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Re: Walmart observations

Posted: June 26th, 2019, 11:39 am
by Alpha8472
These are solar powered security cameras brought in by Walmart. They have been seen at many high theft Walmart locations and they are long term.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: June 26th, 2019, 7:28 pm
by storewanderer
Super S wrote: June 26th, 2019, 7:38 am Stopped at another Walmart in Vancouver yesterday, this one being the store at I-205 & Mill Plain (Vancouver's first Walmart) I noticed while pulling in that they had two trailers in random spots in the parking lot which had blue flashing lights and cameras on them. It made me wonder if the police department brought these in for some reason, if Walmart is having issues with existing parking lot cameras and rented these, or if theft is increasing and they wanted an easier way to add more cameras. These trailers appear to be wireless units and have solar panels on them. Yes they are noticeable, probably a main reason for having them, but they also make the lot look a bit cluttered.

It is worth noting however that this location, while they did have greeters at the doors, was not scanning every receipt as you leave like the store on East 4th Plain was.
They have these Lot Cop cameras at a few of the Reno locations (2nd St., 7th St., and Kietzke). Parking lot incidents seem to be why a store gets awarded with these. These stores also all eliminated 24 hour operations despite what I observed to be good traffic after midnight. I think there are issues with these locations (especially 2nd St.).

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: June 27th, 2019, 8:38 am
by Super S
storewanderer wrote: June 26th, 2019, 7:28 pm
Super S wrote: June 26th, 2019, 7:38 am Stopped at another Walmart in Vancouver yesterday, this one being the store at I-205 & Mill Plain (Vancouver's first Walmart) I noticed while pulling in that they had two trailers in random spots in the parking lot which had blue flashing lights and cameras on them. It made me wonder if the police department brought these in for some reason, if Walmart is having issues with existing parking lot cameras and rented these, or if theft is increasing and they wanted an easier way to add more cameras. These trailers appear to be wireless units and have solar panels on them. Yes they are noticeable, probably a main reason for having them, but they also make the lot look a bit cluttered.

It is worth noting however that this location, while they did have greeters at the doors, was not scanning every receipt as you leave like the store on East 4th Plain was.
They have these Lot Cop cameras at a few of the Reno locations (2nd St., 7th St., and Kietzke). Parking lot incidents seem to be why a store gets awarded with these. These stores also all eliminated 24 hour operations despite what I observed to be good traffic after midnight. I think there are issues with these locations (especially 2nd St.).
The store I mentioned, to the best of my knowledge, is still 24 hours. However, they have eliminated 24 hour operations at some locations. Some cities have also banned overnight parking of RV's, Vancouver is one of them.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: June 27th, 2019, 10:14 pm
by storewanderer
Super S wrote: June 27th, 2019, 8:38 am
storewanderer wrote: June 26th, 2019, 7:28 pm
Super S wrote: June 26th, 2019, 7:38 am Stopped at another Walmart in Vancouver yesterday, this one being the store at I-205 & Mill Plain (Vancouver's first Walmart) I noticed while pulling in that they had two trailers in random spots in the parking lot which had blue flashing lights and cameras on them. It made me wonder if the police department brought these in for some reason, if Walmart is having issues with existing parking lot cameras and rented these, or if theft is increasing and they wanted an easier way to add more cameras. These trailers appear to be wireless units and have solar panels on them. Yes they are noticeable, probably a main reason for having them, but they also make the lot look a bit cluttered.

It is worth noting however that this location, while they did have greeters at the doors, was not scanning every receipt as you leave like the store on East 4th Plain was.
They have these Lot Cop cameras at a few of the Reno locations (2nd St., 7th St., and Kietzke). Parking lot incidents seem to be why a store gets awarded with these. These stores also all eliminated 24 hour operations despite what I observed to be good traffic after midnight. I think there are issues with these locations (especially 2nd St.).
The store I mentioned, to the best of my knowledge, is still 24 hours. However, they have eliminated 24 hour operations at some locations. Some cities have also banned overnight parking of RV's, Vancouver is one of them.
There are a number of Wal Marts that are not supposed to allow RVs per city ordinances or shopping center rules. Here in Reno, that would be every location. Most of the Reno locations have security driving around the parking lot at night (the non 24 hour ones) to patrol this issue. Yet in the evenings I can spot a few RVs at the South Reno location that roll up late and roll out very early; before anyone is around to care. That store does not have parking lot security at night and is still open 24 hours at this time.

The Carson City South Wal Mart is really funny. Signs posted in the parking lot that say no RV/overnight parking. A couple weekends ago I went on a Saturday night and there must have been 50 RVs in the far portion of the lot and they even have rented out portable restroom facilities and placed them far out in the parking lot to provide additional service to these parked RVs. The Fernley Wal Mart is another very popular RV location just off I-80 with no restrictions on the RVs.

I am surprised Wal Mart has not moved faster to build gas stations on some of these properties; I am sure they could make some money.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: August 14th, 2019, 7:33 am
by Alpha8472
Has anyone noticed the sweltering heat at some of these Walmart stores? There is a current heat wave approaching over 100 degrees in some areas of the San Francisco Bay Area. The temperatures in the Walmart stores are intolerable. I felt like I was going to pass out. Is the air conditioning broken? The lines in the store were also intolerable. They were running down the aisles and it was almost impossible to get around the front areas near the registers.

