Difference in Wal Mart Stores

[Warren Kiefer]

:crap2:Just by chance I visited both of our Villages WalMart stores in the same day. Has anyone else noticed a huge difference in the service and quality of the two stores. The WalMart on 441 appears to have poor management problems. Recently,at the 441 store, I have noticed more and more empty shelves and the lack of any employees anywhere except at the registers. The 466 WalMart store appears totally different, with employees throughout the store and neat well stocked shelves. At times the 441 store looks more like a thrift shop. Here is a sample of what I found yesterday at the 441 store; rotting produce, no paper yard waste bags, no stainlss steel polish, no small paper plates, and the craft paints turned over and paint spilled all over the shelf. This is the norm at this store. Before you jump my case and say, well don't shop at that store, I plan do exactly that....

[njbchbum]

Guess I can say that the store on 441 is NOT a Villages Walmart. And I can say that you failed to indicate whether the 441 Walmart store you went to was in Summerfield or in Leesburg.

[gomoho]

I am going to be the OP meant the Leesburg store.

[Bogie Shooter]

:crap2:Just by chance I visited both of our Villages WalMart stores in the same day. Has anyone else noticed a huge difference in the service and quality of the two stores. The WalMart on 441 appears to have poor management problems. Recently,at the 441 store, I have noticed more and more empty shelves and the lack of any employees anywhere except at the registers. The 466 WalMart store appears totally different, with employees throughout the store and neat well stocked shelves. At times the 441 store looks more like a thrift shop. Here is a sample of what I found yesterday at the 441 store; rotting produce, no paper yard waste bags, no stainlss steel polish, no small paper plates, and the craft paints turned over and paint spilled all over the shelf. This is the norm at this store. Before you jump my case and say, well don't shop at that store, I plan do exactly that....

You can give WalMart feedback here:
https://corporate.walmart.com/contact-us/store-corporate-feedback

[Mudder]

Had to be Leesburg, Summerfield one not that bad at all.

[John_W]

I have the complete opposite impression. The Wal-Mart on 466 is usually very dark with half the lights turned off, no joke just look up. Combine that with the dark colored stained concrete floor at the 466 store against the bright terrazzo floors at both Summerfield and Leesburg stores. We usually go the 466 store because it's closer, but tomorrow were going to Summerfield since we'll be in that area.

Merchandise wise I usually find better stock in Summerfield, especially on health & beauty items, which we normally buy at Wal-Mart because of the price. In fact, just about everything else is in better stock at Summerfield, they appear to be a much busier store which might explain why they are out of certain items at times.

About a month ago I was in the 466 store and while I was there the lights all of a sudden came up and it was totally like a different store. I even walked up to a manager and told them, now I can finally see in here since you turned the lights up, now just do something with the floor.

[DonH57]

We do most of our shopping in the walmart at 466 for most of these reasons listed above by Warren. The walmart located in Summerfield on 441 just never seems to be stocked. I believe it may be an inventory control issue. Never had issues with any workers.The one on 466 is also closer.

[NotGolfer]

Management definitely has something to do with it. We once had a friend who was the manager at our local WalMart....his store was neat and well-stocked. It changed when his "powers that be" transferred him to another store. I think once Sam passed away that the whole WalMart concept changed...both in products and service.

[NottaVillager]

If you shop at the Ocala store the prices are MUCH lower than either of the stores that are in or near TV.

[Villager Joyce]

I'm a 466 WalMart girl.

[Indydealmaker]

If you shop at the Ocala store the prices are MUCH lower than either of the stores that are in or near TV.

Could you expand on this observation?

Are there specific categories where prices are substantially lower?

This kind of regional pricing has always been fascinating to me.

[TheVillageChicken]

Could you expand on this observation?

Are there specific categories where prices are substantially lower?

This kind of regional pricing has always been fascinating to me.

Puzzling to me. Almost every banana sold in America enters the country via Gulfport, MS, but bananas are cheaper at Wal-Mart in Mountain Home, Idaho than in Gulfport, MS.

[Indydealmaker]

Puzzling to me. Almost every banana sold in America enters the country via Gulfport, MS, but bananas are cheaper at Wal-Mart in Mountain Home, Idaho than in Gulfport, MS.

Maybe they have a shorter shelf life by the time they get to Idaho.

