Retail Watchers

The government is giving out several different types of N95 masks made by different companies. The ones I saw at Walmart in the San Francisco Bay Area were individually sealed in plastic 3M masks. These are folded flat and expand when you unwrap them. I like the quality and fit. Walmart might have t...

Walmart is planning to cut pharmacy hours so that their pharmacies close at 7 PM instead of 9 PM. People are not staying out as late anymore. The most busy times of day for pharmacies is the day time now. That is when customers come in for vaccinations. The staff is needed most during the day to han...

Pharmacies are giving out the 3 free N95 masks. They are 3M brand, but non surgical. I saw a lot at Walmart pharmacies.

COVID-19 tests are becoming even rarer. They are harder to find than ever before.

It is really slow at Walmart stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. I do not know why. I assume it is due to the COVID case surge. I know many people who have gotten very sick despite being vaccinated. The checkout lines are very short at night, and the aisles are very empty of customers. They say 1 ...

I was at a crowded Walmart once when the power went out and the store was plunged into darkness. The entire store let out a scream of disappointment. It was the night before Thanksgiving. The big problem for the employees was trying to get customers to stop shopping and leave.

The 26,000 square foot downtown Walgreens in Philadelphia will close in February. This store replaced an abandoned Borders Books. This store opened up with a larger than normal selection of prepared foods. It was a step above the regular Walgreens.

The Crow Canyon Safeway in San Ramon, California is nearing the completion of its new remodel. The store looks like a Pavilions in everything but name. The original Safeway never attempted to open up a Pavilions in Northern California. Pavilions was once a well known high end supermarket in Southern...

Things were simpler in the olden days. There was a time when people respected the police and security guards. Security guards could hold thieves until the police arrived. People were afraid of getting arrested for theft. Now people openly steal without fear of arrest. Now security guards are seen as...

Yes, internal theft is a problem. However, with cameras and loss prevention agents, the employees should be easily caught. However, Rite Aid got rid of loss prevention and the employees are not punished. Saving a little money by cutting loss prevention employees results in greater shrink. The corpor...

The San Ramon store was well kept and did decent business. The problem is that Trader Joe's shares the same parking lot. The Nob Hill Foods was much higher in price than other nearby stores. The Safeway in San Ramon nearby is about to finish the Pavilions decor remodel. That store and another nearby...