Poster:	tracyinri1969
Date:	2008-10-11 00:57
Subject:	grass roots
Security:	Public
Mood:	annoyed

Grass Roots is a great tool I think if store and the management team uses the tool properly. We have been having grass root meeting for the past few days and all it ever is --is a bitch session. Our employees hit the point of calling names out of people and complain about them. I am one of them. I am the department manager of electronics and people are so petty and jealous for I dont know what reason. My department gets a walkie and associates are jealous, why it is a walkie. My department has a great inventory and management recognizes it (along with other departments) and I am considered a favorite. Where is the maturity in our co-workers sometimes and how can our store manager allow this to happen. He is new to the company and this is his first session but still he is a strong and tough manager and he sat threw the whole thing. I work and work hard and I am considered a brown noser. Management needed me to take over the back room with the new backroom program for a month and I am a kiss ass. I go to work to work. My work that I do is to make Walmart money.  I do this and do it well. We have made bonus every quarter since I have been in the department (not to brag but a true statement) I feel that the purpose of grass roots is to discuss change and how to make things better why did our meeting turn into a bitch fest about me. I am flattered actuall that I was a topic of conversation for most of the employees in my store and that is the strong attitude that I carry and because I am a worker with a strong personality I am hated. I dont go to work to be friends with anyone not managers or other co-workers I am there to work and do my job. I have a competive twist to my personality and the drive to be the best always and if my co-workers dont like that me then dont talk to me but on the same not dont talk about me specially in a company meeting. All of the people that were talking about me were the same people that I have helped one time or another. Example Domestic Reset for "Better Home and Garden" (Project Strike out in my store)  I was asked to go on overnights and fix the whole "project homerun reset"  I spent an couple of nights on 3rd shift and this dept manager was the king pin of the grass roots free for all.

Before I go and carry on with my whole Walmart career my point is how can Walmart conduct such meetings were the respect for the individual is not upheld. I am not one to let something like this bother me but as you can tell it does. It is not my feelings that are hurt but it is the moral of the whole meeting being about me.
What to do now should I proceed on to talk to the management team or to the store manager. I do get alot of respect from my peers and I am soon to go into the management program myself I am just so in a fluster and my brain is cluttered and I dont want everyones actions to bring me to their level.

Help with some advice!!! Please!!!

Poster:	plastic
Date:	2008-10-10 10:07
Subject:
Security:	Public

Can you return diapers without a receipt?

Poster:	kitty_angel3882
Date:	2008-10-09 12:39
Subject:	Toy Department.. What should I expect?
Security:	Public
Mood:	nervous

Hello,
I got a job at walmart (sales floor - toy department). Anyways, I am really nervous on whether or not it will be hard or easy. I have no previous experience with retail jobs. I have heard some of the associates say that my department gets very busy only by season (Christmas?Summer?) Well, I just would like to hear some comments and tips, specially from people who have worked in the toy department. I am very scared. I already attended the orientation and I will be starting my training at the computers tomorrow. 

Poster:	ginameana
Date:	2008-10-09 00:02
Subject:
Security:	Public

Is it true that there will be no more p.a. systems in ANY Wal-Mart? We've just enforced that policy last week, and it's already nuts. I'm an operator, and while I love not being bothered every 5 seconds to make pages, it's also a giant pain in the ass. Sure it's nice not having to announce to "Crazy Bob" that his party is waiting for him at McDonald's (I get moronic requests like that often), etc., but code Adams are the worst. The poor CSMs have to walk the entire store with the parents calling out the child's name. In the time it takes to find them, a child rapist could already be walking out the doors with them. It's ridiculous.

