Loyal Sam’s Club Members Lament the Loss of a Trusted Friend<br />But the glow of that announcement faded just hours later, when the Sam’s Club closures were revealed not by an announcement from Walmart<br />but rather through social media posts from confused and increasingly irate customers and employees.<br />Walmart’s quiet shuttering of 63 Sam’s Club stores on Thursday — hours after trumpeting its plans<br />to raise wages — sent shock waves through the ardent customer base of the membership-only chain.<br />On Thursday morning, Walmart said it would raise its minimum starting wage to $11 an hour from $9 while also expanding maternity<br />and family leave benefits and offering bonuses of up to $1,000.<br />Many blasted Walmart for leaving employees and low-income customers in the lurch, posting photos of closure notices taped to locked Sam’s Club doors.<br />Typically, companies warn investors and shoppers — and employees — that they will closing stores far in advance.
