay at 1256 Sabattus St., Lewiston, 783-6869.

DEAR SUN SPOTS, As I read your article about Scout Troop 121 collecting Christmas trees, I recalled an item on the news recently about a woman who was requesting such trees to feed her goats. I believe it was Channel 8, but I’m not certain. This might be a situation that would be beneficial to both the Scouts and the tree-eating goats. — Sun Spots Fan

ANSWER: Sun Spots searched online and found more than one story of old Christmas trees being sought for goats all over the country but did not locate that particular story. Perhaps other local goat owners will write in.

As cold as it’s been, Sun Spots hopes all goats have something besides old Christmas trees to eat!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Someone asked about “Kim” who used to be on WCSH-TV. That was Melissa Kim, who reported sports. Apparently she is no longer with the station, but I have no idea where she might have gone. — B.B., Greene

ANSWER: Not being a TV watcher, Sun Spots doesn’t always recognize incomplete names. Thank you for filling in the blank.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I just googled Melissa Kim and “Melissa Kim WCSH 6” popped up. Melissa was a sports announcer for WLBZ, Channel 6’s affiliate in Bangor. She left in September for another sports reporting job in Birmingham, Ala. — Janet Irish, Turner

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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