Paolo's signature

"I'm sorry sir, but I can't help you. I work in 'Customer Service'." ---Wal-Mart Employee:D.

hit a nerve!

Dominance in the marketplace (Monopoly) seems to be the goal of these discount-giants.

___To the average consumer, the stores are a god-send; being that the average consumer (to most) is a middle-class wage-earner with children, a home to care for, and a budget. The average consumer does not mind some of the inconveniences of the "serve-yourself" shopping experience found at Wal-mart and Home Depot. It's a "One-stop" hop. They know that most of the time, they can get everything they need in one trip.

Notice I said "most of the time".

I must not be the average-consumer, as I've found that there is always something on my list that can't be acquired during THAT particular trip. Especially at Home Depot. I can't tell you how many times I've been advised by a Home Depot employee that I'd

"...probably find ____(it) at Lowe's (an hour's drive away) or _____ (my local hardware store)." Wal-mart employees just shrug their shoulders or tell you to find customer service.

I just hit the door, and usually leave the store furious, feeling defeated that I didn't have the 'smarts' to learn from the last time that happened. When I inform the placid employee

"...if I need to go to ____ or ____, then I'll just get all my order there."

A meager "Sorry" is most you hear. Don't they teach these folks how to SELL something? How about offering to order the need; to 'salvage' a sale?

Jeez! Customer Service is definitely a thing of the past!

The draw-back is the employees (my opinion). They must be trying to acquire employees at base-minimum wage, and over-looking a lot; like experience and bad work-history.

"I'm sorry sir, but I can't help you. I work in 'Customer Service'." ---Wal-Mart Employee:D.

The Wal-mart store near me usually stocks shelves at night when consumer store-traffic is not as heavy. The shelves are almost always empty by late evening, due to day-time consumers (and possibly slacker smock-wearers). The employee staff-count is lower too. Ever go in and find a shelf for the items you desire, but the shelf is bare? Try asking a 'smock-wearer' if they know whether any more of your desired items exist in the 'warehouse'.

"That's not my department"

AFTER I've wasted half-an-hour searching for said 'smock-wearer'.

I find that the average employee is post-High-school, itching for the time-clock to expire ;

the rest have one foot in the grave, with the occasional post-lobotomy patient standing around .

The average level of intelligence of the 'smock-wearers' seem to be that of a 5th-grade level (my opinion).

How many times did you have to wait at a counter for a couple of, or even several, employees to finish their stories, and conversations about what-ever, before you got any attention?

Common courtesy doesn't seem to be a big priority either (Please, Thank-you, sir or ma'am don't exist,...it's "Nope", "Uh-uh", "Huh?", or "Dude!").

Passing-the-buck sure seems to be in the Employee Manual. I generally have to get a 'Manager' to handle my requests. Even then, they don't offer anything other than

"I don't know."

I find myself looking toward the local business venues being pushed into oblivion by these chain stores. Most in my area are hanging on by a thread. It's a shame too. I almost alway get exactly what I want, no substitutions, even though I may have to spend a bit extra. Most of the time, that 'bit extra' is satisfying, knowing my problem is solved.

Just venting steam :realpisse.

Curious if I'm alone.

I shop there regularly without problems. I never need help unless an item is locked away. I know someone who works at wal-mart and they all get just as frustrated with all the stupid customers asking stupid questions while they are trying to stock or whatver. I guess it goes both ways...

I know just what you mean Ramses, a while back I got my to discount cards from the government for a converter box. Along with that it said I could get it at my local Wally World or Radio Shack. Now I don't good to Radio Shack except if no one else has what I am look for. Anyway, I go to the counter for this item at WW, and there are two employees chatting, I said excuse me several times to no avail, I was on ignore. So I started to leave and it was then that this yoyo behind the counter said OH can I help you, I said Not any more. I stopped at customer service by the door but they were to busy chatting to wait on me as well. I smiled and headed for the door, when I herd OH Can I help you, I just waved and said to late.

It is not just Wally World, they all do it, except super markets, I have alway had good service at them. As for the big box stores, yes there prices are better, but there service is for shit.

River

I don't shop Wal-Mart or Home Depot unless I absolutely have to. Every time I go to Wal-Mart I feel like I'm selling my soul to save a few pennies. I can't ever find what I'm looking for, or a knowledgeable employee to help me, and the damn place is so crowded I get claustrophobic and bitchy. I don't mind the Home Depot as much as Wal-Mart, but I always get better service at Lowe's.

As far as what Wal-Mart is paying their employees, it ain't much. Mr. Jane's young, recently-married nephew and his wife both work at one of our local Super-Centers. As "department managers" they both make under $7 an hour. He has been there over two years, and she's been there over a year. Unfortunately for everyone involved, they called last weekend to say she's pregnant (shocking!). They mentioned how embarassing it was to buy condoms at the place they work -- I can't imagine how much more so it will be to use the food stamps they'll almost certainly be receiving after the baby arrives.

Employee turnover may be an important factor in the Home Depot/Wal-Mart problem:

The national average for employee turnover in all businesses in 2006 was about 23.3%, and the national average for retail was 34.7%

For Costco (a national chain that’s the major competitor to Wal-Mart in my area), it’s 6%. Wal-Mart does not release its figures, but a study of the stores in the Louisville, KY area got a range of 85% to 104% employee turnover per year for the individual stores.

One estimate places Wal-Mart's average wage at $8.23 per hour, yielding an annual income of $13,861, which is below the estimated poverty level of $14,630. Costco’s average wage is $15.97 per hour, or $26,900 for the same number of hours per year. But most Costco workers are full-time, and most Wal-Mart employees are part-time. The Wal-Mart annual salary is based on their actual average of 33 hours per week. At the more common 40 hours per week of a Costco employee, and average employee working at Costco can earn well over $30,000 per year.

