Wal-Mart greeter jobs: get 'em before they're gone!

Nords

Nords

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I can't believe that I missed the press release, but Business Week summarized it in their "Obsolete Jobs Club" article:
The Obsolete Jobs Club - Businessweek

Yet news in late January that the world’s largest retailer has removed greeters from the overnight shift at its 3,800-plus U.S. stores—and is redefining the role of daytime greeters, too—evoked a reaction that borders on disbelief. Analyst David Strasser of Janney Montgomery Scott called the strategy “risky,” while editorial writers at the Chicago Sun-Times admitted that the move “bums us out.” Never mind that customers will likely be better served by having those workers stock shelves instead. For some, the idea that a 30-year tradition at America’s largest private employer might end is cause enough to mourn.
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It's also an interesting summary of other disappearing occupations... not always from tech or offshoring, either.
 
In my area, Walmart "greeters" have turned into "security agents" a long time ago. They don't hit you on the way in with a smile and a "welcome to Walmart", they hit you on the way out with a suspicious look and a "could you open your bag for me please".
 
Last week I went to my local Wal-Mart, and there was no greeter or anybody at all at the entrance. At the exit, there was a woman sitting on a chair and inspecting receipts. She didn't even look at mine. I think she was subconsciously profiling and figured a slow-walking, retired lady with a Wal-Mart bag full of sweatpants probably wasn't stealing them.
 
I have also found that Wal Mart greeters are now more belligerent and unfriendly than in the past. Rude as well. :mad:

Perhaps they were trained by TSA? Body pat downs coming your way soon.....
 
I agree with the post about the 'greeter'....

If there is someone there, they are just standing around.. if someone is bringing something in to exchange then they will put something on it, but otherwise I have not heard a hello or anything else out of them in a LONG time....


Speaking of jobs going away.... how many here remember getting into an elevator and there was someone there to push the button for you:confused:
 
Texas Proud said:
Speaking of jobs going away.... how many here remember getting into an elevator and there was someone there to push the button for you:confused:
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Only if you're a Congresscritter.
Nonessential Personnel :: The Future of Capitalism

An online job listing for an opening as a Capitol elevator operator from 2009 says the job pays between $14.19 and $16.55 an hour and includes "A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holiday; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc."
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My local Wallyworld has greeters, who don't greet, aren't able to point to where I might get a basket (instead of a cart), and usually don't check receipts, unless the alarm is triggered. Mostly, they just clog the doorway.

And, speaking of clogged, they revamped the store a few years ago to be a "Super" Wallyworld, with nice, wide aisles of well-organized merchandise. This lasted for a nanosecond, whereupon they filled all those wide aisles with kiosks full of crap...
 
depends a lot on which wal-mart you go to, ours are grumpy. I would HATE to work at wal-mart. I worked at sam's club in college and it was only marginally better.

at least the CEO 'cares'

Wal-Mart understands the recession, and CEO Bill Simon explains the impacts of the recession on the ‘average Joe’ perhaps better than anyone. With brutal honesty, he recently gave a presentation at a Goldman Sachs conference which sums up the challenges that the growing number of unemployed folks face today.

Here I quote directly from a recent article in the WSJ titled ‘Underwear Economics‘.

“The Wal-Mart customer is a bit of a microcosm of the U.S. economy… You need not go further than one of our stores on midnight at the end of the month… It’s real interesting to watch. About 11 p.m., customers start to come in and shop, fill their grocery basket with basic items, baby formula, milk, bread, eggs, and continue to shop and mill about the store until midnight, when…government electronic benefits cards get activated and then the checkout starts… The only reason somebody gets out in the middle of the night and buys baby formula is that they need it… We are open 24 hours…. If you are there at midnight, you are there for a reason.”
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Nords said:
It's also an interesting summary of other disappearing occupations... not always from tech or offshoring, either.
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But pretty much always from corporations going cheap, for one reason or another. Plus the more they can increase unemployment, the more leverage they have in freezing wages and slashing benefits even as their profits soar...
 
At one of the Walmarts here it is a good idea to go armed. If unarmed you run the risk of being mugged by roving bands of young people. And they are just the employees. The customers are worse. Did I mention that I hate Walmart?
 
