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Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

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Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#131

Post by ramphastidae »

fnord77 wrote: post #111
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…

I forgot all about Jet until you just mentioned them. I should look into them as an amazon replacement.

Jet is gone. Shame, I was a fan.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#132

Post by mgkimsal »

handrous wrote: post #12
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,…

Observations about the nearest Wal-Mart: 1) All the employees look sad, all he time. 2) They've obviously carefully tuned their check out staffing so that the lines are always long. This is such a constant that it has to be intentional, and they're doing a good job of it. 3) Sometimes they attempt to check receipts at exit. I don't get that at any other non-membership store. 4) All the shoppers look sad. 5) It's the…

The one nearer me has a great self-checkout area. I usually prefer self-checkout, and my wait is rarely longer than 1 minute. I don't shop there often - perhaps 2x per month for some specific items, but long checkout is never an issue.

That said, it used to be, before the self-checkout area. And, when traveling, I end up popping in to Walmarts in various parts of the country now and then, and the checkout times are always a gamble.

re: #6 - I wonder if it has something to do with the aisles being there more for the convenience of the packers and movement of goods in the store, vs the convenience of shoppers. I understand your point, and do notice it sometimes, and have tried to compare it to other shops. However, in the last few years, I found myself going to shops less and less overall, so it's harder for me to remember and compare against competitors fairly.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#133

Post by samstave »

handrous wrote: post #12
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,…

Observations about the nearest Wal-Mart: 1) All the employees look sad, all he time. 2) They've obviously carefully tuned their check out staffing so that the lines are always long. This is such a constant that it has to be intentional, and they're doing a good job of it. 3) Sometimes they attempt to check receipts at exit. I don't get that at any other non-membership store. 4) All the shoppers look sad. 5) It's the…

>2) They've obviously carefully tuned their check out staffing so that the lines are always long. This is such a constant that it has to be intentional, and they're doing a good job of it.

---

This is actually an anti-pattern in their org;

They have FAILED to properly train to and address this problem, thus it persists.

Its not intentional - it is through lack of taking a focus on this aspect of their business, or looking at it - and determining they prefer/dont mind it...

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#134

Post by Rapzid »

g00gler wrote: post #48
godot wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Working class shoppers. Sure, it’s elitist, but people like shopping alongside people in their own stratum. Not going to comment on the ethics/politics of it, but if people like shopping alongside people in their own stratum, then they have to accept that they have to pay a premium for it (i.e. shop at Whole Foods). You can't really say "I want to shop at the discount store but I also want only other wealthy people…

> if people like shopping alongside people in their own stratum, then they have to accept that they have to pay a premium for it (i.e. shop at Whole Foods). I agree that Walmart can be extremely unpleasant compared to a regular grocery store for many reasons. However, I’ve found Whole Foods staff to be extremely unwelcoming unless you seem like you fit in regardless of how much money you make. Can definitely recommen…

HEB Central Market has excellent cheeses.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#135

Post by mc32 »

ipaddr wrote: post #130
mc32 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Profit per dollar for grocery stores is about half of one cent for every dollar of revenue. Shrinkage eats into that profit very quickly. This is why Walgreens is closing stores in SF. They cannot survive with the rampant unprosecuted shoplifting in SF.

That profit margin sounds very off. Is there a reference you are using to determine that? For an average $200 bill the store makes 1 dollar?

Depends on the outfit, some are better than others, but this source[1] puts the ave at 2.2%. I knew an mgr at one of these and they told me 0.5% to 1%.

[1]https://smallbusiness.chron.com/profit-margin-supermarket-22...

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#136

Post by peteretep »

adrr wrote: post #95
edgyquant wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

#3 really irks me, because they don’t check everyone’s receipts. I was stopped and asked for a receipt two days ago for a gallon of milk I had in the cart because it “wasn’t in a bag” while other people walked past. I can understand e.g. when I buy a TV, but a gallon of milk is ridiculous and profiling.

Just say no. They won’t/can’t stop you. Costco has it in their membership agreement but stores that aren’t memberships; you didn’t agree to it and you have no obligation to show it. Worst case you get banned.

> Worst case you get banned

Worst case is they call the local PD who are having a bad day and want to point a gun at a black man

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#137

Post by MiddleEndian »

handrous wrote: post #12
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,…

Observations about the nearest Wal-Mart: 1) All the employees look sad, all he time. 2) They've obviously carefully tuned their check out staffing so that the lines are always long. This is such a constant that it has to be intentional, and they're doing a good job of it. 3) Sometimes they attempt to check receipts at exit. I don't get that at any other non-membership store. 4) All the shoppers look sad. 5) It's the…

>They've obviously carefully tuned their check out staffing so that the lines are always long. This is such a constant that it has to be intentional, and they're doing a good job of it.

Macy's has a similarly annoying policy. They deliberately keeping their cash registers unmanned, which they apparently tell their employees is to "avoid intimidating customers" so you have to stand around waiting or seek out an employee manually. I thought my local Macy's was simply understaffed, but since learning they do it on purpose I've decided never to go there again.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#138

Post by Spooky23 »

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 logistical operation is best in class for retail, but not so good for shipping.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#139

Post by alephnan »

_wp3r wrote: post #91
potta_coffee wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I pay more to avoid WalMart. I'm not even an elitist, I've just noticed in my area, the greeters are rude. After maybe 3 bad experiences in a row, I've decided to never go to WalMart ever again and it's been over a year since I've shopped there.

So to be clear you are not an elitist, but you don't shop at the lower cost store, because the greeter was having a bad day and was not nice enough to you and should have known what class you are and should have shown more reverence?.

> you don't shop at the lower cost store, because the greeter was having a bad day and was not nice enough to you

People at Wal-mart have a bad day all the time. It's about the customer service. I have less anxiety knowing that if I do run into problems in the store, the staff would be more approachable.

> what class you are and should have shown more reverence

I didn't read the original comment this way. It sounds like you are projecting a bit

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