What is wrong with Walmart

[bbradk]

In a discussion the other day, a friend and I agreed that neither one of us remembers the last time we were even greeted by a Walmart cashier.
Usually once I reach the cash they just start scanning my stuff, at the end, they stand there looking at the total, waiting for my credit card etc.
Then finish the transaction, bag my stuff and start scanning the next customers things.
The whole time not saying a word, nor making eye contact.
Now I realize retail workers are not paid well, but when I shop in the U.S. any member of a retail staff will bend over backwords to smile and ask if I need any help.
What is wrong with our retail workers?

Am I the only one who gets mistreated?

Not that I care, I'm only there because of the low prices, but really, Walmart started out so nicely, now it's horrible!

 

[pool]

oh oh

 

[tboy]

I was listening to a radio program Bob and Mike out of the US just before CHristmas and Mike was talking about the quality of retail workers. Not to put them all down but he was out shopping and ran into a few that were "dumber than a bag of hammers".

Like I said, not to put everyone down but really, what do you expect? Minimum wage, lousy hours, working holidays, cheesy uniforms......I know everyone should be happy they even have a job but too many people these days think or feel they deserve better. Doesn't matter that they have no schooling, little knowledge or training. That's why I tend to shop at better stores (or try to). I do my grocery shopping at Loblaws because I have been to no frills a few times and while my purchases cost about 20% more, at least the store is clean, well stocked, the people are pleasant, and frankly, the quality of the customer is better.

I know walmart started out like gang busters but it is expensive to maintain quality employees and with the competitive retail market it is tough to do and still maintain their bottom line.

BTW I was in the retail sector when Walmart annouced that they were coming up here and the industry was in a tizzy. Problem is Walmart's practises in the US cannot be 100% applied here due to our retail laws preventing undercutting of prices etc.

 

[zog]

Quality of customer?

I do my grocery shopping at Loblaws because I have been to no frills a few times and while my purchases cost about 20% more, at least the store is clean, well stocked, the people are pleasant, and frankly, the quality of the customer is better.

What do you mean "the quality of the customer is better"?

Do you think that some people are more deserving to shop in some stores?

How about you? What quality of customer are you?

Isn't it a bit arrogant to make "quality" judgements about strangers who are shopping for groceries? I know I sometimes look like crap when I go down to the store for a few staples...am I "low quality" because I don't dress up to buy eggs?

Zog.

 

[onthebottom]

Re: Quality of customer?

What do you mean "the quality of the customer is better"?

Do you think that some people are more deserving to shop in some stores?

How about you? What quality of customer are you?

Isn't it a bit arrogant to make "quality" judgements about strangers who are shopping for groceries? I know I sometimes look like crap when I go down to the store for a few staples...am I "low quality" because I don't dress up to buy eggs?

Zog.

It always cracks me up that people dress up to shop, I spend my weekends in jeans and make more that everyone in every store I'm in. I can't stand Neiman Marcus and Saks becase some metrosexual who's working retail gives me attitude - who stupid.

OTB

 

[Keebler Elf]

Problem is Walmart's practises in the US cannot be 100% applied here due to our retail laws preventing undercutting of prices etc.

Not to mention our labour laws, which are light years ahead of the laws in many states.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Sheesh. Wal-Mart threads, BBFS threads. Either way, you're getting dangerously fucked.

 

[onthebottom]

This is true

the difference is the support structure in Canada. The welfare net will catch you if you quit or are fired. so employees are never happy just to have a job which is the case in the US- the US employees know that they need to keep working. You see the same phenomenon in Hong Kong

You will notice that the fast growing countries with low unemployment have less strict labor laws than the slower growing socialist countries. The EU is a great example; look at the ridiculous unemployment rates in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

With all the complaints about a jobless recovery in the US, those countries have jobless economies.

OTB

 

[xarir]

The HR policies of Walmart US may be better than those of Walmart Canada. I was recently in the US and saw an ad on TV - some lady was saying how she started at Walmart as a cashier but then stayed on. Walmart paid for her higher education and now she's a manager of ________ at Walmart.

The point of the ad was that it is possible to make a career out of Walmart. I doubt that's the case here in Canada as we're too far removed from head office where the juicy jobs are. Also, I doubt that Walmart Canada would pay for a college or university degree.

 

[booboobear]

.
What is wrong with our retail workers?

Am I the only one who gets mistreated?

Not that I care, I'm only there because of the low prices, but really, Walmart started out so nicely, now it's horrible!

I don't know the exact reason but for some reason U.S. employees in general seem to value their jobs more .
This not only applies to Wal Mart but restaurants as well.

