Went To WalMart ...

[jglass]

We went to WalMart night before last actually about 2am. Great way to miss the crowds and the heat. We get in line and they have one register going and there are like 6 people in line. EVERYONE was throwing a fit because they said they had been in line for awhile already. I could tell the checkout was having a problem with the people checking out in front.

There were these people who had rung up over $300 worth of groceries. Instead of paying for it all together they wanted to use 3 different EBT cards to pay for the one order. No one card had enough to pay for the whole order. Well that made the girl checkout stroke out because she didnt even know if you could do that lol. Well the finally get the order straight after she calls for help. During this there are like a dozen people standing around who could open a register but dont. Even the automated checkouts are off. One woman walks off and leaves a huge buggy full of food in line. When we finally get up there she explains after they got the one groups order fixed then they couldnt find their actually cash to pay for the non food items they got lol. She apologized again and again ...everyone ahead of us had taken their aggervation out on her. I told her I was fine. Didnt bother me at all but I thought someone else could have opened a register. Would have helped alot.
I felt sorry for who ever got the job of putting away all those groceries in that one buggy lol. I felt most sorry for the checkout girl. It was my misfortune to get in the same line as the cast of Deliverance lol.

 

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Cast of Deliverance!!! Great line Janie, I love it too funny!!! Can I use it myself sometimes?

To be honest I notice alot of those types at Wal-Mart more than any other store I must sadly admit, and it seems to me that the management at Wal-Mart suck for not calling enough cashiers to cover the amount of customers, Wal-Mart has the very worst Customer Service of any stores!!! I hate Wal-Mart so just don't get me fired up and started, I could be all night over that subject

On the other hand I love our K-Mart and all the employees are so great!!! And the prices are much more reasonable. Last week we got a couple of T-bone steaks for a bargain and they were the very best steaks we have had in a while!

I started boycotting Wal-Mart back when the As* holes sued their own employee who'd been injured and left a vegetable and completley paralyzed, Wal-Mart's lawyers sued her and won every cent awarded to her in her case. Like Wal-Mart needed her measley settlement that was awarded to take care of her in the nursing home. A few days later her son was killed in Iraq. I believe the As* Holes finally relented and left her alone after the public cried out against them. I hate that store with a passion and will never give them my business!!!!!!!! They are filthy dirty rotten low down &*&#@**!* at best and I hope they go belly-up for the crap they do! I'd rather drive across town than give them my business and that is just what I do

 

[mrsjimmyp]

LOL...Janie....you would never catch me at Walmart at 2am ! I agree with Cathy...Walmart sucks bigtime. Sadly though as we live in a rural area...10 miles from town.....wally world is the biggest store in town. The nearest Mall is 75 miles away..... I really dislike it but I have no other alternative.... have to shop there some.
We have a few nice cashiers and I try to go to their registry if it's not crowded.I had to go there today...to get my daughter some school supplies and it was very crowded.....but only 2 lanes open....that's pitiful.

 

[jglass]

I remember reading about that case. WalMart dropped it when the press got ahold of the story didnt they? WalMart should have been ashamed.

WalMart is the cheaper place around here for me to shop. The two stores here in town are small and very high. Also, neither have much of a selection of anything. I cannot even get my ground turkey here in town lol.
You knew KMart had been purchased by Sears right? They dont have much of a selection in food at our Kmart and they dont sell any meat. This Kmart is the highest place in town to shop. They are bad for hanging sale prices in front of items that arent even on sale. It will actually be for an item two or three items over on the shelf. They did it alot last year for Halloween with the candy. They would hang a sale price on a big bag of candy and you think wow what a great deal...unless you read the tiny print where the size of the bag didnt match. It wouldnt be for that item at all.
Their excuse was always ..someone moved it. I have seen them do it to long with to many different items.

