Letter to the Editor: No More Greeters at Walmart?

From Snellville resident Vicki Pomeroy:

"For many, many years I have heard and read how 'American' Sam Walton and his corporation are.  After experiences this weekend, I am seriously beginning to wonder about the validity of those claims.

My daughter and I went to the Snellville Walmart on Saturday and were surprised that there were no greeters at the entrance. I guess I had just never noticed how pleasant it was to be greeted by a friendly face when we shopped there. 

I asked the cashier about the missing greeters while we checked out and was informed that “we don’t have them at the door anymore” and “during busy hours there are usually a few outside of the customer service area."  

What? 

I was instantly disheartened by this news, as I have known several of the elderly greeters, many of whom had no real life outside of their jobs at Walmart.  I also wondered why Walmart has decided that paying a few senior citizens a minimum wage was too much for their corporation.  Just keeping a few  people, most of whom are struggling with loneliness and living on fixed incomes, on their payrolls would not only benefit those people, but our country’s economy and Walmart’s reputation as well.

Then we went over to Sam’s club, where I was again disheartened to see their latest campaign to get their customers to use the self-service check out aisles.  I can almost guarantee that the money Sam’s has invested in this latest -- and apparently not well-working --  technology,  cost a heck of a lot more money than the one or two people who seriously NEED jobs and could have been helped by the positions that Sam’s has now chosen to fill with computers.

Shame on you Sam Walton!!   Does anyone really see the whole picture/price of Sam’s/Walmart’s selfish decisions?"

(Editor's note: Yes, we know Sam Walton is no longer with us. You get the point.)

What do you think about the lack of greeters at Walmart? The self checkout line?