46 replies to this topic

[Brad]

http://news.walmart....holiday-helpers

 

- employees giving you candy canes while you wait in checkout lines

 

- more staff to handle in-store pickup and more items eligible for pickup

 

That's about it. No free shipping, no big sales. Well done, Walmart.

[bribri25]

Ooooo. Are they going to be broken candy canes, too??

[Bopeep]

Well, they're giving you candy canes!  What more could you possibly want from them???

[mom-n-michaela]

Wow...that's disappointing. I at *the least* would expect them to offer free shipping. And, didn't they have flash sales or daily sales or something like that last year? I wonder if that is not happening or if they for some reason are just waiting to announce that?? I've been increasingly disappointed with Walmart...but I'll reserve judgement until closer to BF and see what their ads look like. But, well, I do love a candy cane...

[Kanyon71]

They are going to give you a candy cane and direct you to one of the 3-4 open registers

[Tara3117]

I mean, the candy canes are free, right?

[Kanyon71]

I mean, the candy canes are free, right?

I think so. Maybe they are the ones from a few Christmas's ago?

[magickallight]

They do state "We will win the season on price, from the first weekend in November to Black Friday and Cyber Monday and through those final weeks in December.” So I think we will see more of what they are going to offer soon.

[1angelnhvn]

They will somehow sneak the charge in to your bill!  And I love the comment above about directing you to one of the 3-4 open registers!  Amen to that one!  (why have 30 lanes if you are only going to use 1/4 of them?)

[HanShotFirst]

They are going to give you a candy cane and direct you to one of the 3-4 open registers

LMBO!! That just made my day. Can't wait to get my free candy came......I'm wondering if I can have a candy cane per number of people ahead of me in line??
Even in the stores in their home base of Bentonville, they don't open all the registers! I've been in them all in that area.

[Kanyon71]

LMBO!! That just made my day. Can't wait to get my free candy came......I'm wondering if I can have a candy cane per number of people ahead of me in line??
Even in the stores in their home base of Bentonville, they don't open all the registers! I've been in them all in that area.

Sometimes I think they are fake. Like they have them setup and all but the belts don't actually work, the register is made out of cardboard and so on. Just an elaborate ruse to make you think they might open a new lane and take care of you. I like to call it the Walmart Mirage.

[HanShotFirst]

I'm glad to see them say they will have more people available for Store Pick-up. I got burned with that more than once last season. Between waiting 30 minutes for someone to show up (not even the manager could help me) to taking a month for an item to arrive in store after being guaranteed in 10 days. Yeah, that was the last time I did Store pickup, whether "same day" or "ship to store".

Remains to be seen if I attempt it this year

[Kanyon71]

I'm glad to see them say they will have more people available for Store Pick-up. I got burned with that more than once last season. Between waiting 30 minutes for someone to show up (not even the manager could help me) to taking a month for an item to arrive in store after being guaranteed in 10 days. Yeah, that was the last time I did Store pickup, whether "same day" or "ship to store".

Remains to be seen if I attempt it this year

I think it was last year or the year before, I was in the store to buy a video game for my b-i-l for Christmas. We are in the back and I tell the guy you have it on your site and it's this amount of money and I would like to get it. He keeps telling me he can't do it and these games are set aside for something or other. So I finally get annoyed I open up their app, purchase it online for in-store pickup. Probably about 10 mins go buy he goes to the cabinet to grab one and starts walking it to the front. We start following him and he's looks at me weird. I look at him and say I'm the one who just bought it since you can't price match it and actually sell it to me.

 

Got up front and sure enough like 2 mins after he gives it to the clerk up there I get a text saying it's ready to be picked up. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or punch someone.

[Mimito1]

I think it was last year or the year before, I was in the store to buy a video game for my b-i-l for Christmas. We are in the back and I tell the guy you have it on your site and it's this amount of money and I would like to get it. He keeps telling me he can't do it and these games are set aside for something or other. So I finally get annoyed I open up their app, purchase it online for in-store pickup. Probably about 10 mins go buy he goes to the cabinet to grab one and starts walking it to the front. We start following him and he's looks at me weird. I look at him and say I'm the one who just bought it since you can't price match it and actually sell it to me.

Got up front and sure enough like 2 mins after he gives it to the clerk up there I get a text saying it's ready to be picked up. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or punch someone.

I did the exact same thing last year with a video game. It's ridiculous that they won't price match their own online price.

[Elmck]

At my Walmart they only have 1 register for in store pick up.  How is that going to be any faster??? I wonder if they will have different flavored candy canes? I 'm  not a huge peppermint fan. 

