Funnily enough even though I keep hearing this, I once worked at a grocery store and 9 times out of 10, we actually did have it in the back and didn’t mind getting it for customers. Most of the time it was just items in shelves that we hadn’t gotten around to restocking yet.
Although that was a rural store where most customers were just friendly retirees that didn’t yell at you for the smallest things, so there was less… Hostility.
The item was erroneously entered into the system during a delivery.
The item was not properly scanned out upon a sale. Maybe due to the barcode being replaced or entered into the system wrong so the item you bought wasn’t what was actually “sold” according to the computer system.
The problem goes the other way, too. Sometimes the items aren’t entered into the system at delivery, so it might say we have none when we literally just restocked it.
I spent a lot of time balancing the item counts to be accurate when there was not much else to do. It’s pretty much entirely human error and people not doing what they should be doing.
TIL not to trust online availability (this happens way too often). Would calling beforehand actually help or just bother the employees more because they’re busy and probably won’t look?
There was supposed to be 5 people in my department (Fresh) alone. Most days, I was all alone because nobody else came in, or they did but spent all their time in other departments (if they were working at all). But I was also in Fresh, at a Walmart with a super small fresh food section. There wasn’t much to stock or zone, outside of milk. So a lot of the time, I just sat in the fridge or freezer on my phone, doing the counts, or in the training room learning the processes for every job in the store.
Because the goal is to either have you buy it from the site and they’ll find it and ship it, or to get you physically into the store. They don’t care which, either are seen as a win.
Don’t fucking ask if we have it in the back.
If we had it in the back, it would be out in the front.
And yet, when I ask, they usually have it in the back.
Funnily enough even though I keep hearing this, I once worked at a grocery store and 9 times out of 10, we actually did have it in the back and didn’t mind getting it for customers. Most of the time it was just items in shelves that we hadn’t gotten around to restocking yet.
Although that was a rural store where most customers were just friendly retirees that didn’t yell at you for the smallest things, so there was less… Hostility.
Then why the hell is it on your website?
3 possibilities:
The problem goes the other way, too. Sometimes the items aren’t entered into the system at delivery, so it might say we have none when we literally just restocked it.
I spent a lot of time balancing the item counts to be accurate when there was not much else to do. It’s pretty much entirely human error and people not doing what they should be doing.
TIL not to trust online availability (this happens way too often). Would calling beforehand actually help or just bother the employees more because they’re busy and probably won’t look?
There is almost never a time where there is anyone to answer the phone. I don’t even think the customer service desk is in operation anymore.
Your store has enough staffing you have time to fix floor counts? Lucky.
lol enough staffing…
There was supposed to be 5 people in my department (Fresh) alone. Most days, I was all alone because nobody else came in, or they did but spent all their time in other departments (if they were working at all). But I was also in Fresh, at a Walmart with a super small fresh food section. There wasn’t much to stock or zone, outside of milk. So a lot of the time, I just sat in the fridge or freezer on my phone, doing the counts, or in the training room learning the processes for every job in the store.
Because the goal is to either have you buy it from the site and they’ll find it and ship it, or to get you physically into the store. They don’t care which, either are seen as a win.
What do you have in the back then?
the custodian closet to bang your coworker in
I don’t think you’d want to bang my co-workers.
Garbage. You want some empty boxes and plastic wrap?
I could use some sturdy boxes right now.
You’re keeping my relatives in the back?!?
Maybe. Does the plastic wrap have those little bubbles you can pop?
Vertebrae and subcutaneous fat
Haha damn I always ask if y’all got it in the back.