Poster:	kaelaranae
Date:	2008-10-08 21:37
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	cold

I was asked if I would start doing orientations for new hires. I agreed. It sounds kinda fun. However, it's been awhile since I had my own. Around 5 years.  And I know things have changed alot. I know there's a game they play, and they watch dvds. And paperwork & stuff. But is there anything else I can expect? My first orientation is tomorrow. I've only read a book on how to do these. However, my assistant manager will be assisting me. But she's never done one either. She's new at this too. But anything to help would be greatly appreciated=)

Poster:	x5800
Date:	2008-10-08 21:25
Subject:	Policies?
Security:	Public

I hear people talk about policies all of the time. Is there somewhere where I can actually see these policies? Otherwise, how am I supposed to know what they are?

Poster:	_dirtyneedles
Date:	2008-10-08 11:01
Subject:
Security:	Public

Can anyone tell me about the new health care benefits offered by walmart I had to miss the open enrollment meeting!

Poster:	bigedsr
Date:	2008-10-06 14:11
Subject:	Question for the long timers.....
Security:	Public

Anyone noticed what their 401(k)'s have been doing lately? In the last week, mine has crapped out 2 grand. Anyone else been this (un)lucky, and if so, how bad?

Poster:	mikadosok
Date:	2008-10-06 07:35
Subject:	Coloring books and crayons
Security:	Public

After cleaning the bathrooms, seeing all the 'artwork' (and most of it dug into the toilet paper dispensers with a knife) just makes me want to cover the walls with butcher block paper and have crayons available.  Along with coloring books for the kiddies who cant seem to figure out how to throw out their trash in the employees lounge.

Oh yes, employees, if you are just coming off break, you CAN use the bathrooms in the lounge.  Honestly, they are just as clean, actually cleaner than the public ones.

If need be, I'll even mop them just for you, since it seems thats the 'signal' to 'go'

Poster:	shortone17
Date:	2008-10-05 18:11
Subject:	Stupid People
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

Ok I thought I'd seen everything there was to see at Walmart in the 18 years I've been here but last night was a new one on me.  I was asked to go to bakery because our LP person saw a customer go INTO the bakery and he did not want to blow his cover.  I go into the bakery (where the ovens are) and what did I see?  A man urinating into the drain in the floor of the bakery!  Now our bakery is at the front of the store not too far from the bathrooms.  No reason to go into the bakery to pee.  Well hell, why would you think to go into the bakery to take a leak anyway?  When I walked in he looked around at me (thank God he didn't turn around) and finished what he was doing (but then I guess you can't quit in mid stream).  I lost it!  I yelled at him to get out before I called the police.  He took off and went out the grocery side doors.  I did run out and get his plate number and called the police anyway.  WHY would anyone do that?  When the LP associate watched the video later, he said his privates were still hanging out when he ran out of the bakery and through the doors.  Ha Ha  and me right behind him.  I bet everyone gets a good laugh out of this video.  Gotta love this place.

Poster:	faminewing
Date:	2008-10-05 16:00
Subject:
Security:	Public

Have any of you guys noticed a real big hike in Bike prices? I mean, the cheapest bike we sell just went from $29.88 to $44.88 over about a two week period. Other bikes have gone from $68.68 up to $89.88, and almost every bike has had at least a five dollar hike in price. What's weird is that customers don't seem to notice. I almost DIED when I saw that the PowerX went from 68.68 to $89.88.

They also don't notice that almost all the preschool toys and action figures have taken significant leaps also. I feel like keeping a journal with old labels so that I can see over time how much prices are going up/down.

THe only thing I see prices going down on right now are the 10 for $10 items, and clearance.

I know the economy sucks right now, but when I see price changes like that, I think of all the prices at other stores that I shop at and how volatile they might be right now.

It's like gas. Up here where I live it's about four bucks a gallon, and it's been there for months and months now. If it goes down to, say, 3.75 I get excited and fill up. 3.75 is no damn bargain for gas, but we forget that gas "used" to cost a lot less, and so 3.75 seems pretty decent. I wonder if someday in the future, $44.88 will seem like a good price on the cheap bike if it goes up again.

