Sam's Club fired all the food sample people... bums everywhere going hungry

[FireCaptain4]

Found this out by trying to hit up local Sam's today and snag a brunch:

Source

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will cut about 11,200 jobs at Sam’s Club warehouses as it turns over the task of in-store product demonstrations to an outside marketing company.

The move is an effort to improve sales at Sam’s Club, which has underperformed the company’s namesake stores in the U.S. and abroad.

The cuts represent about 10 percent of the warehouse club operator’s 110,000 staffers across its 600 stores. That includes 10,000 workers, mostly part-timers, who offer food samples and showcase products to customers. The company also eliminated 1,200 workers who recruit new members.

Employees were told the news at mandatory meetings on Sunday morning.

“In the club channel, demo sampling events are a very important part of the experience,” said Sam’s Club CEO Brian Cornell in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “Shopper Events specializes in this area and they can take our sampling program to the next level.”

... during Wal-Mart Stores’ most recent quarter, revenue at the Sam’s Club division slipped nearly 1 percent to $11.55 billion while U.S. Walmart stores posted a 1.2 percent sales increase to $61.81 billion. Earlier this month, Wal-Mart Stores closed 10 underperforming Sam’s Club locations, resulting in the loss of about 1,500 jobs.

At least we can still look forward to free TV, just bring your own snacks from now on guys.

[shoe1985]

Most Wal-Mart stores are getting rid of full-time workers, and replacing them with part-timers. They are trying to bring in mostly college kids and older people that are retired because they do not expect benefits that people out of school and have to provide for themselves and their families.

This is why I go to small businesses, what is left of them. They pay higher wages, and do actually provide good benefits. Sure, I pay more money out, but at least they provide for their employees.

[xseanymacx]

Maybe Sam's Club wouldn't be doing so bad sales wise if they let anyone shop there and you don't have to be a paying member...

[shoe1985]

Originally Posted by Joe Hallenbeck

Well there's plenty of "Green" jobs being made available now by Obama.

I hear the Census is hiring.

Energy prices are going to skyrocket once the economy comes back, and if we do not do something to get off mainly foreign oil, we are screwed. The fact of the matter is that we need to start shopping at small businesses, not big business, and buy American or whatever your country you live in. This will create a demand for the product, and companies will need to replenish their supply, and this is done by hiring more workers to meet the demand.

Blame whoever you want, the problem is that we make the decisions, and we have to live with them. If someone buys a movie they go to a big box store, not the small one because of price. Take in account that the small store is paying their employees more money with benefits, usually. Plus, they cannot count on thousands of other stores to recoup any lost revenue/profit one of their store loses.

Look at any street corner, you will find the same stores on pretty much all of them.

[shoe1985]

Originally Posted by xseanymacx

Maybe Sam's Club wouldn't be doing so bad sales wise if they let anyone shop there and you don't have to be a paying member...

It is a club. You pay a small fee for membership, and you can then by products in bulk for a much lower price than you would in a regular store because you paid a small membership fee.

It is like you are part of something by being a member. If they let anyone in, it is basically Wal-Mart. Plus, it is meant for businesses to be able to buy their supplies from them at bulk size. It would not make sense to go to a regular grocery store if you are a restaurant owner becau se you would be paying a lot more, and get less for your money.

[shoe1985]

Joe, the street corner stores are your Subways and other big brand stores. It is getting harder and harder to find mom and pop shops because nobody goes to them. Why should they when Wal-Mart offers everything in one store, and at lower prices?

Yes, they also had to make cutbacks in what they could offer, but history has shown they are the ones to pay the higher wages. What many do not know is that while big box stores get massive tax cuts to come to a local area, small businesses are the ones who have to make up for the loss in tax revenue. Like I mentioned, big box stores are always more than one. I know Wal-Mart takes many losses on some of their stores, but makes them up on other stores. The one in my town does well, but not as well as the others do. You compare it to a small business they compete with, it is no comparison. Every sale matters because it could determine if you come to work the next day. With Wal-Mart, it does not matter as much at one store. But, guess who gets the massive tax cuts?

