Posted by BarbaraL_CA on 10/11/06 2:20pm
Msg #151759

What if...Notaries in Walmart???

Below is a "Letter to the Editor" in todays San Diego Union-Tribune. I found it interesting how the writer's analogy pertains to notaries. I don't know if the writer is a notary or not, just thought I'd share his thoughts FWIW.
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Another look at the Wal-Mart formula
Regarding “Public good/Wal-Mart shows government how it's done” (Editorial, Oct. 3):

Does Wal-Mart do some things better than their competitors? Absolutely. Its logistics and financial management systems are generally considered second to none, and these systems certainly contribute to the company's famously low prices.

However, labor is by far the biggest expense faced by any large organization, and this is where Wal-Mart's low prices have become more expensive than its supporters would like to admit. Does Wal-Mart create jobs? Technically, yes, but many of those “new” jobs are actually cannibalized from the surrounding community, and an increasing number of them are part time and provide few or no benefits. While company executives are making millions, and store managers can earn six-figure salaries if their stores are successful, the drop-off to line-level employees is like driving off of a cliff.

What would happen if Wal-Mart's strategies were applied to other industries? If Wal-Mart began to offer notary service, for example, how much of a reduced fee would some notaries take to gain access to Wal-Mart's huge customer base? Would experienced notaries be able to maintain their fees or have to cut their rates to match Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart could probably afford to charge less and make up the difference in volume. Could an independent notary? Probably not.

It all boils down to this: It's easy to talk about how great it is to pay less for something until it's your job that everyone is paying less for.

Reply by Mia on 10/11/06 2:34pm
Msg #151761

Walmart in my area did have a Notary Public available at one time.
However, they do not offer the service any longer -- to much employee
turn over, and the cost for many employees (so one would be available
during store hours) to be a Notary Public may have been to much.
Also, Walmart could have been held liable for a Notary Public's
misconduct or negligence.
Some of those employees at Walmart are not the brightest bulb
on the string.

Reply by PJM/MI on 10/11/06 2:41pm
Msg #151763

Notaries in Wal-Mart?? Will it be a physician or an attorney, too?

Reply by Mia on 10/11/06 2:48pm
Msg #151765

Notaries in Walmart???

PJM -- I'm not sure what you are saying.
They already have Physicians at Meijer.

Reply by Roger_OH on 10/11/06 3:03pm
Msg #151772

I'd think notaries at Wal-Mart would have to adhere to their state's mandated fees for notarial acts; I don't believe Wal-Mart can add a service charge on top of that, so I can't see them making any money on notary services.

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 10/11/06 3:13pm
Msg #151778

I used to be a Walmart Notary.... laughing at self.

I used to be the branch manager of a small bank that had a few branches in Walmarts around Southern New Jersey. So yes, I've notarized quite a few documents within the brick and mortar of the Walmart building.

I did not ever work directly for Walmart, only within their building.

Now that I look back on it, I find it rather amusing... lol.