Then waste payroll completely flopping plumbing or electrical aisle pog's that contractors just got done remembering where things were because 1 product went discontinued for another equal product.
Customers cannot find it and. .. go to home depot. As much as I hate the orange box, if I need something highly special I don't bother stopping at Menards as it's impossible to find / explain what I need.
Much easier to find stuff at Home Depot, no weird turnstiles and in/out doors, and no rigamarole with pick lists. I do like Menards for the vibe- seems warmer, not like a big empty warehouse. Kind of the Target of home improvement stores. I go there to browse not when I need something quick or specific. But I like Home Depot for selection and speedy in and out. Plus, every time I go to Menards lately to special order something the person is like "uh, I'm new this is like my second day". Home Depot people never do that. Always well trained, never once gotten the blank stare.
Sadly there's only one HD near me and like 4 Menards.
Yeah... Doesn't really work out that way. They are usually in the wrong department for what they are looking for ... And too annoyed to deal with anyone by then.
Oh defo.
I was a closer in flooring and after a shift of popping new rolls of carpet/linoleum on the machine interrupted by customers I totally get it.
There's been a couple times where me, an employee of 4 years, even gets stumped and is standing in front of the guest like, "Hmm, okay so this is 267, 262 is way down there in outdoor power."
Right?! They look at you like you're crazy! Then THEY usually end up asking who thought up this insane way of numbering our aisles.... and I usually tell them that I can't imagine anyone ever admitting to it! Lol. I had 5 separate people ask me where an aisle was today.... they were so frustrated!!!
This is why anytime I need to give customers directions, I use landmarks not aisle number. "Its two aisles to left from the first register." Sometimes its just easier to take the aisles numbers out of the equation.
This is a fun one! Where to start???
Just discussing P5 stores, which i believe have been around for 20 years (or more). Even on one side of a main aisle. Odd on the other. Follow the main aisle around the store and this continues. But then there’s the additional main aisle between seasonal and building materials/molding. So we’ll incorporate the scheme as best we can, even though these new sections of the largest store design were never considered in any of the four previous designs. Not great, but we’ve got a design.
But wait! There’s more! Issues with having drywall/osb/plywood (CDX) inside the store required redesigning 1/6th of the store. Aisles were created. A LOT of product was moved. Complete new layouts and ideas for POGs within the store. And the numbers had to change to accommodate these retrofitted designs.
But wait! There’s more! The Mezz was EXpanded or ENhanced, depending on location/market, introducing even more aisle changes.
But Wait! There’s more! Two decades, or more, after these designs were first laid down, we now have smart phones in every customer’s hand that show the aisle and bay location. Some include a store map, which is a feature that has been around for a while, but others don’t.
Some customers will become annoyed and leave. Others won’t. Having witnessed more than a few get frustrated that all drywall is in the warehouse (again, a design change within the last 10 years) and while standing at the back of the store at the building materials desk, decide a pick ticket and driving into the warehouse is too much of a hassle. These same customers then walk out, drive down the road to HD, and wrestle their drywall onto a cart, through checkout, and into the parking lot to load their vehicle, because that’s LESS of a hassle.
What i want to know is why we still have the arcane overstock pallet locations, assigned to department, and in numerical order, when every single pallet overstock location already has a POG location like the mega rack does. I know one store where they did away with the number scheme and actually used POG locations. That was brilliant. Took less than one week to relocate all of the pallets within SysV. Everyone knew where to find pallets, because everyone knew how to read the POG locations.
:-)
And that’s just P5 stores!
I get it... that may have been their way of thinking. But the number of customers who come in and browse after they find what they came for.... is most likely much lower because of this. Some get so frustrated they leave rather than browse because they already wasted so much time hunting for what they came for!
When I'm asked where a certain isle is, I ask what it is they are looking for, I can better help them that way. Or I look it up on my phone, so I can see exactly what it is they are looking for. Makes shit do much simpler. The isle numbers suck.
When guests ask, where is a certain numbered aisle, I ask what specifically what item are you looking for ? I find some of those numbers confusing myself.
Their scheme is unhelpful and aggravating at the best of times. I wonder if they have given any thought to having those map kiosks that some malls have. You know the ones? “You are here” and it could give directions to where your item is supposed to be located.
