Walmart

[veronak]

Went to Wal-Mart today and I tell you what they have the worst and I do mean the worst customer service there is , in retail. You can never find anyone to help you, the items are stacked so high it's ridiculous, the shelves are never stocked and the cashier today was on her cell phone the other day one had her one hand on her back and the other scanning my groceries taking her sweet little I hardly ever go there but mom needed me to go I would rather spend the money and time in gas to go elsewhere but when you're as big as they are I guess it doesn't matter to management because ppl will continue to shop there

[scottish girl]

I work in the UK equivalent of Walmart (Asda Walmart) and we would be sacked if we were talking on our mobile phones while we're working. Colleagues aren't supposed to have their phones on them. I think you should put in a complaint to customer services in that store, the store I work in reacts quickly to customer complaints.

[Thrifty Ray]

I agree that your store is lacking in management and supervisory areas.

Our Walmart is very busy...but the service is usually ok, not great..but I do not expect great when I am there. I am there for the low prices.

My biggest problem with walmart is that the isles are pretty tight...and I find my fellow shoppers kinda rude..there seems to be alot of shoppers who are in the 'get outa my way' and 'yeah, I see you but I ain't moving' mode.

Walmart serves a need- low prices with a variety (sometimes limited) to choose from. They are there to seve the masses, not cater to the few.

Folks who want superior service and high quality may want to shop at a more upscale store.

However, sounds like your Walmart may need management/supervisory direction.

[Ima saver]

Our wal mart is ok, but I agree the isles are too crowded.

[billybob]

well what do you expect when they give the workers the absolute minimum-and thats often not even enough to get by. Obviously they will have the worst workers who could give 2 sh**s about you or their jobs.
be happy that the only price you pay for low prices is rude service... a lot of people pay a lot higher cost like the lack of proper insurance and low pay.
If you wanna make a difference dont shop there

[CRFSaver]

So it raises the question, do they not give 2 sh!ts because they make minumum wage, or because they don't give 2 sh!ts about anything they will only make minimum age? I have been in Walmarts all over the country. I have seen top notch customer service and I have seen horrid customers service and I have seen it right in the middle.

Everyone slams on Walmart but in my experience their customer service is no different then Target (though Target tends to be a bit cleaner), Macy's, Marshall Fields, Kohl's, Mervyns or Kmart. It's like anything, Walmart provides a partocular service. Do I shop there a whole lot? No, but will admit it was the only place I could find a TV stand I really liked that was less then 100 bucks (including Ikea, Target, BestBuy, Circuit City).

I look at different stores serving different markets and different constituencies and needs. I go to Home Depot if I need a piece of PVC tubing, or some paint, but I go to the local hardware store if I need something specialized, like a particular nut or bolt or screw. Same thing with Walmart, I buy cleaning supplies there but I bought my bed frame at Ikea, and my Mattress from a speciality shop where I grew up (custom Queen Matress and Box Screen for less then 500 bucks).

My TV I bought at Best Buy but my speakers (Mirage Omni 250's) I bought at a specialty stereo shop. You are right though, if you don't like the customer service or the cleanlieness, then don't shop there. Personally I am willing to put up with it once in a while for the dirt cheap prices on cleaning supplies and stuff like contact supplies.

[veronak]

Well I have seen customer service in different stores with great and bad a like but so far every time I go into any Wal-Mart it has all been the same "poor"

[VJW]

Speaking of Wal-Mart, it turns out the Republican scare tactics in Maryland were baseless. The Majority Democrat Maryland legislature passed a law that requires Wal-Mart Stores (and other employers with 10,000 or more workers in the state) to increase spending on their employee health insurance.

The Republican administration and business leaders had warned that the company, in response to the legislation, might back out of plans to build a 1 million-square-foot distribution center on the Eastern Shore, which could eventually employ 1000 people. A Republican state senator described the alliance of labor, universal health-care advocates and Wal-Mart competitors that backed the bill as creating a "Bermuda Triangle of jobs ... jobs go in, and they don't come out."

Well, the legislature ended up having to override a veto by Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, and recently the president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. called "ridiculous" the Maryland law that requires his company to spend more on employee health care but said it wouldn't deter Wal-Mart from expanding in the state. Company officials confirmed they had recently bought about 175 acres for the distribution center project, although they have not announced when construction would begin.

More details on the Maryland health plan, titled the “Fair Share Health Act”, can be seen here:

LINK

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[PrincessPerky]

When I was a kid They opened up a brand spanking new Kmart, everyone loved how much bigger and cleaner it was than the local store. Then turned sour, employees were rude, aisles were crowded as new products were squeezed in, you only went there for the cheap prices.

Then in my Teens a NEW store came, Walmart hit the town, big store, wide asiles, happy employees. it was great! course it turned sour, the employees were cranky, the asiles were crowded with new stuff, the floors lost there new shine.

Now we have a big fancy Target, new store! bigger! better! I wonder how long before it tunrs too?

