Breaking (Not Really): Wal-Mart Is Awful
Wal-Mart has a big problem:
Margaret Hancock has long considered the local Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) superstore her one- stop shopping destination. No longer.
During recent visits, the retired accountant from Newark, Delaware, says she failed to find more than a dozen basic items, including certain types of face cream, cold medicine, bandages, mouthwash, hangers, lamps and fabrics.
The cosmetics section “looked like someone raided it,” said Hancock, 63.
Even worse… the products are there:
It’s not as though the merchandise isn’t there. It’s piling up in aisles and in the back of stores because Wal-Mart doesn’t have enough bodies to restock the shelves, according to interviews with store workers. In the past five years, the world’s largest retailer added 455 U.S. Wal-Mart stores, a 13 percent increase, according to filings and the company’s website. In the same period, its total U.S. workforce, which includes Sam’s Club employees, dropped by about 20,000, or 1.4 percent. Wal-Mart employs about 1.4 million U.S. workers.
Basically, Wal-Mart is hurting itself by being what it worships – Cheap.
A thinly spread workforce has other consequences: Longer check-out lines, less help with electronics and jewelry and more disorganized stores, according to Hancock, other shoppers and store workers. Last month, Wal-Mart placed last among department and discount stores in the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the sixth year in a row the company had either tied or taken the last spot. The dwindling level of customer service comes as Wal-Mart has touted its in-store experience to lure shoppers and counter rival Amazon.com Inc. (emphasis mine)
Seriously? I use Amazon… a lot. I use it because it’s easy and I don’t have to go out – I use Amazon because I don’t want an in-store experience! Why Wal-Mart thinks it can rival Amazon, when the two business models aren’t comparable, is nuts.
And are they kidding about the Wal-Mart in-store experience? Is there any retail store more depressing and dirty than Wal-Mart? Granted, I’m not a Walmart shopper, but I have been in their stores. And every single one I’ve been to is filthy. Yuck. Perhaps they could hire janitors along with people to stock their shelves.
The fact that they are hurting themselves by being cheap… priceless.
Tags: Employment, Wal Mart
Wal-mart appears to be trying to live up to (down to?) my once exaggerated impression of how bad Wal-mart is.
Add in that Walmart gets ALOT of tax subsidies — either direct from state and local governments and the indirect ones of food stamps and medicaid for their workers that are not paid a livable wage.
Why on earth does WalMart think that it is a rival of Amazon? Just to link the names? Seriously, Costco is an in-store experience.
I haven’t stepped foot in a WalMart since 1996, until recently out of desperation. The one on Centerville Rd is everything I read about, and expected it to be. One thing that really stood out was the lack of pedestrian and bicycle access, forms of transportation many (especially the indigent) rely on to shop at WalMart. People are walking in the grass along the road, or on goat paths – some loaded with bags. Further, it is 4 lanes, no shoulder which is a nightmare for people trying to bike there. Another classic example of Big Box moving in for the kill, raping the area for profits, and giving nothing back to the community. Welcome to so-called land use and planning in NCC, where such provisions are supposed to be considered during the approval process, but are routinely ignored.
I don’t like Walmart, but had to shop for something only they carry anymore. My checkout experience was horrible. Then I noticed a little print at the bottom of the receipt. “Take a survey, tell us of your experience.” So I did. I received a gift card for $150. on anything. They must really be hurting for some good PR.
I have been informed that WM carries more impressive items at their website. We shall see.
I’ll take Amazon anytime.
The Walmart on Centerville Road is a dump.. and thanks to the hacks at Deldot, they were able to purchase a residential zoned parcel for bottom dollar prices(the land was appraised for 673,000 and sold for 187,000 because it is sooo expensive to cut down trees and rezone the land) and will be expanding by 40,000 square feet. Funny how they spend top dollar for LU attorney Shawn Tucker and Byrd Lobbying.
For our part, we are trying to make them commit to a DART bus stop, adding a light, crosswalks, striping, eliminating the entrance where the transmission place is and redoing the entire parking lot, bike rack and lighting. They want to put a connection through Roselle for access from Kirkwood Hwy unless we sign a deed restriction.
I hate Wal-Mart. I only go to Wal-Mart about 3 or 4 times a year. I have to be in a major pinch to go in that place (which in my case the Cheswold & Camden stores are the closest).
I never go to Walmart except out of desperation, when I do it’s always the same. Poorly stocked, poorly maintained with near non existent employees, ill equipped to help with even minor questions or requests. Walmart is the death of American retail as we have known it. Excuse wm, that’s Chinamart.