This is not to say that we don't have a lot of good retail people here in Canada

 

[booboobear]

Re: Re: Quality of customer?

It always cracks me up that people dress up to shop, I spend my weekends in jeans and make more that everyone in every store I'm in. OTB

Are you for real ? You make more than everyone in every store , who are you the richest person in the world then ?

 

[DenWa]

Sheesh. Wal-Mart threads, BBFS threads. Either way, you're getting dangerously fucked.

how droll...you think you're clever, don't ya?

 

[bar+leby88]

Re: Re: What is wrong with Walmart

In a discussion the other day, a friend and I agreed that neither one of us remembers the last time we were even greeted by a Walmart cashier.

#1 you need new friends and new topics of conversation.(sorry kidding dont get mad)


in the U.S. any member of a retail staff will bend over backwords

#2 this sounds like fantastic customer service....im obviously shopping in the wrong stores.

#1.......LOL!!!

 

[bar+leby88]

Re: Re: Quality of customer?

This thread is getting funny. I dress up in a tux to buy breadcrumbs. ........whoops, i ended it.......

yes

 

[pool]

Maybe tboy meant "customer service" ?

IMO, people in general who would place such a blanket superficial judgement on the quality of people, show poor character and a lack of "class". Yes, I just made a judgement.

Judging from the other Walmart thread, it seem we have a few slightly stuck up folk ( I was gonna used the plural form of a word that rhymes with stuck ) in our midsts.

At least our good friend, jw morrice, the stuck up git that he is :þ
... manages to see ( add ) some humour to his highbrow musings. Or maybe it is I who sees the humour in it all.

Anyway, while those who prefer to shop with the likes of Jonathon and Tiffondra ( yes johnnyboy, it was amusing ), while I don't buy clothes at walmart as such, I'll still be buying DVD box sets ( a $20 saving compared to suburban HMV's ) etc and mingling with the people.

PS VVV, I still haven't recovered from your bus excursion about a year ago and I'm sure you haven't either ... hehe ... but thanks for sparing my sensibilities, somewhat, this time around

 

[onthebottom]

Re: Re: Re: Quality of customer?

Are you for real ? You make more than everyone in every store , who are you the richest person in the world then ?

LOL, I did mean the people working in the store but hey, in the US I think I'm in the top 5% but then when there's 100 people in the store there are probably 4 guys richer than me. I guess it was an exaggeration to prove a point.

OTB

 

[tboy]

This is to Zog:

By quality of people I meant yes, the workers, meaning polite, happy, pleasant, well groomed, clean, happy to help, say hello, are careful packing your eggs etc.

I also meant the quality of customers: At the Loblaws I shop at I tend to see a lot more....models (there must be an agency nearby), I have yet to see anyone eating out of a package they haven't purchased yet, I have never been pushed, customers put the items back where they picked them up from, etc etc. You may call it snobby buy I call it manners. BTW If I see someone with an armload of groceries I will hold the door for them.

I also meant the quality of store: If something is dropped, it is cleaned up almost immediately, I have never seen a pile of flour in the middle of an aisle, etc.

I don't think some people deserve to shop in some stores or others. I think people shop where they can and purchase what they can afford. I prefer to shop in a clean pleasant environment staffed by clean pleasant employees.

As for dressing up to go shopping: One doesn't have to wear a tux and mode of dress has nothing to do with it. Its the way one carries on in public. I find that the quality of manners are directly related to the prices of the items.

 

[onthebottom]

can we call you warren

just don't call me sue

 

[twobigo]

Shopping at Walmart? My second favourite thing to do!

 

[bbradk]

I get the point about where you shop.
My neighborhood has a Dominion across the street from a No Frills.
Going from one to another is like night and day!!
Dominion will cost you a few cents more, but the store is clean, well lit, well stocked, and you can have as many shopping bags as you like
No Frills will save you a few cents on the stock they found in a warehouse (not a consistant selection, always different junk) the store is nasty filthy! broken jars lay on the floor forever, very dimly lit (so you don't see the damage to the cans your buying), and they charge you a nickel for a bag to carry the goods you have just bought from their store!!!

The clientelle is also like night and day.
Loblaws shoppers will pay a few bucks more for the pretty store, and tend to be well dressed, not in tuxes, but not in the ripped track pants found on some No Frills shoppers)
No Frills shoppers will run you over with their cart (which they must rent for .25) to beat you to the chicken sale!!
It is not a very nice environment.

Mind you these are just my observations.

And bar+leby88 what can I say, we were bored!!!