Customer service at both of our local Costcos is excellent. Service at Wal-Mart is nonexistent. If the store takes care of its employees, they are far more likely to, in turn, take care of customers.

While some big box stores are actually trying to take care of employees. My wife and I still try to shop the smaller, locally-owned stores when we can, however. Service tends to be better yet.

You should hear some of the employee horror stories I hear from my sister, who's a store manager (not at a Wally World).

Too many expect to walk in with no experience and get top wages, assistant manager, keyholder, etc. They also expect their choice of work schedules, days off, and so on.

Most often, they still wind up not working while they're at work. Why should they care if they get fired? Many treat it as a joke, especially around here where virtually every store has a "now hiring" sign in front. They show up when they want, don't care about being late or leaving early, and many just don't show up to work when they don't feel like it. About the only time they work is when the manager is there to watch them. On the days my sister's off, nothing gets done. They have no work ethic whatsoever.

I'm not saying everyone is like that these days, but certainly a growing number of retail employees seem to fit the profile.

Most entry level jobs don't pay a living wage. I lived with a bunch of guys in a house ten years ago. "Andy" had two daughters by a meth queen, he wound up with the kids, and works and worked at Wal-Mart the past twelve years. His parents have given him a house to live in. He would be on the dole if his folks did not give him that house. Dude likes to read books and get "bombed"...not my thing or the close bros.

There is a difference between home depots also, based on when they were built and the community they are in. Some HD's are full stores and other are scaled back versions.

I have two sisters living in the BA. One lives in a city amoungst a huge East Indian community. The HD in her city is smaller, original and scaled back. It is inevitably disorganized, understocked and the computer system...just a mess. The self check out never works because when the manufacture changes an item it weight is never recalibrated. I call this store "THE HOME DEPOT FROM HELL". I walk in a piecefull castrated man and leave a hostile, pissed off monster. One must be contrite here, cutting with words and ruthless to get in/out with any effiency.

My other sis "MAUL" lives just a few minutes away. Her HD is almost a full store. (I still can't get a full sheet of 1/2 MDF though). Anyway the people are nice, the store organized, stocked and full. The store is full of kind words and cooperation. Kinda like my HD here up north. It's all about being an educated consumer...if you need someone to hold your hand (like me crossing the street), sorry.:-\

As far as who shops at HD and Wal-mart. Do-it-Yourself'ers, homeowners and unconcerned consumers. Either couldn't give a rats-ass about some poor sod trying to make a living.

freed domestic servant.

chilli-

One type of store I miss is the hardware store.* You could buy just what you wanted, and not have to buy a bag of items just to get one that you want.* Cotter pins comes to mine.* Now days you have to buy a bag of assorted pins just to get the one size you need.I have no problem with Wal-Mart.* They will take back an item you bought, usually with no questions asked. But, I have not used their customer service much.

With the price of gasoline, the Wal-Mart Super Stores are convenient. During hunting season, my brother and I stop at the Super Center to buy groceries and deer corn. That saves time and money. My brother says, if Wal-Mart doesn't have it, we probably don't need it. Not quite, but close.

One must not forget the $4.00 prescriptions at Wal-Mart. I'm sure these save people lots of money.

gordon (imported) wrote: Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:17 pm One type of store I miss is the hardware store.* You could buy just what you wanted, and not have to buy a bag of items just to get one that you want.* Cotter pins comes to mine.* Now days you have to buy a bag of assorted pins just to get the one size you need.I have no problem with Wal-Mart.* They will take back an item you bought, usually with no questions asked. But, I have not used their customer service much.

With the price of gasoline, the Wal-Mart Super Stores are convenient. During hunting season, my brother and I stop at the Super Center to buy groceries and deer corn. That saves time and money. My brother says, if Wal-Mart doesn't have it, we probably don't need it. Not quite, but close.

One must not forget the $4.00 prescriptions at Wal-Mart. I'm sure these save people lots of money.

Wal-mart quit selling ammo in my town. Can't get .223 rounds round here, and forget about cheap ammo for the old .50 cal buffulo rifle or the arabian front loader.

But...I have found Wal-mart has a great selection of underpanties. Working out causes flauctations in weight #230-#190. A guy goes from wearing a filled out hybrid underwear to a lose diaper really quick. Or even worse standing in the locker in a nice fitting bikini to a too tight speedo with an itty bitty teeny weeny real fast. Ohh for shame...

"Soldier, why do you have these girls panties in your locker"

"They make me run faster drill sergeant"

...but then...

"Dude, if I confuse your brown shorts with mine, cause you left your dirty issues on the towel bar, one more time...."

the disgruntled domestic

chilli-

As much as I hate to admit it, I do my weekly grocery shopping at Wal-Mart for one simple reason - price.

I took my receipt from WM to a local chain store, Kroger's, and added up the prices on the same items.

The total was ~$40 more than at WM. I am in no position to give Kroger's (which isn't much better at customer service) a extra $160/month for the same things. But living in a small town, I see that they make their money like the mom-n-pop grocery supermarket on the west end - they prey on those who can't drive out of town and are walking in and walking back home.

The other benefits of this are:

1. I get exercise walking over the store.

2. It's near the theater and I can take 'my' youngest to a movie on the way.

3. I can turn him loose in WM wearing his Heelies and make the employees insane. (WM is a great place to skate in!)

4. I know where everything is and I don't need customer service.

5. The Mexican restaurant is next door.

6. It's the only place I can find Hood's "fake milk".

For me, the gas cost at $4/gallon is a total $12 round trip. That's still $28/week saved. That covers movie night with the kid.

As I said, I hate to admit it, but...