[HanShotFirst]

At my Walmart they only have 1 register for in store pick up.  How is that going to be any faster??? I wonder if they will have different flavored candy canes? I 'm  not a huge peppermint fan.

At the stores in my area the Store Pickup is in the very back of the store where, in the old lay-away place and the restrooms. No one is EVER back there. You have to "push the button for assistance" and pray to the good lord above that an associate comes to help you.

[Ladywolf]

Well I am no huge fan of Walmart's check-out lines, but I'm at least willing to give them a chance and see if things improve for the holiday season. The story does mention cutting prices at the beginning, so while they weren't specific, they didn't leave it out completely.

 

I know I'm going against the grain here, but I'm keeping a positive outlook on this.

 

Plus, I think the candy canes are a cute idea to try to get people in the holiday spirit. I give kudos to Wal-mart for trying, but I'll be even more glad to see if they follow through with their ideas.

[Mimito1]

I don't see Wal Mart employees being able to pass out candy canes when their entire store is grid locked to check out. You can't even move let alone tell if you are even in a check out lane. It is horrible!!

[mcwalker]

How about they take the person/people handing out candy canes and directing people to the shortest line and use them to open another check-out instead.  I can find my own way to the shortest line and if some other Walmart Shoppers can't, well all the better for those of us who can.  

[len_mullen]

At the stores in my area the Store Pickup is in the very back of the store where, in the old lay-away place and the restrooms. No one is EVER back there. You have to "push the button for assistance" and pray to the good lord above that an associate comes to help you.

 

Right and there is a door to the back area of the store in the area so dozens of employees walk past you avoiding eye contact.  

[HanShotFirst]

Right and there is a door to the back area of the store in the area so dozens of employees walk past you avoiding eye contact.

YES! So aggravating.

Although I hate that Target moved the Customer Service/Store pickup area into the regular checkout area, Walmart should take note of how Target handles store pickups. Pretty seamless, at least in my store. You certainly never have to worry about there being an employe there to help you.

[2bauer4]

In our Walmart they are taking out the regular registers in favor of self checkouts.  My wife commented how that will really slow up the Thanksgiving night sale!

[Kanyon71]

In our Walmart they are taking out the regular registers in favor of self checkouts.  My wife commented how that will really slow up the Thanksgiving night sale!

They have a bunch of those down at the end of the line of 18 vacant and 2 Open normal lines

 

Guess they figure if no ones going to work them then may as well let people check themselves out.

[HanShotFirst]

In our Walmart they are taking out the regular registers in favor of self checkouts.  My wife commented how that will really slow up the Thanksgiving night sale!

I said the exact same thing months ago to my mother about her store, which is the store I always go to for the BF shopping because that's where I am for the holiday weekend. I really don't think I'd do a BF at a larger Walmart Supercenter to be honest.

[speeddiva]

In my Walmart, they moved .com pickup to the service desk so that'll be a nightmare on BF.
They also block off the front And make everyone go up the center aisle to check out. An employee directs people to various checkouts from the one line.

[mamapenguin]

I'm glad to see them say they will have more people available for Store Pick-up. I got burned with that more than once last season. Between waiting 30 minutes for someone to show up (not even the manager could help me) to taking a month for an item to arrive in store after being guaranteed in 10 days. Yeah, that was the last time I did Store pickup, whether "same day" or "ship to store".

Remains to be seen if I attempt it this year

Or it's finally your turn and the register freezes confusing the cashier who eventually, reluctantly powers it down so you can wait 10 minutes for it to reboot. That's what happened to me last year, they'd have to have something really good for me to even think about going there again this year. 

[bribri25]

Or it's finally your turn and the register freezes confusing the cashier who eventually, reluctantly powers it down so you can wait 10 minutes for it to reboot. That's what happened to me last year, they'd have to have something really good for me to even think about going there again this year.

TWO candy canes?? Would that do it

[Kanyon71]

TWO candy canes?? Would that do it

Maybe thrown in a soda or some water and I can wait the 10 mins for reboot

[BGndr]

My aunt is a department manager for Walmart. She said last week they had a managers meeting and were told to plan schedules the same as last year (6pm, 8pm, etc) The District Manager acted surprised as he was told everything would be happening on Friday. Their schedule was put out, "subject to change". Also, she said they no longer get Holiday Pay for working. So if you call in sick, you only get 1 point, vs more since it is just your regular hourly rate. If it's just one point on their record, what's stopping anyone from calling in?

[laddhorn]

What will happen when someone "sharpens" a candy cane while in line and takes their frustration out on a poor employee?  Will there be a rash of stabbings with candy shivs during the fights for towels?