Wal-Mart cuts more than 10,000 Sam's Club staffers

Tampa Bay Online ^ | Jan 24, 2010 | AP

[driftdiver]

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Sunday it is cutting more than 10,000 jobs at Sam's Club, representing about 9 percent of the warehouse club operator's staff, as it outsources its product-sampling department to marketing company Shopper Events and eliminates another unit.

"Our demos can be a competitive advantage and we want to take this member experience to the next level," said Sam's Club CEO Brian Cornell in a memo to staffers.

Employees were told the news at mandatory meetings on Sunday morning.

The company also cut its new business membership representative positions, affecting about 2 staffers per store.

"We have found that we can more effectively drive membership through targeted member acquisition events and by increasing our partner membership programs," Cornell said.

[driftdiver]

So much for loyalty. An ethical company would have negotiated the transition of the employees to the new company. That new company probably can't pay the same wages though.

[princess leah]

When the going gets tough, the fiscally smart cut back - gee, I wish the gov’t could learn from a private sector company that has been very successful. I hated to see my favorite Sam’s Club close, but also see that if its not making a profit, well, it’s gotta go!

[trumandogz]

[camerongood210]

But Valerie Jarrett just told us that 0 fixed the economy. I don’t get it.

[fatnotlazy]

I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club is obligated to help the affected employees find work with the other company because this is an outsourcing situation of certain jobs, not a direct sale of the company to another company. Might have been nice, but there doesn’t seem to be a requirement.

I think you are correct...the outsource company may not be able to pay Wal-Mart’s wages.

Sam’s Club has been in trouble for a while. There is one store several miles from my home, but another store a little further out closed last year. Sam’s may have a reputation for being cheap, but not necessarily. It also doesn’t carry many of the brands and products you might find at a supermarket or office supply house, or whatever.

And their optical department sux. My brother purchased glasses from the local Sam’s....took five tries to get the prescription right.

[svcw]

The story quoted one person as feeling betrayed. I don't get that. Businesses are not charities. She worked there and now there are cut backs. Blame barry and his policies if you need to blame someone.

[DonaldC]

Another glorious walmart story.

[Hawthorn]

Well, at least the product-sampling jobs won’t be “outsourced” to India!

[Non-Sequitur]

So much for loyalty. An ethical company would have negotiated the transition of the employees to the new company. That new company probably can't pay the same wages though.

Welcome to corporate America. Employees are not considered assets, just expenses.

[basil]

I quit using Sam’s when all my kids moved out. It just wasn’t worth it to buy in bulk for just the two of us. When there were 7 of us, it made good sense, and I was happy to have Sam’s around.

[mazda77]

In defense of those feeling betrayed, isn’t it considered unclassy to not give a two week notice to an employer when the employee intends to leave? Hmmm?

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Don’t be so sure. Ever hear of video demos?

[JMS]

I like Sam’s Club but am also a Costco member. They closed the one close to my house and now it’s a 40 mile drive to the closest one. I will not be renewing my membership since Costco is close by.

[Frantzie]

This is Hope & Change. People voted for this - the leemings watch ball games and reality TV and have no clue what is going on.

“Hey I love watchin college ball & American Idol cause I am a major duba*s.”

Life’s good until reality intrudes and they have seen nothing yet. It is going to get a LOT worse this year.

[PackerBoy]

I like corporations that are lean, mean, competitive, profit-motivated, cost-conscious, consumer-oriented and honest. Sam’s Club and Walmart are all of these.

[halo66]

You said it...there are so many lazy asses that have no clue what the hell is going on. A large majority of these lazy asses voted for Obama and so many of them are going down in flames. It will get a lot worse!

[svcw]

It might be a nice thing to do but it is not required as far as I know. I have had to fire people before and it is usually done the afternoon of the last day of their work week. If they are really being laid off and not fired many companies will give some notice but I have worked places where we get our check on Friday afternoon and told not to come back on Monday.
There are no guarantees in the work world.

[mazda77]

I know there are no guarantees, but just making a point.

[fatnotlazy]

If you have uses for things, it might be worthwhile to buy in bulk. My brother and his wife entertain a lot; so buying the party food and stuff in bulk is worth going to Sam's for. They also have four cats; so buying cat food and litter in bulk is a good idea.

I'm a party of one, I don't entertain and even though I have one cat, buying pet products like that is just too much. Besides, I can't lift those 50 pound containers of cat litter. Just too much.

And then there's the matter of storage. My brother and sister-in-law have this giant-size house. They can buy in bulk and have ample room to store everything (they even have 3 refrigerators and a huge deep freezer). My late uncle, on the other hand, lived in a cramped apartment. When he passed away and his family was cleaning out his apartment, we found all sorts of things stuffed under the bed, behind the sofa, etc. etc. My uncle was a neat freak ordinarily, but all those containers, bags and boxes made him look like a hoarder.

[KevinDavis]

I wish some freepers would understand that concept.. Business are not charities..