Saturday, February 22, 2014

The Life of a Walmart Employee



Since yesterday was my 90 days of working at Walmart, I've decided it's finally time to write my blog post I've been planning to write for a while now.

I've shopped at Walmart my whole life it seems like. Growing up in Great Bend, I remember what the old Walmart looked like as well as the excitement that came with the new Walmart Supercenter. Walmart was always the place to go when we got bored in high school. It's created many memories and once again added a new adventure to my life this last November.

Since becoming a Walmart employee, my view of Walmart has definitely changed. Being a cashier has made it change even more. I don't think I will be able to go into a Walmart again without having a different mindset.

I've come up with a couple of different lists from these three months. From what to do and not to do as a customer to some of my favorite parts about working at Walmart.

First: Some things that you should do as a customer coming through the checkout line:
  • Say Hi! We're nice people, I promise. It makes the whole process a lot more enjoyable even if it is just small talk.
  • If you're buying alcohol or cigarettes, have your ID out and ready. 
  • Please be patient. It's Walmart.. It's going to take some time. Plus it just makes it seem worse if you're being impatient.
  • Put your items on the belt how you would like them to be bagged. This helps us out a lot and speeds up the process if like items are next to each other. (i.e. cans, cold items, chemicals, etc.)
  • If you're in an express line, it also helps us out a lot if you slide your items closer to us. We don't have the belt to help us out with that.
  • If you're paying with a card, slide it after we scan your first item. This is another way to speed up the process. If you're paying with a check, having that out and ready to hand to us also speeds up the process. (Side note about checks, you don't have to fill them out anymore.)
  • Take your bags off the carousal if you notice it's getting full. If it gets too full, this is another thing that will slow down the process. Also, if you want to be extra helpful and nice, opening the bags for us after you take yours off is a wonderful thing!
  • If you are going to price match, please be ready and tell us before we scan your items. Also, if you want to put the price on the item somehow (either a sticker or with sharpie) this helps out a lot.
Second: Some things that you should Not do as a customer coming through the checkout line.
  • Don't go through the express line unless you have less items than the number required! I cannot stress this enough. This is my biggest pet peeve as a cashier. Not only does it slow us down, but it is also builds up a line of people who only have a couple items. 
  • Don't get in the back of the line if the light is off. That means we're closed. A lot of times we are finishing up the customers who were in line so we can go to break or get off work. 
  • Don't leave your basket or cart in the line. You brought it to the line, take it with you. 
  • Don't be rude. We are trying to hurry and trying to make the process the best it can be for you.
  • Don't lie about price matching items. Also, don't get offended if we question where your price matching is from. We are just trying to do our job the best we can, while still giving you low prices.
  • Don't get offended if we check your bills. You wouldn't like it if we gave you a fake $100 bill because we didn't check it when it was given to us. 
Lastly: Some of my favorite things about working at Walmart.
  • When specific customers always come find me and come through me line. 
  • When customers remember small things about me from previous conversations and ask how things are going. Such as my student teaching.
  • Inside jokes with my CSM. Such as telling him that I need him.
  • When couples (or anyone for that matter) awkwardly come through my line buying condoms, pregnancy tests, or anything like that.
  • When Wrecking Ball comes on, I always know One Direction will be next.
  • All my Walmart friends and coworkers. I've made some great bonds these months and some lasting memories.
So next time you go to Walmart, I hope you think about some of these things. It doesn't have to be a place you dread going to. I know I'm pretty thankful for this opportunity and new adventure in my life.

Until next time,
The Chronicles of Kirsten Continues