Additional Coverage:
- 11 Things Walmart Employees Wish Customers Would Stop Doing (financebuzz.com)
Local Walmart Workers Share Their Biggest Pet Peeves: A Plea for Shopper Kindness
[City, State] – With household budgets feeling the pinch and shoppers increasingly turning to big box stores for savings, many are looking for ways to stretch their dollars. But while consumers are seeking Walmart shopping “hacks,” employees on the front lines are hoping for a different kind of hack: a little more consideration from customers.
Walmart associates, who earn an average of nearly $18 per hour according to the company, often face a demanding workload. Many have taken to online forums to share their frustrations and offer a glimpse into the daily behaviors that make their jobs harder. Here’s a rundown of what local Walmart employees are politely (and sometimes not-so-politely) asking customers to stop doing:
1. The Last-Minute Dash (and the First-Minute Too!): We’ve all been there – a sudden need for milk at 9:58 PM.
But employees preparing for closing and those getting ready for the day beg shoppers to avoid the very last (and very first) hour of operation. As one overnight stocker on Reddit, “Wonderful-Citron-478,” put it, “what really annoys me is when customers shop at the last hour we’re open, and the first hour that we’re open.”
2. Off-Duty Doesn’t Mean On-Call: Spot an employee without their vest?
Chances are, they’re on a well-deserved break. Workers are legally entitled to these respites, and they’re not obligated to assist customers when they’re off the clock.
A Reddit user eloquently stated, “You are not entitled to my free labor…it may be mental labor but still labor none the less. Also, I’m not helping people off the clock.”
**3. Produce at the Pharmacy?
Think Again! ** Those convenient electronics or pharmacy checkouts are great for a few non-weighted items.
But if your cart includes bananas or apples, head to a main register. These express lanes lack scales, leading to frustrating delays for both you and the cashier.
One employee shared their exasperation: “When a customer tells me to ring up their entire cart of stuff and then gets pissed when they can’t buy bananas even though I told them that I can’t sell weighted items since we don’t have a scale.”
4. The Cart Conundrum: Shopping carts left haphazardly throughout the store or abandoned at registers create obstacles for both staff and fellow shoppers.
Returning carts to designated areas not only keeps the aisles clear but also saves employees extra work. “There were a few times when I had to leave my register to pick up a cart because they just decided to leave in front of my register and people had to walk around it,” a cashier recounted.
5. The “Treasure Hunt” of Abandoned Items: Changing your mind about a purchase is perfectly fine, but leaving items in random spots across the store is a major pet peeve.
If you can’t return it yourself, please hand it to an employee. This is especially crucial for refrigerated or frozen goods, which become unsellable if left out.
**6. Personal Space, Please!
** While employees are happy to help with questions about items or pickup orders, there’s no need to shove your phone inches from their face. Hold it out, and they’ll get the message.
Reddit user “TheChronicInsomniac” particularly dislikes it when anyone “shoves their phone so close to your face, if you stuck your tongue out you’d lick it.”
7. Pallets are Serious Business: When an employee is navigating a store with a large, loaded pallet, it’s a dangerous and cumbersome task.
Stepping in front of them or interrupting their path can be hazardous for everyone involved. If you need assistance, please find an associate who isn’t operating heavy equipment.
As “DontcallmeArchie” explained, “We can’t stand it when a customer sees you coming with a loaded pallet and proceeds to step in front of you and pause.”
**8. Hands Off the Bagging Area!
** Cashiers have a rhythm, and constantly spinning the bagging carousel while they’re still loading items disrupts their flow. If you want to help, focus on removing loaded bags to create more space, especially during large orders.
**9. The “It Must Be Free!”
Gag:** This age-old “joke” about unscannable items has long lost its humor for cashiers. When a product doesn’t scan, employees are working to resolve the issue – they’ve heard the line a thousand times.
As “VomPup” shared, when something doesn’t scan, customers “always say that.”
10. Courtesy Counts When Interrupting: While it’s often necessary to interrupt an employee, patience and politeness go a long way.
If they’re clearly assisting another customer, wait your turn. Snapping fingers or clapping loudly, as “QueenFF” described, is particularly rude.
11. Speak in Sentences, Please: Simply blurting out a single word, like the name of an item you can’t find, leaves employees guessing.
A polite, complete sentence makes it much easier for them to understand and assist you. “Elegant-Celery666” expressed frustration when customers “approach me and just say what it is that they’re looking for…like, c’mon.”
Bottom Line for Shoppers:
As families navigate rising costs and rely on stores like Walmart for essentials, it’s crucial to remember the individuals working hard to serve the community. A little kindness and respect for these common requests can significantly improve their workday and, in turn, make your shopping experience more pleasant.
Read More About This Story:
- 11 Things Walmart Employees Wish Customers Would Stop Doing (financebuzz.com)