Walmart slows down.

[Guest]

. . . .

 

[amicus]

Why you sneaky, underhanded lil devil you!

We all know how much you hate Walmart because they won't let the Unions in. We all know you think the Walmarts of the world drive out the small mom & pops u luv so much. We all know you hate big business and large industries just because you do.

But you still shop there?

Gimme a break.

I'll top your personal anecdote with one of my own, I have found all my experiences at Walmart filled with helpful clerks and check out folks and every store I know of will check prices if the bar code fails.

I do not expect an apology...do not expect this ole greedy capitalist to let you get away with such things.

Shame on you!



Amicus...

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

I dunno. Is there a recession or not? Do these people want our business or not?

Customer service had better improve.

We did want to spend some money there. Guess I'd better go eBay again.

Walmart, as a discount purveyor of essential goods, is probably as recession-proof as they get. People trying to carve up what's left of their unemployment check after mortgage, car, and utilities are going to look for the lowest common denominator. Guess what that is?

They ain't buying bologna from Safeway or socks from Macy's. And even the unemployed still need food and clothes. They can't afford this "customer service" of which you speak.

 

[xssve]

Wal Mart managers are the worst, the place went way downhill after Walton, an organizational genius, died and his sons took over.

Computers essentially run the stores, people are just there to stock the shelves and run the registers, and I suspect they'd replace them if they could.

Player Piano.

 

[Guest]

. . . .

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Wal Mart managers are the worst, the place went way downhill after Walton, an organizational genius, died and his sons took over.

Computers essentially run the stores, people are just there to stock the shelves and run the registers, and I suspect they'd replace them if they could.

Player Piano.

KVJ was a genius, he was.

I'm becoming more convinced by the day that 98% of those of us with jobs in this post-industrial world are doing valueless makework.

I know I am.

 

[amicus]

"...

