[SolidSnake84]

OK i've spent the last few minutes browsing different forums and websites and i've came to some conclusions that are all backed up by the statements of employees and a few anyonymous managers..

#1) Walmart is attempting to gradually introduce more self-checkout lanes in order to bypass the need for extra human workers.
ihatewalmart.com says that Walmart has 1 worker monitoring 8 self-checkout stations, so walmart could significantly reduce human workforce to 2 humans overseeing 16 lanes, which is probably the most open lines walmart has had for some time. This however will backfire because your average person is too dumb to operate one.

#2) Walmart service/store appearance is directly related to the economic situation/location of where the store is in relation to its customer base.
Old Winchester, VA Walmart: Decrepit old building, only painted cinderblock walls, worn down/torn interior tiling on floors. No self checkout lanes. Store is located in slum/run down area of town. Store always understaffed badly (Poverty level of customers)


New Walmart on Route 50(Winchester, VA): Attractive stucco cielings, vinyl siding outside, terra cotta roof, and fully paved parking lot. Location is in a country, rural setting, so average customer base is probably upper-middle class. Service here is noticably better and there are more workers.

The bottom line is i think that Walmart figures the poor people are used to being treated like crap, so they give the poor stores nothing, while they take care of the richer areas.....

a manager on walmartsucks.org states that their unspoken motto is "Do more with Less". As Walmart continues to be the retail leader, they can get away with providing worse service and laying off human jobs, since they realize that customers aren't going to shop somewhere else...