Chloe Oliver
Chloe Oliver of Foxworth writes a community column for the Marion County Informer. Her column appears every Wednesday.
Oh, the conundrums of daily life! What is going on at our local Wal Mart? The location of items and aisles have been moved so many times that I have stopped counting. Are you as dazed and confused as I am? Lately, it would take a Philadelphia lawyer or a psychic to know where items are located and why there is so much movement of items and departments. Although it is probably already apparent to the reader, I do not hold a degree in physiography or anything akin. I can only speculate. Perhaps you have your own theories that you can contribute. My theories are as follows:
Since several hours must now be allocated to shopping,maybe it is just a ploy to keep shoppers in the store for longer periods of time as they travel down numerous aisles searching for needed items. The longer you stay and the more aisles viewed should lead to more purchases.
Maybe sales of pup tents,camping gear, pain pills, energy drinks and water are slow. If trying to obtain all the items on a weekly grocery list, you will now need the aforementioned items in order to complete your shopping.
It might be an experiment on what it takes to annoy and disorient customers. Those aisles might really be like rat mazes for people and the cameras could be documenting behavior. Some scientist may view all the footage and write a paper to be published in a medical journal.
If you aren’t already sick, you will be as you wander around trying to find this week’s location of the pharmacy. You then risk life and limb to obtain medicines since other shoppers will mow you down with their buggies. They too, have wandered so long that they are mad and dehydrated. I’m not a conspiracy theorist,but this could be a way of weeding out the frail among us.
Maybe this is some type of new fitness program or effort to make us healthier shoppers. I know that I could benefit from the weight loss. The more aisles walked in search of mutable locations of items will certainly lead to more calories burned.In fact, I would guess that it is probably making healthier employees as they constantly move all this merchandise from place to place. Whatever they pay them is surely not enough. On second thought, it may not be making healthier employees. I would assume that the store has seen increased purchases by employees of muscle relaxants and heating rubs.
Since Columbia has already seen the change from a Wal Mart to a Super Wal Mart, maybe it is going to change again. “Hiking trails” and “amusement park” could be added to the store’s name.
We might be participating in a new campaign against dementia and Alzheimer’s. Leading experts suggest that whether you are just aging, or if you already have dementia, it is important to stay physically and mentally active.The constant change in the store should keep us all mentally and physically active. I confess to making mental notes while shopping. I might need to return for some unforeseen needed item before it is all moved again. Some experts suggest taking ginko biloba as a memory aid. I wanted to purchase some in an effort to help me remember aisle placement from week to week. I have been unable to find the ginko.Has anyone seen the ginko biloba?
Whatever the reasons, I will be happy when this musical chair, hide-and-seek game is completed at Wal Mart. As I encounter other shoppers, they seem to be experiencing the same problems. The expression “looking for a needle in a haystack” comes to mind. One week, I actually found the candy that I wanted in the shoe department.
Some may suggest asking a store employee for the location of an item. Good luck with that idea. After searching for a jar of pimento, I asked an employee for help. He walked to the end of the aisle and returned to me. Pointing toward the end of the aisle,he reported: “That is where it used to be, but it isn’t there now.” I had already ascertained this fact independently. I never located the pimento for purchase. I suppose that with the constant movement, even the employees are at a loss to know where things are to be found.
I hope that I have not stepped on any toes while voicing my annoyance. If so, someone may try to return the favor by stepping on mine. Never fear. My toes are too numb from trudging the aisles of Wal Mart to feel anything.
This made me smile.
Thanks!
I love this! This is so true….I live in North Miss. and our Walmart is the same!! They do this so we will run up on things we DON’T need and buy them! They just waste their time with me….I don’t buy what I don’t need….and if I can’t find it then I just go to another store and purchace it.
I am in total agreement. I feel like all this chaos at Wal-mart causes some sort of isle-rage like motorist on the road instead of road-rage. Thanks for voicing what so many of us are thinking!