Those people at WalMart the other night were a trip lol.
Did I tell you guys about the time right after Jon and I got married and we went to WalMart at like 1am? We had both gotten the flu and were sick for a week and out of everything. Soo we decide to go to WalMart and Jons buddy at the time and his girlfriend wanted to go. So we all piled in the car. I had the misfortune on the way home to cross paths with two drunks on their way home from a bar. The couldnt see short little Jon and thought the car was all girls. Jons buddy had long hair and it was dark. SOO they were gonna do God knows what and try running me off the road..even tried ramming my car. Luckily I was driving a retired police cruiser and they didnt stand a chance of catching me. I made it to town and of course no cops to be seen. I fly down the main road here in town doing 90+ and go to a convenience store. We all run in and tell the woman who was there alone sweeping the floor what was going on and she runs and locks the door. She was wonderful to us...let us call the cops and sat us all down with what ever we wanted to drink and made us eat lol. Ill never forget she stood by that door holding her broom and says if they try and come in here Ill beat them to death with this broom lol.
Well we see the cop car coming with its lights on. Cop pulls in the lot and we run out and guess what? those guys who chased me were sitting across the street waiting for me to leave and we saw them. When we pointed them out to the cops they peeled out and the cop took off after them. Less than two minutes later we see the towns chief of police flying that way in his souped up cruiser. At that point we feared things had gotten ugly. Come to find out the single cop who got there first had called for backup. He had the two corned about a mile down the road and they were refusing to get out of their car. They told us they had to threaten to shoot to get them out.

COME to find out the driver was a two time felon. They had a riffle in the car and a ten inch hunting knife. When they got the driver to the jail he really put up a fight and tore their phone outta the wall then he got to make his phone call. I had to go to court and testify. Outside the courtroom these two jerks try an intimidate us. Jons buddy is so scared he goes and hides and little blind Jon stands right up to them. They had no idea he couldnt see til the trial started lol. What really got them was Jon was in the lodge with the judge who chatted Jon up right before their trial lol. Their court appointed lawyer such a little weasel. First the first cop on the scene had to testify and I watched exactly what he was doing to him with his questions. When it was my turn I was so nervous I wanted to hurl BUT I knew what to watch for with this guy and he tried them all on me and failed lol. It was bound over for grandjury that day and luckily the driver plea bargained but where it was his third offence and he was on PAROLE when he did it he went away for 5 year automatically. His drunk buddy didnt get anything. Jon helped me so much when I was testifying..I could hear him whispering thats my girl everyting I shot down that lawyer. Gave me alot of courage..
Their lawyer's defense was to show that the gun wouldnt shoot..well like I would have know that!
Thats the only incident of road rage I have ever experienced and I hope its the last lol.

 

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Wow Janie what a scarrey ordeal you went through! Glad you came out of it all just fine. Too bad the other schmuck got off as* hole is still running the streets probably terrorizing someone else!

 

[Jafo232]

Let us not forget the online mall here people.. You can get the same prices at Walmart by shopping online at many sites, i.e. Amazon.

I myself have no problem with Walmart. It is business with me. If I can buy something I want there cheaper than elsewhere, well I buy it. Every company out there is out for the exact same thing: Money. Good and bad do not enter the equation with me.

I don't buy the argument that they run mom and pop stores out of business as a valid one. If those mom & pop's could charge less for their merchandise to beat the competition, they would. It is pure business and nothing else.

Anyway, Lowes and Home Depot seem to be putting a hurtin on them lately because I know my wife has been going to them over Walmart more and more and I see more of their stores going up than Walmarts, but it is just my anecdotal evidence.

 

[Mama Mangia]

We have several 24-hour grocery stores here - other than Wally world.

It's not bad enough trying to find decent employees to work the graveyard shift - but it seems that the management at that time of night is one that could use more training as well.

Accepting EBT cards can be tricky with all the factors involved and many clerks are not trained well enough - they depend on electronics too much - they can't think for themselves to help themselves when the pressure is on. With shoppers that don't know what they are doing and a long line of impatient customers - there is pressure.

It's nice to shop at that time - not many shoppers in the store. The downside of it - meat, deli, specialty cheese, departements - are not well stocked until the following morning. Ditto with staples and sale items that have been wiped off the shelf.

To see someone with a $300 order at that time of night - where the heck was security. How do they know that they weren't up to no good.

And I blame the manager for not opening a second register to help relieve the pressure. I hope he is the one that had to put back the cart of groceries.

Also - with an order that large at that time of night - the manager should have been right there watching.

