Shopping at Walmart

[b4freedom]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

I hate walmart. I hate their customer service. It sucks. I hate waiting in their long lines only to deal with a tired, underpaid cashier. I go to walmart maybe twice a year. And it's only when I need to buy a lot of bulk items that I either can't get elsewhere or it's so substantially cheaper that it's worth the headache. And even then, I've been known to shop, have two carts full of stuff, and get so frustrated in line that I walk out. Seriously, I've walked out mid-checkout because the cashier got into a huge fight with the lady behind me. I wish they'd spend a little extra to get some decent help. I also don't think that walmart is all that much cheaper then other stores. If you use coupons and watch ads, you can usually get most items for less then what you'd pay at walmart.

If a walmart executive finds this, i have some suggestions:

I don't understand why walmart puts in 40+ check out isles. They never have more then 7 open. Black Friday they might open 10, before Christmas, they might open 9. Why not get ride of all of those check out isles and add some more shelves for more junk? Or, better yet, why not open up more lines so that I don't get frustrated and walk out leaving you with a bunch of junk to put back on the shelves? Why not put price checks on every isle? So many times I can never find a price on something and I have to walk 6 isles to find a price and then I don't want it but I don't want to walk back and look at something else so I just leave it in the wrong place. Actually, why don't you just stick stickers on everything before it even gets shelved and then you won't need fancy price checkers. And, the people in line won't have to wait 10 minutes for a manger to come help the cashier in order to get a price check. Self check out isles are poorly designed and probably cost 10 times the annual salary of one worker. They take longer to check out because they are poorly designed and some little old lady can't figure out how to push a button on a screen.

Also, why not just pay an extra $1 or $2 to get some workers that actually cares about their job? $1 or $2 can make a huge difference. Instead of sucking up employees from the bottom of the employment bucket, you could be a little pickier. Everyone at the walmart near me is bussed in from one of the worst neighborhoods in the state. A lot of them want to improve life. Why don't you save them the fee for commuting and bus them in yourself? That'd save them money and time. That's a very cheap benefit that you could provide. Or, better yet, you could work with them and provide a housing program. Work x number of hours a month and receive a housing benefit. Seriously, these people are barely surviving and working double, triple jobs just to stay make it. If you want better customer service, treat your employees better. And it doesn't have to be better pay, there are other simple cheap benefits you could provide.

Could walmart do away with all the noisy announcements between coworkers? Most of them aren't needed.

[ChimbleySweep]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

I prefer Target over Wal-Mart. Target is a bit more stylish, a bit cleaner than the big-huge Wal-Mart by my house and it's quieter. I have to brace myself for Wal-Mart, because there's always so many people there.

[Elgin526]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

I don't care for the company and it's practices. But even if that wasn't a factor I'd still never shop there. To put it in a nutshell, I find Wal-Mart to just be icky!

The few times I've been in them (maybe once a year on average, usually against my will) they are dirty and over-crowded with merchandise, their clothes are of inferior quality (unless a major name brand, of course. But to be fair I don't care for Target's clothing either, I shop at JC Penney and Eddie Bauer) and from what I've seen, at least in my area, their prices really aren't all that competitive. If Target has it for $9.99, they'll have it for $9.87. Wow, 13 cents, big whoop! I'd rather pay slightly more and shop at a clean, well lit, un-crowded store (I mean with merchandise, not people) with mechandise I actually want to buy. And really, given sales and coupons and such, I seriously doubt that I'm really paying more, on average, then what I'd pay at WM.

If you like WM, fine. If it's your only option either due to location or finances, hey you gotta do what you gotta do. But given any kind of choice, I'd never set foot in one again.

[rusty@saving]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

i shop at wal-mart due to the fact that it is the only place to go out here in the country. i do not however, agree with how they treat their employees. you get rid of the full time people, you only get part time, unmotivated people that do not care, and it shows.
2nd of all, i have a theory that when people walk into wal-mart, they turn into rude, obnoxious people, with no manners.
for this reason, i am glad that i work nights..i do into the store at midnight-5am on my days off.

[scfr]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

I've only been in to a Wal-Mart 3 times. I did not like the experience at all. The way the store is laid-out seems like a trap to get you to spend more money. There are no hanging signs telling you where things are located, so you end up wandering all over the store looking for what you need. I'm sure that is the point; that if people meander they may see things they never realized they wanted and buy it. I'm a disciplined "by-the-list" shopper who sees shopping as an occasional necessity rather than a social outing, so the Wal-Mart shopping experience was nothing but a great big hassle for me.

