In casual conversation with friends I mentioned my excellent exposure to Walmart. Both friends didn’t sneer, but they questioned the purpose of shopping there. Since then another friend has cast aspersions on the shopping store giant. This last Tuesday an additional friend, Rich M. sent me a note: “Just a question. Why do you shop at Walmart? Nothing about them and their employee policies attract me. The only thing that they have to offer is cheap prices. Would love your thoughtful response.”
In answer to the question “Why do you shop at Walmart?” I responded, “The people working there. I was looking for a new printer last December. Walmart was my last stop after visiting 3 or 4 other stores. I was impressed with the sales people. Once the printer was set up I told Peg about the fantastic price for a 65 inch TV. To my surprise she said we should buy it. I don’t know what company did the delivery, but I’m pretty sure it was one person delivering a product that required two people. As you can imagine, a 65 inch TV comes in a long box with no hand holds and is extremely difficult to move. When my cousin Chuck and I got it all set up, it was evident that the TV screen had been damaged. I complained, and Chuck and I took it back. With no hassle I got another one. Each person I dealt with made sure I was happy.
I’ve returned a number of times. I’ve stopped clerks and asked where a particular product is. If they don’t know, they go find someone who can help me. I appreciate good customer service. I’ve heard this, that, and other comments, but those clerks did their best for me and I like that.
The prices are excellent, but that’s only part of it. Delivery is mostly free if you buy over $35 worth of goods. I have several bottles of asphalt repair liquid coming this week. I’ve never been disappointed by the clerks, the prices or the quality. Of course the main reason I trade there is because I can buy a package of Biscoff cookies for $2.48 . . . but let’s not go there. Thoughtful enough for you? I’ve had several friends question me.”
Rich responded, “No I get it. My brother who has since passed away always shopped there. I even took him there when he finally wasn’t able to drive. I just hate that they are profiting off these wonderful employees with no benefits and only allowing them to work enough hours that they don’t have to pay benefits and then showing them how to apply for government assistance for food stamps, etc. They play the system and reap the rewards. My 2 cents. BTW, love your posts!”
My return comment was, “I’m guessing that the workers couldn’t get a better job, but hopefully they can take what they learn at Walmart and get a better job when they leave.”
“Walmart’s critics say that Walmart’s lower prices draw customers away from smaller Main Street businesses, hurting local small-town communities. Critics also say that Walmart is hurting the United States economy because of excessive reliance on Chinese products.” – Wikipedia
It’s true, our 65 inch Roku Smart TV is probably manufactured in China, but I doubt their wonderful one-serving cakes and pies come all that way. For only fifty cents you can choose from pecan pie, apple pie, lemon cake, sweet potato pie, and others. The Land O’ Lakes butter is $2.99. Not only are the groceries affordable (we haven’t tried everything), but they are easy to find. I searched and gave up looking for pasta and noodles at Safeway and Fred Meyer. On a quick trip to Walmart I easily found egg noodles. We still do most of our grocery shopping at Safeway, Fred Meyer, and Grocery Outlet, but it’s nice to have an alternative that has decent prices and excellent customer service.
From a little research it looks like there were numerous articles against Walmart from 2015 to 2018:
“Walmart does score higher in terms of customer satisfaction than do cable companies, many airlines and health insurance companies.” – marketwatch.com/story/4-reasons-walmart-is-the-most-hated-retailer-in-america-2015-02-18
Walmart workers wish they could tell customers these 7 things – businessinsider.com/walmart-store-employees-want-to-say-2018-6
The Walmart stores I shop at are the one between University Place and Lakewood as well as the one in Tacoma on South Union. They have additional stores in Pierce County: Puyallup, Spanaway, Bonney Lake, and Yelm.
Just this last week I saw a short quiz asking which large city did not have a Walmart store. Seattle was one of possibilities, but the answer was New York City. “The company has been making strides by raising their minimum wage and opening training academies, so we’ll see if New Yorkers give them another chance. Either way, the city is full of small, independent shops that are even better for shopping.” – triptrivia.com
Am always troubled how people can attack one organization while totally ignoring the practices of others. Walmart and Amazon have become the whipping posts, even though they provide tens of thousands of jobs and enable many families to stretch their income farther. Something especially helpful as our remaining fixed income becomes less every year as taxes continues to spiral upward.