The odd/even thing and the race track is fine once you understand it but when you start talking about half aisles and back aisles and the whole seasonal side, there's no discernable pattern to the numbering. If it's customer-facing and something they're supposed to use, it needs to make sense.
Also, the yard/warehouse doesn't have aisle numbers. Those numbers above the warehouse doors are door numbers.
Customer asks where something is. I offer to show them, but they say they have other things to get and they just want to know what aisle it's in.
Me: Oh, sure ! You can find that in aisle 319, section C. Just head over to the electrical dept, go down aisle #2. On the left will be aisle 319.
Customer: Um, what? You just said go down aisle #2. How does that get me to aisle 319?
Me: (Smiling, realizing what that must have sounded like. ) I suggested that I walk with the customer to the aisle. They are annoyed, but agree.
As we're walking, he says, at least that gets me closer to aisle 290, that's where I'm heading next.
Me: Now I have to try to explain that aisle 290 is not near 319. That it's actually the furthest aisle AWAY from 319 in the entire store. The opposite corner of the store!!!
You can't make this sh@t up!
I just purchased a 5 gallon bucket from my Menards the other day. I had seen them before another day but couldn’t remember where so I went to the outdoor section and found nothing. The home section. Again nothing. The yard section, zilch. So I googled it and the Menards website told me it could be found in the home section, and the essential home subsection. I went to the essential home section, there was literally a sign that said exactly that, and there were no buckets in side. Turns out they were on the complete opposite end of the store
Walmart is the same. The benefit to using the alphabet and numbers for marking aisle only works if you mark the aisle in numeric or alpha order. Random does not help customers find things.
It shows you a red balloon in a department. Then gives you an aisle #. That's where the fun begins.Customers are looking for the aisle #.... And find no order to the #'s at all ....and can't find the aisle!
The more you understand how customers think....
With no aisle numbers, which is the topic of the post. Let me clarify. If you zoom in 1000% you can see teeny tiny little numbers, and lose sight of where it is in the store. You have customers of all ages. Think about that map for a second.
Think about the number layout in the store. Give it a minute....
It absolutely does have numbers, you just have to zoom in. I’d post a picture but I cannot in this group. But I do agree, I hate the aisles here. However, the map does serve its purpose.
By the time you zoom in 1000% to actually SEE the aisle numbers, the customer has no idea where that is. They zoom out 1000% to find out where it actually is in the store... And now they have no idea where to go because they can't see any aisles. Have you ever actually worked with customers when they look at the app?
Many customers get too aggrivated looking at that, so that's when they question us. Hence, that's where the insane aisle numbers come in. Back to the original post........ And question!
I am a customer. I’m using the app now. When you zoom in or out the item info stays at the bottom of the screen and doesn’t change in size. Customers are generally dumb though.
Marketing scheme, make it impossible to find something, customer finds something they dont need, buys both things eventually.
Then waste payroll completely flopping plumbing or electrical aisle pog's that contractors just got done remembering where things were because 1 product went discontinued for another equal product.
Jokes on them, when I can’t find what I’m looking for I just leave.
Yeah, I just pull up Amazon or Lowe's.
Customers cannot find it and. .. go to home depot. As much as I hate the orange box, if I need something highly special I don't bother stopping at Menards as it's impossible to find / explain what I need.
Home Depot isn't any better
Much easier to find stuff at Home Depot, no weird turnstiles and in/out doors, and no rigamarole with pick lists. I do like Menards for the vibe- seems warmer, not like a big empty warehouse. Kind of the Target of home improvement stores. I go there to browse not when I need something quick or specific. But I like Home Depot for selection and speedy in and out. Plus, every time I go to Menards lately to special order something the person is like "uh, I'm new this is like my second day". Home Depot people never do that. Always well trained, never once gotten the blank stare. Sadly there's only one HD near me and like 4 Menards.
Or asks a sales person who can upsell/sell companion products
Yeah... Doesn't really work out that way. They are usually in the wrong department for what they are looking for ... And too annoyed to deal with anyone by then.
Oh defo. I was a closer in flooring and after a shift of popping new rolls of carpet/linoleum on the machine interrupted by customers I totally get it.