There’s always the option not to shop there! If you dislike the store so much don’t go in it.
its called remodeling a store that is open 24 hours a day. I guess they should just close the doors completely until they are finished but I guess then you would complain about having to go to Hattiesburg and questiomn why they cant do one section at a time.
Here’s an idea for what’s in a name:It’s called using good old common sense. Since they are open 24hrs, why don’t they use this as a benefit and perform most of this shuffling from about 8pm-8am when there are notso many shoppers?
actaully they do. the bulk of the work starts at 9 p.m. and goes intot he wee hours of the morn. people are in the store 24 hours a day workin on the remodel.
No, but they should use some good sense and not do the “remodel” during peek business hours. Since the store is open 24/7, it would be much easier if they would limit the moving of items to non-peak hours such as 10pm to 5am.
I hate shoppin at walmart now!!! I really don’t like giving them my business! No one way complaing with the way it used to be so why change it?
the change is to better accomodate the customer. once it’s all over, it’ll make for a more enjoyable and convenient experience. haven’t you realized you always have to make a mess messier before getting things all cleaned up?
Ummmm… here’s a more simple explanation… They’re remodeling and replacing all of their shelving most likely. There you go.
Correct oh wise ones, clever screen name and what’s in a name. It still should not require everything be moved 10-15(or more) times in order to remodel or replace shelves.As far as not shopping there as just sayin suggests,I’m sure that they have lost some business during this period of time.Since Wally World has put so many smalll husinesses out of operation,it is sometimes difficult to find some things unless you go to Wal or go out of town. Either way, it seems that the article was a bit tongue in cheek and not actually a condemnation of the store.Wal Mart needs a little competition such as a Super Target. You would see Wal’s ideas of customer service and satisfaction change very quickly.
Targets are goin through a remodel also, following in the footsteps of Wal-Mart. Do you guys ever read national news or do you just stick to the local stuff? I swear it seems no one who reads the informer has ever been outside the county.
I don’t like all the shuffling right now, either. I do like the new paint and new fixtures! It looks clean and bright. I like the lower profile of the registers and shelves. I like the less cluttered feeling by the registers. I like the new produce display cases. I cannot wait until all the items are priced again – that’s my pet peeve right now, even though I do understand and have worked store renovations.
Someone who sees the light!
Now they just need some calming soft music playing overhead and for crying out loud….please get some friendly door greater’s!
Oh, I know what you mean. There is one door greeter that a piranha don’t have nothing on. I am usually leaving with $200 worth of groceries, while juggling an infant car seat and wheelchair, and this woman all but tackles me to see a sales ticket on the 7 dollar bag of dog food under 200 dollars worth of bagged groceries. Friendly + good sense PLEASE!
you can simpley refuse to show the receipt. there is no law that states you must show a receipt. if you refuse, they must stand down.
Thanks so much for helping me laugh about such an unpleasant experience.
I believe that Walmart is reducing the inventory that they carry. It is a sign of the bad economy but just watch Walmart will begin to carry less stuff that is why they are remodeling to make the isles bigger and not carry as much stuff.
Are you serious?
This is the first time they have remodeled in no telling when. Other changes are moving seasonal items. Welcome to the real world.
I use to love Wal Mart but now everytime I have gone in there I want scream….I leave there a wreck from searching around like a crazy woman, Dont ask any of the people who work there for help because they are just as lost as you are.Finally I said ENOUGH of this madness and started shopping at WD and the Pig . Its so much easier…no stress.Wal Mart upper management who gets paid the big bucks to think must have had a brain fart!
You hit the nail on the head with this one. I hated WalMart before the remodel and now I just downright despise it! I only go in there if I absolutely have to, which is rare. I feel like they are trying to monopolize our shopping. They have “deals” on many items to get you in the store and then mark up other items sky high to make up for the difference. And then try getting help from an employee… thats just a joke. No one has ever known where stuff is or what half of it is used for.
Shop local businesses, people!
