Waiting in line at walmart! GRRRR
By nelly5
@nelly5 (1424)
United States
March 23, 2007 9:05pm CST
Okay can anyone tell me if they have this problem at their local walmart??? It never fails!! Every single time I go there, no matter what time of the day or what day of the week they will not have the appropriate number of lanes opened in order to ring up all customers in a timely manner. I just don't understand this b/c they have almost 30 lanes!! I went there tonight to go grocery shopping, which I love to do there b/c of the good prices, but geesh, I am not kidding you when I say this, I waited in line for at least 25 minutes!! They only had 6 lanes opened!! Now does that make sense to have 30 lanes with only 6 open on a Friday night!! Do any of you have a walmart that is ran the same way in your area??? I even wrote the President of Walmart about 2 months ago & have yet to hear back from him. If there are any of you who are tired of dealing with this, you can go to their customer service and they have forms that they can give you in which you can write your letter on to the President which already has the address on it. Hopefully if enough people write him something will be done about this problem. Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Have a great night!
6 people like this
31 responses
@tina07 (216)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I don't understand that either why even supermarkets do the same thing have about three lines open while all of them have people in the way when other try to get by to do their shopping it is like a big comotion when I do go to the store.
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
24 Mar 07
OH my gosh I know...isn't it so aggravating!! It really gets annoying when you have 4 kids with you and they are getting very impatient just along with you. But I can't help but to go there to save money..but wow, there has to be an answer to this. Thanks for posting.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
25 May 07
That seems to be the biggest complaint about the service at Walmart. I hate going to ours. The best time to go is about 10:00 at night.
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 May 07
Yes, it seems like this is a problem at many, many walmarts. I would think that with so many upset customers, walmart would want to fix this issue. I have a friend that has a good way of handling the issue of waiting in line forever at walmart. When she goes to walmart and sees that there are 3 lanes opened trying to wait on the 50 people waiting in line (okay maybe not 50, but you get the point..lol) she calls walmart from her cell phone. She put their number in her phone after the last time of waiting in line for an absurd amount of time. Anyhow she calls and ask to speak to the manager, she asks, is there any reason why you have 3 lanes opened with 50(again not this number...lol) people standing out here waiting to go through the line. The manager said to her, that he wasn't aware that there were only 3 lanes opened and he would take care of it right away, and he came out and opened a lane himself. I thought that was all good and great of him, but I was wondering how it is that the manager doesn't realize that you only have 3 lanes opened on a friday night! Crazy, anyhow, thanks for the post. Have a great day. =)
@steffylikewoah (1762)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Oh that's exactly how our walmart is. Oh but you're gonna love this one. Our walmart just made those nifty self checkouts. Yeah.. they've only been open the first day. I know, I go there every day (sad I know hahaha). How pathetic is that!
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
I wish they would at least allow our walmart to have some of those self help lanes..but then again..would that really help? Because they would probably only have 3 normal lanes open if they had 2 self help lanes open. So I guess it wouldn't matter if they were self help or not...it is the large number of people waiting in line that is causing the problem....just open some more freaking lanes...geesh.. Thanks for the post.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
25 Mar 07
If it were not for their low prices, I would never go to WalMart. I hate the store. It is mobbed, dirty, and nobody speaks English. Anytime you need help, they say, "Sorry, no understand." The lines are so long, and you are right, no lanes. I have gone to customer service, and nothing changes.
1 person likes this
@tiff1496 (570)
• United States
25 Mar 07
That's the main reason I don't go to walmart!
They have like 30 lanes and 5 open. And don't even think about going around the first of the month (we live kinda far out, the one closest to us is very low income people.
If you have a Target around you, they are much better.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
26 Mar 07
it happens in a local supermarket here, not walmart. i think even if this irritates their customers, you will still fall in line and wait for your turn, thus they do cost cutting. whatever time, day of the week it is i think this has been a practice already. i have already lived with this kind of situation. i just go to supermarkets early afternoon, not after wok so there will be lesser people.
