Let me start off by telling you a little about my job before I became a SAHM. I have always worked in the retail/customer service fields. More recently I was a lead teller at a local bank. I have always had a passion for serving others in the retail/customer service rep (CSR) capacity so it really irks me when I get poor customer service.
Wal-Mart is known for a lot of things. Super stores, low prices, women in poorly fitted pajama pants, etc. But one thing I can say, for certain, they are not known for (or at least shouldn't be known for) is customer service. Here's my story...
This week I was on my weekly grocery/supply run when I remembered that I still needed to make a cape for my BIL for Halloween. So, I made a B-line to fabrics to pick up some black fabric. Carrigan and I picked out what we needed and made our way to the cutting table. As per usual, there was no one there. No big deal I thought. Just ring the bell. After ringing said bell several times (and sometimes quite obnoxiously I'll admit) I had NO response. After about 10 minutes of waiting, a "skilled" Wal-Mart associate asks me if I've been helped. Upon hearing my answer, she assures me she would page somebody to that department immediately. At this point, I'm more than irritated. I have a grumpy 3 year old in the cart begging for snacks (when isn't she begging for snacks?!) and quite frankly, I know I'm a SAHM and my schedule is pretty open but the fact still remains...mama has s#!& to do! The last thing I want to do is waste my entire morning at Wal-Mart. Anyway, I digress. At the sound of the "customer needs assistance in fabrics" announcement, I figure someone should be RUNNING to my aide, right? WRONG! I waited another 5 minutes! NOTHING!
I finally decided enough was enough...time to find a manager. Upon finding said manager, I explained my situation. I explained that, in my opinion, when you hear an announcement that a customer needs help, people should be tripping over each other to get there. The manager made a call and then, very officially, tells me that the woman who works in that department is out today. Um...okay, I still need my stuff! She then makes another call and then informs me that someone was now back there waiting for me. Well, okay...thanks? What really bothered me is that I got NO APOLOGIES...JUST EXCUSES. I don't give a crap that Sue from fabrics isn't here today. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THIS?!
Anyway, to finish my tale, I got my fabric and a sulked off into the florescent blue yonder. I'm sure I was probably that customer I used to hate waiting on, but frankly, I feel I earned the right to be pissy. However, I have been left thinking "who's really to blame?". Is it the associates who didn't rush to my aid? Was it the manager for offered excuses in place of apologies? Was it me for waiting so long to seek help? In this, I have come to a conclusion. It's Wal-Mart. We've all heard the saying "You get what you pay for" so what did the Wal-Mart corporate headquarters think they were going to get by paying their employees poverty wages? Believe me...they are definitely getting what they're paying for.
I know some of you are reading this thinking "If you hate Wal-Mart so much, why do you go there?". The simple answer is necessity. The town I live in has few options. Everyone in my town hates Wal-Mart, but we all trudge there every week because we have very few options. One thing is for sure, as soon as a new store opens it's doors, they will have my business. Wal-Mart, until then, rest assured that I hate your freaking guts and I would like nothing more than to see your whole evil corporation crumble to the ground.
