Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it 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.
Shopper Events will launch a new demo program called “Tastes and Tips” with new carts, signs, uniforms and a trained team. A spokesperson for the company said the move was not made to save money.”It’s not a cost cutting measure, its really an investment in enhancing our demo program.”
Shopper Events plans to hire “roughly the same number of people” cut, and said Sam’s Club workers are invited to apply for those positions.
Here’s my big concern. Though Walmart Club, Inc says that the demonstrators working for Sam’s Club will be considered for employment by the outside marketing company, how many of them (especially the senior citizens) will actually be rehired?
I never take food samples when I go to Sams (my husband likes nibbling), but I do enjoy watching the sample people do their thing. Some of them have been there for years and are familiar faces to the crowds of hungry samplers. They always have something nice to say to the customers, more than just facts about the products they are handing out.
I’m not sure if replacing these folks with a “trained team” will improve customer service. I think what people really want (and need) these days is some old fashioned I care about you service.
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p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
Agree’d, Agree’d, Agree’d Debi. And, full service gas stations, where while your gas was pumping they checked your oil and water levels and cleaned the windshield!
I remember (and miss) those days!
Amen to that! I like the fact that some of these demonstrators look like my grandma. They are always so pleasant and seem to be genuinely interested in you as a person.
I agree! Thanks for writing!
Mornin Debi, We worship at the alter of youth. Even we middle age women say some off color things about ourselves. We buy new so we will not be considered old, out of fashion, up to date and I am not talking tech. new products, young people! I ,like yourself and others like seeing the older women and men at their work with smiles on their faces. Somebody dreamed up that we should retire at 55 yrs old and that became the standard, I believe 65 yrs. old standard. Re-hire at lower wages and because so many are out of work, you can get college educated people for a faction of the cost. Indeed how many of the seniors will be rehired? Good question
Thanks!