Walmart--This bothers me

[luvmyfam444]

Well, to me, NO self checkouts when there are routinely only 5-6 lines open with 6-8 customers in each line= less money for the company AND therefore less jobs, because I will be walking out. Sometimes the self checkouts were the only reason I didn't walk out and leave my grocery cart sitting there.

You're one basket doesn't hurt WM nearly as much as the several items that go out thru the selfcheckouts DAILY....

 

[torinsmom]

You're one basket doesn't hurt WM nearly as much as the several items that go out thru the selfcheckouts DAILY....

It is more than my one cart. I have seen 3 people leave their carts within 10 minutes in our store. Not only does the store lose the money the customer would have spent, but the perishables in that cart are also ruined.

I wouldn't mind the self checkouts being gone if they would just open more lines during the busy times. I don't know why they set up 15-20 lines if they are never gonna open more than 8, KWIM? Even in the Christmas rush, the most I have ever seen open was 10 lanes.

As far as people stealing on the self checkout lanes, maybe someone needs to invent a bagging sensor that WORKS, instead of the ones that don't sense light items or oversense heavy items. Most of the stores have had to turn that "PLease remove item from bagging area" and "please place item in bag" announcements, because the sensors sucked, and the result is that people steal.

Marsha

 

[61292cna]

There was actually an artible about this in the most recent Business Week.

Essentially, a lot of higher income shoppers have been going to Walmart because of the recession and Walmart is trying to KEEP them coming after the economy picks up. Their plan is to renovate most of the stores in the U.S to make them more upscale and inviting and less trashy. Although if they allow their employees to come to work looking like they just rolled out of bed, these renovations are pointless, I'm just saying....

I actually like the renovated stores! They are so much cleaner, inviting, and nicer looking. The home goods area has lights years better merchandising and nice wooden floors.

But I agree that layoffs SUCK and Walmart never has enough cashiers. Hopefully their renovations are creating a lot of construction jobs.

This happened to the WM in our town they moved high volume departments to out of the way places, so you have to look at a lot of stuff you don't want to find what you do, Shrank many departments to make room for more high end merchandise, & raised the prices on many of their food items.

I now drive the 15 miles to one of the stores north or south of here.

If I'm doing a large shopping trip, I'll go to the one 30 miles south, as it is next to the Sams Club!

 

[mickeysgal]

Seems like an awful lot of money spent at a bad time

They could have been under contract with the construction firm long before this economy crashed. I know that the company I work for has been under contract to do remodels in the stores our product is in for a few years now. We have to hold to what we contracted.

 

[CajunDixie]

They just finished renovations at our Super Wal-Mart. Not only did they renovate, they removed entire sections of products.

The craft section is less than an aisle long. The wedding and cake decorating section is a half aisle on both sides. There is no more fabric. They eliminated most of the cooking tools and many of the tools in the hardware area. They also eliminated many items in the food section and raised the prices.

We still shop there, but I don't trust them to have the lowest price anymore.

They did the same thing here. The only good point was all that merchandise went into 4 short aisles of clearance. They've had all this stuff in the clearance aisles for a few weeks and keep adding more. This week I got my nephew some Crayola Color Wonders sets for less than 1/2 price.

Lately all I buy there is softner salt, Luzianne tea and catfood. Everything else I've been getting for free/cheap at CVS, Walgreens and groceries with double coupons at the grocery in that town. I hate the new WalMart layout and the higher prices.

 

[merryweather20]

Our Wal-Mart used to be on the main plaza street in town. They inexplicably left that store empty and moved about 2 minutes up an absolutely barren sidestreet.

I was so ticked off at them leaving a big vacant building plus tons of parking as an eyesore that I stopped shopping there. Its only 2 minutes, but the intersection wasn't designed for that kind of traffic, and I liked the convenience of visiting the other stores in the plaza.

 

[Grandmax3]

WM are finished the remodel at our location. It seems to me that they have remodeled to look more like Target. Also the employees now have a dress code, they wear navy blue shirts and khaki pants. Doesn't that sound familiar- Target is red shirts and khaki pants.

 

[agnes!]

WM are finished the remodel at our location. It seems to me that they have remodeled to look more like Target. Also the employees now have a dress code, they wear navy blue shirts and khaki pants. Doesn't that sound familiar- Target is red shirts and khaki pants.

Maybe they're aiming for "Target Lite"?

agnes!

 

[luvmy3]

OP I'm guessing the plans for those renovations were inplace long before they had to start laying off people. Our Super Walmart finished their reno last year and while I don't shop there often I actually don't mind going there like I used to.

 

[Buckalew11]

My goodness. I think they renovated my Walmart 2 years ago. I remember it was right after being in a Walmart down in FL (near Nokomis). They remodeled ours to be more like that new one.

Part of Walmart's success all through the years is their remodeling so the store does not get dated (like our old KMart did). I find it doesn't take long to learn your way around. I usually grumble at the changes for the first several trips and then I'm OK with it.