Many distributors had to raise their prices when oil hit $150 a barrel. Diesel prices went higher than regular gas, and that means they had to raise their prices too. So, companies went to lower prices, which turned out to be warehouse stores.

As for the economy, I was just getting to the point that once it comes back, energy prices are going to be insane, and we need to tackle the problem now, which I am sure you will agree with.

Also, Obama does not make the laws. He pushes/suggests his ideas, and Congress must pass them. As for tax cuts, it depends on where they go. If they are like the Bush tax cuts, they will go to the rich, and that means they are really going overseas since they ship jobs overseas. Tax cuts need to go to middle income families and small businesses. Another thing is we need to give tax incentives to new entrepreneurs. We cannot expect others to create all the jobs, we must do this too.

The question is where do the jobs come from? Many people say we lost a lot of jobs during this recession, which is true, but you could also state that many of these jobs were on there way out anyways. Anyone work in a mailroom at a business, or know someone who did/does? Didn't think so because it all goes through e-mail now. Ever notice how you call somewhere and you are talking to a machine, or pressing a button to get to the person you need to talk too? Do you go to a bookstore for books, or just download them from your Kindle? Do you even need to buy movies from a store, or even rent them at a physical store anymore? I can buy movies cheaper from Amazon, or rent it from Netflix at a flat rate. No need to deal with lines or rude workers.

These are just a few jobs that have been lost during this recession. They were on there way out anyway, the recession just sped up the cuts. The fact is that technology has advanced so much in the last 5-10 years, that we really need less people to work. Not sure if you read this, but many companies were buying a lot of new machinery in the last few months. Why you ask? To replace the biggest cost facing their companies: labor. Does a machine ask for raises or benefits? Nope. It is a one time cost for a company that should last around 10-20 years, around the same duration of a worker, but at a lower cost.

So, these job losses should come as no surprise to really anyone. I am sure we could get a company to create a machine that allows us to sample food. Put the food in the machine, and then let the consumer push a button, and the food pops out to them. It could keep it warm or cold, and keep it fresh.

Hell, I barely shop in stores anymore because it is cheaper to do it online. I don't have lines or deal with rude workers. Plus, I have more time to do other things. It is what it is.

[someguy]

KEEP CUTTING THE TAXES OH GOD THE TAXES

[ericdraven]

Originally Posted by someguy

KEEP CUTTING THE TAXES OH GOD THE TAXES

THINK OF THE RICH PEOPLE OH GOD THE RICH PEOPLE

[someguy]

Don't worry Joe Hallenbeck, Wal-Mart will show many signs of decline and it will continue doing things that are seen as irrational, illogical and just plain stupid but they will keep coming back. And even though Wal-Mart's actions aren't enjoyed by anyone, the person in charge of America dislikes what they're doing and Wal-Mart's insistent hatred of groups/unions of people who they're convinced are trying to bring them down only looks sillier as time goes on they'll keep returning and doing the things they love to do no matter how much people find them annoying or pathetic.

[ericdraven]

Good old Galt triggers another political debate in a normal everyday thread.

[shoe1985]

Originally Posted by Joe Hallenbeck

The Lefty Plan: LET'S TAX AND SPEND! TAX AND SPEND! TAX AND SPEND!

OH AUNTIE M! IT'S A TWISTER!

I actually support the idea of pay as you go, which is basically tax and spend. If you want a new program, you either cut an existing one, or add a new tax. This should, keyword is should, keep spending under control, and should, keyword is should, keep bad programs at bay.

[ericdraven]

Originally Posted by Joe Hallenbeck

What are the "good programs"? Or let me run it by you another way: Has any federal program delivered what it promised(Roads do not count as those are done by states)?

If your answer is no then would you(if given the option) give up your favorite federal programs in exchange for never having to pay the income tax ever again?

Uhm the Library?

[Dutchman]

Oh fun, it's Politics Lite.

[The Heart Collector]

This is "John Galt", isn't it?

[BakeTheMooCow]

Too far off-topic.

Thread closed.