I’m with Cass. Costco is far superior to anything the Waltons have out there. Although, we’ve had to add shelves in the basement to create our own “warehouse” for all the paper towels and t.p.
LOL, auntie dem! We have set up a Costco storage area in out basement, too! I have yet to leave Costco without my cart overflowing. The prices and selection are just too good – and because the store is well-lit and clean I end up spending a lot more time shopping.
Costco is a favorite among the middle/upper middle class, but is less useful to others. You need the extra cash to buy in bulk, and storage space, not to mention the membership fee. Few items are actually cheaper at Costco, compared to tracking the weekly sales at your local supermarkets. But Costco is just a more pleasant shopping experience, and while you are buying your groceries there are so many tempting gadgets and stuff to shop for. I call Mrs. Puck’s trips to Costco “shopping therapy.”
You can save by shopping at Costco, but only if you go there judiciously as part of a disciplined shopping strategy. And you have to make sure you eat all the bulk food before it goes bad, otherwise it is way expensive.
I didn’t mean to imply that Costco and Walmart are equivalent, because they aren’t. But Costco still is a better shopping experience. Costco and BJs are more similar and you can see all kinds of people shopping in both who are looking for that so-called warehouse deal.
One of the best things about Costco (we don’t have one in Sussex County) is the service after sale. Costco always backs up what they sell and follows through on what they say they will do. Plus, their quality is very high. I agree you don’t really save a great deal of money, but the quality and service are commensurate with the price, which means Costco gets high value marks in my opinion.
“I don’t like Walmart, but had to shop for something only they carry anymore.”
Just curious: What was it?
Costco has better prices on some things (cereal, soups, butter, cheeses – brie, bleu, etc. – cleaning products, heavy cream, toilet paper, etc.). Where they get you is the impulse buy. And they can add up! But you end buying things you don’t need – but are pretty cool and really good! – because of the great shopping experience. Happy customers spend more because they don’t mind spending time, and money, in Costco.
Costco is the only store my daughter begs to go to with me. (She loves the samples.) Name another grocery store that a 15 year old beg to go.
Every time I’ve walked into a Wal-Mart I can’t wait to leave. They are always disorganized and filthy, and good luck getting, or finding, a salesperson to help you.
When I have vacationed in other states, we always hit the Walmart for for food. The Walmarts in the touristy areas of Orlando, Vero Beach, Myrtle Beach, and St. Augustine have always been clean and hassle free.
Locally, Rehoboth isn’t a Supercenter so I rarely enter, G-Town Walmart is a circus, but clean. If I ever have to do the “big shopping,” I drive the extra 15 minutes to the Milford Walmart which always seems to be clean and well stocked plus the checkout procedure often compensates for the extra drive time.
If you need shallots, duck breast, or white asparagus though, you have to shop the Super-G or Teeter. Walmart also has only select grade meat. To me, the higher quality meats at BJs coupled with the lower price/pound make paying the membership fee a no-brainer.
Walmart meat is terrible because it is gassed and stored for weeks at a time. I made the mistake of putting that garbage on the grill once.
Also…
“When I have vacationed in other states, we always hit the Walmart for for food. The Walmarts in the touristy areas of Orlando, Vero Beach, Myrtle Beach, and St. Augustine have always been clean and hassle free.”
Ewww. There is nothing in those sentences that makes sense to me. Going on vacation and visiting Wal-Mart…WTF?
I avoid Wally World as best that I can if for anything else is because of theway their employees are treated and wages paid among a host of other reasons
For those who are not familiar with it, my choice is Wegmans, the only regret I have about leaving Northern Virginia. There is little to no comparison with any other store.
He’s probably stocking the cottage, Jason – Hopefully only with non-perishables, or things like cereal and soda.
Teeters is okay, and I get that they stock what sells to the community, but if you need, say mascarpone cheese, good luck. Basically, if you’re a daring cook plan on going to several stores to find what you need in Sussex – and be prepared to not get everything. Here’s an example… My mom is cooking Easter dinner. She came into Wilmington to shop for ingredients because many don’t exist in Sussex.
I feel badly for Sussex residents – they really don’t have many good stores. My mother, a Sussex resident, is constantly begging for a Costco, a Bed Bath and Beyond, a Trader Joe’s and a Target. She’d also like a Kohl’s. If someone could get working on this she would be most appreciative.
What I would like, when I’m in Sussex, is a decent wine shop – and don’t suggest Atlantic. Been there, done that, won’t go back.