In other news, my evaluation is coming up next week, and if I don't get an exceeds, I am going to throw a fit. I won the Market SWAS award for the 4th quarter last year (which is part of my last year of work so should be included in this eval).
In the three months since I have been at this new store I have completely revamped toys, went on overnights twice, helped in every department that has ever needed it, done a remodel of my department, rearranged my schedule so that I can be there for big events and resets, trained my previously clueless assoiates on how to use a telxon, and I have gotten merchandise moving out of the backroom again instead of having the 40 pallet (seriously!) mess that I came into when I first started at that store. My toy department fucking KILLS all surrounding walmart's toy departments, and I will be damned if I don't get my 20 extra freakin' cents. Lol.

Poster:	lonewolf1
Date:	2008-10-03 22:03
Subject:	Grass Roots Meeting
Security:	Public
Mood:	curious

...or something of that effect, anyway.
My store's apparently going to be holding one of these within the next week or so. Seeing as I've never had the opportunity to attend one, I was curious to how these things worked. Anyone been to one willing to offer up their tales and observations of 'em?
They actually gonna listen to us or are they just going to pretend to and continue on their merry little ways?

Poster:	lipglossgecko
Date:	2008-10-03 17:32
Subject:	Quick Story
Security:	Public

My store is playing softball this weekend against another store. To play we had to raise $200 to give to charity. To raise money there was a water balloon throw.

For a dollar a piece we got to throw water balloons at all the management, from zone managers to several market managers, who were all lined up against a wall outside the store.

It was incredible. Several people donated $20, and just went down the line throwing balloons at the managers who had made them the angriest. One associate threw down $75 and went nuts. She said it really helped with her stress levels.

We raised close to $300. :)

Poster:	zomgggggggggggg
Date:	2008-10-03 17:14
Subject:
Security:	Public

Hi! I've read a lot of mixed reviews about working for Walmart, so I'm not sure what to expect. Regardless of that, I have orientation on Tuesday. Does anyone want to tell me what I can expect? I'll be a cashier. Thanks :]

Poster:	plastic
Date:	2008-10-03 12:39
Subject:	Stolen credit card
Security:	Public

A lady came through my line to buy a gift card for $500. She was trying to rush me, so I was pretty sure it was a scam. The prompt comes up to compare signatures on card and slip, the card she handed me was her own unsigned, I waited until the receipt printed out and compared the last 4 numbers. Of course they did not match. I run over and hand the receipt and the lady's credit card and ID to the CSM and tell her that this is what I was handed when I asked for the credit card and ID and that it was not the same card that she slid. The customer started getting really threatening torwards my CSM. She called the police officer over and said there is nothing he could do since the credit card that was used wasn't in our possesion. I even went to the overnight manager on duty and was telling him he should probally cash it out or call it in or something.. but "We can't do that based on an assumption"

Should I take this higher? Or just let our stores shrink or what? I wish there was someway to cancel a credit transaction if the credit card and ID don't match. COMPARE SIGNATURES CARD AND SLIP - SIGNATURES MATCH? 1 YES 2 NO

or something like that...

Poster:	lonewolf1
Date:	2008-10-02 00:50
Subject:	What Has Been Seen Cannot Be Unseen
Security:	Public
Mood:	scared

I post this here for two basic reasons:
1) This happened at my Wal-Mart while I was there at work, so it is relevant.
2) I will not be the only one to suffer with this image.

So, I know that I've bitched about the 600 lb porkers that use the power carts because "inability to say no to 3 Big Macs" is apparently a disability now. Have you ever noticed that they wear really stretchy clothes, if not spandex itself, simply to contain the flubber?

So I'm in line, waiting to buy a few things before I make the mad dash to the safety that is my home. I am directly behind one of these land whales when she bends over to grab something from her basket. You know, usual things. Unfortunately, the spandex pants that she was wearing decided that it had enough and committed suicide by ripping RIGHT DOWN THE SEAM.

...lady wasn't wearing panties. She, of course, doesn't notice this...and she sits right back down. No flinch. Nothing. I promptly ask the cashier if we have any eye bleach, if not something to strike my heathen eyes from my skull so I can forget the image. Naturally, I shared it with her. I've never seen anyone turn that pale before...

