Wal-Mart experience

I don't get it...

If these associates (wherever they may be employed) don't know their merchandise, store/company policies, prices, etc., then why are they still on the payroll? Why are they there at all? Aren't these people hired to assist the customer (facilitate sales) and perform other duties of the position?

It would be difficult or impossible to be an "expert" on every piece of merchandise sold, a sales associate should at least have some basic knowledge of the products in their inventory. Geez, how hard is that? I'm sick and tired of ignorant employees, and I'm sick and tired of those who make excuses for them.

I think many who dismiss such gross lack of retail customer service to low pay, are missing the point. And stores who continue to employees such people are doing a disservice to their customers and damage to their overall profitability.
 
I only need the person at Walmart

1.To get me what I tell them to get me.
2. To be able to run a register to check me out correctly.

Anything over that and you are probably in for a reality check.

They are there because WalMart doesn't want to pay anybody that much. The main duties are keeping the shelves stocked and the store clean and neat looking. which some do not do a good job of.
 
I picked up the phone on the counter and called the managers office. I said I'd like to buy some ammo but there is no one around here. I was quickly assisted...lol
 
If these associates (wherever they may be employed) don't know their merchandise, store/company policies, prices, etc., then why are they still on the payroll? Why are they there at all? Aren't these people hired to assist the customer (facilitate sales) and perform other duties of the position?

It would be difficult or impossible to be an "expert" on every piece of merchandise sold, a sales associate should at least have some basic knowledge of the products in their inventory. Geez, how hard is that? I'm sick and tired of ignorant employees, and I'm sick and tired of those who make excuses for them.

I think many who dismiss such gross lack of retail customer service to low pay, are missing the point. And stores who continue to employees such people are doing a disservice to their customers and damage to their overall profitability.
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Really?

If you don't like it, don't go there. Seeing this is your first post I don't know if you are trolling or if this is a legitimate complaint.

As already discussed, you CANNOT expect a generic big box store with min-wage employees to know everything.

Want to talk to a knowledgable employee about firearms? Go to your local gun store instead. But even then some of those employees may not always know what their talking about, but the odds are better than WM.
 
As already discussed, you CANNOT expect a generic big box store with min-wage employees to know everything.
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I'd go one step further and suggest that we have no right to expect the employees to know everything at the wages they're paid.

If I want superior service and credible advice, I'm going to have to pay for it. Sorry, but you don't get Neiman Marcus service at pennies over wholesale.
 
Rifleman1776:
Waiting a while to buy a fishing license with another guy also waiting, I simply avoided the Walmart "chain of command", picked up the pager handset and paged that section of the store to send somebody to the gun counter.

It worked.

At Dick's, after waiting several minutes just to buy a box of .22 ammo, I reached over the end of the counter for the red box, and would have walked behind the counter if necessary.
 
If these associates (wherever they may be employed) don't know their merchandise, store/company policies, prices, etc., then why are they still on the payroll? Why are they there at all? Aren't these people hired to assist the customer (facilitate sales) and perform other duties of the position?
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That question would be asked only be someone who has no knowledge of hiring and managing employees.
A contradiction with today's employment/unemployment situation is a lot of people are out of work. At the same time, the businessmen I know say it is almost impossible to hire people who are even a little bit reliable.
To help manage that problem, Wal-Mart keeps about half of it's staff as part timers who can be called in on short notice to fill in for an employee who simply fails to show up that day. It is a symptom of today's society. Many young people have no sense of responsibility at all. None.
BTW, check it out, WM pays quite well, few of their employees are at min-wage.
My original post was simply an amusing story about something I observed. FWIW, when I buy electronics, there is always someone on hand who is very knowledgable. I bought a nice flat screen TV several months ago and couldn't have had better service anywhere.
 
My main problem with the WMs around me is that they under-order their ammo and always seem to be out of .45ACP and .223, and surprisingly low on .22LR. My other problem is the nearly incompetent staff. I know others have voiced that I shouldn't expect to be dealing with Einstein, and I'm really not, but if you work with the computer systems, you should understand how they function. I say this because two years ago (before I was 21), I was informed that I could not purchase .22LR ammo. The reason for this was the sales associate behind the counter apparently misread the question of whether the ammo was for a rifle or pistol (which they are supposed to ask the customer as to its purpose), and (I'm assuming) marked that it was for a pistol since it was a small round and he didn't know any better. I saw the manager's number on the counter and called her, asking her if she could explain this fubar situation to me. Her only comment was, "It's simply store policy," when I explained to her that I was aware of WM store policy and this was not correct, she told me off by saying that "I'm sure my sales associate..." I didn't hang around to hear the rest, I hung up on her, walked out of the store, and haven't been back in since. Oh well, their loss, now other area WMs and my LGS get all of my ammo and target purchases.
 
If these associates (wherever they may be employed) don't know their merchandise, store/company policies, prices, etc., then why are they still on the payroll? Why are they there at all? Aren't these people hired to assist the customer (facilitate sales) and perform other duties of the position?
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Why would they? With a few exceptions, Wal Mart employees are not hired to be experts in the products. They are hired to manage stocking and maintenance of appropriate inventory levels.

My only issue with ammo (they don't sell forearms in the Walmarts I've been to) is its behind the case and getting an associate is often a hassle. Academy changed recently and now has most of its ammo out front. I'd rather buy there when possible, just to avoid the hassle.
 
I only go to Wally World because they have ammo for $5-$10 cheaper than the LGS. Dealing with the people they hire, however, I'm glad to have a friend who reloads.
I went to purchase a box of .45 acp, and the clerk gave me this blank stare before handing me a box of 30-06. I pointed right at the box I wanted, and after what seemed several minutes, he grabbed a box of .40's. Third times the charm and he finally got me the right box. Then he tried to ring up all 3 boxes.:mad: Thank goodness for mama teaching me patience for stupid people.
 