Wegman’s is All That. I tried to pitch the City of Wilmington to get a Wegman’s for the space they put the Shop Rite in — largely because Wegmans has figured out how to be both a great local grocery store and a destination grocery store. A couple of my neighbors and I would ride out to the Downingtown one every 6 weeks or so. Now I go to the BelAir one when I drive past coming home from Balto or DC.
Yea, shit like cereal and snacks, eggs and milk. Pack of hotdogs, rolls and lunchmeat. Especially when the kids were younger.
“but if you need, say mascarpone cheese, good luck.”
There is a new cheese monger in Rehoboth Beach: http://www.rehobothfoodie.com/index.php/What-s-New/Updates-Changes-and-Tips/morgan-a-gower-cheesemongers.html
I moved to the beach precisely because it’s not a metrolpolitan area with Kohls, Target, etc. If I really want something I have, online works well and there are road trips that can be taken. I try to buy locally but if I really need or want something, I can make the trip.
But it is metropolitan, Dave. Instead of Kohl’s and Target you have Wal-Mart and K-Mart. So it isn’t like Sussex is preserving a way of life. That ship sailed decades ago. You already have stores (where corn fields use to be), I’m just suggesting Sussex gets good stores.
I’m heading down this weekend and have already bought wine and food up here. Which is a pain.
Wal-mart in Milford?? Ewwwwwwwwwwwww
Unless its In a can I won’t buy there- went once, won’t go back
The Giant in RB sells mascarpone cheese. I haven’t found it difficult to find the ingredients I need in Sussex, except for kosher meat.
“But it is metropolitan, Dave.”
Pandora, I came from Fairfax County in Virginia. Just in that one county alone there are over one million people, diregarding the other parts of the DC metro area.
I hate to tell you, but Sussex County ain’t metropolitan. When my spouse was talking about driving the back roads with no curbs after dark, someone said to her “the corn fields are curbs.” When I have to share the road with harvester or some other humungous piece of farm equipment, that’s not metropolitan, at least no metro area I’ve ever known.
On the other hand, it does have several sushi places, but alas no decent Thai food. But that the beach and resort influence, which is what I really moved here for.
LOL! I was using “metropolitan” in reference to your framing – Sorta like: We moved to Sussex to avoid good stores, but we have bad stores. If there were no stores, you’d have a point.
Truthfully, I think these stores are coming. The population of Sussex has been changing. There’s money entering (and has been since the 90s), and with money comes demand. Maybe the Wal-Mart could be converted into a Costco!
You are probably right and I will moan about it when it happens. I wouldn’t mind a Costco but I don’t want the area to become what I’ve left behind, because I left it behind for reason. As long as the growth is gradual, maybe the county can cope with it, but the county will need different leadership on the council if we are to get beyond the watermelon farming mentality. With growth comes the demand for services, which has to be balanced with resources. As a remind people, streets lights not only block out a view of the starts, they also cost money everytime the light goes on. Civilization isn’t free. Still, I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.
Sussex county has never met a crappy development it didn’t like. Exhibit A: The outlets. What a hunk of junk.
Hopefully, the influx of money will bring restraint. So far all it’s brought are McMansions that fill up every inch of their lot and have more in common with tenements than vacation homes.
Dave- ever try SEASIDE THAI. In Rehoboth, it’s ok
What I miss is POH. Vietnamese soup. Yummy yummy and afghan food…..
A wide variety of Asian food is one of the 3 things I miss living here.
As well as …..
good middle eastern food
Ethiopian food
Thai and Vietnam food
Afghan food- I really really miss that place in Falls Church, awesome
It’s a food desert ……but, I drive back every so often…..and go crazy shopping while I’m there
Sussex County the land of parasite developers attached at the hip with planners that allow 16 units per acre. Sussex County the land of no flood water management program, own an established home next to a new development though shit if your property gets flooded now. If the developers are allowed to have their way which they will it will be one long strip mall from the outlets all the way up to DAFB. Of course there will be a few red bag research facilities sprinkled in alongside homes for good measure.
Wal-Mart?
…more like a Mall-Wart.
I’m using the internet more and more, even for things like a box of screws. The worst thing about Wal-Mart and Home Depot are the low quality products. You can do better in nearly every category.
I never tried Seaside Thai. It’s closed now. Her sister has Lily Thai in Rehoboth. Tried that once. It didn’t really hit the mark. Ubon Thai at the Riverfront was pretty good though.
I nearly tried Ubon ….but got pulled into thebreweryimstead.
The food was good, the beer, not so much
Disclaimer- I don’t like micro- brews