Posted on 08/15/2013 5:14:53 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
If discount every-day necessities can’t tempt shoppers into stores, it’s a clear signal that consumers feel stifled by a tough economy at home and overseas.
That’s the picture provided this morning by Wal-Mart’s latest quarterly report. The world’s largest retailer cut its annual profit and revenue outlook and reported second-quarter figures that missed expectations.
Wal-Mart, operating 10,800 stores across 27 countries, is seen as an economic bellwether because it’s a go-to spot for so many households, where they shop for groceries, home supplies and gasoline. Nonexistent wage gains and a sluggish recovery are hampering spending in America and Europe, while slowing growth in developing companies keep the emerging middle classes there from spending much, too. Listen to Wal-Mart CFO Charles Holley: “”The retail environment remains challenging in the U.S. and our international markets, as customers are cautious in their spending.”(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Walmart has become lazy. Back in the day they were almost never out of stock....these days they are missing items for weeks on end.
Walmart Fail competition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRh3bsYayxc
I have never seen a Walmart in Los Angeles where I live. I understand there is one in South Central but I don’t go there.
Unions have successfully kept the ones with groceries out of LA but would love to see one.
I go for the friendly sales people and ambience.
In some locales this would be irony.
In other locales a “God bless you” attitude will find you getting service like you never dreamed. I went into a Wal-Mart north of Nashville last night to return a bathroom scale that was not working correctly when I tested it. It was late and returns were being handled by the register staff. The gals at the register asked if I wanted a replacement, I told them I had spotted another one that I think I would prefer. And she went back and got TWO of them, the one I meant and one that was a lot cheaper but similar. Now that is Nordstrom level service at a Wal-Mart, in an area that isn’t particularly rich in a small Wal-Mart next door to a shuttered Sams Club.
this is the point I made a few weeks ago. They have some stuff there but the prices are about the same at supermarkets if you know how to shop them. The meat is nowhere near the quality of our locals and forget the greens. They have excellent prices on staples like flour, sugar, soups, cereals and bread but you can work the sales and get those, plus better quality meats, fish, vegetables for less.
Within a five minute drive of our closest Walmart, we have five chain supermarkets and a Target that all have weekly and seasonal sales not to mention the big-box stores.
They need to step up their game and make it worth it to shop there more.
testing testing testing
Ya know I used to feel that way, get annoyed at the “marginal folks” there.
God’s put me on a military love seek-and-destroy mission now against the devil... and I go in there blessing the annoying people.
We’ve forgotten that God wanted US to be lights, not just holler at others for light.
Depending on where you live you can sometimes do better than that if you watch sales and combine coupons.
For instance this week Publix Supermarkets (Florida premier grocery store ) has
Mrs Buttersworth syrups 24oz bottles on sale BOGO 3.49 there 1.00 printable coupons on their facebook page 2 bottle for 3.49 - 2.00 (two 1.00 coupons) =2 bottle name brand syrup for 1.49
They also have Ocean Spray juice on sale 2 bottles for 3.15 there were 1.00 off coupons in the paper couple of sundays ago for this 2 bottles for 3.15 - 2.00(two 1.00 off coupons ) now you get two full size bottles of name brand juice for 1.15
I shop like this all the time and have a huge pantry full of stuff I pay little to nothing for
You can get great ideas for sales and coupon match ups at places like
Southern Savers (lots of stores listed)- http://www.southernsavers.com/
Publix - http://www.iheartpublix.com/
Kroger - http://www.iheartkroger.com/
dollar stores - most will take coupons too - http://dollarstoredeals.net/
“Most of my ‘shopping’ for the last few months has been wandering around the garden to see what’s ready to harvest.
/johnny “
We’re so tight we’re making hamburgers with helper helper.
I stole that.
Walmart - 24 check out lanes and 2 cashiers. I seriously hate the place! Their prices are nothing special either..especially when it comes to food.
Wow, it’s nice to know how you feel about us “low end trash” and “dregs of society” that can only afford to shop at Walmart. Becoming a bit elitist in here, are we?
These comments about Walmart always tend to be tied to the local market and demographics. Here, the cashiers are pleasant and many of their customers know them personally. One recently died and a bunch of people went to his memorial. Regarding service, I would say though it isn't the style of the business to have sales staff follow the customers around the stores like Nordstroms or somewhere. In fact, I won't shop anywhere they do that. Many employees are stockers or another specialized position and won't be able to answer questions about products nor should they try. As far as grocery prices, you can often do better with sale prices at pure grocery chains, but if what you want isn't on sale Walmart will be about as low as anywhere. And the Walmart house brand is priced quite low.
I hear you Johnny, Made a gallons worth of gazpacho yesterday, half gone. Hubby ate 4 bowls.
God’s put me on a military love seek-and-destroy mission now against the devil... and I go in there blessing the annoying people.
We’ve forgotten that God wanted US to be lights, not just holler at others for light.
You definitely have seen the light recently.
Also, on your other comment about the Nordstrom-like service, I could easily see that happening here also (rural eastern WA), although the clerks really aren't trained to do that. Just that many rural people are naturally helpful to their neighbors.
It isn't exactly lazy -- it is generally an understaffing problem. Many times the items (hard goods) are sitting on a pallet in back. Between cutting full time positions and having trouble finding suitable part timers staffing has been thin. One day I was asked (at checkout) if I wanted to come back that night and stock. I said no, I can't and then the supervisor asked me a second time. Almost felt bad turning him down.
As others have noted, their food prices are bad, HBA is on the low side and hardware\auto is a mixed bag.
I could break into song here, “I Saw The Light.”
Well actually I believed decades ago and that was genuine. But clearing up my spiritual eyes took a long time till I got to this point. Sometimes it’s fast, sometimes it’s slow. But there was one last satanically caused hangup in my life that I finally said I can’t cut exposure to its occasion out of my life, so I’m going to see if I can beat it with POSITIVE power. I asked the seemingly nonintuitive blessing of the Lord upon the thing through which Satan was occasioning me the stumbles. Well mirabile dictu... it WORKED! Took a few weeks of the conflict but the blinders came off. Got a whole new perspective soon after that. And that’s why you see me posting what I’m posting today... wow, I’m being blessed big time and want to share it!
I am eternally grateful for the $4 prescription drugs at Walmart. In fact, when we get dumped from our insurance plan on Jan 1 because it doesn’t meet Obamacare requirements I will be even more grateful.
The cashiers are never well trained , they are rude , slow and busy gabbing to each other .
Publix (this is Floridas best supermarket) all cashiers are well trained . If they see more than 3 people in a line they will call people off the floor to open more registers. YOU NEVER GET LIP from any of their cashier , no smart remarks because the management just will NOT put up with it . The store item per item is a little more than Walmart BUT they have great sales and a fantastic coupon policy .
If you plan your meals around their sales YOU WILL end up paying much less than shopping Walmart and not have to deal with any of the BS .
I am not the only one who says this . Look around the net and you WILL SEE tons of people complaining about how bad Walmarts service is.
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