Say Bye to Wal-Mart Greeters
Wal-Mart announces phasing out an iconic employee role—those store greeters who issue friendly hellos and play double-agent regarding merchandise return and possible shoplifting. Will you miss them?
Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton fought for years to get people greeters positioned at the front of each entrance of his retail stores, but now customers have to say a slow and sure goodbyeto the 32-year run of those greeters.
This week, news is spreading throughout business circles about Wal-Mart's greeters being phased out.
An article about this topic in Huffington Post on Wednesday stated Walton first stumbled onto a greeter at a small Walmart in Louisiana in 1980. The greeter explained to Walton he had a "dual purpose: to make people feel good about coming in, and to make sure people weren't walking back out the entrance with merchandise they hadn't paid for."
YOUR TURN: What's the most interesting interaction you've had with a Wal-Mart greeter? Or most interesting thing you've seen a greeter do? Please share your memories in the comments' section at the end of this article.
Miss Dee Fide
9:16 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
What a shame. I'm sure that job was very fulfilling to many retired oldsters who just wanted to be busy during the day. They will be missed.
Marvin
10:02 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
I worked as a greeter for about 30 minutes, and I quit. Cost me more for gas to drive to work and greet those hoozier ass people that shop there than Wal Mart paid.
chunky soup
7:00 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012
The greeter at the north Walmart in topeka ks risked
is life when a thief pulled a shot gun on him. When he was working third shift.
Judy Hogan
2:33 pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012
I really like the people who say hello. All very pleasant & know me by name by now. I will miss the courtesy.
Maggie White
10:43 am on Saturday, April 14, 2012
Sam knew best! Apparently these very important people have already been phased out at our Walmart in Manchester, MO. This action not only affects senior citizens who need a job to suppement their income but disabled employees who need a job to have the bare necessities of life. Shame on the high paid decision makers at Walmart Corporate.
Anne
2:02 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
I grew up in one of the small towns Mr. Walton originally intended for Wal-Mart to serve. The greeters knew most people that came through the doors. It also served so well for a handful of special needs individuals, giving them a unique employment opportunity otherwise very hard to come by. Mr. Walton's original business plan was one of the business cases we studied at university - the corporation today bears little resemblance.
michaelsankpill
9:49 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
When Sam was alive, Walmart was advertising they were going to keep jobs in the USA. Sam said it Walmart would never buy more imports than domestic. I'm sure he's kicked dents in that American made casket!
Brad Walton II
6:15 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Like hospitals did years ago to get free nursing and assistant's, they will start up a volunteer service. Like Wal-Mart 'candy stripers', ans stripers not strippers, lol.