It's just a damn shame that people don't give a shit about how they function...."

~~~

You will find me in total agreement there. I have found in my recluse away from the madding masses that people in a smaller community have retained much of what their big sisters in the big cities have lost.

I love coffee, been drinking it in gallons since I was 12, but I have never paid $4.00 for a cup at Starbucks. I thought Starbucks was the character from Galactica.

But as someone just said, the failing economy has caused many things to happen, among those, layoff's at Starbucks, 300 stores closing and people flocking to Dunkin' Donuts and McDonalds for their caffeine fix.

Changing world...

Amicus...

 

[slyc_willie]

I gotta echo your sentiments, Sarahh. I've never had helpful service at a Wal-Mart. But then, I don't expect much from most retail stores around here.

However, when I do get good service, I let them know how much I appreciate it.

 

[TE999]

Hell-Mart caters to and is staffed by the dregs of humanity. If you can walk through the aisles and not feel superior, then your self-esteem is lower than whale shit. I have shopped there on occasion and after each time I felt like I needed a bath. Service...fuggedaboutit. Five dollar shoes...definitely.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

I gotta echo your sentiments, Sarahh. I've never had helpful service at a Wal-Mart. But then, I don't expect much from most retail stores around here.

However, when I do get good service, I let them know how much I appreciate it.

Around these parts, they are quite courteous and attentive at Wally-world, actually.

 

[slyc_willie]

Around these parts, they are quite courteous and attentive at Wally-world, actually.

Different places, different attitudes. I've noticed, however, that the majority of restaurants do give good service. But then, this is an entertainment town, and good food ain't the only thing that's gonna bring people through the doors. I tell my kids (my employees) that all the time, and show them by example what good service is and how that translates to more money. But a lot of them just don't get it.

Maybe it's because of the Texas educational system . . . .

 

[Xelebes]

Walmarts are too hard to get to.

 

[TE999]

Different places, different attitudes. I've noticed, however, that the majority of restaurants do give good service. But then, this is an entertainment town, and good food ain't the only thing that's gonna bring people through the doors. I tell my kids (my employees) that all the time, and show them by example what good service is and how that translates to more money. But a lot of them just don't get it.

Maybe it's because of the Texas educational system . . . .

It's more to do with their ages. When you're twenty-something a job is nothing more than a way to keep you in CD's, booze and cigarettes. You have bigger plans and dreams. Many a twenty-something has awakened in their forties and found that opportunity has passed them by while they we're partying.

 

[slyc_willie]

It's more to do with their ages. When you're twenty-something a job is nothing more than a way to keep you in CD's, booze and cigarettes. You have bigger plans and dreams. Many a twenty-something has awakened in their forties and found that opportunity has passed them by while they we're partying.

Guess I grew up too soon, then.

 

[TE999]

Guess I grew up too soon, then.

So did I ... I don't regret it, tho. Some of us have to be responsible. Hard work never killed anybody.

 

[slyc_willie]

So did I ... I don't regret it, tho. Some of us have to be responsible. Hard work never killed anybody.

I suppose I could argue that point . . .

I sometimes get nostalgic for the days when I was young, stupid, and carefree.

Then I see how young, stupid and carefree the kids are at work and thank myself for having matured.

 

[TE999]

I suppose I could argue that point . . .

I sometimes get nostalgic for the days when I was young, stupid, and carefree.

Then I see how young, stupid and carefree the kids are at work and thank myself for having matured.

Which is why you're in charge of those kids.

Some people never grow up and become responsible...it's not in their nature to do so. It's sad really, to see a 50 yo man or woman delivering pizzas or clerking in a 7-11.

 

[slyc_willie]

Which is why you're in charge of those kids.

Some people never grow up and become responsible...it's not in their nature to do so. It's sad really, to see a 50 yo man or woman delivering pizzas or clerking in a 7-11.

Or a 37-year-old man waiting tables?

Careful, Tom. One's job doesn't necessarily reflect their education or ambitions. Sometimes, it's about their character and priorities.

 

[DeeZire]

In a city/county of half a million people, I have managed to avoid the Walmart experience, having only succumbed 3 or 4 times in twenty-odd years. I try to support local businesses instead.

The biggest heartbreak was the local neighborhood book store which was formed when three other local book stores bit the dust and combined forces to open under triple-ownership. The lady from the mystery book store had her corner of the store, the literature lady, and the young dude-scriptwriter all knew their shit. They held on for about three years before they went out of business. That was about four years ago.

So now it's off to Barnes & Noble or Border's when I need a book. It's so sad.

My point - if we neglect our local businesses in favor of the big box stores, guess what? We will end up becoming slaves to the whims of the Walton family.

 

[matriarch]

In a city/county of half a million people, I have managed to avoid the Walmart experience, having only succumbed 3 or 4 times in twenty-odd years. I try to support local businesses instead.

The biggest heartbreak was the local neighborhood book store which was formed when three other local book stores bit the dust and combined forces to open under triple-ownership. The lady from the mystery book store had her corner of the store, the literature lady, and the young dude-scriptwriter all knew their shit. They held on for about three years before they went out of business. That was about four years ago.

So now it's off to Barnes & Noble or Border's when I need a book. It's so sad.