These poor clerks all have thankless jobs - they hear all the crap from the customers. the aisles are not wide enough for 2 shopping carts to pass; the meat is not wrapped properly; all the eggs are broken; the milk is out of date; the produce is rotten; there's no one on the floor to help them; they can find this or that; this is out of stock; the music is too loud; the coupons are out of date so they put things back - not easy. The store clerk is stuck behind the register and is the first target to get it.

Everyone should have to work behind the counter for at least a month to experience all the "fun" it is. They would have more respect for the store clerks.

Kudos to you for having patience!

 

[KYHeirloomer]

>Everyone should have to work behind the counter for at least a month to experience all the "fun" it is. They would have more respect for the store clerks.<

I've worked behind that counter, Mama, for considerably more than a month. And I have zero, nada, no respect for clerks who refuse to learn their jobs---nor for managers who don't teach them. All of which describes Walmart's policies.

I feel very strongly that if Sam Walton came back from the grave today there would be some serious changes made. Today's Walmart is not the chain he started!

>If those mom & pop's could charge less for their merchandise to beat the competition, they would. It is pure business and nothing else.<

The problem is, Jafo, that today's consumer is almost strictly a price shopper. Quality doesn't enter into it. You said it yourself: "Good and bad do not enter the equation with me."


If Walmart has, say, a T-shirt it's selling for $1.98, and the Mom & Pop or specialty store has a T-shirt for $2.20, I say, go for the WalMart. But when the Walmart shirt is a buck ninety eight, and the specialty shirt is $5, there's a reason for it.

Despite the ads, and the bouncing smiley face, and the signs all over the place, there are no bargains at Walmart. Just cheap goods---which is not the same thing.

On the other hand, small stores who know what their business is have no trouble competing. They know that their business isn't groceries; or sporting goods; or clothing. Their business is service. That's the one thing Walmart cannot supply at any price.

There are some of us, still, however, who insist on value for our money, and sales clerks who know something about the product they're selling, and check-out people who know how to put stuff in the bags. Those of us who feel that way eschew Walmart and its kind.

 

[Jafo232]

>

The problem is, Jafo, that today's consumer is almost strictly a price shopper. Quality doesn't enter into it. You said it yourself: "Good and bad do not enter the equation with me."

By Good and Bad, I was referring to Good and Evil. Whether they are nice people or not doesn't concern me much, nor does it concern them what I am like.

I do agree that if I get good service somewhere, I will favor that place over somewhere else, providing I am not paying an arm and a leg for it.

 

[KYHeirloomer]

"And I blame the manager for not opening a second register to help relieve the pressure."

Mama, that's no doubt because you are used to real stores, where the title "manager" has meaning.

Do you know how it works at Walmart? Based on a list of criterium (such as past history of Tuesdays, and weather conditions, etc.) a computer decides 1. how many employees will be called in to work, and 2. how many hours (and when) they get to work that day.

The store manager---the man you would think is in charge---has no authority to change any of that. Doesn't matter that conditions have changed, and more (or fewer) "associates" are needed. Only the computer decides.

And least you think this only applies to the clerks and stockboys, even middle management is paid on an hourly basis, and works when the computer says so. The store manager is the only salaried employee in the place.

That, alone, should tell you something.

"To see someone with a $300 order at that time of night - where the heck was security. How do they know that they weren't up to no good."

Excuse me? This needs explaining. What does the time of day I shop have to do with my honesty and integrity?

 

[mrsjimmyp]

Let me tell ya bout an incident I had one time...not at Walmart but at the Grocery store I had shopped at for years.
Right after my divorce...I moved into an Apartment that was close to a less than desirable neighborhood shall we say. It was the only thing I could afford at the time.I bought groceries on this one particular day...was checking out and handed the cashier my check...a cashier that had previously taken checks from me countless times with no prob...she looked at the address and got on the public announcement system and called the manager up the to inspect the check...her very words were "Manager please come to Checkout ...I need you to inspect this womans check "...there was a long line behind me....I knew the Manager...went to church with him...he walked up to the check out and turned beet red ! Told the cashier...of course her check is good....I looked at her and said...you can put the groceries back on the shelf...she only did that because of the address.......I was furious....the Manager apologized later but I never shopped there again.

