I visited my local Walmart and saw overflowing shelves and temporary sales bins as the company and employees face overstock issues https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/i-visited-my-local-walmart-and-saw-overflowing-shelves-and-temporary-sales-bins-as-the-company-and-employees-face-overstock-issues/slidelist/93236433.cms 2022-07-30T18:17:24+05:30 2022-07-30T17:06:10+05:30 I visited my local Walmart and saw overflowing shelves and temporary sales bins as the company and employees face overstock issues Jul 30, 2022, 18:17 IST
Pallets of goods and towering boxes at a Walmart store.Anonymous
Walmart stores are dealing with overstock of some merchandise, workers told Insider . I visited a Rochester, New York location to see if there was evidence of overstock,
Walmart. AP
Walmart's excess inventory is piling up in stores, workers told Insider's Ben Tobin, after the chain ended the quarter with a 32% increase in inventory. Source: Insider
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I visited my local Walmart in Rochester, New York to see what it was like on the ground. I visited my local Walmart in Rochester, New York to see what it was like on the ground.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The shoe section was the first area where I saw clear overcrowding of merchandise. The shoe section was the first area where I saw clear overcrowding of merchandise.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Paris of shoes were stacked up in large piles and falling off shelves. Paris of shoes were stacked up in large piles and falling off shelves.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
Walmart recently said that customers slowed down spending on apparel because of rising costs of essentials like food. Source: Insider
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I saw a similar situation in the clothing areas, where hangers were packed so tightly that they couldn't be moved. I saw a similar situation in the clothing areas, where hangers were packed so tightly that they couldn't be moved.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Walmart said that it was marking down prices on clothing to "reduce inventory" and get them into customers' hands. Walmart said that it was marking down prices on clothing to "reduce inventory" and get them into customers' hands.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
This was evident during my Walmart trip, with clearance racks overflowing. This was evident during my Walmart trip, with clearance racks overflowing.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
Four Walmart employees told Insider's Ben Tobin that their stores are using trailers to store extra apparel inventory. Source: Insider
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I wasn't able to see if there were trailers at this Walmart, but every single shelf and rack in the clothing areas were full beyond what they seemed designed to hold. I wasn't able to see if there were trailers at this Walmart, but every single shelf and rack in the clothing areas were full beyond what they seemed designed to hold.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The overstock and packed shelves extended to accessories, too. The overstock and packed shelves extended to accessories, too.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It was hard to tell how much of the disarray was from an overstock of merchandise, and how much was just from general disorganization, It was hard to tell how much of the disarray was from an overstock of merchandise, and how much was just from general disorganization,
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Some other areas were similarly overcrowded, like this section of crafting supplies. Some other areas were similarly overcrowded, like this section of crafting supplies.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
Walmart said it was using discounts on certain products to try to sell more inventory, which I saw during my visit. Source: Insider
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
End caps and displays in between aisles showed dozens of rollbacks, primarily on appliances. End caps and displays in between aisles showed dozens of rollbacks, primarily on appliances.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I also saw boxes holding more items throughout the store, some being unloaded by workers and others seemingly left there. I also saw boxes holding more items throughout the store, some being unloaded by workers and others seemingly left there.
Boxes of hats and purses looked like they were in the middle of being unloaded. Boxes of hats and purses looked like they were in the middle of being unloaded.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Near the checkout aisles of the store, bins were lined up with sale items displayed. Near the checkout aisles of the store, bins were lined up with sale items displayed.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I've never seen these bins with items set out before, so it's possible that they're a temporary measure to store excess merchandise. I've never seen these bins with items set out before, so it's possible that they're a temporary measure to store excess merchandise.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Over half of the items in the bins were more shoes. Over half of the items in the bins were more shoes.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com .
Walmart is now allowing regional managers to pause automatic delivery on certain items, which could help alleviate inventory overflow. Source: Insider
Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com .
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