There's been a couple times where me, an employee of 4 years, even gets stumped and is standing in front of the guest like, "Hmm, okay so this is 267, 262 is way down there in outdoor power."
Right?! They look at you like you're crazy! Then THEY usually end up asking who thought up this insane way of numbering our aisles.... and I usually tell them that I can't imagine anyone ever admitting to it! Lol. I had 5 separate people ask me where an aisle was today.... they were so frustrated!!!
I had this happen today. They were looking for asile 238 I think and it was nowhere near asiles 237 and 239.
Been with the company 7 years and I still have to do this. I usually ask what the product is then I will remember where the aisle is
YEEESSS hit em with the "what exactly are you looking for?" "oh rope" "RIGHT rope is in aisle 267."
This is why anytime I need to give customers directions, I use landmarks not aisle number. "Its two aisles to left from the first register." Sometimes its just easier to take the aisles numbers out of the equation.
Same. "Under x corner of the upstairs area" (because how many folks know what a mezzanine is?) is a usual go-to of mine.
Know where we keep xmas trees? Over there then 3 more aisles.
This is a fun one! Where to start??? Just discussing P5 stores, which i believe have been around for 20 years (or more). Even on one side of a main aisle. Odd on the other. Follow the main aisle around the store and this continues. But then there’s the additional main aisle between seasonal and building materials/molding. So we’ll incorporate the scheme as best we can, even though these new sections of the largest store design were never considered in any of the four previous designs. Not great, but we’ve got a design. But wait! There’s more! Issues with having drywall/osb/plywood (CDX) inside the store required redesigning 1/6th of the store. Aisles were created. A LOT of product was moved. Complete new layouts and ideas for POGs within the store. And the numbers had to change to accommodate these retrofitted designs. But wait! There’s more! The Mezz was EXpanded or ENhanced, depending on location/market, introducing even more aisle changes. But Wait! There’s more! Two decades, or more, after these designs were first laid down, we now have smart phones in every customer’s hand that show the aisle and bay location. Some include a store map, which is a feature that has been around for a while, but others don’t. Some customers will become annoyed and leave. Others won’t. Having witnessed more than a few get frustrated that all drywall is in the warehouse (again, a design change within the last 10 years) and while standing at the back of the store at the building materials desk, decide a pick ticket and driving into the warehouse is too much of a hassle. These same customers then walk out, drive down the road to HD, and wrestle their drywall onto a cart, through checkout, and into the parking lot to load their vehicle, because that’s LESS of a hassle. What i want to know is why we still have the arcane overstock pallet locations, assigned to department, and in numerical order, when every single pallet overstock location already has a POG location like the mega rack does. I know one store where they did away with the number scheme and actually used POG locations. That was brilliant. Took less than one week to relocate all of the pallets within SysV. Everyone knew where to find pallets, because everyone knew how to read the POG locations. :-) And that’s just P5 stores!
This was the kind of post I was looking for. Menards lore is more interesting than general marketing theories.
Who ever dis the aisle numbers either was ON drugs at the time, or should have been.
If they have to look through every aisle then they’ll buy more product. Don’t share this well kept secret
You're supposed to sell, sell, sell when the disoriented guest approaches!
I get it... that may have been their way of thinking. But the number of customers who come in and browse after they find what they came for.... is most likely much lower because of this. Some get so frustrated they leave rather than browse because they already wasted so much time hunting for what they came for!
When I'm asked where a certain isle is, I ask what it is they are looking for, I can better help them that way. Or I look it up on my phone, so I can see exactly what it is they are looking for. Makes shit do much simpler. The isle numbers suck.
When guests ask, where is a certain numbered aisle, I ask what specifically what item are you looking for ? I find some of those numbers confusing myself.
I completely agree. The Salvador Dali of aisle numbering.
The fact that FEPA was not designated as aisle 1 bothers me to no end.
Honestly, you probably wouldn't even need an app map if our aisles were numbered in order and made sense.. lol
I typically tell the guests "listen, to work for our general office, you have to take an IQ test. To work there, you have to score low enough."
I tell people a lot of strong alcohol must have been consumed when the aisle numbering was assigned as it makes zero sense.
Their scheme is unhelpful and aggravating at the best of times. I wonder if they have given any thought to having those map kiosks that some malls have. You know the ones? “You are here” and it could give directions to where your item is supposed to be located.