I couldn’t agree with you more.I think that the next time I go in there I’m gonna grab the first asssociate I see and tell them,”Come on,we’re going shopping.”And another thing,why not use the space for other things where 98 of 100 cash registers aren’t being used?
Oh for the good old days when we went to town once a week in a car or truck with no AC. Most of the stores we shopped in had no AC either. Thank God for Wally World. Even with the remodel going on.
Hey My 2 cents, Where did you go to school? it’s Door Greeter not door Greater’s .. Got a laugh out of that.:)
Thank you for pointing that out! Maybe the School Board should read some of the comments posted and see how bad the education has gotten in Marion County. What ever happened to using correct grammar and spelling?
Hey 2 cents,you spelled walmart wrong.1L not 2
Ha! I got my diploma in the bubble gum machine at Wallmart.
LMAO!
Hey My 2 Cents, I got a laugh out of your comment Door Greater’s
It’s Door Greeter
Personally, I believe that the Wal-Mart Night Crew employees are so bored with nothing really to do and with so few custoners that they play their own version of hide-n-seek!
During the night, all the empoyees rearrange (hide) the merchandise on the shelves/isles and slip back in during the day to watch the customers play hide-n-seek while searching from shelf to shelf and isle to isle saying “well it was right here the other day!?!”
maybe some of you missed the memo, but this has been in the news on tv, and the web for months. they are remodeling tons of stores to make them more appealing to customers who otherwise wouldnt give walmart a second thought. the new, lower profile cashier booths and display racks are to make the store look a little less crowded and tacky. they will be easier to see over; u should be able to see more of the store from the same areas where all u see right now is more tall racks. the same reasoning is also behind the new sign on the outs of the store. while i could have done without the mess they have going on in there right now which is worse during the late night hours when i usually shop, im sure it will look better than it did when they got started. i am glad, however that they did not mess with the grocery side…
Like to have never found the boxed soy milk, used to be across from the cereal. Finally found it moved to the “juice” section, then it dawned on me that technically the stuff isn’t “milk” but as comedian Lewis Black says, it’s “soy juice”. Now it all makes “perfect sense”. You just have to start thinking in Wall-Thought, as in peanut “butter”, “honey” grahams, “vegetable” oil; you get the picture. Happy hunting…
I disliked walmart before and i feel worse now. We eat out alot right now because i refuse to go in the place. We did however go to Hattiesburg just to get groceries recently. I have almost had a nervous breakdown in the one hear and my child wanted a video game out of a locked case and had to wait about 45 min to an hour just to get it.I wanted to say forget it but he just waited there while i went on shopping. And last time i was in there (i have 3 children) you couldn’t go get soap or shampoo without passing the toys that i try to avoid at all cost. This place is awful and i will be visiting the hometown proud stores, Pig and Winn Dixie, more often. The higher prices will just be overlooked with the ease of shopping experience. Just maybe start clipin coupons, but i can come out with a smile and not wanting to leave a full buggie because you can’t find anything or payout b/c all the registers are closed. I remember when they opened there were signs stating all cash reg. open during certain times. that didnt last long. And don’t go to wal if you are in a hurry, run in run out situation, you will still be there for ever. they need a REAL express lane. makes my head hurt just to think of this but so glad i wasnt the only one aggrevated the the max.
yes i KNOW that was suppose to be here.. typo errors happen.
I heard that when Wal Mart came to Columbia, they had ten years before they had to pay taxes. After the ten year period was up they build a new building and move, getting another ten years with no taxes. Ten years later they REMODEL and get another ten years paying no taxes. Can someone tell me if this is true?