[kimiko]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

There are 2 wal-marts near where I live, one is a small one within 2 miles and the other is about 6 miles away. The small one is always very, very crowded. The aisles are small and every time I go in, I spend a good portion navigating the horrible traffing jam. The employees are rude, the quality of the products is low and the price is high. The farther wal-marts on the other hand is huge. The aisles are spacious and employees always greet me with a smile and ready to answer any questions I might have. It's crowded with people too, but there's enough spaces to move around. They sells products that have better quality at lower price than the other wal-mart. Strange since it's the same store. I go to the bigger store mostly for disposable items but I do occasionally buy clothing and stuff. I still have a few pieces that lasted several years already and still in very good shape.

[Thrif-t]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

I hate Walmart because I'm WORN PLUMB OUT walking from one end of the monster to the other. WAY Too many people, ugh!!!

And PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE - get out of your pj's & scruffy houseshoes to go in there would you please?????? I'm amazed at the attire of some of our locals who are in there shopping! Just get off your lazy bum & get dressed for goodness sake!!! HAVE MERCY!!

Ain't that the truth!!

[kunoichi]

Wal-Mart and it's business practices

Hi All,

I am curious to get some feedback from everyone here about Wal-Mart. I know you can save quite a bit of money by shopping there but does Wal-Mart's business practices stop anyone from shopping there? Things such as labor rights, effects on local business and the pressure they put on US firms to move oversees keep me from shopping there.

Unrelated to that specific issue, it seemed like when I did go to Wal-Mart in the past, is was beyond crowded and went into mad house status. For those of you who do shop there, do you experience that as well?

[cicy33]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

I do agree the buttload of people get on my nerves. However, I went to kroger yesterday to use up some coupons and the load of people I just wanted to scream!!!!! unfortunately the cost keeps me coming back to walmart. For ex yesterday I looked at a box of swanson broth, at walmart: 1.77 at Kroger: 2.59, that is a serious difference in price. that is just one example. So even with the coupon I had .50 off 1 Kroger price: 1.50, Walmart: 1.27. Walmart beat kroger. without having to travel to different stores paying 2.25 a gallon for fuel. I understand the problems with walmart that people experience but I don't go there to make friends, I go there to get what I need. Ours do have hanging signs that tell you where everything is. I hardly ever go to target though, that store is always overpriced and can't find what I need. The beauty of walmart is that they have many varieties of brands and items you can't get everywhere. Now, one thing that I think walmart has really done stupid they are taking away layaway. That has to be one of the dumbest things they have ever done. And for the one that posted the mean income for 1 person is somewhere around 42,000, PULEASE! maybe in your world! but here our average income for 1 person is about $20,000 at the most. probably more like $15,000. And I do believe that is the more common. Most of my friends earn around 6.50 to $8 per hour and that is not at walmart. Most of my friends dont' work at walmart, I think I have one and since he is black I am pretty sure walmart is not discriminating, he has been there a long time and he likes his job, says they are real nice. As far as the not letting people get full time I have heard of this and that does suck, but where exactly did walmart become required to offer medical insurance or keep sally smith employed for 40 hours? This is a business and businesses do not care about the little person and that applies to toysrus, target, kmart, kroger, and yes walmart. They are not here for you and me and the kids, they are trying to make a dollar. and that is what they are doing. As said before my dh is a contractor and we barely make enough for him and guy we pay but we do not offer medical insurance or benefits and we do not have overtime. So are we not the evil too? We are just trying to make money and pay our bills. After expenses and payroll we are lucky if he makes about $30,000 a year, not much more than many jobs out there but with many many more headaches.

[sarah]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

The post said that the median household income was approximately 42,000 a year. The per capita (1 perosn average) is around 13,500. These numbers come from the 2000 census.

[cicy33]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

Then if it is 42,000 per year per household and it is 13,500 then there must be 3.5 earning members per household. but that was 6 years ago, and unfortunately I don't think the numbers have changed alot. wages are still way to low for most of the people

[nanamom]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

I live in a town where shopping options are severely limited. There is a walmart and that is the only place I can buy fabric or craft supplies without driving way too far. I also hate walmart. I shop other places for groceries and clothes as much as possible but they have the market cornered on the little things I need, like fabric. I have started getting some of it off of ebay but it is hard to pick when you can't see stuff. I don't believe they are the best at what they do and I also don't agree with the unfair practices they have.

[tinapbeana]

Re: Shopping at Walmart

almost 7 months and no walmart! woohoo!

nanamom, could you pick up fabric at thrift stores/yard sales? i've seen it around here in bolts. i've also used things like sheets/curtain/prom dresses to get some really nice lengths of fabric before.