Big Lots

The reason cheap-​priced stores like BiMart have poor customer service, long checkout lines, and hire inexperienced employees, but do not train them, is to keep prices down. So we all need to make the choice between supporting poor worker treatment, or paying a more for our purchases. Ditto Walmart.

Nice store. I was disappointed, however, when I discovered a 20% off coupon that I forgot to use on an $ 80+ purchase the day before. What happened to customer service? I used to work for JCPenney and we always made the customer happy.

Some, but not many, buys here are pretty good. Seems to be ran like a Dollar Tree with the long lines, lack of open registers and schlocky merchandise. I bought a space heater for 10 bucks cheaper than anyone else in town had it, so I’ll deal with the wait. They could make the check out much faster by letting new customers know this is a «membership-​type» store and having a customer service area where new folks can fill out their info instead of doing it at the checkout and causing the long delays. However, like so many other businesses now, when you pay people as little as the law allows, don’t hire enough staff and train and manage it properly, your store will usually fail. And this applies to all the Big Lots I’ve been to.

I understand that common sense isn’t so common anymore… But come on…
Big Lots has a «type» when it comes to hiring. Instead of hiring anyone with a clue, they pick idiots for employees.
First, some kid was pretending to organize the holiday wrapping paper while the only cashier open was getting held up. She had a line, probably about five different transactions long. I think the manager noticed so he called people up to the register after I waited a good five minutes.
Two ladies come up and open registers… And who do they take as their first transactions? People that haven’t even been in line for a minute. You know who probably should’ve gone first in the new lines? The people that have been waiting the longest. You know, the NEXT customer.
The might as well have not opened registers and just went back to pretending to organize things. I think chimps might’ve done better at getting the next customer in line to be first in their line. Chimps probably smell and look better than their cream of the crop over at Big Lots too.
I mean, I get it. It’s probably a seasonal gig, and they don’t care who’s there, they just need someone. But I bet chimps would work for even less than your current minimum wage crew.
You’re welcome.

Shopping at Big Lots can be a hit or a miss. Most important to know is that you should buy something right away if you find a good deal or something you really want — since their inventory might not be replenished.
About the prices, they are usually better than other stores — so I don’t worry too much about finding a better deal elsewhere.
I really like the low key atmoshere and the staff have been very laid back and friendly– not snooty, which can be nice when running errands in my sweats & no make-​up on.
I first started shopping at Big Lots when it opened in the early 1980’s in the south. It had many more small batches of odds and ends — truely a treasure hunt — where I could always find neat items for crafting & novel toys for when my children were young. I miss those good old days.

I had my first visit to Big Lots today, and I’m glad I went. People whine about the quality of the stuff, but you get what you pay for. I knew when I bought the slip cover for $ 40 today that it wasn’t going to be top-​quality so I was not surprised that it wasn’t. I bought several panty items, but only bought brand stuff. The employees weren’t very friendly, and I don’t think I saw anyone smile, but I wasn’t there for social hour. I went to a bargain store looking for bargains and that’s exactly what I got. They had some great household stuff and I picked up a few things. I’m happy with what I purchased today.

I still call this store Pic N Save (Big Lots’ former name). Which means, if you pick the right stuff you will save some money. If you pick the wrong stuff, well then, you will have to drive back and return it (simple as that)!
In Southern California, when I go to Big Lots in ANY CITIES, I have to adjust my expectations & accept VERY bad customer service (I’m serious). Here in Oregon, I was treated very well & the sale rep was actually eager to help. :)
I bought a bottle of hand lotion which will expire early next year for lesser than half of the original price. I normally don’t buy food here but I found Yoo-​Hoo Chocolate beverage, which is hard to find in regular Market. I suggest you look at the expiration date throughly.

My mom’s on the phone with my sister. She’s trying to describe two hideous slip-​covers for a couch to her.
«Well, there’s this olive brown one with little diamonds… and then there’s this one that’s a tannish, khaki-​taupe,» she says.
She wants to know which one goes best with turquoise or hot pink. Neither of them do, but I make it clear that the «taupe» one looks like fleshy baby puke. It makes me kind of sick looking at it, and it has silky flowers all over it.
My sister ends up choosing the taupe one (of course), much to my dismay. But it’s not like any of the slip covers or sheets or curtains were anything to write home about.
This place is full of random and low-​quality shiznit from other stores that’ve overstocked or something, and most of the time you can find better deals elsewhere. It’s super cramped, and makes me think that maybe I accidentally stepped into the home of a major pack-​rat.
They sell underwear and hair stuff here. I wouldn’t buy it (or I’d at least sterilize it first). But if you’re looking for random coffee cups, $ 3 costume jewelry, ugly slip-​covers, and cans of Campbell’s soup, you might make out okay.