General Business: Wal*Mart - So frustrating

How did wal*mart get to be where they are with the much-less-than-knowledgable staff that work there. Seriously - I was going to make a purchase today on a large ticket item, and they didn't have it in stock. So i asked them to call a store that was a few miles away. They did, also said they didn't have it. So they call the one in the 'Valley' which is a 20min. plus drive a way. They said they had one there so we got in the car to go.

On the way I figure that it's wal*mart and jokingly told my wife the chances are they DO have one at the closer store but they got some 80yr old w/no eyesight to check for us. I decide to call myself. I gave the model number and they instantly said they have one there.

I don't know why I'm telling you all this...but isn't it amazing that you can hire tools like that and still be the worlds largest retailer in the history of mankind?

Good call - but still...How do they ever sell electronics when you can't get a straight opinion or recommendation from their associates?

What am I saying, I buy electronics from there...they have us all brain washed.

i heard somewhere that there's gonna be a south park with george bush, bank of america and walmart joining forces to take over the world :lol:

Wal-Mart doesn't mention anything about quality customer service in any of its ads. It's always about one thing: lowest possible price. That's how WalMart makes their money. Low margins, extremely high volume. They can't afford quality customer service -- I can't imagine buying electronics products from them, for any reason.

I always purchase my electronic products online (newegg, amazon) or at the very least one of the large electronics warehouses (CCity, BestBuy, etc.). The customer service is only slightly better at the brick and mortars than WalMart, but it is worth it for the hassle. I've never run in to a problem purchasing online -- pure bliss.

I can see where you might get that idea, but the only ads I see around here is that damn yellow smiley walking around knocking prices down -- with associates standing by laughing. I didn't mean to come across as saying Wal-Mart has never said a good thing about their customer service, but the ads I see promote lowest possible price far more than customer service.

Anyways, Wal-Mart sucks. :)

[quote="JimiHendrix"]I would think Wal-Mart tries to show themselves as having good customer service (although price is obviously their selling point). They even pay old people to stand at the door and say hi to you.[/quote]

This is the only reason I like Wal*Mart - they give the old folk something to do ;)

This old guy, Walter, at the northside Wal*Mart here in Spokane is such a cute 'ol man, he makes the Wal*Mart experience bearable :)

:wave: Hi Walter!

the employees at the walmart around here sleep all day long.

You can walk in the store, ask them a question, and they look right through you.

Thr Walmart greeters don't greet anyone.

Karen

[quote="Saban"]I hate Walmart.

They would not replace a defective videogame that my brother bought. He did not want his money back he just wanted what he paid for. They told us to call Microsoft because they are responsible for it. After calling some 20 managers at Walmart they agreed to replace it. The game was some 30 dollars and for walmart to be that cheap makes me hate it even more.

PS. DO NOT SHOP AT WALMART[/quote]

nickel-diming people is how walmart's become the largest retailer in the world... if you think what they did to you's bad, you should read up on how they cut ties with suppliers (whose businesses are 95% walmart sales) over literally pennies.

True the customer service there is terrible. You can't ever get any real service.
However, I have never had any trouble returning any items there, WITH or WITH-OUT a receipt. They will exchange anything they have or give you a store credit.
I do understand the comments made by bonafizzle8, they have put other companies out of business for a few pennies, and think nothing of it. But then you have to ask, who really cares when you can go to Wal-Mart and save a few pennies on items bought from there? I spent $2200 on a Phillips TV and sur-round sound system that would have cost $2650 at Best Buy...So who am I too complain?
Plus, what other place can you go at 3a.m. and buy groceries and a movie???

[quote="ryanj"]

Anyways, just 2 cents. I will be honest though, I have never shopped there. :lol:[/quote]

good for you ryan... i wish i could say the same :cry:

I second that motion...lol

Wal*Mart has never been sheisty on a return I have - that's one thing I love about them.

[quote="MOUSE"]I realize some people are frustrated with WalMart, but Sam Walton was an absolute genius. From a business perspective, the Corporation is operated PERFECTLY.[/quote]

I fully agree there- it's just that through the efficiency they have sacrificed some parts of customer service. The reason most people (including me) don't care for the most part is that the prices are so great. Besides, generally technical understanding is only needed for high dollar items, and witht he exception of electronics and possibly car maintenance very little of what WalMart carries needs guidance. So for day to day purchases there is really know reason to not use Wal-Mart from a consumer's perspective.

We learned all about Wal*mart in our high-school economics class. The teacher was obsessed with how they went from a small town store to a huge retail chain. I must say that their story is impressive...

Personally though, I do not shop there, as we have a Meijer available with deals quite a bit better than Wal*mart. Meijers is kind of a local franchise, only in a few states I believe, and they are a privately held company.