Wal-Mart hilariously mystified by its ongoing decline

As I type, Wal-Mart is expected to announce its second straight year of declining domestic same-store sales.

There is much hand-wringing and bloviating about where Wal-Mart went wrong.  In chasing up-market shoppers, have they abandoned their core customer base?  In moving more toward specials on specific items, and away from uniformly low prices, have they muddled their message?

Publix and Target get most of my business that might have been Wal-Mart’s.  The reasons are no more complicated than they’ve ever been.  I have no memory of ever waiting in a long line at either place.  I also have no memory of ever encountering anything but a competent cashier at either place, and most of the time s/he’s even friendly.  (Publix in particular is extremely good at hiring personable and smart people.)

I have an efficient and pleasant experience every time I shop at Publix or Target.  Clearly, there are many someones at many different levels in these organizations who recognize that making that happen is important.  Hey, Wal-Mart?  You really suck at that.  I was lucky to get that at your place one time in five when I actually used to come in there.  Until I consistently encounter hearsay that makes me believe that’s climbed to 95 out of 100, you’ll never get me back.

No more complicated than that.

You might also like:

3 thoughts on “Wal-Mart hilariously mystified by its ongoing decline”

  1. I haven’t stepped foot in a Walmart in at least 3 years. I find them to be filthy and disgusting, and their brands just plain suck. I would rather pay extra and have a pleasant shopping experience than to subject myself to that cesspool. If we ever have a need for something at our house that we can’t get anywhere else (which is rare), I send my husband. You know, since husbands get all the dirty jobs – taking out the trash, unclogging toilets, etc. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Jenny, it was October 2006 when I stopped going in there. Exceptions in September 2008 and October 2009 for Wal-Mart-exclusive merchandise; exception in July 2010 because it was the consensus stop of my road trip/camping partners.

    And yes, they’re generally dirty. Target and Publix are spotless in comparison, as well as much neater.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

CAPTCHA


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

BoWilliams.com