There was little turmoil when Microsoft laid off thousands of workers, replacing them with low cost labor from countries like India. While Microsoft claimed that Americans were too ignorant for the jobs, it was interesting that existing employees were mandated by the company to train new workers to get their severance.
Jack,
Thanks for commenting.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I continue to save money and get good service by shopping at Walmart.
Thanks for sharing your opinion and viewpoint.
Don
NO comparison between WalMart and Amazon in terms of employee compensation. Amazon provides full time family wage jobs with benefits.
Can you elaborate on this? What do they both provide that differs so much? I’m curious to see a side by side comparison.
Mike,
Thanks for commenting.
Amazon does well in employee compensation, but I also hear rumblings from employee treatment and people moving on for a better fit even at lower pay.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
I can agree that it seems unfair, however I feel the people criticizing are looking at what companies might make the biggest impact overall if they were to change employee compensation and treatment.
Microsoft’s employee count is less than 10% of Walmart’s, and Walmart’s impact is all over vs many companies that are less distributed across regions.
When someone once told me they wanted a higher minimum wage in my state, I responded with “I wish money were worth twice as much.”
Hi Don! Tom and I stopped by Bentonville, Arkansas about two years ago on our travels. Bentonville is the home of Walmart. We went through the 5 & Dime store (museum) where it all began. We were impressed with the history that Sam Walton began and with the dedication the family had to the local community. The Walton’s, to this day have made tremendous contributions through their mission to make life’s necessities available to all people, at affordable prices. We also visited the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It was incredible and thanks to the Walton Family Foundation and supporters, there is no charge to visitors. It was truly one of the most positive experiences of our travels to see one of the exhibits of generosity from the Walton family to the community at large.
Judy,
I’ve never been to Arkansas, but it almost sounds like a trip to make . . . almost . . . I was born about five counties up in Nevada, Missouri. Crystal Bridges? False teeth you can see through?
Thanks for sharing about the foundation and “positive experiences.”
Don
I’m surprised that people fall back to the compensation of employees, which was an issue at one point.
Upward mobility potential, educational benefits better than any white collar corporate benefits that I’ve ever seen, 15% matching stock purchase, 401(k), an array of insurance benefits, 10% discount on general merchandise that’s already pretty low priced, now a dress code that is rather flexible, paid time off, quarterly bonuses… no gym memberships, but the job itself is good exercise.
And yes, with high expectations, it’s a fast paced workplace, yet unlike Amazon that tries to cull the herd, the idea at Walmart is to work towards each person’s strengths and elevate people where they are willing. It’s not perfect and the human element is always a factor, the idea and setup at least are real.
I really don’t see why people always reach for how badly Walmart employees are treated when the compensation package and ideals of the company at present are far from the portrayed image. I’m working there part time after having my career ended by being a stay at home father of 3 special needs children and using their college benefits. $30 per month of college is the cost so that people don’t blow off “free” education by having them stake a token of their own resources to their success. And if things don’t work out with a class or instructor, they don’t punish withdrawl from classes. Their rules for school are even more flexible than the ones I received from the military around 2000-2001.
That Wal Mart makes jobs where unemployment is high is great unfortunately they have turned retail jobs that people could live comfortably on the wages into partime minimum pay jobs with no benefits so their employees have to work 2 jobs and rely on government programs to survive those programs are paid by the taxpayers instead of the corporations who are making billions off these low paid workers who can be fired at the drop of a hat. Walmart isn’t the only business doing this but they are the ones who created this environment that other companies have to compete with and in doing so start using the same methods of employment.
Just curious, how much do you think Walmart pays?
There’s some basic low level employees in the store I work at that are making 15-18 an hour in an area that only requires Federal minimum. Starting pay for many jobs is over $13 an hour, 80%+ more than the minimum. Regional minimums might be another story, but I also question the sanity of trying to live in such high cost of living areas to begin with. In that I wonder how we can hold Walmart responsible for a high cost of living in an area when their entire business model involves trying to reduce the cost of living for it’s customers.