 

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Francie you are for sure my kind of girl!!!! One time I went to the bank to withdraw money to get my boys some new clothes. Mind you I'd had this acct. with my hubby for many years and we were both equal signers and never had a problem day 1 with our account. Well on this particular day she would not let me withdraw $500.00 of my own money from my own account. I was HOT!!!!!!!!! Pulled around from the drive-in, parked, grabbed both boys by the hand marched into the bank asked to speak to the Bank president and had him close my account and give me every cent I had in both savings and checkings! Went to the bank next door opened up a new account and got myself a nice new Knife Set for opening the new account with them! I called them my "cutting the ties knives", I cut all ties with that bank forever. I swear there is something absolutley wrong when someone won't let you have your own money! Darn it wasn't hers to tell me I could not have it!!! Irish Tempers can be awesome hee-hee!!!

 

[chubbyalaskagriz]

These comments were all very interesting to read- and I agree w/ much of what everyone posted. But I have some slightly differeing views to add, too.

I differ quite a bit than Jafo, on this aspect... I've always been fairly political in all that I do. Maybe much of this comes from being gay- and not ever wishing to give $$$ to folks or businesses who I perceived as practicing anti-gay policies. But I do try to be aware of the civic activities and corporate citizenship of businesses out there, because I feel one has the ability to maximize the power of their buck far beyond just its initial purchase-power reach. This personal practice does require a drive and extra time and devotion to one's cause though, so it's not everyone's cup of tea. Most could care less- and I understand that too- we all are driven by different motives and concerns. But I prefer to shop with my conscience.

I also disagree with Jafo on the idea that Wal-Mart doesn't drive out smaller businesses including Mom & Pop stores. Jafo- that's the KEY to Wal-Mart's SUCCESS! What are you talking about? Wal-Mart has tremendous purchasing power and favorable contract pricing. I worked for a division of Compass/Eurest, the world's largest corporate/industrial contract caterer, and I know a great deal about advantaged contract pricing. As a huge outfit, no caterer in the world was able to buy goods as cheaply as we were able to- from toilet tissue, meat and pickles- to bleach, chewing gum & Pepsi. Trust me, Wal-Mart's contract pricing allows them to buy EVERYTHING far cheaper than ANY other retailer is able to. Mom & Pop have to sell goods higher than Wal-Mart can, becuase they have to pay more to purchase them, themselves. Wal-Mart has a direct and severe impact on the closure of businesses in all areas that they move into.

I've said it here before but one of my biggest pet peeves is Wal-Mart's crazy litter. Every Wal-Mart I've ever been to or driven by has acres and acres of their flimsy plastic bags around littering parking-lots, private yards, farmers' fields, etc. YUCH. And I'm no Al Gore-worshipping, tree-hugger, global-warming-zombie either (excuse the comments if YOU are!). I just believe in personal responsibility and expect a wealthy front-runner in commerce to do its part to provide a good example to others. If Wal-Mart cared to, they could correct this problem in a heartbeat and inspire all others to follow along with them. They could stop using these fly-away plastic bags today and the impact would be immediate. One certainly didn't see the old fashioned folded paper bags flying all over hell years ago (plus, most folks I know re-used/re-cycled those folded brown bags)... If Wal-Mart stopped providing any type of bags period, today- I doubt they'd lose a single customer.

I am also a deciple of CNN's Mr. Lou Dobbs who abhores Wal-Mart for being a huge player in the outsourcing of American jobs. As KYH offers, Wal-Mart is an entirely different company today than it was just 10 years ago. At one time one couldn't walk into a damned Wal-Mart anywhere without bumping into a red, white & blue banner, placard or poster promotiong American goods. Today one could walk up and down 5 aisles and not find one single American product. Say what you will, but between GIVING our money to the Middle East and China, we will absolutely live to regret it one day- and sooner than later, I fear.

Lastly, I disagree with KYH on this... I find Wal-Mart to have the cheapest price of most products (not all- but most) that I consistently buy on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I buy them regularly enough and visit other stores frequently enough to where I pretty much have the prices memorized. Here we also have Kroger, Shnuck's, Dominick's, Jewel, Cub Foods and a few others, and I never get out of any store with a cart full of same brands as cheaply as I do at Wal-Mart... ever. Luckily, we also have an Aldi's which is as cheap and in some cases cheaper than Wal-Mart on many items... but one usually must purchase the Aldi brand and sometimes the product is not choice.