[TheVillageChicken]

Maybe they have a shorter shelf life by the time they get to Idaho.

Yes, but where's the reciprocity? Mississippians deserve cheap taters.

[smcgirl]

I also would like to know, IS there a price difference between the two Walmarts?? Would there be a difference in price in the Lowes in the Villages and the Lowes in Leesburg?

[DianeM]

:crap2:Just by chance I visited both of our Villages WalMart stores in the same day. Has anyone else noticed a huge difference in the service and quality of the two stores. The WalMart on 441 appears to have poor management problems. Recently,at the 441 store, I have noticed more and more empty shelves and the lack of any employees anywhere except at the registers. The 466 WalMart store appears totally different, with employees throughout the store and neat well stocked shelves. At times the 441 store looks more like a thrift shop. Here is a sample of what I found yesterday at the 441 store; rotting produce, no paper yard waste bags, no stainlss steel polish, no small paper plates, and the craft paints turned over and paint spilled all over the shelf. This is the norm at this store. Before you jump my case and say, well don't shop at that store, I plan do exactly that....

I agree with you completely and I heard all about myself when I commented on the difference a while back. The store on 441 is awful plain and simple and I don't go there.

[Indydealmaker]

Yes, but where's the reciprocity? Mississippians deserve cheap taters.

Instead, they got gators!

[villager]

I have a friend who took her iPad and grocery list to both Wal-Marts - the one of 466 and the 441 Summerfield Wal-Mart. She noted the prices for the same items on a spreadsheet. The 441 Summerfield Wal-Mart had lower prices but less of a selection. Yes, I thought that was very interesting, too.

[Indydealmaker]

I have a friend who took her iPad and grocery list to both Wal-Marts - the one of 466 and the 441 Summerfield Wal-Mart. She noted the prices for the same items on a spreadsheet. The 441 Summerfield Wal-Mart had lower prices but less of a selection. Yes, I thought that was very interesting, too.

Here is what Walmart's website says about that:
Prices may vary from store to store because each store is required to manage its own inventory. Therefore, a manager may lower a price to clear out an overstock item, to reward customers with an in-store sale, or to compete with local merchants. It is not our policy to price match our own stores or our online service since we are not in competition with ourselves.

[zcaveman]

I prefer the Wal-Mart in Summerfield.

Z

[perrjojo]

The Walmart in Summerfield is older and I think it shows. I am in the middle between both and rarely shop either one.

[cquick]

I like the one on 466 best, but I do go to the Leesburg one because it's closer to my house.

I've never seen rotting produce and the store seems clean to me. I certainly didn't see empty shelves. AND there were two guys to help me load my top soil into my car!

[NottaVillager]

Could you expand on this observation?

Are there specific categories where prices are substantially lower?

This kind of regional pricing has always been fascinating to me.
We have found that there is a "premium" to pay if you are shopping in and around TV. For WalMart..pretty much everything that we might purchase..milk, laundry soap, bread, frozen items, pharmacy items (not prescriptions) canned goods, paper towels, toilet paper and so on are cheaper at the Ocala WalMart than at either of the two locals. But we have found that this works in pretty much every store or restaurant if you leave TV. For example if my wife and I stop at 5-Guys we almost always get the same meal. The tab is $5 less if we buy it at 5-Guys in Ocala as opposed to the two 5-Guys restaurants in TV.

[Warren Kiefer]

guess i can say that the store on 441 is not a villages walmart. And i can say that you failed to indicate whether the 441 walmart store you went to was in summerfield or in leesburg.

my referenced stores were the summerfield and oxford walmarts.

[Warren Kiefer]

guess i can say that the store on 441 is not a villages walmart. And i can say that you failed to indicate whether the 441 walmart store you went to was in summerfield or in leesburg.

i would assume that calling the two wal marts as being villages stores would tell you that i was rfeferring to the summerfield store and the oxford store. Surely you ralize that if the villages did not exist the summerfield wal mart site would be a pasture.

[Warren Kiefer]

i also would like to know, is there a price difference between the two walmarts?? Would there be a difference in price in the lowes in the villages and the lowes in leesburg?

there is definately a difference in prices of the two wal marts. Additionally the two stores are served by different warehouses. The oxford store is generally a little higher.