[Thrifty Ray]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Now we have a big fancy Target, new store! bigger! better! I wonder how long before it tunrs too?

We've had Target here for years...and unlike other king-sized shops, they keep the store very clean and organized, and the service is good. I hope your towns experience is similar.

[veronak]

Hi Princess,

I just wanted to let you know I like this saying:

"Work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching "

[PRICEPLUS]

Veronak, that is a great thought!

[eisor]

Wow...the topic of walmart! Personally, i have a major dislike for walmart. However, my past couple experiences haven't been to bad. But, then again, I went in at off-peak hours and self-checked out (eliminating the need to interact with employees).

I think the quality of walmart and the quality of the staff greatly varies. I've shopped at MANY walmarts in many different states. I've noticed that in small towns (like the many small town walmarts I've been to in Ohio) the store usually is cleaner, the staff is nicer and the customers are fairly respectful of the store. On the other hand, here in metro-atlanta (BIG city), in the majority of the walmarts (there are SOOOO many), the store is trashy, the staff is rude, unhelpful, slow, etc. and the customers don't care about the store. They leave things like milk in the entertainment section, leave half eaten bags of chips around, etc.

I think another factor that contributes into it is the income level of where the store is located. There is a walmart less than 2 miles south of my house. It fall under the majority in Atlanta that are trashy. It is located in/around a middle class area. (some lower income further south of it). However, the walmart about 10 miles north of me (the one I shop at) is clean. However, this walmart is located in one of the richest areas around here.

Overall, I think walmart has many problems. The fact that they don't care that some of their stores are trashy and do have poor customer service shows that they don't care in general. However, since I do have a strong dislike for walmart, my opinion is probably biased.

[robex]

I love our Walmart! They have the best return policy around...the employees that work that counter are always pleasant, courteous, and quick (and they don't make me feel stupid for buying the wrong size--which is fairly often since I don't like to try stuff on in the store!).

[Thrifty Ray]

DD3 and I went to Walmart today...and because of this topic, I paid close attention to the service that we received.

This particular store is a supercenter, remodled about 2 years ago. Extremely clean and well organized.

I was greeted by a very sweet elderly lady (score one for the gipper for the jobs that the senior greeters enjoy.) She was handing little stickers to kids who came in.

DD3 is 14- and wanted a bathing suit...so she tried on just about everyone they offered...in and out of the dressing rooms 3 times...The girls working that area were friendly and helpful and showed no frustration when we left a sizeable rack of suits to be re-racked.

There were two people ahead of me in line...I puposely chose I line so i could observe. The young girl who checked us out was very friendly to all of the customers. She found something to chat with each customer about based on the purchases, and seemed sincere...For instance, I was purchasing s'more makings and other supplies for the camping trip...and she noticed and asked if we were going camping. Then, when I went to leave she said "I hope you have fun on your camping trip". Very pleasant.

As I was leaving, a second senior wished me a nice day.

I think it is a shame to say that Walmart workers in general dont give a &#^$ about their jobs...I am sure there are some who do not...but give credit where it is due...many of those workers are proud of what they do...and care about their job and are just rying to make an honest living for their families.

Sigh....off the soapbox (again)

[mccartygirl]

I agree with Eisor, you need to look where the Wal-Mart is and the people working there. Some of them wouldn't give 2 poops no matter where they worked. I've been to many Wal-Marts and have seen really good service, in the smaller towns, and horrible service which is usually in the bigger, nastier parts of town. I'm not a hater or lover of Wal-Mart, Target shopper here. I also agree with the poster that I have had bad service everywhere from Saks to Wal-Mart, people are people no matter where they are.

I'm a little confused on the whole health care thing. I have friends who are contract workers, they work full time for their contract house and some of their houses don't offer health care or if they do the worker must pay the whole premium, why is Wal-Mart singled out? There are many companies that don't give health care or charge a great deal for it. I also wonder why Sam's Club employees get paid a decent amount? Plus you can buy health care at Sam's, what's the difference in price from the Wal-Mart employee health care vs. the Sam's Club price? I just ask because it's owned by the same company.

[VJW]

Originally Posted by mccartygirl

I'm a little confused on the whole health care thing. I have friends who are contract workers, they work full time for their contract house and some of their houses don't offer health care or if they do the worker must pay the whole premium, why is Wal-Mart singled out? There are many companies that don't give health care or charge a great deal for it.

Because it was revealed that Wal-Mart has more of it's employees on state Medicaid than any other company nationwide. Therefore, Maryland decided to make large profitable companies (over 10,000 employees) pay their own freight.

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[lrjohnson]

I have never shopped at a Walmart, and that works well for me.

[mccartygirl]

Thanks for clearing that up. I often wonder what the big stink was since a lot of people don't have any health care across the country.

[Valbush]

The two Wal-Marts that we go to are great. The people are friendly, the aisles aren't crowded. There is always help around when I need something. But the one at Renton that I use to go to was horrible. Crowded aisles, rude workers. Didn't like to go to that one at all.