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
26 Mar 07
Well with the local walmart here in the town I live in it doesn't matter if I go early afternoon, it is a long wait all the time. That is why it is so aggravating. I have even been there at 1 in the morning and you still have to wait in line for a long time. It is just crazy to run a business in this manner. Thanks for the post.
@lynninky (491)
• United States
24 Mar 07
It is the same here at my local Wal Mart store #1505.. A Lot of people have started shoping after 10.00 pm. I shoped for years at that time but now to many people are doing the same late later night shopping. Only the line 19 is open at that time until morning. Yes the cig. line... Now a long wait too. It is a shame . They have all them people working but only three people checking us out. If you look around they do have other cashers there but they are on the floor zoning. Picking things up is more inportant i guess.
Well I wonder now much longer Wal Mart will stay open. Since the sons have passed away. Now the cousin has took over he has closed the lay away down. Now they say he is planning on closing the the craft dept down as well. I see a lot of change now that he as taken over. Looks like it is just a matter of time before we say goodbye to our Wal Marts. It seems the ones before him could make the companies work with all the depts. but he tells that those depts have to close for Wal Mart to make a profit..To pull it out of the red.. I think he just wants more money for himself.. but that is just me.
1 person likes this
@jbrowsin66 (1321)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Yes, why is it that they build 30 lanes into the store and you never see them all active at once, even in peak shopping hours or weekends. I know if I saw a big line I wouldn't even bother to shop there when I'm in hurry, plus all your frozen stuff is melting. It's a simple matter to compare minimum wage checkers with the amount of merchandise being bought when more lines are open. More people would shop there if they could get thru faster. Does the management want you to see people lined up to buy their products? Maybe!
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Hummm, that is a good thought. Is that a ploy to make people think..."wow, all these people are waiting in line here for these great prices and products..maybe these things really are worth it" I have never thought of it like this..but good thought. Thanks for the post. But their plan still doesn't make me happy..lol
@songbirdnaimh (1422)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I don't even go to Walmart anymore....I use Target exclusively...
1 person likes this
@kurtbiewald (2625)
• United States
24 Mar 07
hmmmmmmm
maybe half the employees had just quit that night
things are cheap at Walmart, so can't pay the employees much, so they can't have too many lanes open.
Just relax, check out the cute people in line. Or observe human nature awhile. Life takes time, Just relax.
Maybe if it really bothers you, study queing theory(the study of that very thing) and become a consultant
Maybe start some competition for Walmart if you know whats better.
Otherwise relax and lighten up, the pres of Walmart didn't get your letter, at least the heirs at Walmart don't care (they have like 20 BILLION EACH I think), you waiting costs YOU $6 maybe, they don't care, if it was their $6 maybe they might
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Well I am positive that 1/2 the employees didn't quit that night, if that were the case, then all the employees would be gone b/c it happens all the time. I have taken the time to "people watch" and just observe things..but when you have 3 children waiting with you, it is sometimes tense. I wish I could start some competition for walmart..maybe I can get more people to start shopping at the local kmart more often and only go into walmart when we absolutely have to. & I agree with you, I am sure the heirs at Walmart don't care about my letter..but it made me feel better to write it. I will most likely write another after reading all these post and after my last trip. Thanks for the post.
@houdini16409 (192)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I agree. Ilike Walmart for the prices but the customer service is horrible. Personally, I don't think that anything will ever be done with there problems. I think that they do not have a good screening process when they do their hiring. Anyone can get hired. That is why they have so many bad employees.
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
I have to say I disagree with that. I have not had a problem with many of the employees. I believe that the issue starts out with management not scheduling enough people in order to keep lanes open. But from the sounds of it, I am lucky that the employees are not rude at my local walmart as they are at others. Thanks for the post.
