Walmart deli staff attitudes

C

caroln

Senior Member
Location
Kentucky
I don't know if it's just me or maybe just my store, but I constantly have to deal with rude, curt employees behind the deli counter. No smile, no hello, even when I say it to them, no thank you either. All I got today was "what can I get you" and "anything else?" She didn't even look at me, just threw the package on the counter and left. Didn't even ask how I wanted it sliced. I had to offer the info before she disappeared to the slicing machines.

I would chalk it up to a disgruntled employee having a bad day, but it happens all the time. My visit prior to this one, they wouldn't even wait on me because it was 10 minutes before the deli counter opened. The store is open 24 hours but for some reason (short staffed, maybe?) the deli doesn't open until 10am. I was unaware of that and stood there until one of the staff looked at me and said "we aren't open yet" and went back to his conversation with someone. So much for getting shopping done early.

Maybe shopping on line for non-perishable items is what I should do, and limit my Walmart store shopping altogether. Complaints to Walmart are useless. They could care less, and if the attitude of their employees is any indication, customer service is a thing of the past. Maybe when they get robots to replace employees, they'll be programmed to be more polite and courteous.
 

Walmart used to give all their employees 2 weeks of training classes that taught the store layout...where everything goes in each department...store policies, customer service, what's in the back rooms, labor laws; everything, with lots of emphasis on customer service.

Walmart founder Sam Walton's sons took over until one of them died in the mid-2000s. After that, the family sold everything off. The retail corporation that bought Walmart culled the business to cut costs and eliminated the training classes a few years after they took over.
 
"The retail corporation that bought Walmart culled the business to cut costs and eliminated the training classes a few years after they took over."

And it shows!
 

caroln said:
I don't know if it's just me or maybe just my store, but I constantly have to deal with rude, curt employees behind the deli counter. No smile, no hello, even when I say it to them, no thank you either. All I got today was "what can I get you" and "anything else?" She didn't even look at me, just threw the package on the counter and left. Didn't even ask how I wanted it sliced. I had to offer the info before she disappeared to the slicing machines.

I would chalk it up to a disgruntled employee having a bad day, but it happens all the time. My visit prior to this one, they wouldn't even wait on me because it was 10 minutes before the deli counter opened. The store is open 24 hours but for some reason (short staffed, maybe?) the deli doesn't open until 10am. I was unaware of that and stood there until one of the staff looked at me and said "we aren't open yet" and went back to his conversation with someone. So much for getting shopping done early.

Maybe shopping on line for non-perishable items is what I should do, and limit my Walmart store shopping altogether. Complaints to Walmart are useless. They could care less, and if the attitude of their employees is any indication, customer service is a thing of the past. Maybe when they get robots to replace employees, they'll be programmed to be more polite and courteous.
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You have to keep in mind these people are generally working short handed. And depending on what previous customers were like might be why they have attitudes. I'm not saying it's an excuse but it is difficult to be kind to people who cuss at you and treat you like dirt for stuff that's not your fault. You can't control the food prices. You're just there to cook it and serve it at minimum wage.

You're lucky if you get your breaks. Bosses always raggin about something. Customer service is a difficult industry to be in. It takes years of self control and learning to be able to handle it like a pro. And I don't think today's kids have the social skills to handle a customer service job to begin with.

How can you learn to greet people when you're on a smart phone texting all day? You get zero social skills from online communication.
 
Happens most everywhere to a degree.
I think it has more to do with the employee than the store.
To some it's just a job. Clock in and clock out, that's it. Do minimum required and nothing more.
They feel they aren't there to improve your day or bolster good customer service. Their being there has nothing to do with you.
I've been in some places all over town where I should feel privileged to interrupt an employee's day, just to be allowed to make a purchase.
 
Now for the other side of the situation. My Wife and I are fortunate in that we live a 5 minute walk from one of the main streets here in Toronto, which is St Clair Avenue. Within a 4 block area, we have at least a dozen local food shops to choose from. Our favorite bakery is Tre Marie, owned by 3 brothers, which is in it's 56th year of being in business. For meat we go to Valencia Meats, which is next door to Tre Marie. For fruit and vegetables, it's Wongs, across the street from Tre Marie. For haircuts for me its Fast Fades, and for my Wife its Belair Beauty Shop. Both hair shops are owned by local residents.

Being greeted by name, and having a short conversation with the store staff is just one reason why we live where we do. Our Canada Post guy has been delivering our mail for 18 years now. The staff at the Sunnyside Diner are friends of ours, as well as serving us our meals when we go there on foot. Our Dentist has been treating both of us for over 20 years, same thing for our eye guy. Both are located 3 blocks from our house. Our pharmacy is Shopper's Drug Mart, and the pharmacy owner knows us by name, as we have been customers for over 20 years.

We do shop at Loblaw's for some items that the local stores don't carry, but even there the customer service is pretty good.

JimB.
 
The reality is simple some people think job is beneath them so they are surly and curt instead of realizing they sold their time and should act like the employer wants them to. Honestly short staff has always been an issue but since the pandemic we have given far too many a pass on this and used for everything. we just buy into excuses more.
managers should be told .... some just accept that is how it is ... and you get more of the same.

I went to a Safeway on Wednesday the milk area was empty and i mean empty they put a sign up about a shortage etc ...
i called stores other locations and inquired ... "nope ... all had stock" .... comes out of same distribution system so i called the "shortage " store manager told them " his employee either did not understand their computer aided ordering system or was lazy about figuring of his #s were off to adjust as no other location was OUT ......so how did a shortage ONLY hit his store?......." to throw a lie up as an excuse was not acceptable and the distribution office was notified" .... i told him i would swing in to see if sign was still posted.

When it became HIS problem you would be amazed how fast something is changed.

I have an inside view as a friend is an employee at another location so have behind scenes insight. went in to buy certain bakery item and employee told me "nope do not carry"........... even though a neighbor bought one a few days earlier ..
called friend asked and it was carried and came on a specific load so told employee this is on your X load and your layout on tables were not to schematic and since they pulled tags he just assumes he does not carry.... they went back and manager found item in back and 2 employees came and began fixing the product layout the store manager followed me through the store asking if their was anything else he could do.

I worked retail for years as well small delays or items can be accepted ...... outright LIES because employees do not even want to look is not.
 
caroln said:
I don't know if it's just me or maybe just my store, but I constantly have to deal with rude, curt employees behind the deli counter. No smile, no hello, even when I say it to them, no thank you either. All I got today was "what can I get you" and "anything else?" She didn't even look at me, just threw the package on the counter and left. Didn't even ask how I wanted it sliced. I had to offer the info before she disappeared to the slicing machines.

I would chalk it up to a disgruntled employee having a bad day, but it happens all the time. My visit prior to this one, they wouldn't even wait on me because it was 10 minutes before the deli counter opened. The store is open 24 hours but for some reason (short staffed, maybe?) the deli doesn't open until 10am. I was unaware of that and stood there until one of the staff looked at me and said "we aren't open yet" and went back to his conversation with someone. So much for getting shopping done early.

Maybe shopping on line for non-perishable items is what I should do, and limit my Walmart store shopping altogether. Complaints to Walmart are useless. They could care less, and if the attitude of their employees is any indication, customer service is a thing of the past. Maybe when they get robots to replace employees, they'll be programmed to be more polite and courteous.
Click to expand...
They don't get paid enough to be made to start early just for you.....
 
oldaunt said:
They don't get paid enough to be made to start early just for you.....
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Just for me? Gee, thanks a lot. šŸ˜¢ Since they were there though, I would assume they were already on the clock.
 

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