[chuckinca]

i would assume that calling the two wal marts as being villages stores would tell you that i was rfeferring to the summerfield store and the oxford store. Surely you ralize that if the villages did not exist the summerfield wal mart site would be a pasture.


Doesn't that apply to the Oxford store also - and 90% of all the area facilities?

.

[BarryRX]

I have the complete opposite impression. The Wal-Mart on 466 is usually very dark with half the lights turned off, no joke just look up. Combine that with the dark colored stained concrete floor at the 466 store against the bright terrazzo floors at both Summerfield and Leesburg stores. We usually go the 466 store because it's closer, but tomorrow were going to Summerfield since we'll be in that area.

Merchandise wise I usually find better stock in Summerfield, especially on health & beauty items, which we normally buy at Wal-Mart because of the price. In fact, just about everything else is in better stock at Summerfield, they appear to be a much busier store which might explain why they are out of certain items at times.

About a month ago I was in the 466 store and while I was there the lights all of a sudden came up and it was totally like a different store. I even walked up to a manager and told them, now I can finally see in here since you turned the lights up, now just do something with the floor.

I'm an ex Walmart Pharmacist. Many Walmart stores have light sensors that turn the lights down when ambient light is bright enough. I have a hunch that this is what you were experiencing. It is part of walmarts very noble goal to be more energy efficient and less wasteful.

[The Buckeyes]

I'm an ex Walmart Pharmacist. Many Walmart stores have light sensors that turn the lights down when ambient light is bright enough. I have a hunch that this is what you were experiencing. It is part of walmarts very noble goal to be more energy efficient and less wasteful.

Most huge corporations that tout energy efficiency and less wasteful green energy concerns do so because it is in vogue to do so. When you pull back the curtains the real reason is cost.

[Indydealmaker]

Most huge corporations that tout energy efficiency and less wasteful green energy concerns do so because it is in vogue to do so. When you pull back the curtains the real reason is cost.

You have part of it right. Most major corps wrap their arms around "green" for PR, but most "green" approaches end up costing more, not less.
For example Walmart's light dimming approach actually has a downdrag on sales.

[The Buckeyes]

You have part of it right. Most major corps wrap their arms around "green" for PR, but most "green" approaches end up costing more, not less.
For example Walmart's light dimming approach actually has a downdrag on sales.

Boy did you hit the nail on the head. Last year I was in a super walmart in Aurora Ohio when the lights dimmed. It was like shopping in the dark. I took my cart which was 3/4 full to customer service and asked for the manager. He discussed the situation using the green energy pr. I informed him that maybe he liked working in a cave but I don't like shopping in one and, since that is your attitude you can restock the merchandise from my cart in the dark and I walked out of the store. I'm usually an easy going person until someone rubs me the wrong way!

[mrfixit]

You have part of it right. Most major corps wrap their arms around "green" for PR, but most "green" approaches end up costing more, not less.

For example Walmart's LIGHT DIMMING approach _
"actually has a DOWNDRAG ON SALES."

WOW...Wal-Mart already sells 25% of ALL Groceries sold in the U.S. of A.

What do you suppose the sales percentage would be if they
kept the stores brightly lit at all times.

[OldManTime]

I frequent the Summerfield store, I don't see that this poster sees. You do get what you pay for, the Walmart in The Villages, Sumter county Walmart has higher prices, which might result in more employees.

[chuckinca]

Last year I bought a bunch of home HVAC air filters at the Summerfield Walmart. A few weeks later I was in 466 Walmart and noted that the air filters there were about $1 cheaper (about 20% less).

I believe the 466 Walmart is in TV not Oxford.

.

[ilovetv]

I have the complete opposite impression. The Wal-Mart on 466 is usually very dark with half the lights turned off, no joke just look up. Combine that with the dark colored stained concrete floor at the 466 store against the bright terrazzo floors at both Summerfield and Leesburg stores. We usually go the 466 store because it's closer, but tomorrow were going to Summerfield since we'll be in that area.

Merchandise wise I usually find better stock in Summerfield, especially on health & beauty items, which we normally buy at Wal-Mart because of the price. In fact, just about everything else is in better stock at Summerfield, they appear to be a much busier store which might explain why they are out of certain items at times.

About a month ago I was in the 466 store and while I was there the lights all of a sudden came up and it was totally like a different store. I even walked up to a manager and told them, now I can finally see in here since you turned the lights up, now just do something with the floor.