Sam's Club has checked goods leaving the store against the receipt forever. They are pleasant, but it's still a nuisance. To me it says more about out society that this goes on than it does about the store.
 
tightasadrum said:
Sam's Club has checked goods leaving the store against the receipt forever. They are pleasant, but it's still a nuisance. To me it says more about out society that this goes on than it does about the store.
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The problem is that nothing is bagged.... so you can just walk on by and how could they tell the difference...

At the other stores, if you are walking out with your cart full of items not bagged, it is a giveaway that you did not pay...
 
Major Tom said:
Yes. I've had a good attitude with every job I've had - even the ones that were not so great. It makes the day go faster.
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+1 Since I'm lazy, I chose a good attitude because it takes more effort to have a bad attitude than a good attitude. :)
 
I've been going to Wal-mart once a week for years to get groceries. I almost always get greeted on my way in by a nice friendly greeter. Right now, the entrance I usualy use has a woman near 40 who is clearly mentally challenged but nice and friendly. The other door has an elderly man well into his 70's who is usually sitting down but still greets everyone he can with a nice smile. I've never seen anyone check the reciept and i've never heard the alarm go off.
 
Texas Proud said:
The problem is that nothing is bagged.... so you can just walk on by and how could they tell the difference...

At the other stores, if you are walking out with your cart full of items not bagged, it is a giveaway that you did not pay...
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Agree. Costco does the same thing for the same reason. The person at the exit scans the receipt and the items in your cart. Takes about 4 seconds. No big deal other than sometimes there is a short line.
 
The employees in our Wal-mart are mostly friendly. Some will lead you to the item you want. The cashiers don't seem as friendly, but then again it can't be easy standing for hours, especially for the very overweight cashiers.

The bag checker barely looks at us.

Amethyst
 
I rarely go to WalMart, but I don't remember seeing a greeter in the past few years at our local WM. Maybe it's been implemented in our burg...
 
FIREd said:
In my area, Walmart "greeters" have turned into "security agents" a long time ago. They don't hit you on the way in with a smile and a "welcome to Walmart", they hit you on the way out with a suspicious look and a "could you open your bag for me please".
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Yup. My experience too. In fact a run in with a "greeter" caused the new Target in my area to get all my business for the kinds of things I buy from those kind of stores. It didn't help that while he was on a razors edge of accusing me of stealing that the entrance smelled like a urinal. As for Sam's, two or three months after my wife passed away I went in to stock up on some stuff. The clerk checking me out told me my card was no good and I needed to go to customer service. They informed me that they had learned that the primary card holder was deceased and my card was invalid. It was very surreal and weird. Once I got my head in order I just left my basket there and left. Sorry I got so far off topic but both episodes still piss me off.
 
HFWR said:
My local Wallyworld has greeters, who don't greet, aren't able to point to where I might get a basket (instead of a cart), and usually don't check receipts, unless the alarm is triggered. Mostly, they just clog the doorway.

And, speaking of clogged, they revamped the store a few years ago to be a "Super" Wallyworld, with nice, wide aisles of well-organized merchandise. This lasted for a nanosecond, whereupon they filled all those wide aisles with kiosks full of crap...
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I agree with this take. WalMart made a big deal about the revamping of their stores with the wider aisles. Big writeups in the newspaper and ads on TV. Bulltickie! They were just making room for palletized goods that they can bring out with a dolly and just set it down. Eliminates stocking shelves. I was in there today and told DW, that's my last trip here. They were out of a lot of goods and they blame it on the vendors. From now on I'm taking my business to Publix where they treat people nicely. I'm sick of WalMart and their products from China.
 
JmfromTx said:
....As for Sam's, two or three months after my wife passed away I went in to stock up on some stuff. The clerk checking me out told me my card was no good and I needed to go to customer service. They informed me that they had learned that the primary card holder was deceased and my card was invalid. It was very surreal and weird. Once I got my head in order I just left my basket there and left. Sorry I got so far off topic but both episodes still piss me off.
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Worst story ever. I'm going to boycott Sams and Walmart too just because of this.
 
JmfromTx said:
....As for Sam's, two or three months after my wife passed away I went in to stock up on some stuff. The clerk checking me out told me my card was no good and I needed to go to customer service. They informed me that they had learned that the primary card holder was deceased and my card was invalid. It was very surreal and weird. Once I got my head in order I just left my basket there and left. Sorry I got so far off topic but both episodes still piss me off.
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Amazingly insensitive of them. Makes me want to puke. Sorry you had that experience.
 
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