walmart has not been in the current location 10 years
I AGREE WITH MOST OF THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS. I DO APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO BUY MILK AT 12:30 AT NIGHT. MY QUESTIONS ARE: WHY DOES A SHOPPER HAVE TO HAVE AN ENTOURAGE WHEN THEY SHOP? DOES IT TAKE 4-6 PEOPLE TO WALK THE AISLES? OFTEN ABREAST! CAN ONE NOT WALK SINGLE FILE TO ALLOW OTHER SINGLE SHOPPERS A CHANCE TO GET BY TO GET THEIR ITEMS? AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR AND USE OF “PAWPAW” SCOOTERS, BUT IT WOULD SEEM SOME PEOPLE WOULD BENEFIT FROM WALKING AND PERHAPS OVER TIME; MAY NOT NEED THE SAME. ALSO, I SEEM TO NOTICE THE CONCEPT OF “IF AN ITEM SELL, LET’S NOT REPLACE IT!” I FEEL THERE IS LESS INVENTORY THAN BEFORE.
Iam Glade I Haven’t Been In @ Wally-World As Well.I Heard Its A Mess In There
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oh by the way JOSH,Good to talk @ you,the other day.
I luv this yahoo.com side of your page. i cant get any other ones
thanks & enjoy 10 .
Keep Up The Good Work Josh,& others.
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Just to be fair where is Mr. Rays statement about this “Store Manager” if this is a fair and balanced on line paper why did you not get his side i know him and i am sure he would more than happy to explain the reason why they are remodeling JUST SAYING
disgustede:Are you insane?What are you talking about”store manager”?Why would anyone need to contact Mr Ray to get his statement? All newspapers have community columns. Read some other newpapers. These columns are generally opinion statments as is the one above.It was not a news article where someone needs to be contacted for comment.If someone pokes fun at one of life’s inconviences in a community column, why would Mr Ray need to explain anything?He is probably following directions from a corporate level and is just as annoyed by all the moving confusion as anyone else.Please get a grip on reality.
Why would the Informer need to contact wal mart manager for comment? This was not a news article.All newspapers have community columns where people give opinions-none of them contact every subject of the articles for comment.
ok. i can agree with a lot of what you people are saying, but we don’t come to where you work and nag and complain about what you do with your business or money…and us remodel workers, we’re just doing what we’re told. in fact, mr. ray and the management team are just doing what they’re told. and as for the lady that wrote this article…GET A HOBBY!! we already know how chaotic everything is. you have too much time on your hands to complain about every little detail about wal*mart. sorry for all the inconveniences really..but your not gonna die ma’am. it’s all over on the 2nd with the re-opening. and!! i hear..we’re gonna have maps for you! have a great day!
Oh really?I’d be willing to wager that workin at wal*mart has voiced a complaint at a business. All people in business get complaints.After all, she is voicing a complaint right now. You would think that someone attacked her instead of speaking the truth about wal mart.
According to you, my mom, Chloe Oliver should not complain and just get a hobby instead. What do you think you are doing about this article…??? Complaining! Which you have the right to do. However, maybe you should familiarize yourself with the word hypocrisy~
that’s the way to tell’em! i’m a fellow associate. we don’t come to their jobs knockin the broom out of their hands, or tellin’em they missed a spot. we just politely walk around the wet floor signs they put out when they’re moppin.
Because they have eliminated much of the competition, they can now
streamline for profit by carrying
fewer products.
If Walmart was smart, they would read these comments and change to accomodate the public. But, I feel
these changes are to maximize profits and no one in Arkansas will listen. Support your local tax paying Marion County Merchants, because they care.
Do you actually hear what you’re saying? Change and listening to people is the reason for the remodel. Wal-Mart’s satisfaction levels have actually risen to over 50 percent in areas where the remodel is complete, putting them in the top ten bracket in this category in a national survey conducted by msn.
Overall, I think the article is hilarious. Some people just act like they’ve never had to remodel their homes or clean up a mess before. Guarenteed Wal-Mart isn’t going to lose any sleep, customers, or dollars because of an inconvenience that lasted a couple months. Just wait until Black Friday comes. You all will be full of turkey from Thanksgiving and rushing the doors to get those big screen tv’s that’ll be on sale and hoping that they don’t sell out just as you get to the front of the line.