Money has been #1 since the first business was created. If you don't make money you can't stay in business. Business 101. The problem is these companies have forgotten who makes them their money. It's the associates on the front lines in the stores. You don't see VPs, SVPs, Directors, Board members of CEOs in those trenches helping out. Not a chance in hell. These people sit on their thrones in their ivory towers making the business decisions that impact the customers and the stores and clubs without really understanding what it takes to make a store run. They merely look at profits and make decisions based on that.
For me, customer service will win over price every time. Why should I ask for an item that is not on the shelf at WM when I can go down the street and know it'll be stocked on the sales floor at a few cents more. I can go down the street and find all the POSs are manned by a person not 2, or heaven help me, a whopping 3, open at WM when there are 20 available. I can find better selections elsewhere instead and make 1 trip instead of stopping at 2 or more stores.
And prices are not always better at WM.
Reposted this from @WstsU1a-lgs