Look, I don't wanna be a hypocrite, I have a dichotomous/love-hate relationship with Walmart. I hate it, but yet, I can go there and pretty much get all my shopping done in one place. Yeah, I do spread the money around. I shop at the fru-fru grocer and spend $100 on a half paper poke (bag) just to make myself feel good that I'm supporting local. I also go to Target-Ole' and Publix and Food City. I also go to the Mall. So, I do spread the money around. However, I do find myself going to Walmart, not just any Walmart, but the Super Walmart nearest where I live, the one in Hixson at Hwy 153.
The reason I go there most times lately is name and face recognition. I go to Walmart mostly at night between 8P and 10:30P. I'm usually there to pick up several edibles and maybe some cat food or treats or litter. Most times I go there, there is at least one friendly stocker (please forgive me if this is not the correct or most up-to-date term for people who stock shelves) I recognize, and even if I don't have a need to go down the isle he is stocking, I wave and smile. He always waves and smiles back with enthusiasm. In and of itself, yeah, it's not a big deal to have interaction with one or more employees when you frequent a place to shop. But, ya know, that is probably what keeps me going there more often instead of Target or Publix, which are closer to where I live.
That small amount of interaction with someone I only know by name because it is on his name tag -- and I'm sure he hasn't a clue what my name is -- but just because there is a small amount of recognition that I exist and that one or two people recognize I have been there before, and I'm now back -- keeps me going there, when I have other choices.
Indulge me for a moment as I tell you about when I worked for Sam Walton's company. I worked at Walmart back when Mr. Sam was still around. This was back in the 1980's. Mr. Sam was known to drop in to a Walmart driving his older Ford pickup truck and wearing blue jeans, a tee-shirt and hat. One time he did just that, and it was like a segment of "Undercover Boss" gone bad. He [Mr. Sam Walton] walked in to a Walmart where no one knew him. He was dressed in his street clothes -- kind of tattered, but not disgusting or anything. He was NEVER a flashy man. Always a very humble, yet shrewd man. Mr. Sam walked in and he was treated rudely by an employee. He immediately asked for the manager. The manager was quickly apprised of who he was, and Mr. Sam Walton demanded the whole store be shut down. The store was closed for several days. Many of the employees were fired. He [Mr. Sam] did not re-open the doors until he'd gotten new employees -- employees that knew about customer service and knew how to paint on a smile.
When I think of this young man at this Hwy 153 Walmart I frequent as of late, I think of this Mr. Sam story, and I think, if Mr. Sam were alive today, and was out bird hunting in this area (he loved to bird hunt...especially in north Georgia), and dipped into this store and ran across this young man, and saw how this young man has a smile for everyone and is helpful and cheerful, I'm most assured, Mr. Sam would demand that young man be promoted to a position in management. This young man embodies the type of character and personality that ol' Mr. Sam wanted to see in his Walmart employees. It's the same kind of character and personality most of us want to be greeted with.
Now, don't let me just gush on just this one young man, there are plenty of other good employees at this location! This is but one example. I've also encountered a few cashiers and other stockers that exhibit these same qualities. And, even though I have that dichotomous relationship with Walmart, because of this one person that waves/smiles, and sometimes engages in some small talk as I shop, I will continue to go back there -- whether I just need one or two items, or if I need a whole buggy full of stuff. read more