Ever wish that there was a place that you could receive honest reviews of local businesses? Wish no more!!! The Coventry Crusader is here!

Like many of you, the Crusader was looking for an honest review of a business and not just location and hours. The goal: To give an inside look at a shopping experience once a week at a Coventry business. Along with a description of the shopping adventure there will also be a rating system so that the reviews are as fair and acurate as possible.

First on the Crusaders review list- Coventry Super Walmart

When Walmart first entered the scene in Coventry it was like Elvis had entered the building. The employees were friendly, the shelves were stocked, and Walmart was truly a one stop shopping store.

Time passes and the decision is made to create a Super Walmart. Well, it seems Elvis has left the building. Most times when you try to have a one stop shopping experience-it doesn't happen. Many times Walmart is out of what you need. If you ask for help its a 50-50 chance that you get the right answer. Often times you leave frustrated. Here is a good example:

Coventry Crusader ordered an item on line to be delivered to the store. Site-to-Store has always been a positive experience. I head to the store to pick up my purchase and it is there ready and waiting. I decide while I am there to do a little shopping. The store had most of the items that I was looking for, but even non sale items are out of stock. I would find this more acceptable at a smaller store, but this is Super Walmart - aren't they supposed to have everything you need anytime? 

I head to the cash registers. The lines are long and slow as usual. Maybe they should pay by the customer rather than by the hour. The cashiers have blank expressions on their faces. My cashier is the same. She greets me like it is painful to say the words. My items are scanned and bagged. I have a gift card that was given to me when I made a return a few weeks ago that I decide to use.

After several attempts to get the machine to read it, someone figures out the gift card was never activated. When I explain to the manager that has finally come over that the gift card was given for a return rather than put back on my credit card, I am advised that it probably was put back on the credit card and not the gift card. The manager turns, tosses the gift card in the trash and leaves. I think that a little more effort could have been put into that but since the manager has now walked away before I could even ask a question, I decide to research it myself rather than have to stand in another line at customer service. I would probably get the same uninterested manager again!

I head home and sure enough the return was on my credit card. Although I was relieved the manager was correct-a little more concern for the customer would have been appreciated. 

Ratings:

(Rating system is based on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the highest)

Cleanliness: 8

Product Availability:  4

Staff knowledge: 2

Staff friendliness: 2

Overall Shopping Experience Rating : 2

The best part of the shopping expereince was wheeling my carriage out of the store. I think Super Walmart should try to have staff be more customer oriented. Don't get me wrong, there are some employees that do go above and beyond at the store. The few that don't ruin it for them because they are the ones that stick in your mind when you think of shopping there. They don't need to know all the answers, but a little compassion and an attempt to try the best they can goes a long way. I have found that smaller Walmarts in the area are friendlier and actually have more of a selection than Super Walmart.