Walmart - End of an Era

Bird · Mar 17, 2012

I may have spoken a little too soon. In 3 days, I hadn't seen any of the "greeters" that I knew anywhere in the store, and a cashier told me they'd been given other jobs. But this morning, one of the greeters was back; said he'd been on vacation for a few days, but of course he was nowhere near the door, but back in the produce department.

BungeeII · Mar 17, 2012

Bird said:
I assume those of you who shop at Walmart have noticed that the trade mark "Walmart Greeter" is no more. They pulled them back from the door for a few days, apparently offered some of them other jobs, and laid off the rest. I understand this was nationwide, if not world wide. I'm sure the shoplifters appreciate it. But I'd just guess that the increased losses to shoplifters will be less than the salaries they were paying the greeters. I suppose it's "good business", but I for one hated to see that happen.

My Father-In-Law is convinced that Dollar General is the new Walmart. He's been telling me for the past year that with all the dollar stores everywhere that Walmart's gonna have trouble. Now I'm beginning to wonder if he was right.

WilliamBos · Mar 17, 2012

BungeeII said:
My Father-In-Law is convinced that Dollar General is the new Walmart. He's been telling me for the past year that with all the dollar stores everywhere that Walmart's gonna have trouble. Now I'm beginning to wonder if he was right.

In some ways, true. Needed some coin rollers a little while back, noticec Walmart stopped srptocking them. Asked why, said they cannot compete eith Dollarama. Found that strange, since walmart undercuts everybody.

Gale Hawkins · Mar 17, 2012

Car Doc said:
It will get worse before it gets better is all I can say with certainty speaking as a small business owner myself.

Its been bad a long time as is, we are greatly penalized for being employers ask any one of us. It gets worse every year and it will get mind numbing here real soon.

As government regs increase head count decrease is required we find in our small company.

I am with beppington on needing greeters personally.

Downtown businesses did not close due to WM coming to town as much as they closed when WM moved to town I expect. I expect if one counts the number of downtown shops jobs lost one would find the number lower than these employeed by WM plus they are better paid. We are seeing 30 year WM employees retiring with $1 million if they took advantage of the stock investing WM offered.

In most cases the downtown buildings are over 50 years old, expensive to heat/cool and make handicap accessible even before you consider the cost/pain of parking.

Just like people buildings do wear out. Even many of your downtown churches (if they did not move) are being replaced by churches who built new buildings with handicap access, lower heating/cooling cost and plenty of parking.

WM is like JD. Many like to bash them but they are who they are today because of the value they have added to communities.

Just like people get old and die so will WM and JD in time.

rsewill · Mar 17, 2012

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

wh22366 · Mar 17, 2012

It's been sad to see Walmart change from a company with U.S. flags on their trucks to one where it's hard to find U.S. products inside. The next retail wave around these parts is the growth of "dollar" stores. Hold me back...

MasseyWV · Mar 17, 2012

Gale Hawkins said:
Downtown businesses did not close due to WM coming to town as much as they closed when WM moved to town I expect.

And the difference is?

Gale Hawkins · Mar 17, 2012

wh22366 said:
It's been sad to see Walmart change from a company with U.S. flags on their trucks to one where it's hard to find U.S. products inside. The next retail wave around these parts is the growth of "dollar" stores. Hold me back...

The same seems to be true in much of the country.

Locally there are three new Dollar General stores all outside of town by 4-10 miles from a WM.

Soundguy · Mar 17, 2012

Bird said:
I assume those of you who shop at Walmart have noticed that the trade mark "Walmart Greeter" is no more. They pulled them back from the door for a few days, apparently offered some of them other jobs, and laid off the rest. I understand this was nationwide, if not world wide. I'm sure the shoplifters appreciate it. But I'd just guess that the increased losses to shoplifters will be less than the salaries they were paying the greeters. I suppose it's "good business", but I for one hated to see that happen.

i found out about that about a month ago. I bought an item too large to be bagged in sporting goods, and had my reciept in my hand as I was getting ready to leave and joked with the cashier that I hoped the door person didn't make me set it down to see the reciept, and he told me they didn't have one anymore! so our local store must have implemented that policy 4-6 weeks ago. kinda sad, our store would sometimes hire people that were not physically able to do other jobs.. perhaps some one wheel chair bound, etc.. was a good job for someone who wanted to be out of te house but had less mobility.. etc.. etc..

soundguy

Beltzington · Mar 17, 2012

Car Doc said:
It will get worse before it gets better is all I can say with certainty speaking as a small business owner myself.

Its been bad a long time as is, we are greatly penalized for being employers ask any one of us. It gets worse every year and it will get mind numbing here real soon.

Would you elaborate? Who is penalizing employers?