 

[KYHeirloomer]

Quite possibly there are regional differences in how supermarkets behave, Kevin.

I guarantee that around here, with the exception of the former Winn Dixie, there won't be 2% difference in a shopping basket, one store to the next.

Given all the other identifyable problems associated with Walmart, I don't see why I should support them with my dollars. Not when I have other choices.

 

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Wal-Mart presents me with a huge dilemma, Brook... I hate them on so many different levels, but today I currently make literally 1/3 of the salary I did just a few months ago, so pricing is more important to me than ever before. I still shop at Wal-Mart less than my pocketbook wishes I would- but everytime I do shop there my stomach is practically tied-up in knots over my agonizing decision! AGGGHHH! That's just one more of their successful marketing components- Ha!

Only time I CAN'T shop at Wal-Mart is when my Mom is with me and we can't go in there together because their huge store is simply too large for her to get around in. And they position their goods within each store in such a way that the average shopper's grocery-list requires them to walkk 99 friggin' miles to get 10 things! Mom can't do that, and since they don't have benches for periodic rests, and since one of the three motorized scooters they boast is always on the fritz, Mom always opts for Kroger's and their higher prices.

 

[chubbyalaskagriz]

We Have An Important Anniversary To Celebrate!

Friends,

I just notcied that Brook/KYHeirloomer celebrates his ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY here at Spice Place this month! Shall we all join in a rousing sing-along of "For He's the Jolly-Good-Fellow!"? Congratulaltions, Brook! (Now, who made the cake? Hee-Hee!)

 

[jglass]

The WalMart closest to us..about 18 miles is a decent store. Alot of the employees know us and go out of their way to be nice to us because of Jons disability. There is another one about 10 miles on past that one I hate. The employees are rude as can be. Im not someone who gets impatient in line and unless someone gives me reason to do so ..otherwise Im always polite. There have been occasions lol..

Happy Anniversary Brook!

 

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Happy Anniversary to KYH Happy Anniversary to KYH Happy Anniversary Happy Anniversary Happy Anniversary to YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! And many mooore......... Now blow out that damn candle it's getting hot in here.

 

[Mama Mangia]

"And I blame the manager for not opening a second register to help relieve the pressure."

Mama, that's no doubt because you are used to real stores, where the title "manager" has meaning.


It doesn't matter if it is a store or a restaurant - $$$$$ coming in decide how many employees will be working.
Night managers - although they are not a true manager - just acting a roll and probably getting an extra dime or quarter per hour to do so - still need to act the part. They need to be much more alert.
Face it - not too many today actually take their jobs seriously anymore - work ethic has declined considerably - and customer service has gone down the tubes in every area.



"To see someone with a $300 order at that time of night - where the heck was security. How do they know that they weren't up to no good."

Excuse me? This needs explaining. What does the time of day I shop have to do with my honesty and integrity?

I worked security for 3 years - a large order at that time of night - 3 different EBT cards - the confusion they caused - that is DEFINITELY A RED FLAG. And the cashier should have called for back up immediately.

It's for the clerks own protection.

Any store that is opened 24 hours should have security standing at the register the entire graveyard shift - period. At least a rent-a-cop with an hourly wage is better than nothing.



KHY - as far as a clerks training - training anyone properly has gone out the window with customer service. WalMart - well they definitely need to train ALL their employees - including their salaried management.

Half the problem is - they don't need to think anymore - electronics have taken over. So common sense has also disappeared. And the training manuals all have blank pages.

And it's getting worse - it seems that just about place I've been lately the clerks are brain dead. Maybe it's a new disease or something - who knows.

Out of the 7 clerks I dealt with today - one ALMOST knew what they were doing. Love the blank stares - love the droidism. They were no better than zombies.

 

[chubbyalaskagriz]

I hope it's permissable to post a l'il funny here that a friend sent me. It's meshes perfectly with this line of discussion! Enjoy!


Dumb Question – Perfect Answer

Yesterday I was buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my dog, Athena, at Wal-Mart and was about to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had an elephant? So since I'm retired, with little to do, on impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, and that I was starting the Purina Diet again. Although I probably shouldn't, because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry and that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter’s ass and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard!

WAL-MART won't let me shop there anymore.