I buy the federal 9mm 100 round boxes for $19.97. I scored yesterday and found a walmart with 12 in stock. Picked up all of them and they gave me no grief. It's hit or miss with the talent and the stocking. I'm there for cheap ammo, if I can shoot the **** with an Employee about guns great.

From my talks with employees
1) they don't under order as someone stated above, the supply /distributor is hit or miss . Then in the case of the federal 9mm and .45 app, they have people buying bulk amounts and killing there stock as soon as it comes in.

2) another Walmart I hit keeps some ammo under the counter. They are only designated certain to stock, but at times their shipment comes in with random items and those don't get stocked. I have found some great stuff at that particular store by asking what's under the counter. That info came to me via chatting with an employee that knew guns.
 
I doubt I will ever buy another firearm at Walmart. I bought a Remington 870 Express Magnum there several years ago, after I got the government stamp of approval and paid for it, they escorted me out of the store and gave me my disassembled shotgun in a box in the parking lot.

I haven't even looked at a firearm in Walmart since.
 
I doubt I will ever buy another firearm at Walmart. I bought a Remington 870 Express Magnum there several years ago, after I got the government stamp of approval and paid for it, they escorted me out of the store and gave me my disassembled shotgun in a box in the parking lot.

I haven't even looked at a firearm in Walmart since.
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Sorry, Whats the issue?
 
I doubt I will ever buy another firearm at Walmart. I bought a Remington 870 Express Magnum there several years ago, after I got the government stamp of approval and paid for it, they escorted me out of the store and gave me my disassembled shotgun in a box in the parking lot.

I haven't even looked at a firearm in Walmart since.
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So? What's the problem? SOP for Wal-Mart.
BTW, that policy is not paranoia. It is common sense. In my town, at one time, we had a Western Auto Store. The owner sold a Win. 94 and some ammo to a guy. The 'customer' proceeded to load the rifle, shot the owner dead, walked out and drove away. He was caught but no motive of any kind was ever determined. Just a nut case. Store owner, good person, popular in the community was dead for no reason.
And you are upset with Wal-Mart for protecting it's employees and customers?:confused: Why?
No, they do not do NFA.
 
It is what it is!!

So? What's the problem? SOP for Wal-Mart.
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Have never appreciated folks going into a restaurant or store and wanting to re-write their menu or procedures. My mother-in-law, does this all the time and we don't go out with them, very much. What I don't appreciate, is when they compromise their procedures, for others. ... :mad:

My Great-Great Grandparents came to this country, not to change the rules but instead to understand, accept and then get out of their way. ... :p

Be Safe !!!
 
Quote:
I doubt I will ever buy another firearm at Walmart. I bought a Remington 870 Express Magnum there several years ago, after I got the government stamp of approval and paid for it, they escorted me out of the store and gave me my disassembled shotgun in a box in the parking lot.

I haven't even looked at a firearm in Walmart since.

So? What's the problem? SOP for Wal-Mart.
BTW, that policy is not paranoia. It is common sense. In my town, at one time, we had a Western Auto Store. The owner sold a Win. 94 and some ammo to a guy. The 'customer' proceeded to load the rifle, shot the owner dead, walked out and drove away. He was caught but no motive of any kind was ever determined. Just a nut case. Store owner, good person, popular in the community was dead for no reason.
And you are upset with Wal-Mart for protecting it's employees and customers? Why?
No, they do not do NFA.
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If the manager escorting you to the front is the issue, Academy does this as well, and I've seen it done at Gander Mountain as well. I've never found it to be an issue as usually the manager will bump in front of the line, or even open up a register, and I get out of there more quickly.
 
I was shopping around for an AR, and stopped by Walmart for a gas jug and some drinks. I figured I would check the guns they have in stock. Well, I will never quite know what they have for sure. "What model AR is that?" "A .223"
"But who makes it" "Doesn't matter, they are all just dressed up M16s" "May I see it then?" "How old are you" "19". This is where he points up to a sign that says 18 to buy rifles, shotguns, or their ammo. 21 to buy pistols and pistol ammo. "Law says you can't." "But the sign says 18 to buy rifles." He shrugs. I walk away and come back. Another older gentleman is there. I ask if they have 7.62x39. Cause hell. I need some. They can't all be idiots. Guess again. This guy goes on to tell me the military buys all 7.62x39 and that it hasn't been around for years. I try to look at the rifle at this point and get the same response. Points to the sign. Doesn't read it. It was big and simple. Not anything you can really misread. They just never read it. And in my opinion that makes them MORONS. I don't expect anyone to be Einstein, but don't point at a sign and refuse me service, if you haven't even read the darned thing.
 
The only way I could see Wal-mart staffing each department with knowledgeable employees without increasing their prices significantly is to:

1. Be more selective in hiring.
2. Increase training.
3. Change the culture.

Home Depot did a pretty good job of that in the past. Even so, they're not what they once were. It takes a lot of money, and that's difficult to do in discount retail with the tight margins. Also, bear in mind Home Depot is a hardware store not general mdse. like Wal-mart.
 
Pepto - the reason that you can't buy an AR under the age of 21 (or so I've been informed by people more educated on the matter than a WM associate) is that while in it's current configuration it's a rifle, you can simply buy a new upper for it and convert into a "pistol", which you have to be 21 to purchase. I'm not sure if this is 100% accurate.
Next time, if the guy just asks for your age but no proof of ID (which I'm only half-surprised he didn't ask for in the first place), just tell him you're 21. After all, it is a WM associate that you're dealing with.
 
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