I saw people abandon full shopping carts and leave. The air conditioning in the employee areas and the pharmacy are functional per employees.

I did not want to wait in the heat, so I decided to buy nothing. The sales losses are probably quite big. Walmart is trying to save a little money by not using air conditioning, and in turn they are losing sales as the customers are fleeing the stores.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: August 14th, 2019, 5:02 pm
by storewanderer
Alpha8472 wrote: August 14th, 2019, 7:33 am Has anyone noticed the sweltering heat at some of these Walmart stores? There is a current heat wave approaching over 100 degrees in some areas of the San Francisco Bay Area. The temperatures in the Walmart stores are intolerable. I felt like I was going to pass out. Is the air conditioning broken? The lines in the store were also intolerable. They were running down the aisles and it was almost impossible to get around the front areas near the registers.

I saw people abandon full shopping carts and leave. The air conditioning in the employee areas and the pharmacy are functional per employees.

I did not want to wait in the heat, so I decided to buy nothing. The sales losses are probably quite big. Walmart is trying to save a little money by not using air conditioning, and in turn they are losing sales as the customers are fleeing the stores.
The temperatures are probably controlled by corporate and corporate is not controlling based on current forecasts but rather controlling based on historical forecasts. Employee areas probably have okay temperatures since they tend to be smaller/more enclosed areas.

I have noticed the lines too. I should say "line." As early as 6 PM in a Supercenter, one checkout open (tobacco register) and then the 14+ self checkouts on grocery side (ones on GM side closed already). But they have labor dollars to have two "greeters" stand at the door and want to scan your receipt for the "Receipt Audit." I do not wait for a "Receipt Audit." I will allow the "Receipt Audit" if the greeter is available, however. If the greeter is with someone else, I walk on by. I have walked past a line of 3 waiting customers before and one customer even said to me to "get in line" which I ignored and just walked out. Most customers seem to think this is mandatory.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: August 16th, 2019, 11:15 am
by arizonaguy
What's the deal with the large number of the Walmart stores (Neighborhood Markets and Division 1) that close at 10pm in California?

Is this due to local ordinances or simply due to labor costs? 10 pm seems a bit early and most Target stores are open until at least 11 or midnight.

It seems that in most other areas Walmarts close at 11 or midnight (if not 24 hours).

My biggest complaint about Walmart is that they've ended overnight stocking at most stores, so the past several times I've been in a Walmart they are stocking shelves as I'm shopping.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: August 16th, 2019, 11:31 am
by Alpha8472
Labor cost is the reason. They want to reduce labor hours as much as possible. Each Walmart store must meet certain standards of profitability, work hours, budget, shrink, etc.

Closing early reduces work hours, cuts down on late night shoplifting, reduced security personnel hours, etc.

Walmart is strict. If a store goes over work hours, or has too much shrink, or is less profitable, that store is a candidate for closing. The corporate office only cares about the numbers.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: August 16th, 2019, 3:12 pm
by storewanderer
arizonaguy wrote: August 16th, 2019, 11:15 am What's the deal with the large number of the Walmart stores (Neighborhood Markets and Division 1) that close at 10pm in California?

Is this due to local ordinances or simply due to labor costs? 10 pm seems a bit early and most Target stores are open until at least 11 or midnight.

It seems that in most other areas Walmarts close at 11 or midnight (if not 24 hours).

My biggest complaint about Walmart is that they've ended overnight stocking at most stores, so the past several times I've been in a Walmart they are stocking shelves as I'm shopping.
Theft is the reason for most of those...

In the case of the Neighborhood Markets it is likely lack of volume.

Plenty of activity in CA late at night. Many NorCal Safeways remain 24 hour operations. As you point out, many 11 PM or Midnight closing Targets.

Re: Walmart observations

Posted: August 16th, 2019, 7:56 pm
by cjd
storewanderer wrote: August 14th, 2019, 5:02 pm I have noticed the lines too. I should say "line." As early as 6 PM in a Supercenter, one checkout open (tobacco register) and then the 14+ self checkouts on grocery side (ones on GM side closed already). But they have labor dollars to have two "greeters" stand at the door and want to scan your receipt for the "Receipt Audit." I do not wait for a "Receipt Audit." I will allow the "Receipt Audit" if the greeter is available, however. If the greeter is with someone else, I walk on by. I have walked past a line of 3 waiting customers before and one customer even said to me to "get in line" which I ignored and just walked out. Most customers seem to think this is mandatory.
I usually go to Walmart in the evening. A while back I saw an employee standing near the doors with a cart and a scanner. I figured they were going to stop me to scan me receipt, but they just said "Have a good weekend." I haven't seen any receipt scannings happening here though. In fact tonight, I saw no greeters around at all.

I have noticed here that the garden center doors are locked at 9PM on the dot. I never use regular checkout usually, so I can't say how many are open in the main store. But rarely do I see more than one open in the garden center, though they added two more counters during the remodel last year.

Another thing I have noticed about the garden center, is that the doors that enter the greenhouse directly from outside appear to be in use again. I haven't tested this, but I've noticed the plant racks that used to be blocking the doors on the outside have been removed, and it looks as if there's nothing on the inside either. It kind of surprises me they would be using them again, without having any kind of checkout or employee stationed at them. Although it's possible they may be used for vehicle loading purposes only. This used to be done at the back of the greenhouse area.