Wal-Mart = sad

I hate Wal-Mart.

For those of you in close proximity to me this will come as no surprise. I don't hate Wal-Mart because I feel they are a poor corporate citizen. I don't hate Wal-Mart because they aren't union or don't pay their employees enough or give them benefits. By all means I would encourage Wal-Mart to continue doing what they are to stay in business and provide a 'product' that consumers are willing to gobble up.

I hate Wal-Mart because of their employees. I work in a service industry and I do what I can to encourage civility and courtesy to customers at all possible times. I feel that in a service industry you should try to meet a customers need before they know they have that need. That is the epitomy of service.

Today I had to get the oil changed. Wal-mart is not my first choice but many places that I would prefer to go either are no longer in existence or because they are a small business they took the luxury of closing for a long Holiday weekend. I first went the the Wal-Mart on West Shaw. After stopping the car (which contained my two children) getting out and standing by the service desk for 5 minutes all the while watching the attendant talk on his cell phone and shoot me furtive glances I departed in disgust.

I then proceded to the Wal-Mart on Ingram. A promising sign, there were people working and there was not a back log of cars. I parked the car and went inside to the service desk (with my two children) and stood for 5 minutes while the person behind the desk tried to explain to a gentlemen the difference between what he would pay for tires and for insurance and that if he didn't buy insurance now he couldn't do it later. After this entertaining exchange the man made his decision and moved out the way. The person; the only person behind the counter promptly dissapeared as I approached the counter. I waited for a few minutes and they returned and took my information.

We proceeded to peruse Wal-Mart for TWO HOURS while I waited for the car to be serviced. Wal-Mart is not my ideal place to spend TWO HOURS especially with a 3 month old and and a 2 year old with pink eye.

Finally the car was completed and we made our way to pay for the 'services' rendered only to find a line of 4 people all purchasing non-automotive related materials at the automotive counter with the same person working the check-out that had done such a stellar job before. It took this 'stellar' employee 23 minutes to ring up 4 people who were buying bath products and Christmas decorations. I finally made it to the counter and the clerk found this to be an opportune time to answer the phone that had been ringing untended during the previous 4 customters. Jack decided to voice my displeasure in a wail of frustration that I was feeling. I paid my fee and departed as quickly as possible.