@jenseyedea (579)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Yes I think that is so typical of WalMart! Since we go to the same walmart I know exactly what your saying. But I know it is not just this one, because I have been to so many others. They should employ enough people to makes sure that customers arent waiting in lines, especially on weekends. :)
1 person likes this
@fay511 (43)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Hi, I too find the walmart in my area is the same. I end up using the handicap cart even when I only go in for two items right near the front of the store! If there were enough registers for me to walk in, get what I wanted & be back in my car within 5 minutes I could this without using the cart, but I have a herniated disk and after 5 minutes my legs collapse out from underneath me. Needless to say I don't dare take the chance because they never have enough registers open! I too submitted a form saying they needed to open more registers, no response either. Maybe if enough of us get together we can get it to happen?
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Yes I am really hoping that with enough people..something will be done. I am planning on picking up another form from walmart tomorrow and sending it also. I will keep writing until I get a response. I am also going to rally my family and friends and encourage them to write...good luck with your local walmart. Thanks for the post.
@pattyhood (10)
• United States
25 Mar 07
It's the WalMart way. I worked for WalMart for 14 years and I have never seen enough cashiers the whole time I was there. I usually don't buy a whole lot at one time so I just zip thru the selfcheckers and do it myself. WalMart is now doing the associates schedules via the home office so they are suppose to be scheduling the cashiers around the busiest time of the day. So maybe WalMart has a fix for this problem, only time will tell.
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Well from the looks of it, it seems obvious to me that walmart doesn't care about our time..all to save them some money. I do feel sorry for the cashiers who are working though b/c I know that some of are grouchy and really worked up by the time it is our turn to ring up and pay for our goods. I know it isn't the cashiers fault..but geesh, by the time I get up there..the kids are anxious to get out of there and so am I....grrr..lol Thanks for the post.
@Riptide (2756)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Yes I have the same problem with the Walmart here. My husband and me even went shopping there once 3 in the morning to beat the crowd and still stood in line forever.
One time we got so frustrated we just left the shopping cart there and walked out.
We have now taken to shopping at local supermarkets, where the service is better and friendlier, even if it means spending a little more.
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
That is exactly what I told my kids I was about to do during my last shopping trip to walmart. They all 3 said, no mom, lets not do that we have already waited this long, we might as well just go ahead and get our groceries here...lol So I stayed, but I can guarentee that if I have to wait that long again..I will leave the cart and go somewhere else. Thanks for the post.
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
I agree with you totally! I would say that yes it is certainly poor management. I believe that is where the issue starts. I don't understand how so many walmarts can be this way and no one is doing anything about it. It was weird though, how our local walmart wasn't this bad until it became a super walmart. Thanks for the post.
@clary21 (54)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Oh, I have even a worse story about Walmart. We used to take our film there. I was really mad when we got some strangers photos back. They said they were sorry and made it right by deleloping our negatives for us. I decided to give them another chance. I took 2 more rolls of film to them, and they lost them. It has been about 2 years, and they never did find them. I called the president and everything with no satisfaction! I told Walmart I would never use them for my photo service again. I have 2 digital cameras now and do my own developing on my computer. I hate the service I get at that store because the management is terrible!! I only go there for something I can get myself, and I usually go to the self check out if it is open.
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Wow, I also have never had that problem happen to me. That would really make me upset, I would be very very upset especially if the pictures were from a once in a lifetime event, such as the birth of a child, wedding or graduation. That would be terrible. I can't believe all the stories I have been hearing from people about how walmart treats its customers. Thanks for the post.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Its all part of keeping the overhead down to keep the prices low. If only they could get little kids to run the checkouts too
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Well I believe that walmart makes enough money that they could afford to have more cashiers working. Sometime it is just insane to go in there and see 10 to 15 people waiting in line...and yet there is 25 lanes closed...grrr..that is so aggravating. Thanks for the post.
@Suze05 (480)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Once in a while we have that problem at the Walmarts here..but usually the wait isn't too long and they have enough lanes open. They have the self checkout lanes too, and theres rarely a wait for those, but I hate those lanes. I get so frustrated trying to use them, so if I have more than 2 or 3 items I avoid those. I think its a combination of things that cause the problem, partly they can't get enough people to work, and partly they don't want to schedule enough people to open a lot of lanes, because then they have to pay more money in overhead. I hope by complaining to the President you can maybe get something done. :O))
1 person likes this