Our Walmart rarely, if ever, has lines 6-8 people deep! While they never have every aisle open, I think they do a good job with this part at ours. I rarely ever have to wait in line more than one person ahead of me. Usually, I can't get my stuff on the belt fast enough, plus my coupons and all ready for them! Our Walmart has an employee who stnads out in front of the registers and directs you to a shorter line and will even open a new register if needed.

Our Walmart is extremely nice (we actually have 2 and both are nice) and I shop there often despite the fact that my DH doesn't really want me to. i figure when he goes shopping, he can choose the store.

 

[ols386]

and spending money is EXACTLY what this economy needs!
If they are spending, then someone else can buy food for their kids!

Mikeeee

That's a very GOOD point!!! We should hope that more places remodel.

 

[ChillyWilleys]

Well, to me, NO self checkouts when there are routinely only 5-6 lines open with 6-8 customers in each line= less money for the company AND therefore less jobs, because I will be walking out. Sometimes the self checkouts were the only reason I didn't walk out and leave my grocery cart sitting there.

If enough people walk out for that reason, they might get the hint and start manning more registers. I too refuse to use them. Won't bag my own groceries either.

 

[luvmy3]

If enough people walk out for that reason, they might get the hint and start manning more registers. I too refuse to use them. Won't bag my own groceries either.

I don't think its a matter of getting the hint, its more like they don't have the employees to man all the registers, especially if customers also demand baggers as well.

 

[Buckalew11]

our Walmart's cashiers bag on the round turnstyle themselves.

So, you would just leave a cart full of groceries and leave the store? I did that once and still feel guilty for doing it. One of the few times DH was w/me and he got a page for a car wreck or house fire and we had to quickly leave the store! I worried about those groceries the whole day! I don't think I could leave a cart full of dairy and freezer stuff sitting there--I'd at least have to return that stuff to its proper place!

 

[lecach]

We only have ONE Walmart in our area - it serves Chapel Hill and Durham NC with a combined population of around 250,000 AND 3 major universities. And it's only a regular Walmart too.

I sure hope they don't take away the self scanners because on most days there are only 2 regular checkouts open. Yes, 2! And there is never more than 1 person working the Service Desk.

They were supposed to build another Walmart near my house but with the economy I heard that wasn't happening.

 

[ckay87]

That's a very GOOD point!!! We should hope that more places remodel.

I will second (or third) that. I don't understand the general mindset that money should not be spent. If anyone (business OR individuals) can afford to spend money on something right now they should. Precisely because of the current economic situation.

 

[Kathi OD]

not trying to be contrary here, but if they didnt renovate them, can you imagine the threads about how trashy walmarts are becoming, how we just wont shop there anymore because of that. yada, yada, yada

I'm not so sure a renovation would help our walmart, since it's been trashy since day 1. I've only ever seen one walmart that wasn't trashy, and it's not a newer one, or one that has been recently renovated.

 

[rie'smom]

The biggest thing that aggravates me about Wal Mart is that since they added the self check out system, they've cut back on cashiers. When I go there lately, the self check outs are all closed and there are 4 cashiers in the whole store. Three times in the last month, I've left a buggy full of stuff because there were lines at the cashiers 15 deep and this was at a time during the day when the store is almost empty.

 

[ChillyWilleys]

our Walmart's cashiers bag on the round turnstyle themselves.

So, you would just leave a cart full of groceries and leave the store? I did that once and still feel guilty for doing it. One of the few times DH was w/me and he got a page for a car wreck or house fire and we had to quickly leave the store! I worried about those groceries the whole day! I don't think I could leave a cart full of dairy and freezer stuff sitting there--I'd at least have to return that stuff to its proper place!

I don't have a problem with the turnstyle bag things. They still have an employee bagging. At the grocery store I wouldn't just leave. If there isn't a bagger in that line (which I'm noticing lately they have one or two baggers that keep switching lines rather than manning a bagger at each line. I either wait for the bagger to come over or for the cashier to do it. I hate doing either of those and always feel rude. But I do it because I want those people to have jobs! I'm just one person so I might look rude but if everyone did this the managers would surely get the hint that they need the workers or people will shop somewhere else where they are adequately staffed. I don't get paid to bag my own things or check them out myself, nor do I get a discount. So the store is getting work done for free, and people are not getting hired. In these times especially I find that unacceptable.

 

[maxiesmom]

But I do it because I want those people to have jobs! I'm just one person so I might look rude but if everyone did this the managers would surely get the hint that they need the workers or people will shop somewhere else where they are adequately staffed. I don't get paid to bag my own things or check them out myself, nor do I get a discount. So the store is getting work done for free, and people are not getting hired. In these times especially I find that unacceptable.

Why do you think Walmart can price things so much cheaper? Because they do things like cut back on baggers. And the fact is, most people are willing to use self check out, or bag for themselves, if it means they can spend less for what they need.

You may not get paid to bag, but what you are buying costs less. Which I'm guessing is the reason you shop at Walmart. The few stores left that have baggers have to charge more for their goods. It is a trade-off.