Wal-Mart SuperCenter Associates do not follow Manager's Orders with Ease Anymore Used to be Great Madison Indiana

Went in Friday for an item I thought I could get at the Dollar Store, but they didn't have it, so I had to go to the damned ol' Wal-Mart. As usual, they had the item, but it was on the opposite side of the store from the duct tape I needed to go along with the cemetery saddles I was purchasing. Had to run to the other side. I was in a huge hurry and needed to get to the cemetery afterwards and appointments after that. Of course the Dollar Store downtown didn't have the saddles, so I had to waste time going to Wal-Mart.

I ran to hardware, and it begins at the paint desk. I caught a man there and asked where the duct tape was. He asked a female employee. She wanted to blow me off, saying, "that tape's over there in the other side of the store." I caught her with, "NO! Duct Tape!" She says, "oh, yeah, that's over through there," and she waves her arm. She was at the beginning of the department! It could've meant anywhere! I said, "Where is 'over through there?'" She said, "around that corner." I was fed up and took off wandering. I found it, finally. Keep in mind all I've ever heard is that the employee is TO TAKE THE CUSTOMER TO THE LOCATION OF THE REQUESTED ITEM. Not her.

They used to be pretty good about taking you to the item. Even when you told them you could find it, as long as they clarified the location, you didn't need them to go. But they would insist, saying it was their job, they would get in trouble if they didn't take you. But in the past couple of years, all of them are usually too busy to ever go with you. What are they worried about? It's not like they'll be working longer if they don't get their work done, we all know Wal-Mart won't allow them to get over forty hours. So, no matter what they spend their time doing, they will be out of there in less than forty hours.

After I got out of the store and was in the car, I called the store manager. He confirmed my belief that employees are to take the customer to the item, especially when asked twice about the location. He said he "would be having an immediate talk." But no matter his 'solution.' The trend is to get out of walking and helping as much as they can. If their damned associates don't like to walk a couple of aisles over, how do you think their customers feel about having to walk across the whole store to get one item? I can't even strategically park on one side or the other, as it seems I always have to trek across to get one item. I can't see how this place ever ran main street out of business, at least I would've felt justified getting back in the car to get varying items if they were in different stores.

I can see them putting the milk and eggs in the back to make you walk through everything to get to a staple. But putting all those clothes and crap in between groceries and hardware? Groceries and toys? It's not going to make me buy that crap. Their store needs to be more convenient to make us WANT to go there, not make us WANT to try the Dollar Store first.

People don't need to buy clothes at Wal-Mart every time they go, IF THEY EVEN BUY THEM THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. But they usually always need the groceries, and a lot of times they need a hardware item.

Oh well, be warned employees, you don't take me to an item, I'm calling the manager and reporting you so you and him can have a chat.

Also, to the woman here in question: you had your name tag turned backwards so I couldn't name you. But I did describe you, and I don't imagine it's hard for a manager to know the name of the only employee working the hardware department at a given time, and he named you. I've seen you before. You've failed to help me before, but I wasn't in such a hurry , and wasn't so pissed. That time you also tried to tell me to go to the cleaning supplies when I DID FIND the item in hardware. Seems to be your thing, shirk the responsibility. I'm going to send my buddy in to ask for an item and watch from a few