A Voice Crying In the Wilderness WAS HEARD!!???

[Carol Ann]

SOMEBODY GOT IT   Our voices really DO change things   Made my hasty trek to WalMart today and was SO disgruntled with the topsy turvy mess as they are progressing with the change to a super center.  For a moment I thought the craft dept. was already gone!  Supplies are so low in crafts now BUT I did see more of a supply of the new Redheart "Flecks" / fiesta lines AND the Simply Soft Eco is on the shelves now.  A great relief that the new SS is 2.28 / 5oz. skein --- lower than first predicted.  (OK, so I DID buy some since the "aqua" is such a beatuiful shade.  And, Hubby was so impressed with the # of plastic bottles per skein and in an afghan, etc).  I was totally bummed with the 4.97 price of the RH Fiesta since I am used to paying half that price for the "makes ME happy" old RH).  The Fiesta IS such a beautiful yarn though.  Coned Cotton dwindled down to very little but there are promises to order more.  BIG NEWS for my neck of the woods:  Salesgirl in crafts told me the decision just came down:  My store is KEEPING THE ENTIRE CRAFT DEPT....fabrics and all!!!!  Dare I believe them   I mentioned I had recently contacted Corporate offices (again) with a demanding plea to keep the craft section ---particularly at my "Local" area store (closest one to me and still 40 min away).  Her eyes grew quite wide and she said, " Wow!  The Asst. store manager told us that SOMEONE had phoned and it got passed down from the top to the bottom that we are now at the last minute going to be able to maintain the dept."!  She promised that all items were to remain and more and regular re-supply of yarns and threads, etc. would be available.  She said the craft clerks were told that this store's dept. is a "growing" business and making money.  She said she knew I was the one who talked to the manager and "made" them get more colors and cones of WW cotton and challenged them to test the market.  (They selll hundreds of cones now so fast they can hardly keep up with re-order BTW.  Only bummer is they raised the price from 6.64 to 6.97 but when I look at the alternatives I am still thrilled to get it so cheap).  Sorry for rambling on but remember that 1-800-WalMart might just make a big difference if you dial it!  And, time will tell if they follow through with the promises.

[Bende - Forum Admin]

That is awesome news carol ann...........that's 2 of us seeing some "promising" changes........even still, I think I WILL make that call tomorrow since I really WANT to be sure it keeps going in the right direction!

[Crochets247]

We have 3 Walmart's here locally.  One of them has gotten rid of their fabrics and it appears that they are reducing the yarn and other crafts too.  A lot is on sale right now with nothing new stocked.

The other 2, kept fabrics and yarn (the last time I was over there anyway).  I may have to venture there this week and check them out.  Keep your fingers crossed that they will still have more yarn there.

I'm glad to hear that your's is keeping the crafts dept.  Some aren't so lucky, I've heard.

[tweed]

All of my Walmarts...all Super Centers are down to near nothing. I am going to try the call, I hope it isn't to late! GO CAROL!!!! I may be sending you money to shop for me. I have the little shop in my town, cones of cotton are 12.00 and I wait 2 or more weeks for an order.

[Carol Ann]

NEVER too late to try, Girls.  Afterall, with enough consumer pressure they just might have to re-evaluate and make room and re-stock the craft items.  Heck, they are getting so much new inventory (changing lines) in the yarns, at least, what would be the difference if they ramped up again---instead of ramping down?  I truly believe that if all of the crafters across the country that shops WalMart craft dept would make a call it would (or would have) made a difference.  E-mails have been totally useless as many of you know.  The person I had on the phone was obviously not enthusiastic about listening to my rant but she did not get away with brushing me off AND I knew the call was being monitored and recorded.     All that said---I will still be waiting and watching to see how it turns out when we are a completed super center by next Spring / Summer.  BTW, don't forget that they need to know that people who do charity work shop Walmart because it is the only reasonably priced place for yarns, etc. when no free source of supplies is available.  (I shop for yarns /threads at discount stores and Goodwill, etc. but even a few skeins or balls of thread are near impossible to be found most of the time). 

[tweed]

Emails were a waste of time! I sent three. Not a single response. I am calling first thing tuesday. I imagine the office folks are off for the holiday.

[CrochetGirl96]

wow! so glad you got to keep your craft dept.! Both our WalMarts don't have them anymore. Well, we do have some yarn and and needles and hooks.

[Carol Ann]

    Wellllllll.... as of yesterday the craft manager and customers were told that we ARE LOSING most of the craft dep't    Obviously upper level Corporate doesn't care how many voices are pleading to save what is one of the top selling WM craft dep'ts in the country. 

[CrochetGirl96]

aww, thats HORRIBLE!!!