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Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

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Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#211

Post by cbozeman »

xwdv wrote: post #101
handrous wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I guarantee that if Amazon was a physical retail location it would look exactly the same.

It would look worse.

I'm currently working on robotics deployment for several new Amazon warehouses and I hate having to visit the already operating ones - everyone looks like they would jump out of the window like the people at Foxconn, except they don't because they know the fall wouldn't kill them.

Amazon is truly staffed with geniuses at the upper echelons... keep the peasants who make the whole operation work away from the customers, that way the customers can always feel good about buying from Amazon. Walmart doesn't have that luxury, what with it's enormous physical presence and all.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#212

Post by turtlebits »

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…

The Walmart in-store pickup/returns experience is horrible. Long lines, employees are slow and unorganized. Several times I've gone to pick up an order and waited an addition 10+ minutes to have someone bring the item to the front of the store.

I would say the only thing that makes them competitive is their price.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#213

Post by cbozeman »

bigwavedave wrote: post #171
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,…

> The issues I see are: [snip] Working class shoppers. Sure, it’s elitist, but people like shopping alongside people in their own stratum. When I was very young, I liked talking to my dad about possible business ideas and how to make millions of dollars so I could buy a castle for our family to live in when I grew up (yeah, yeah, I was a kid). One evening, after proposing yet another crazy idea (I can't for the life…

Sounds like it's a bug for him, because he doesn't want the filthy commoners making a mess of the place.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#214

Post by dimmke »

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…

This is really the problem with everything Walmart has done wrt eCommerce/online pickup IMO - It's like all the pieces are there, but they can't bring them all together.

I've hit their website from Google looking for an item, and the lead time to ship is 2+ weeks and it's highlighted that it's sourced from a partner.

Putting aside the obvious - it's just a worse deal. For most items, they're competing with 1-2 days, a product page packed with verified reviews to help decision making, a company with top notch customer support/return policies and the price is usually the same or cheaper, there's other issues at play too.

It's subtle psychological cues. First, the way they highlight that it's from their partner almost makes it seem like they're doing dropshipping, they don't actually know if it's in stock and I can order and they will put a hold on my credit card. Maybe I'll get it in 2 weeks. Maybe a month. Maybe the order will eventually be cancelled or I will go through a nightmare dealing with their support or having to do a chargeback.

I'm not going through all of that stuff in my head, it's just my mind in the background doing pattern matching with other bad experiences I've had shopping online.

I understand it takes time and truckloads of money to get something even close to what Amazon has, but it also requires good leadership at the executive level.

The one area that Walmart could absolutely crush Amazon in would be picking up your order online, same day. Walmart should be able to leverage all their experience with brick and mortar to do this.

Instead, they're flagging behind Target. Their solution is pretty middle of the road, all the big retailers have something similar.

Amazon bought Whole Foods, so they have a footprint, just like Walmart has an online store. Based on how these companies have executed which do you think happens first? Amazon nails in person pickup or Walmart nails online shopping.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#215

Post by LegitShady »

leetrout wrote: post #128
pessimizer wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're all terrible; as a customer I actually love the way they abuse their vendors - Walmart is not going to be happy a lot of returns on your product, they'll just find another vendor. It's like the anti-Amazon, everything I buy from Walmart works well. If both Amazon and Walmart are slime, I'm going to Walmart.

They are anti consumer on returns lately. I bought a Keurig that broke on the 3rd day and they wouldn’t take it back because I bought the extra warranty they sell on them. Warranty company wouldn’t do anything because it was within the store refund timeframe. I’ve not had that problem with Amazon.

>I bought a Keurig that broke on the 3rd day and they wouldn’t take it back because I bought the extra warranty they sell on them.

They wouldn't take something back within the return period because you bought an extra warranty? What am I missing here? How did they justify it?

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#216

Post by nitrogen »

Jakobeha wrote: post #160
nitrogen wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That probably comes down to location and competence+availability of staff. I've had basically equal results from the three different grocery stores I've ordered from in my current location, one of which is Walmart, one is a Kroger subsidiary, and one is a local higher-end chain. But when I was in SF, I had terrible results with Instacart, and resorted to shopping in person.

Honestly I still wish I could shop in person, it's just too far :) Not trying to be rude but maybe you didn't tip enough? The default tip is 5% but I usually do ~20%.

I usually tipped delivery services 15-20%, more if it was raining, but shouldn't tips be hidden and only given in aggregate? Also I wish a fair wage was just baked into the price and tipping went away.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#217

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

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…

I'd just like them to observe Walton's imposed limit of no more than two customers in line. I'm getting really fed up with retailers that won't staff their registers. And no, self checkout is a slap in the face where you exit the store as a presumed criminal after providing free labor. It's like they want me to buy from Amazon.

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#218

Post by raverbashing »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #217
Spooky23 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I'd just like them to observe Walton's imposed limit of no more than two customers in line. I'm getting really fed up with retailers that won't staff their registers. And no, self checkout is a slap in the face where you exit the store as a presumed criminal after providing free labor. It's like they want me to buy from Amazon.

Self-checkout? Best invention of the 2000's

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#219

Post by jldugger »

mc32 wrote: post #119
late2part wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes! I remember my first time at Whole Foods I asked where to find the Coca Cola and they were very rude about not carrying it.

Forget a Coke (never mind they have other non-alc fizzy drinks) The don’t carry Aspirin (or Advil or Tylenol, but whatever, but Aspirin, WTF?!

> The don’t carry Aspirin

Maybe if some branded it as 'willow leaf pain relief' they'd carry it. It's natural and it rhymes!

Re: Leaked Walmart memo reveals competitive threats

#220

Post by Scoundreller »

xwdv wrote: post #101
handrous wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I guarantee that if Amazon was a physical retail location it would look exactly the same.

Probably worse. Paint is such a frill. As is lighting when you’re not in an aisle. And when you are, why not light upward from below? Cheaper to change the bulbs then.
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