Am I a bad person for wanting to go to management with this info and demanding that they douse the power carts in no less than 8 gallons of Lysol each?

Poster:	miaoudeminou
Date:	2008-09-30 23:46
Subject:
Security:	Public

I never knew it was okay for a [CSS/CSM] to yell at you ("Respect for the Individual") after a customer yells at you: "SHUT THE F*&K UP AND DO YOUR DAMN JOB BAGGING MY SH*T!!!". Also the [CSS/CSM] was fine with the customer yelling that at me.

Seriously, I'm searching for a new job. I don't need to take this anymore.

Poster:	iniko
Date:	2008-09-30 04:28
Subject:
Security:	Public

Dear customers (produce edition)

If you take something out of a cold case, any cold case at all, please for the love of God put it back into one. If we just happen to find a cold item left out, we have to claims it. In laymans terms, it's a fucking waste.

There is a garbage can next to all 4 produce racks, please use them for your garbage. Specifically your ripped bags. I'm sorry your bag ripped, putting 3 bushels of Bananas or 10 ears of corn into a single small thin plastic bag tends to do that.

The bananas I'm putting up are not greener than the ones I just pulled from the previous box.

Don't get pissy with me if we don't have a certain item, it's my Dept. manager/Manager/warehouse/dogs fault we didn't get any with freight and your fault if we're sold out.

If you are going to taste the produce, at least eat the whole damn fruit or vegetable. Nobody and I mean nobody, likes picking up a nectarine to find out it's been bitten into and stuff back with the fresh ones. It makes us feel mentally violated.

This one goes out to the unloaders. If you feel the need to take my flat cart, the flat cart I currently have 6 hours of cardboard and/or garbage piled onto. TAKE THE CRAP WITH YOU TO THE BACK. Don't set it on the floor or onto something else. Doing the above can make your produce associate want to gouge your eyes out with a rotten corncob.. And take pleasure from it.

This one to the computer generated schedule: YOU SUCK! Nobody should be the only person in their department for more than 4 hours, let alone their ENTIRE SHIFT.

Poster:	kitakatzz
Date:	2008-09-29 07:34
Subject:
Security:	Public

Today was my 90 day evaluation, where they tell me what a good job I've done, where to improve, and give me my raise.

Except, apparently, they don't give the raises anymore. You have to be working there for a YEAR.


BULLCRAP.

Is this going on at all the stores now? I'm freakin pissed.

Poster:	moonlit_sonata
Date:	2008-09-28 18:07
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	annnnoyed

I was just pulled into the office by my assistant manager over my department (Toys) and was told that she thinks (she has no proof to show me) that she thinks that all morning/daytime associates (such as, 8-5, 9-6, 10-7) will be removed and only the department managers will be there in the mornings to throw the freight and throw any pick listed freight that the ICS gets from the toy steel in the backroom.

Her: I'm not sure but it cut out the ability to have a 8-5 shift on the weekends, so I think it's going to happen to all the days. ((I.E. cutting out all morning hours for sales floor associates))
Me: ....okay?
Her: So, I want to give you first pick. You can either stay in Toys and get a cut in hours and have evening shift (say, 2-11, or 4-11 or something), or I can put you on the new ICS team that will deal with all the stuff.
Me: Um, I kinda like Toys..
Her: So, you don't mind losing the hours?
Zone Manager: Haha, no one ever says they like toys.
Me: I've been there for 2 years.. I've gotten used to it. I don't want ICS because I like where I am.
Her: Well, I could put you in the photo lab. Or the Connection Center. That way you can keep your scheduled amount of hours.
Me: I don't care about losing hours. I want to stay in toys.

So.. is that true? I read it the last post that this system has taken effect in other stores already, so I kinda want to know because, sad to say, I don't trust my assistant manager from crap I've dealt with her for the past two years.

( A rant that I need to let out )