Canadians & Americans

[Sherlock]

Just heard an interesting little fact this week about the differences Walmart has noticed...

I believe it was Walmart who introduced the idea of the store greeter, and it seemed to be quite popular in their initial market of the United States, with most people talking to the greeter as they enter the store...

Here in Canada? They have noted that far fewer people approach the greeter (I forget the exact percentage), actually tending to cut a wide path around him/her, count me in that group of folks - the few times I even go to Walmart

There, now you learned something new today...

 

[GaryBeu]

Greeter didn't work in the Walmarts in Germany AT ALL !! Germans hated them.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

I must be Canadian....

 

[14dna]

Me Too Mickey

Dave

 

[TRMark]

I like the T shirt.

 

[DNK]

https://www.jsonline.com/general/37714089.html?bcpid=8725036001&bctid=704910938001

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

To me they have had a change of attitude over the years. I see them to be less of a greeter and more of a door cop.

 

[Gliderman8]

In defense of W'mart, they do provide some sense of dignity to these older workers giving them a place to go to besides sitting in front of a TV and at the same time providing a small income. One of the local W'marts here in town employs a severely handicapped <span style="font-style: italic">younger</span> person as the greeter. I would venture to say that if it weren't for W'mart employing him he probably would not be working. Just my thoughts.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

Elliot,

I would agree with you on all points. I have seen the same thing at the one nearest us. They no-longer say hi and get you a cart, like they use to.

That being said, I expect to be looking there for employment in a few years.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Our local Walmart "greeters" also tend more towards being receipt checkers when the shoplift alarm goes off; that said, some of them are very friendly regardless.

I don't think Walmart necessarily invented the greeter concept. From 1975-79, I worked for Kmart, and all the local stores had someone stationed at the entrance to greet customers and tend to other related tasks. (Not me, though; I spent the majority of my four-year "sentence" in the stock room!)