I've seen the lights come on automatically when the sky clouds over and the skylights bring in less light.

If they weren't using energy-saving lighting controls like that, people would be complaining that they waste energy on lights too bright.

[DonH57]

I've seen the lights come on automatically when the sky clouds over and the skylights bring in less light.

If they weren't using energy-saving lighting controls like that, people would be complaining that they waste energy on lights too bright.

More than likely the same ones that lobbied for clean air then gripe when their a/c fails and part of the bill is for recovering and proper disposal of the now unusable refrigerant from the system

[njbchbum]

i would assume that calling the two wal marts as being villages stores would tell you that i was rfeferring to the summerfield store and the oxford store. Surely you ralize that if the villages did not exist the summerfield wal mart site would be a pasture.

not the correct assumption at all!

oxford zip code 34484

the villages zip code 32162

Oxford, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford,_Florida)

what was the villages walmart built on?

[Warren Kiefer]

not the correct assumption at all!

Oxford zip code 34484

the villages zip code 32162

oxford, florida - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/oxford,_florida)

what was the villages walmart built on?

we seem to be getting carried away on sematics. Technially, neither wal mart is a villages store. I was using the summerfield and oxford terminology to illustrate a point, not to get into a legal discussion. I will stick to my opinion that the management at the summerfield wal mart is much worse than at most wal marts.

[NottaVillager]

we seem to be getting carried away on sematics. Technially, neither wal mart is a villages store. I was using the summerfield and oxford terminology to illustrate a point, not to get into a legal discussion. I will stick to my opinion that the management at the summerfield wal mart is much worse than at most wal marts.
For a couple of years my youngest son was a bakery manager at a Pennsylvania WalMart. The vast majority of today's WalMarts tend to look like WM has a cash-flow problem and can't pay for needed goods. Most WM stores suffer from poorly stocked shelves or out-of-stock items. Many times the store is not out-of-stock at all, but has the items in its back storage section lacking the necessary staff to move products from storage out onto the shelves. Since WM General Managers get their bonuses based on "the numbers" most managers do everything they can to keep payroll at "barely alive" levels. When my son was a bakery manager he had to argue each and every week with the store's GM to keep enough people on schedule just to staff his bakery.

WM has cut their costs to the bone, and then cracked open the bone and sucked out the marrow. Frequently there's nothing and nobody left and the stores are showing it. There's no savings to be had if you can't buy the item you want in the first place.

A number of business publications have reported on this story for awhile now. WM has to get serious about getting its house back in order.

[karostay]

I try to avoid Walmart as mush as possible
They have sucked the life out of the competitive market and now sell goods that are seconds in my opinion

[gomoho]

So I just returned from the WalMart on 441 that is close to TV schools - I assume this is the one being referred to as the Oxford store. Really had a craving for strawberries and was quite happy when I saw the produce clerk stocking the shelf with fresh boxes of strawberries - NOT. Out of the at least 50 boxes he put out I finally found one that didn't have mostly bruised and mushy berries. I mentioned it to him and he could have cared less - didn't want to waste my time looking for a manager to point this out to.

Then I went to WinnDixie to get another box of berries and was faced with a similar situation except I don't know when they were stocked. I know this is hard to believe, but all this came about because this morning when I was preparing the 2lb box of berries I purchased at Sams the other day a very strong chemical smell was detected when I cut into them. I did call Driscolls on this because I was concerned since I fed several of them to my dog before I realized there was a problem. She advised me how this happens, assured me they would not hurt the dog, took my information, where I purchased them, and the numbers of the box to identify the shipment. Was quite impressed with they way the handled the situation.

So I am down on WalMart be they on 441, 466 or the moon. Produce left much to be desired and it is too difficult to negotiate the store. Back to Publix and the crowds!

[perrjojo]

So I just returned from the WalMart on 441 that is close to TV schools - I assume this is the one being referred to as the Oxford store. Really had a craving for strawberries and was quite happy when I saw the produce clerk stocking the shelf with fresh boxes of strawberries - NOT. Out of the at least 50 boxes he put out I finally found one that didn't have mostly bruised and mushy berries. I mentioned it to him and he could have cared less - didn't want to waste my time looking for a manager to point this out to.