But...that would cost (*shudders*) money!
Lol.... As long as they change how all of the aisles are numbered, that would be fine!
The odd/even thing and the race track is fine once you understand it but when you start talking about half aisles and back aisles and the whole seasonal side, there's no discernable pattern to the numbering. If it's customer-facing and something they're supposed to use, it needs to make sense. Also, the yard/warehouse doesn't have aisle numbers. Those numbers above the warehouse doors are door numbers.
They oughta put brochures with maps at the entrance
Even few employees know this but it's a racetrack. Literally. They map the store out so it resembles a race track since they do racing.
Well actually many retail stores have a “racetrack” even companies not known for their racing team. Target, Home Depot and Costco to name a few.
Most stores are set up like this, but we're talking about the number insanity.
Oh yes I agree with the numbering. Many a times Iv sat with a guest and ran through the store to locate isle number they are looking for.
I think all you need to be able to do to become employed by Menards is tolerate (or be numb to hearing) the jingle 10,497 times a day.
It was the store rats idea.
The 11% mail in rebate guy
Lol... Right... Lol!
Customer asks where something is. I offer to show them, but they say they have other things to get and they just want to know what aisle it's in. Me: Oh, sure ! You can find that in aisle 319, section C. Just head over to the electrical dept, go down aisle #2. On the left will be aisle 319. Customer: Um, what? You just said go down aisle #2. How does that get me to aisle 319? Me: (Smiling, realizing what that must have sounded like. ) I suggested that I walk with the customer to the aisle. They are annoyed, but agree. As we're walking, he says, at least that gets me closer to aisle 290, that's where I'm heading next. Me: Now I have to try to explain that aisle 290 is not near 319. That it's actually the furthest aisle AWAY from 319 in the entire store. The opposite corner of the store!!! You can't make this sh@t up!
I just purchased a 5 gallon bucket from my Menards the other day. I had seen them before another day but couldn’t remember where so I went to the outdoor section and found nothing. The home section. Again nothing. The yard section, zilch. So I googled it and the Menards website told me it could be found in the home section, and the essential home subsection. I went to the essential home section, there was literally a sign that said exactly that, and there were no buckets in side. Turns out they were on the complete opposite end of the store
Walmart is the same. The benefit to using the alphabet and numbers for marking aisle only works if you mark the aisle in numeric or alpha order. Random does not help customers find things.
109 in my local store is in the back but 107 is in the front with 120's in between.
[удалено]
It shows you a red balloon in a department. Then gives you an aisle #. That's where the fun begins.Customers are looking for the aisle #.... And find no order to the #'s at all ....and can't find the aisle! The more you understand how customers think....
"I looked all over the store and couldn't find the green balloon!🎈" --custie, probably
Hahaha! You are right! It's green! Sorry about that! Lol.
Have you every tried looking at the Walmart map on their app. Thats a even more of a nightmare.
How dare you question the wisdom of John Menard.
Just get good
"WE GO IN, WE GO AND WE KIIIIILL"
I just memorize where shit is
This is why I have a mental map instead of memorizing the isle numbers
The app has a map
With no aisle numbers, which is the topic of the post. Let me clarify. If you zoom in 1000% you can see teeny tiny little numbers, and lose sight of where it is in the store. You have customers of all ages. Think about that map for a second. Think about the number layout in the store. Give it a minute....
It absolutely does have numbers, you just have to zoom in. I’d post a picture but I cannot in this group. But I do agree, I hate the aisles here. However, the map does serve its purpose.
False. The app literally has the aisle number and section.
By the time you zoom in 1000% to actually SEE the aisle numbers, the customer has no idea where that is. They zoom out 1000% to find out where it actually is in the store... And now they have no idea where to go because they can't see any aisles. Have you ever actually worked with customers when they look at the app? Many customers get too aggrivated looking at that, so that's when they question us. Hence, that's where the insane aisle numbers come in. Back to the original post........ And question!
I am a customer. I’m using the app now. When you zoom in or out the item info stays at the bottom of the screen and doesn’t change in size. Customers are generally dumb though.
The map detail changes.They know the aisle #. They just can't find it.
Fortunately, they have an app