Walmart Tales and Woes

[Koolau]

Good to hear some stores care about the shoplifting, and even (gasp) call the cops. I heard that anything under $900 per theft incident was supposed to be allowed. Maybe only in some states.

Yeah, I'm afraid to comment on such things specifically. Lots of people giving up on certain cities and leaving in the few available U-hauls.

 

[Koolau]

But, back to Walmart. I always look forward to going to Walmart in my home town during our sabbatical to the midwest. They're "busy" but not crowded (I'm always there in summer - never around Christmas.)

Back home in Paradise, all our Walmarts are always busy and always have lines at the checkout. I try to keep track of pay-day Friday (every 2nd Friday here) and avoid shopping on that day.

On the mainland, "busy" means parking 100 feet from the door instead of in Paradise, waiting on the street just to get into the parking structure.

But, with all its faults, most people are thankful for Walmart here in the Islands.

 

[Walt34]

Good to hear some stores care about the shoplifting, and even (gasp) call the cops. I heard that anything under $900 per theft incident was supposed to be allowed. Maybe only in some states.

State laws differ wildly in what dollar amount of theft constitutes a felony vs. a misdemeanor. And then store policies differ on what amount they will prosecute. It's expensive for the store to do that since it entails sending an employee to spend a lot of time sitting in court, many times on multiple occasions for the same case when they are repeatedly continued. I don't blame them for giving up on it.

And while judges frequently order restitution that rarely happens.

 

[Koolau]

Oh, recent story here in Honolulu. We just had a Walmart closure in the middle of downtown (Fort St. Mall, not Waikiki.)

There were lots of protests by folks who depended upon it, not the least of which were homeless who liked the bathrooms. As mentioned in the attached article, Walmart did not state a specific reason for abandoning the site (My comment: It wasn't because it didn't have a lot of customers.)

https://www.kitv.com/news/business/...town,pharmacy will also close on the same day.

 

[sroby2020]

carts lock up inside store

Grocery stores now often have grocery carts with signs on them telling you that the wheels will lock up if you try to leave the parking lot with them.

I regularly see the carts lock up inside the store (Kroger). An employee has to unlock it with a handheld transmitter. Apparently there are still bugs in the system.

 

[Koolau]

There is a market for anything that isn't nailed down. Grocery stores now often have grocery carts with signs on them telling you that the wheels will lock up if you try to leave the parking lot with them. That has to add a couple hundred to the price of each cart, which weren't exactly cheap to start with.

And ever notice that all those photos/videos of homeless people have grocery carts and totes with them?

I regularly see the carts lock up inside the store (Kroger). An employee has to unlock it with a handheld transmitter. Apparently there are still bugs in the system.

Our Walmart "central" on Keeaumoku St. has had this feature for some time. If they did not, there would be NO carts left. The CVS (we call it Longs) in downtown has almost no carts as almost all have been taken. By the way, regarding Walt's suggestion that there is a "market" for stolen carts. Most stollen carts are used as rolling storage units in these parts. If they are sold, it is for one substance or another. YMMV

 

[jazz4cash]

Oh, recent story here in Honolulu. We just had a Walmart closure in the middle of downtown (Fort St. Mall, not Waikiki.)



There were lots of protests by folks who depended upon it, not the least of which were homeless who liked the bathrooms. As mentioned in the attached article, Walmart did not state a specific reason for abandoning the site (My comment: It wasn't because it didn't have a lot of customers.)



https://www.kitv.com/news/business/...town,pharmacy will also close on the same day.

Same here in DC. I think they only say “poor performance” but that is likely a combination of theft and extremely poor management. This one is located in a rapidly gentrifying area so I’m surprised they didn’t just hang on. They don’t have a good formula for these HCOL urban locations. They need multi floor footprint with $hopping cart e$calator$.

https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/loca...rt-closing-store-on-h-street-in-northwest-dc/

 

[W2R]

I haven't been to a Wal-mart in a very long time, maybe 5, 10, 20 years? I dunno. It's not that I object to their existence as a matter of principle or something like that; TBH it's just that going there is a giant pain in the neck, so I don't do that.

I have a pretty good idea of what sorts of things they sell, and can purchase what I need at their website, from the comfort and pleasure of my own home. No need to fight the traffic, parking, crowds, and so on. So that's what I do.

 

[folivier]

So these carts that lock up the wheels are different than the ones with the one wheel that won't roll? You know the one my DW always picks?

 

[Chuckanut]

This is not quite a tale of Walmart Woe.

