Walmart Anxiety

You can also look up their phone number and call the shipping/receiving. Ask them first if they allow big rigs (some do not these days), then ask them the best way in and out.

Shipping and receiving,...at a store? That's funny. Call and ask for a manager or asst. manager. Rarely will anyone answer the phone in the dock area.

I did not write this info as a joke or to be "funny". Sorry I did not write it the way a MODERATOR would have preferred.

I think his statement was an indictment of the chances that the average store would have someone on the docks, not of your statement.

Walmart stores don't have a shipping/receiving department that you would go to. Whatever Shift leader or assistant store manager that is on duty handles inbound shipments. Just call the store and ask to speak with the assistant manager that is on duty. (For Evenings and Nights) During the day groups of departments have an assistant manager on duty. I would go for grocery or fresh foods assistant managers. During the weekdays you could even ask to talk to the store manager. Any of the aforementioned should be able to tell you if they will let you park and the route used for trucks with inbound shipments.

Patrick wrote:

Walmart stores don't have a shipping/receiving department that you would go to. Whatever Shift leader or assistant store manager that is on duty handles inbound shipments. Just call the store and ask to speak with the assistant manager that is on duty. (For Evenings and Nights) During the day groups of departments have an assistant manager on duty. I would go for grocery or fresh foods assistant managers. During the weekdays you could even ask to talk to the store manager. Any of the aforementioned should be able to tell you if they will let you park and the route used for trucks with inbound shipments.

Totally agree! Even if someone happens to be in the dock area and the phone on the receiving desk rings (that's if there is one) they are usually too busy to answer it.

My job is delivering to Walmart Stores. Getting in and out quickly is a big part of the game. I call every store and request that a manager or asst. manager let me into the receiving area after docking. Ringing the bell results in very long wait times and nets poor results.

So Charles,...same holds true for parking and then shopping at a Walmart. Call a head of time, ask for a manager, let them know you intend to shop at their store,...they will help you find the best way to the store and safely park. Remember many of these stores do not allow truck parking, they do not have the space for it. Even after checking a satellite image, still best to call before assuming.

The reason ringing the bell gives you really long wait times is only the assistant manager on duty has the keys to the lock. Occasionally the team leader for their backstock team has the key. Walmart keeps changing the name of the team that works 2nd/3rd and handles clearing out the backstock areas. This team works both grocery and non food backstock areas.

So if you just ring a bell then whoever is MAYBE in the dock area has to go page the assistant manager on duty. Then once they show up can unlock the door. The managers are not the quickest usually to respond to a page, LoL.

Basically unless someone is waiting to throw away trash (door to chute is locked), putting cardboard in a compactor, waiting to take a cardboard bale out, or waiting to take out compost, you are ringing the bell hoping that someone happens to be walking thru.

Patrick wrote:

The reason ringing the bell gives you really long wait times is only the assistant manager on duty has the keys to the lock. Occasionally the team leader for their backstock team has the key. Walmart keeps changing the name of the team that works 2nd/3rd and handles clearing out the backstock areas. This team works both grocery and non food backstock areas.

So if you just ring a bell then whoever is MAYBE in the dock area has to go page the assistant manager on duty. Then once they show up can unlock the door. The managers are not the quickest usually to respond to a page, LoL.

Basically unless someone is waiting to throw away trash (door to chute is locked), putting cardboard in a compactor, waiting to take a cardboard bale out, or waiting to take out compost, you are ringing the bell hoping that someone happens to be walking thru.

Thanks for the details Patrick. Exactly why I always call, not only when I arrive at the store I am delivering to, but I will also call when leaving the previous stop and give the next stop an ETA.

The OP, Kat was interested in safe ingress and egress necessary to park and shop at Walmart. I cannot think of any additional suggestions...

Thank you all for the info and suggestions.