Jeffry,
Good point. Buyers gain from the reduced prices in the areas where the high cost of living continues to rise. Walmart must do really well in Seattle.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Penny,
Thanks for commenting. This is a complaint I think they had a couple of years ago. The quality of service I see there speaks volumes to me. If those excellent customer service people move up or move out, hopefully they’ll take along those skills and enjoy higher pay from their actions.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
That only works if there are better paying jobs available. Since most jobs now a days are in retail and they are all trying to keep pay to minimum to keep up with Wal-Mart that’s not real likely.
Walmart is my go-to store for limited items, like car batteries, synthetic motor oil, and US made blue jeans. Bought a new car battery for $49 two years ago and still going strong. Come to think about it, I’m buying only US made products there.
What I mostly dislike about Walmart is their clientel, way to many obese shoppers blocking the aisles with their shopping carts and kids. But thats mostly in grocery.
I’ll continue shopping there, but not enough to keep them in business.
Actually, I don’t know where their George jeans are come from, but they look more expensive than they are, they wear well, and they fit nicely. So far I’ve never been really disappointed with any purchase there and never had an issue with their employees.
Thanks for mentioning US made products there.
Don
Walmart enables people of limited means to afford a better life.
Pat,
I certainly agree. The prices are affordable for many things. At the end of the winter season last year we bought men’s long sleeve shirts for $6 each. They’re comfortable and look nice . . . and still in excellent condition. Works for me!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Don Doman,
Nicely done or should I say nicely Don article.
This morning, now that I have completed my compliment to you, your writing, and your stimulating conversation, I am going to do something you have never seen me do.
What do you say?
I am going to keep my opinion to myself, but we can talk it over post Covid – 19 at our 1st espresso meeting.
Joseph Boyle – A guy with an opinion on each and every subject.
Joseph,
It is always interesting to read your articles and talk things over. At our post Covid:19 espresso meeting, I’m hoping you will both protect and serve?
Don
I liken Walmart to Freddy Meyer. Except I never heard of Freddy Meyer until I was dragged out to washington state… Kinda like Bozo the Clown to your Patches. Of course, there was always a KMart too…until recently. At any rate, cheap prices and cheap products at either store are available. And the reason why most people may question your taste in shopping at walmart are the “people of walmart.” No, not the employees, but the shoppers. Go to youtube to see why.
JC,
No, I understand about the shoppers. They don’t look desperate, but they look like they need a place like Walmart where they can afford what is needed for the daily grind. Ideal for people on fixed budgets who need to stretch their dollars to afford prescription drugs.
Thanks for sharing and adding content.
Don
Mr. Doman,
I didn’t say they were desperate. However, when people walk into a store wearing nothing but their underwear, I question the dress code or lack thereof as “the standard” that’s gone far below the norm. I understand pharmacy prices too, but there are other places that don’t overcharge, such as GoodRX or Good Pharmacy. They do require you to be appropriately dressed though. (That’s for the sake of others not having to see what shouldn’t be seen. I just thank goodness it’s not too often.)
JC,
I know you didn’t say desperate, I did. I see people dressed in inappropriate clothing, but never seen anyone shopping just in their underwear, but shopping at Walmart I have never seen people like those in some of the Youtube videos. And you do realize that many of the photos are either doctored or staged, especially in one that I watched. We shop at Walgreen’s for prescription drugs, they are near by and are very helpful. Walmart however, helped with insulin for our free Rotacare Clinic before the Affordable Care Act came into being.
Thanks again for sharing . . . maybe I’ll carry by camera into Walmart next time . . . I might get lucky with an unusual photo.
Don
Who the heck calls shopping “trading”? Are you stuck in pioneer days?
Jeffrey,
Sorry. Trade, trading, trade goods all deal with transportation and trade in the global market. If we were in the pioneer days you could have said I was “highfalutin” I guess, but I think all of those words are still in use. I’m a member of the Tacoma Transportation Club.
Thanks for bringing it up.
Don
I didn’t mean to sound rude if that’s how it came across. The first thing that came to mind when I read your post was Karl in “Sling Blade” saying that he “might need to do some tradin’, mmm-hmm” at the dollar store. Cheers Don!
Jeffrey,
It did catch me off-guard . . . I had to look up how I used “trade.” I’ve only seen Sling Blade once, but enjoyed it . . . I may have to watch it again. Besides Walmart, I also am a supporter of Dollar Tree.
Thanks for sharing and trading words.
Don