Walmart Supercenter

I shop here all the time because it’s cheap and convenient. 99% of the time I find what I need and the staff is pleasant but tonight, not so much!
It’s 6:20 and I’m standing in front of the Walmart hot box. I see there is no orange chicken. I ask the ever so helpful lady if I could have some orange chicken. The typical response is «sure but it will take 10 minutes» however the lady says «were out» to which I kindly reply «I see that, and I’m happy to wait» to which she replies «no, we close at 7, I can’t make anymore». I look down at the time to see that is 45 minutes away… either you are closed or open. Possibly something about turning the fryers off? Either way, if a polite customer is there wanting to buy something you don’t have ready, and you are OPEN, you make it. It’s that simple!
Even restaurants will begrudgingly serve guests that come in 10 minutes before closing, and this lady had 45, and I would have taken it all! Even if you don’t care, always apologize to the customer, be nice and explain it. Just reaffirms that you don’t go to Walmart for customer service, you go there because it’s cheap. Will this keep me from shopping there, no, because you have no choice but geez, even if you are getting paid minimum wage be thankful you have a job and be pleasant to customers who are spending there money in your store! =/

The assistant manager, Joseph, in the auto service department is a joke. Cocky little ginger haired kid. They lost a piece of my property and he had the nerve to get verbally aggressive, cut me off mid sentence, and basically accuse me of lying. Someone needs to teach this guy some professionalism… But then again, he works at Walmart.

I can’t really say I’m a fan of any Walmart but they are part of the new economic and even social paradigm that has replaced the small Mom and Pop shops of small towns and big cities. They have become the market place where people of many walks of life go for the everyday stuff we think we need and want. Whether it’s food, beverages or even a bank, the Walmarts across America seem to have what people are looking for.
The Cottonwood Supercenter is no different. In fact, it’s probably the one place that is frequented by the greatest number of Verde Valley residents than any other business. Why is this so? It’s because they have lots of stuff at a reasonable price that has respectable quality. Bang for the buck so to speak.
Having lived in the Verde for nearly 30 years, I remember the days before the original, smaller Walmart was built. We had to go to Flagstaff or Prescott for big ticket items or to save a half a buck on a loaf of bread (which was more than eaten up by the cost of gasoline). Having one so close is a good thing despite all the bad press they get for not paying their employees enough or selling mostly «made in China» products.
There’s really nothing that sets this particular store apart from all the other Walmart clones across America. It is what it is. They provide a desirable outlet for services and retail and they probably will continue to do so for decades to come until something new and different comes along to displace them just like they did to the five and dimes we used to frequent.
My only grip is they occasionally run out of products which is inconvenient and annoying. They also move things around from time to time which adds to the scavenger hunt like adventure. On a positive note, they’re wonderful about returning or exchanging items and the people who work there certainly don’t seen unhappy. I recognize several who have been there for years.