Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats • Hacker News Board

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#341

Post by pbourke » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 4:02 PM UTC

dylan604 wrote: post #330

taurath wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having worked retail stores, you really underestimate how little time you have as any individual to get your shit done and also help customers. That gaggle may be them deciding how to make the store look right with only 4 people when normally it’d take 8. If you want good customer service go somewhere they dont cut corners on staffing while paying the heroes that have to do 3 people’s jobs minimum wage.

>That gaggle may be them deciding Then take that gaggle to the back in a meeting room so that it's not visible to the customers. >If you want good customer service go somewhere they dont cut corners Where does this exist? I'm free this weekend. I'll see about taking a visit to this magical fairy land you speak. /s Seriously though, what public facing retail store doesn't cut corners on staffing or any other aspect? I…

> Seriously though, what public facing retail store doesn't cut corners on staffing or any other aspect?

Food co-ops and independent/small chain grocers. We are fortunate to have a good density of these in the Seattle area and PNW in general.

http://northwestgrocers.com/?page_id=12

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#342

Post by pnutjam » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 4:41 PM UTC

Spooky23 wrote: post #138

paxys wrote: post #107

Walmart gets a lot of flak for being old school and allowing Amazon's rise, but they are one of the very few retailers who have actually been able to respond to competitive threats over the last decade or two. Walmart Labs has some great tech and hires top software talent in the industry. They aren't shy about making large acquisitions when needed (like Jet). They have built out their own delivery and logistics netwo…

Walmart has some weird cultural issues that make store operations hard to adapt. It’s a pretty miserable place to work. They hire anyone, turn them out quickly, and have weird work rules for things like gathering in a group. Target’s pickup operation is superior in every dimension. They made the decision to put it front and center, and their employees seem happier. It takes The other issue they have is that their log…

The other problem is substitution. WalMart will sub something different as if it's the same. They also assume you picked up if you go anywhere near the store.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#343

Post by unpolloloco » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 5:01 PM UTC

bytelines wrote: post #159

krapp wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I don't understand why it took COVID to make companies realize that "hey, a large part of your clientele don't want to wander your aisles." Because making shoppers wander the aisles leads them to buy more things than they intended to. There's a reason best-selling items are always placed at eye level.

What prevents that from happening in a web-based experience?

Mostly, limited visual field. Screens aren't able to lure you in through peripheral vision

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#344

Post by Scoundreller » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 5:11 PM UTC

pbourke wrote: post #339

varsketiz wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is criminal mode?

I think they mean when the machine is set to a strict weight measurement tolerance (or similar) so that for nearly every item it complains about putting things into or taking them out of the bag. You often have to call the checkout area minder over to fix it. It makes the process take much longer than it should.

That and when you can’t pick up multiple packages of something, scan them and then bag them all at once. You have to complete each individual process before starting the next.

Painful for small items or when you have a helper.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#345

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 5:35 PM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #2

I think Wal*Mart has an image problem. I’ve gone into their stores. Their stock assortment isn’t bad compared to the competition. In fact, aside from Whole Foods on the organic/bio side of things, they measure up very well and better compared to their competition. They are more of a hypermart where you can do one stop shopping ala Carrefour. The issues I see are: very drab color palette. Working class shoppers. Sure,…

[deleted]

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#346

Post by kevincox » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 6:17 PM UTC

bytelines wrote: post #159

krapp wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I don't understand why it took COVID to make companies realize that "hey, a large part of your clientele don't want to wander your aisles." Because making shoppers wander the aisles leads them to buy more things than they intended to. There's a reason best-selling items are always placed at eye level.

What prevents that from happening in a web-based experience?

They try. For example Instacart shows you "recommended" items at multiple places in the shopping flow. However I think there is some sort of limit here because it feels more explicit. If I search for something it is obvious when you are putting results that don't match in my way. In the store it is easy not to realize that the things that you want are intentionally spread out.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#347

Post by morpheos137 » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 7:08 PM UTC

most people, outside of the covid event and the HN bubble prefer buying things in person. My issue with walmart has been poor quality items or common items out of stock. I remember a few years ago going to a walmart supercenter and they were out of stock of nutcrackers. This was not during the holiday season but come on people eat walnuts or almonds year round.

Additionally walmart could do better with fewer more professional employees and with an app that would help shoppers find merchandise in store without needing to ask an employee.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#348

Post by hakfoo » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 7:40 PM UTC

Spooky23 wrote: post #316

cgriswald wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dislike Walmart rather intensely but I know if I order a new Kitchen Aid mixer from them I’m going to get a new Kitchen Aid mixer. Ask me how I know the same isn’t true of Amazon. No matter how good your delivery logistics, it’s not “nailing it” if I get the wrong thing fast.

That’s the thing with Walmart, they aren’t shady enough to play the same game. Once you break out of the Amazon bubble of faith based “Amazon is amazing!”, it’s just retail. Once you get out of the Amazon funnel, why go to Walmart? There’s a hundred retailers that sell genuine KitchenAid mixers. Pick the one with the best price, or color scheme you prefer.

I think combined shipping can be a huge attraction factor for an Amazon or Walmart.

If you want to buy a $150 mixer, but also, say, a $10 book and a $5 cable, you'll be able to put those all in one cart at those vendors and get free postage.

If you go to some specialty mixer retailer, you'll have to buy the other items as a seperate transaction and pay for shipping on them.

I know in my household, we definitely will ask around "I'm buying something from Amazon, so I'll already be spending $25, does anyone want anything else on that order?"

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#349

Post by Biganon » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 8:00 PM UTC

pbourke wrote: post #339

varsketiz wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is criminal mode?

I think they mean when the machine is set to a strict weight measurement tolerance (or similar) so that for nearly every item it complains about putting things into or taking them out of the bag. You often have to call the checkout area minder over to fix it. It makes the process take much longer than it should.

The machines weigh stuff? I don't understand that. Here in Switzerland you just scan the barcode of every item and place it in a bag, done. What is there to weigh?

Also recently I started using what I guess is the Swiss (Coop) equivalent of Scan and Go: I scan with my phone in the aisles, but stuff in my bag directly in the aisles as well, and when I leave the list of items I've taken is transmitted to a classic self checkout machine and I just have to pay. I wish I could avoid the machine entirely and pay from my phone, I assume it will exist one day.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#350

Post by Scoundreller » Sat, Jun 05, 2021, 8:18 PM UTC

Biganon wrote: post #349

pbourke wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they mean when the machine is set to a strict weight measurement tolerance (or similar) so that for nearly every item it complains about putting things into or taking them out of the bag. You often have to call the checkout area minder over to fix it. It makes the process take much longer than it should.

The machines weigh stuff? I don't understand that. Here in Switzerland you just scan the barcode of every item and place it in a bag, done. What is there to weigh? Also recently I started using what I guess is the Swiss (Coop) equivalent of Scan and Go: I scan with my phone in the aisles, but stuff in my bag directly in the aisles as well, and when I leave the list of items I've taken is transmitted to a classic self…

The big bagging area will be one big scale. It's not that big of a deal when programmed correctly. You can place your own bags on it too (but there's usually a button you have to press so it tares it correctly).

The scanning area will have it owns weight sensor for unweighed fruits and vegetables. This scale is usually calibrated/verified by a government body because it relates to pricing. In Europe, it's common to bag and weigh your produce in the produce section, but in N. America, it's integrated with the checkout process.

I live near a Walmart "flagship" store and they are/were testing out a system where you scan items are you pick them and then can bag them in your cart, with a special aisle for exit. I suspect the cart also goes over a scale and they determine if it matches correctly.