"IMO, Walmart has cut WAY too much store labor and service levels have severely eroded...."
Declining same-store sales have a way of putting pressure on managers to cut hours. But me thinks it has something to do with store managers not fully understanding the term "sales forecasting"....
"....Walmart introduced a computer scheduling system that stores cannot override called "Scorecard" and the computer is "always right"."
Schedules aren't written via Scorecard. Data from the Scorecard can dictate how hours are allocated, on the other hand. Accurate sales forecasting is key.
"...Except that the computer doesn't comprehend variables like seasonal variables in resort/recreation areas, events like fairs and festivals, welfare/foodstamp/SSA-check-distribution dates, and so forth."
Not necessarily accurate. Stores do take into consideration such variables. What becomes a major challenge is predicting weather events. But then again who can accurately predict the weather?
"Then Walmart intro'd its "Ad/Match Price Guarantee" with much fanfare, then added so many crappy rules and exclusions that customers are literally abandoning huge carts of food at the registers and walking out in disgust. That's frustration squared after waiting in line to be rung out for 20 minutes because Walmart schedules very few cashiers in order to drive customers to the new self check out lanes which are plentiful and uncrowded."
The Ad/Match Price Guarantee is very broad; it practically covers all products, all competitor's coupons and all ads...provided the competitor falls within a certain radius of the store. The only thing it doesn't cover are gimpy/confusing advertisements and double/triple coupons. Having said this some managers do not fully understand...for whatever reason...this policy so in order to preserve profit margin they do not communicate this to the cashiers. Who in turn provide the wrong feedback to customers. But that's only PART of the problem here....
"....The Walmart experience is sadly starting to look a lot like the Kmart "Blue Light Special" experience of 15 years ago."
If Wal-Mart doesn't bridge its logistical problems (that causes out of stock issues) it will eventually become the next Kmart. One of the ways Wal-Mart could solve this problem is to build small-concept distribution/transdock/crossdock distribution centers in order to alleviate backorders and congestion at the larger distribution centers.
Ordinary