My point - if we neglect our local businesses in favor of the big box stores, guess what? We will end up becoming slaves to the whims of the Walton family.

I couldn't agree with you more!

When I moved to this very rural, isolated part of UK, 28 years ago (wow, where did that go?), the main town had a few chain stores in the high street, but by and large, the majority were local, family-owned businesses - book store, department store with it's own restaurant, serving good food, and where lots of oldies met on a daily basis for afternoon tea, independent optician, butcher, baker, sweet shop, newsagents, ironmonger (hardware store), shoe store, china, pottery, jewellers, electrical suppliers, art supplies, stationers..... Old, interesting buildings, good service, reliability. Over those years I have gradually seen each one bought out and 'modernised' by a major chain store, to the detriment of the high street and the people who live here. All for the tourists who flood the place in the summer. Apparently all they want is BHS, Boots, Next, and all the other chains. Now, going shopping there is like going to any other town in UK. Boring, boring, boring. Nothing unusual, no surprises, and pretty poor service. It saddens me more than I realised. there's no character left.

 

[SophieUK]

Hell-Mart caters to and is staffed by the dregs of humanity. If you can walk through the aisles and not feel superior, then your self-esteem is lower than whale shit. I have shopped there on occasion and after each time I felt like I needed a bath. Service...fuggedaboutit. Five dollar shoes...definitely.

Great thread but why have a dig at whales? Why are whales deemed 'low'..I like whales..

 

[rgraham666]

I suspect that like Microsoft, WalMart thinks it's too big to fail. I suspect that like the Big Three it's going to find out differently.

Because I know the discount stores near where I live keep going under.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I cant believe SARAH went to a WAL-MART. She probably goes to church, too.

I worked at a WAL-MART, Christmas of 2005. Its about as close to NAZI slave labor as I care to get. And they have ingenious ways to fuck with people. Most of the assistant managers I knew were fired for gross violations of the law...stealing HDTVs, for example. They pull all kinds of shit, and try and blame it on the peons.

But everyone shops at WAL-MART. Especially the Usual Suspects.

 

[jeninflorida]

I hate Walmart! Our local Walmart is dirty and the lines are too long. We try to purchase everything from Costco.

So far the recession has been great for us. The CEO’s from two of our biggest competitors are still focused on living the high life. Their companies lack any type of customer support…which has been great for our company, were eating their lunch. I think one of them will be out of business by year’s end!

Walmart. 8:00 p.m. on a Friday.

The name's Sarahh.

I wear a thong.

Um, sorry. Got carried away for a moment.

We took the kids out to dinner tonight, then made a stop at Best Buy for some electronics (I've waited until we had the funds for my birthday reward) and then brought everyone home.

The Best Buy folks were very attentive, very knowledgeable (almost too much - LOL) but it was very nice.

But we still had to run out to Walmart to pick up a few things.

Walmart. *sigh* The place was full of confused people, idiotic cart drivers, slow salespeople and miserable visions of humanity, really. But we persevered.

Best Buy didn't have the camera I wanted so we decided to see if Walmart had it. We thought we'd found it, and asked the guy to open the case. He did, and then took the box with him back to the counter. I'm following, saying -"Can I just see the box, please?" He said, "I want to open it back here."

I said, "I just want to make certain it's rechargeable, not batteries. Can I see the box, please?" He wouldn't do it.

Finally, after he'd finished pulling everything out of the box, I was able to snatch the empty carton and check. Batteries. Forget it.

All he had to do was show me the box and I would have known.

They had nothing else we were interested in.

He slowly put things back, mumbling, as we left. Damn it.

They didn't have the proper printer cartridges we needed either. Damn it.

We did pick up doughnut holes for the kids for breakfast. A rare treat.

But finally we were in the checkout line. Finally.

As she was ringing us up, the box of 250 labels I need to print things off for the Litogether wouldn't show a price. She asked us - do we know? I estimated - $8.97? She shrugged, and handed it off to the manager who had just walked up behind her.

The manager took it, and said, "I'll go find out," and proceeded to slowly meander to the back of the store.

I mean - slowly. Without a care. Not hurrying at all.

Hubby and I looked at each other, then at the checker. I said, "She won't be back before you're done." Hubby agreed.

The checker said, "Well, I'd better slow down, then."

(Of course, there were 6 people in line behind us.) Slow down???

We said, "Don't slow down!"

She finished ringing us up, the manager was still nowhere in sight, so we said - "Forget the labels."

We were leaving when the manager finally showed up. She said the price in a very bored tone of voice, not even noticing that we were walking away. When she realized it she seemed surprised we didn't wait.

I dunno. Is there a recession or not? Do these people want our business or not?

Customer service had better improve.

We did want to spend some money there. Guess I'd better go eBay again.

 

[jeninflorida]

A friend of a friend is a manager at a Walmart in Naples, she earns around $160,000 but works close to 80 hours a week. On a typical day she schedules (I think she said) 120 people to work the various shifts but on average 80 people show up.

I cant believe SARAH went to a WAL-MART. She probably goes to church, too.

I worked at a WAL-MART, Christmas of 2005. Its about as close to NAZI slave labor as I care to get. And they have ingenious ways to fuck with people. Most of the assistant managers I knew were fired for gross violations of the law...stealing HDTVs, for example. They pull all kinds of shit, and try and blame it on the peons.

But everyone shops at WAL-MART. Especially the Usual Suspects.