Then I went to WinnDixie to get another box of berries and was faced with a similar situation except I don't know when they were stocked. I know this is hard to believe, but all this came about because this morning when I was preparing the 2lb box of berries I purchased at Sams the other day a very strong chemical smell was detected when I cut into them. I did call Driscolls on this because I was concerned since I fed several of them to my dog before I realized there was a problem. She advised me how this happens, assured me they would not hurt the dog, took my information, where I purchased them, and the numbers of the box to identify the shipment. Was quite impressed with they way the handled the situation.

So I am down on WalMart be they on 441, 466 or the moon. Produce left much to be desired and it is too difficult to negotiate the store. Back to Publix and the crowds!
I am curious as to what Driscoll told you about how this happens.

[chuckinca]

We bought strawberries at Markets of Marion on Saturday. They told my wife they were from Plant City. She bought them to use in a Kentucky Derby party desert Saturday night and said they were mushy and not very good.

.

[Warren Kiefer]

For a couple of years my youngest son was a bakery manager at a Pennsylvania WalMart. The vast majority of today's WalMarts tend to look like WM has a cash-flow problem and can't pay for needed goods. Most WM stores suffer from poorly stocked shelves or out-of-stock items. Many times the store is not out-of-stock at all, but has the items in its back storage section lacking the necessary staff to move products from storage out onto the shelves. Since WM General Managers get their bonuses based on "the numbers" most managers do everything they can to keep payroll at "barely alive" levels. When my son was a bakery manager he had to argue each and every week with the store's GM to keep enough people on schedule just to staff his bakery.

WM has cut their costs to the bone, and then cracked open the bone and sucked out the marrow. Frequently there's nothing and nobody left and the stores are showing it. There's no savings to be had if you can't buy the item you want in the first place.

A number of business publications have reported on this story for awhile now. WM has to get serious about getting its house back in order.


You have reinforced my opinion totally. The Summerfield is probably the worse and I place the blame on the manager. This store frequently has bare shelves and poor produce. For those that doubt my opinion, I suggest you go to the Summerfield WalMart, then go to the paint dpartment. I guarantee you will not find a clerk at that location and I also guarantee you that if you use the "ring bell for service" ring all you wish, but you will never have a clerk come to that location to assist you. I also believe the manager is more interested in his bonus than he is in providing enough employes. And to think this is the richest corporation in America !!! Other than managers, I cannot understand the differences we find in WalMarts. I like the idea behind such stores and restaurants as Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans. You would have difficulty pointing out any differences be the restaurants in Florida or California.
:pepper2:

[coolparrot]

I prefer 466 also, although they run out of some of the produce that I usually buy such as organic romane lettuce hearts and organic apples. Quite often, 441 runs out of certain things too.

[coolparrot]

You said it well, I agree....

[NottaVillager]

I prefer 466 also, although they run out of some of the produce that I usually buy such as organic romane lettuce hearts and organic apples. Quite often, 441 runs out of certain things too.
We never buy any meat, fish, fruits or vegetables from WM ever. Fruits and veggies (if they are store bought) come from Publix, and meat & fish we get at either Publix or Belleview Meats in Belleview.

[justjim]

We bought strawberries at Markets of Marion on Saturday. They told my wife they were from Plant City. She bought them to use in a Kentucky Derby party desert Saturday night and said they were mushy and not very good.

.

Lots of rain will make strawberries mushy. The Walmart in Summerfield had what Walmart calls an update about three years ago.

I'm not a Walmart fan---rarely shop there and never in their grocery.

[chuckinca]

We never buy any meat, fish, fruits or vegetables from WM ever. Fruits and veggies (if they are store bought) come from Publix, and meat & fish we get at either Publix or Belleview Meats in Belleview.


Ditto


However, Walmart nearly always has name brand groceries, etc at lower prices - and the shelves are rarely empty at Summerfield Walmart.

We travel twice a year in a One Ton PU and travel trailer between Norcal and here and usually stop at a Walmart nearly everyday on the road because they are generally identical and convenient with large parking lots and in most medium and larger towns across the country. The TV and Summerfield Walmarts are typical; some are worse and some are better; these are both on the better side.



.

[gomoho]

I am curious as to what Driscoll told you about how this happens.

They said they ship their strawberries with a plastic wrap secured around the palette. If the wrap comes loose the berries begin to respirate which causes a chemical reaction resulting in the odor.