According to today’s WSJ. Walmart will be offering Walmart+ at half price to an assorted group of people that includes people receiving SS benefits.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmar...-for-snap-social-security-recipients-7854bce1

“ The move could put the membership within reach of over 41 million Americans who received government assistance for food in 2022, Walmart said. Eligible government programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid and Social Security. ”

Details to come.

 

[Sue J]

This is not quite a tale of Walmart Woe.

According to today’s WSJ. Walmart will be offering Walmart+ at half price to an assorted group of people that includes people receiving SS benefits.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmar...-for-snap-social-security-recipients-7854bce1

“ The move could put the membership within reach of over 41 million Americans who received government assistance for food in 2022, Walmart said. Eligible government programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid and Social Security. ”

Details to come.

I don’t pay for WSJ, but I found the info for Walmart+ Assist. It includes SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients but not Social Security. Two different programs.

Walmart Launches Walmart+ Assist: Half Price Memberships for Those on Government Assistance
https://corporate.walmart.com/newsr...emberships-for-those-on-government-assistance

Details of the program
https://www.walmart.com/plus/assist

 

[frank]

I don’t pay for WSJ, but I found the info for Walmart+ Assist. It includes SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients but not Social Security. Two different programs.

Walmart Launches Walmart+ Assist: Half Price Memberships for Those on Government Assistance
https://corporate.walmart.com/newsr...emberships-for-those-on-government-assistance

Details of the program
https://www.walmart.com/plus/assist

too bad social security didn't make you eligible. I don't know what walmart+ does anyway except give you free delivery and they have a little note on their site on how much to tip the drivers. As far as pickup you can do that without the membership. I pick up a few things there and at other grocers. I enjoy the quarter mile hike to, through, and back to my car. I know the big stores aren't everyones favorite, but I tend to get a little excercise while shopping for groceries.

 

[Koolau]

I don’t pay for WSJ, but I found the info for Walmart+ Assist. It includes SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients but not Social Security. Two different programs.

Walmart Launches Walmart+ Assist: Half Price Memberships for Those on Government Assistance
https://corporate.walmart.com/newsr...emberships-for-those-on-government-assistance

Details of the program
https://www.walmart.com/plus/assist

I probably wouldn't do it if it were free. Just me, I guess. I like to go to a store, occasionally, and then pick out what I want/need. Ordering for delivery would actually add stress to my life right now for some reasons. Example: I recently switched to a mail-order pharmacy. I've spent hours on the phone getting things set up right (I hope) and when I go back home to the Islands, I'll have to undo/redo everything. THEN, I am concerned about my meds actually being delivered to the right place and left on the porch. Almost easier to drive to our local pharmacy and do all the business and pick up. BUT, mail order is saving me a whole bunch of money, so... YMMV

 

[Sue J]

I had a free Walmart+ membership for a few months. I think it was a perk from our T-Mobile plan.

I never used the free delivery or free shipping and I may have watched something on Paramount once. The part I did use was the Scan and Go in the stores. I liked being able to scan items on my phone as I shopped and then scan a QR code at the checkout to pay. It was easy and saved scanning everything at the checkout.

But would I pay to do this? No.

 

[Chuckanut]

Apparently, the discount is for people on Supplemental Social Security, not regulars like most of us.

 

[Koolau]

Apparently, the discount is for people on Supplemental Social Security, not regulars like most of us.

Not to be too cynical, but why is Walmart being so "nice" to these particular people? Is it for good PR? Is it that it expands their customer base? Being nice is a good thing, but most big companies do things (nice or not) to make more money. I'm trying to figure out how they make any extra money. Probably a rhetorical questions, right?

 

[jim584672]

People on SSI are not going to spend $50 for this. SSI is like dirt poor.

I researched a bit looks like more than SSI.

"Walmart+ Assist is similar in terms of its support, as its FAQ notes the eligible programs include SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, TTANF, NSLP and LIHEAP."

 

[CaptTom]

It's a way to increase revenue. It's like coupons. First sell a product at a higher price to all those who are willing to pay it. When you run out of them, offer the same product for less to those who aren't willing to pay full price. As long as they're still paying more than your marginal cost for making those extra products, you make more profit.

 

[RetMD21]

too bad social security didn't make you eligible. I don't know what walmart+ does anyway except give you free delivery and they have a little note on their site on how much to tip the drivers. As far as pickup you can do that without the membership...........

I like the pickup. Free unless you have a very small order. Nice employees, no tip, and no need to deal with the customers