It just now dawned on me that almost every Wal-Mart I've been in, regardless of the area, has full shelves ALWAYS. How does Wal Mart accomplish this while Kroger can't?
My opinion: Walmart has higher holding power due to their larger footprint meaning there is less risk of product running out so call-ins and mispicks aren't as easily noticeable to the customer. Volume spikes are less impact full as well. Kroger tries to diversify their products so much that it hurts in-stock positions. If you have one row of everything, it's incredibly difficult to stay in business. Especially when you're running a truck to shelf system where you only keep a minimal inventory on hand at all times. There is a balance between diversity and holding power and there is always room for improvement in that regard.
I have to agree, Walmart does not stock a variety of items, basically just the main national brands and the store brand with some commodities having a small specialty mix. You also have to think about the level of the market Walmart is attracting, which might be more willing to substitute brands Also, Walmart might also be stocking to fill the shelves, stocking for the "predicted sales" is causing product out of stock because of the customer ever changing patters. Why didn't Kroger have issues as dramatic years ago with out of stocks? We were ordering to fill the shelves!! Walmart and Kroger have the same buying power, Walmart I'm sure can pound the price down a little more, but with Kroger doing 100B+ manufactures want their items on the shelf.
Walmart also keeps back stock on a top shelf that they added last year. So if they do run out they don't have to go to the back if their is a decent about up their. Also Kroger keeps comming out with different systems and cutting hours it's hurting them. I asked if we could order mor of a product the sales so quickly only a select few customer when we do get it in get to have it. They were concerned about being over ordered
Former walmart slave here. It's been a few years since I jumped ship, but between what I remember of it and what I see now as a shopper, I honestly don't know which stores have that kind of wonderous on-hand shelf inventory. My experiences (then and now) were quite the opposite---they would have us 'zone' (what Kroger calls 'conditioning') our side counters, pull things forward, neaten them up-----so much that all we were really doing was disguising our outs.
As for freight/product on the risers, that practice comes and goes periodically. What it usually means, when you see it stacked on top like that, is their backrooms are hopelessly plugged and virtually impossible to get anything out from. Obviously this creates huge bin scanning issues.
But yeah, wally overall definitely does NOT have any inventory advantage over Kroger.
I have to agree, Walmart does not stock a variety of items, basically just the main national brands and the store brand with some commodities having a small specialty mix. You also have to think about the level of the market Walmart is attracting, which might be more willing to substitute brands Also, Walmart might also be stocking to fill the shelves, stocking for the "predicted sales" is causing product out of stock because of the customer ever changing patters. Why didn't Kroger have issues as dramatic years ago with out of stocks? We were ordering to fill the shelves!! Walmart and Kroger have the same buying power, Walmart I'm sure can pound the price down a little more, but with Kroger doing 100B+ manufactures want their items on the shelf.
You said "I have to agree, Walmart does not stock a variety of items,"
WHAT????? I think we are thinking of different types of items in the store, or your definition of "variety" is different than mine........are you speaking mainly of Grocery/food?? .......I see a HUGE variety of many, many kinds of items, and many different sizes, types, brands within a certain genre. I also notice that Walmart has a terrible time keeping alot of the "minor' this and thats in stock. the Walmart here often looks almost as bad as some Dollar Stores or Big Lots, as far as how empty or disorganized some shelves are.
For instance, the office supplies........lots of empty place-holder spots for rubber bands, pushpins, staples, pens, etc, etc and many times I shop in that aisle, quite a number of those spots are competely sold out.......empty.......or (maybe) just one left. One time I asked an employee why there were so many empty spots, and they told me there was gobs of inventory crammed in the back, but it was very difficult to get to everything (other stuff piled in front or on top) and there just wasn't enough help/hours in that department to take care of getting it all out on the shelves.
The Walmarts around me tend to have empty shelves too. Not sure what you are talking about. Maybe low volume stores are able to do their jobs better?
The Walmart closest to my workplace is almost always out of stock for whatever I went in there for. It's uncanny.
Same. I actually stopped 90 + % of my grocery shopping there and have switched to food for less, sav-a-lot and, of course, Kroger. Walmart I just go to now for the social outlet lol
Walmart doesn't allow their employees to stand around and do nothing. Walmart has employees that order what they need and not less. Walmart knows how to mark things down if their over stocked.
It just now dawned on me that almost every Wal-Mart I've been in, regardless of the area, has full shelves ALWAYS. How does Wal Mart accomplish this while Kroger can't?
Not sure about other Wal-marts. But I know the ones in my area OVER fill their tables in their bakery. I swear you can come in and see like a whole buffet like table and displays of stuff just piled high. It's like when they get anything new in they must set out the whole box in one sitting. Not sure what happens in the rest of the aisles. As some of the tv dinners don't be quite as full at times. But for sure their bakery is just like what in the world?!
