In-Store announcements

[downhillsailor]

I have come out of retirement; going back to work at Walmart. There is a huge number of announcements and requests over the P.A. system. I would think there would be a less irritating way for all that communication. Is there some ulterior motive like increasing sales?

[Ludovic]

That might be just at your Wal-Mart, or you notice them more because you're listening for them. I personally don't hear the content of Wal-Mart PA announcements (maybe I've successfully tuned them out.)

Now, loud and unavoidable television ads in the checkouts are another story. I will actually leave a store without purchasing anything if I'm forced to stand next to one of those.

[tadtooornamental]

It must just be your store. I work at Walmart, and the only time PA announcements are made, it's for customers. Meet your party here, come to TLE to get your car, etc. The rest of the time there is music playing. It actually became corporate policy a few years ago- all associates were given walkie talkies to communicate to cut down on pages.

[Student Driver]

Originally Posted by tadtooornamental

It must just be your store. I work at Walmart, and the only time PA announcements are made, it's for customers. Meet your party here, come to TLE to get your car, etc. The rest of the time there is music playing. It actually became corporate policy a few years ago- all associates were given walkie talkies to communicate to cut down on pages.

I work for Walmart as well, and in every store I've been in, the only people with walkies are members of management and the central phone operator. Normal associates don't get walkies. In addition to pages for customers, PA announcements are made for associates (usually along the lines of "Jim in housewares, dial #170") and "code" pages; while the amount of pages have decreased since the policy change a few years ago, it's still a hefty amount, and definitely not limited to those for customers.

[Flyer]

Originally Posted by tadtooornamental

It must just be your store. I work at Walmart, and the only time PA announcements are made, it's for customers. Meet your party here, come to TLE to get your car, etc. The rest of the time there is music playing. It actually became corporate policy a few years ago- all associates were given walkie talkies to communicate to cut down on pages.

You must have somehow misunderstood something, or else your store is extremely small. I used to work at Walmart, too, and the average store has several HUNDRED employees. There is absolutely no way on earth that management is going to buy that many radios per store.

[Smapti]

As an employee of one of Wal-Mart's major competitors in this region, I can say that walkie-talkies are very expensive (several hundred dollars apiece) and the only people in our store who have them are management and grocery clerks.

[tadtooornamental]

Originally Posted by Flyer

You must have somehow misunderstood something, or else your store is extremely small. I used to work at Walmart, too, and the average store has several HUNDRED employees. There is absolutely no way on earth that management is going to buy that many radios per store.

Well, I CURRENTLY work there, so I probably have a better idea than you do There are approximately 300 people employed by the store, and 3 shifts, so no more than 100 people punched in at a time (and I think that's being generous). We own, as a store, 56 walkies. They don't belong to one person, they are to be checked in and out through one of the offices on a daily basis. There are enough for at least one per department, plus management, customer service, door greeters, etc. Not EVERYONE carries one all the time, but there is someone close enough that they can convey a message to someone without one. Yes, they're expensive, but customer research shows that shoppers prefer a store without PAs going off all of the time, so it's a worthwhile investment. It was a corporate roll out, not just local, not just small stores, about 4 years ago. I've not been in a Walmart since where the majority of workers did not carry a walkie.

[Dano83860]

Originally Posted by tadtooornamental

Well, I CURRENTLY work there, so I probably have a better idea than you do There are approximately 300 people employed by the store, and 3 shifts, so no more than 100 people punched in at a time (and I think that's being generous). We own, as a store, 56 walkies. They don't belong to one person, they are to be checked in and out through one of the offices on a daily basis. There are enough for at least one per department, plus management, customer service, door greeters, etc. Not EVERYONE carries one all the time, but there is someone close enough that they can convey a message to someone without one. Yes, they're expensive, but customer research shows that shoppers prefer a store without PAs going off all of the time, so it's a worthwhile investment. It was a corporate roll out, not just local, not just small stores, about 4 years ago. I've not been in a Walmart since where the majority of workers did not carry a walkie.

This is the attitude that keeps me out of Wal Mart. Try to express an idea that differs form theirs and they get all pissy. I walked out last week and drove thirty miles to a different store because I had a different opinion that the ASSociate. This would have gotten me fired when I worked at KMart in college.

[Ludovic]

But the problem with K-Mart is finding an associate that will talk to you in the first place

[tadtooornamental]

I'm sorry that you had a negative experience in the store you went to, Dano. I don't believe I got "pissy" at all. Someone tried to tell me that I was wrong because they used to work there. I laid out how the store I currently work in, and all those others in my market (about 15) that I have visited, and they are all contrary to the way it used to be. How is that a bad attitude?

[Dano83860]

Originally Posted by tadtooornamental

I'm sorry that you had a negative experience in the store you went to, Dano. I don't believe I got "pissy" at all. Someone tried to tell me that I was wrong because they used to work there. I laid out how the store I currently work in, and all those others in my market (about 15) that I have visited, and they are all contrary to the way it used to be. How is that a bad attitude?

Your first sentence was unnecessary and only served to imply superiority. You could have made the same points without it.

[Dano83860]

Originally Posted by Ludovic

But the problem with K-Mart is finding an associate that will talk to you in the first place

A bigger challenge is to find a store. In the early 70s I went from a local jr college to state and I had my pick of stores to transfer to.

[downhillsailor]

My question was trying to find out if all those announcements somehow increased sales, or if the announcements are just the cheapest way to communicate.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by Dano83860

Your first sentence was unnecessary and only served to imply superiority. You could have made the same points without it.

No, it wasn't. It was 100% necessary, since it was combating someone who claimed that they knew it all because they used to work at Walmart.

Honestly, I think your dislike of Walmart has negatively colored your perception of someone who works there. Especially since they weren't expressing an opinion, so your complaint was as non sequitor.

[NotherYinzer]

Originally Posted by Flyer

You must have somehow misunderstood something, or else your store is extremely small. I used to work at Walmart, too, and the average store has several HUNDRED employees. There is absolutely no way on earth that management is going to buy that many radios per store.

Why not? I know a place they can get them cheap!

I used to work at a Wal Mart where the girl on paging duty pronounced all her "S's" as "Sh's." It drove me up the wall. I used to shop at a retail store that had chimes instead of paging everyone. I liked hearing "ding, ding, ding" a lot better than all the chatter you get at WM. Sadly, their system never caught on and that store is now gone.

[Dano83860]

Originally Posted by BigT

No, it wasn't. It was 100% necessary, since it was combating someone who claimed that they knew it all because they used to work at Walmart.

Honestly, I think your dislike of Walmart has negatively colored your perception of someone who works there. Especially since they weren't expressing an opinion, so your complaint was as non sequitor.

I have nothing against the company. I made very good money betting on Sam in the 80s and early 90s.

I guess as I get older I have less of a need to be "combative". I'm more likely to turn around and walk off. Retailers need to keep in mind that I'm not just taking $60.00 of groceries with me. I'm the guy who gets to decide where we buy the $1,000 TV or the $800 iPad.