Walmart

[DVC~OKW~96]

I hope this isn't a mistake.

Reading the threads on this board, I've come across several comments that imply that Walmart is not the favored shopping place. ;)

I have serious issues with Walmart myself, and was just purely curious to know what other folks think about the company?

<<<sigh>>> OK. I'm Nosey Parker for this Monday.

[TuckandStuiesMom]

(inserts finger down throat) but aside from Safeway, the only grocery store in the area.
After WM moved into our town, two other grocery stores and all the small general merchandise and clothing shops shut down. Last Fall, a Big Lots opened up (ironically in the vacant location left from the original WM that preceded the advent of Super WM) and I now try to shop Big Lots first. Probably the same lead-laden toys and slave-labor manufactured soft goods but at least it's not WM.:sad2:

[ConcKahuna]

I hope this isn't a mistake.

Reading the threads on this board, I've come across several comments that imply that Walmart is not the favored shopping place. ;)

I have serious issues with Walmart myself, and was just purely curious to know what other folks think about the company?

<<<sigh>>> OK. I'm Nosey Parker for this Monday.

See tag for description.

[DVC~OKW~96]

Yes, I've seen your tag. :)

I dislike many aspects of that company, particularly the impact on independant business owners. I choose privately owned companies over corporates whenever I can (whenever they are available) and Walmart is making that very hard to do.

I do feel like I'm trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon though. :confused3

[OrlandoMike]

My feelings on Walmart.

Before Wallmart moved into town we had fresh produce stands on select corners. Fresh produce! YUM~! They disappeared about 6 months after Walmart arrived.

Before Walmart we had several Mom and Pop type stores selling various products, they are all gone now also.

Rumor has it even the Virgin Mega Store at Downtown Disney is on it's way out because they cant compete with the "discount" stores! (See the Disney rumor board)!

When you walk into this place there is a person at the door with a big blue vest and a smile. On the back of the vest it says "Can I help you". They are friendly enough, but they usually never speak to me, because you can tell by looking at me I don't speak Spanish, and unfortunately at MY Walmart, that's all they speak! The announcements on the public address system are in Spanish, the cashiers speak Spanish, and the signs are in Spanish.

The shelves are all picked over and look like a Hurricane is eminent! The store is dirty, unkempt and literally unsafe with pallet jacks laying all over the place!

Now before I end, let me state that the prices at Walmart are LOW! I can imagine if your trying to raise a family in this area you have basically no other choice then to shop here. I'm not happy about that situation, but its a fact of life these days.

Do I shop there? RARELY! When I go there it's because I want something my "Publix Sabor" (Publix with a Spanish twist) doesn't have. While I'm there (usually in the middle of the night after a nice glass of wine) I stock up on the things I need and get the heck out!

That's my personal take on my local Walmart.

[Chuck S]

Another complaint many folks have about Wal-Mart is the local stores make very few decisions about what they sell.

For instance, after the Super WM opened here, the local craft and fabric stores closed. Now, WM Corporate has decided that our Wal-Mart will no longer carry fabrics. While it doesn't affect me personally, many, many ladies in our rural area sewed most of their clothing, the county fair always had displays of home sewn items and clothing...

Another example, the Wal-Mart in New Braunfels sells different items in their deli section than our local WM does. That decision is made at Corporate Level, according to the Deli personnel, whether local folks want those items or not.

Customer service is non-existent, thankfully, though, even in our area where folks with a 55% Hispanic population, and also a high German descendant population I haven't heard Spanish over the PA. The store does have Bi-Lingual signage, and more and more products (including food products) imported from Mexico...bumping out shelf space for other ethnic foods and products, that local businesses used to carry.

Now, I have nothing against Mexican-Americans, as I said they make up 55% of the local population. I just wish Wal-Mart would try to reach a balance of products rather than their (Wal-Mart's) "all or nothing" attitude. And I really hate that they carry a popular item for years, then suddenly decide at corporate to no longer carry that brand or product.

The only other local grocery store has dropped in quality and service to compete :( and our Big Lots and Hobby Lobbys and K-Marts have all closed. Wal-Mart brings out the lowest common denominator of quality and products, in the name of "cheap."

[RickinNYC]

I'd only step foot into that disgusting store if someone had a gun pointed at me.

[OrlandoMike]

Now, I have nothing against Mexican-Americans, as I said they make up 55% of the local population. I just wish Wal-Mart would try to reach a balance of products rather than their (Wal-Mart's) "all or nothing" attitude. "

And I want to assure you I have nothing against Hispanics either. I CHOSE to live in the neighborhood I live in mostly because of location and price. But I think it's only fair that you carry products for everyone that lives in the neighborhood, not just the majority! I also would appreciate it if your going to announce that something is on sale, or if the building is on fire, do it in the language that has been used in this country for the past 231 years! And don't even get me started on Publix Sabor! Another corporate decsision! I'm pretty much a Super Target shopper these days.....:banana:

I love my neighbors, and love some of their food, but this still is the United States isn't it? :confused3

[L107ANGEL]

I'd only step foot into that disgusting store if someone had a gun pointed at me.

How do you really feel Rick;)

[ConcKahuna]

How come Angel shows up for shopping threads, but not drinking ones?

Are you feeling OK?












:lmao:

[L107ANGEL]

How come Angel shows up for shopping threads, but not drinking ones?

Are you feeling OK?












:lmao:

You know me well David!!! I am sick with a virus at home today:guilty: links to drinking threads should always be pmd to me:snooty:

[ConcKahuna]

It's the "One month to go" thread that Rick started.

[R.S.Winters]

i worked for them for over 2 years here in the UK my family and friends still shop there.
its not without its faults, but its pretty big here.
i cant say i dislike them...
the ones ive visited in the US have always impressed us too...
maybe where you guys come from your town just got unlucky haha lol

D.

[OrlandoMike]

No it's pretty much the same all over the US.:confused3

[L107ANGEL]

No it's pretty much the same all over the US.:confused3

I have 4 within my region. Please understand that I live in the middle of nowhere, and a half hour drive to a store is nothing! 2 are horrible, 2 are prefectly clean, so I don't know.
Ricks been to my area though, his descirption of it is a classic:rotfl:

[OrlandoMike]

I have 4 within my region. Please understand that I live in the middle of nowhere, and a half hour drive to a store is nothing! 2 are horrible, 2 are prefectly clean, so I don't know.
Ricks been to my area though, his descirption of it is a classic:rotfl:

It's not a matter of cleanliness, its a matter of their corporate philosophy.

[L107ANGEL]

It's not a matter of cleanliness, its a matter of their corporate philosophy.

I know a little bit about that, my DH was involved with a human rights commitee a few years back and thier practices were disgusting!

[R.S.Winters]

we are talking about the same company right!?!? lmao i cant believe it really is that different over there in the US!!!...
wait, what am i saying?!? this is the country with GWB in command...
yea, that would explain it!!!

seriously tho, walmart over here is really good! i certainly wouldnt have worked for them for as long as i did otherwise!

D.

[rosiep]

The shelves are all picked over and look like a Hurricane is eminent! The store is dirty, unkempt and literally unsafe with pallet jacks laying all over the place!

.

Our local Walmart looks just the same way...once, my DH brought me there on Christmas Eve (he got coal in his stocking that year), it was horrible...I truly felt as if I had taken acid and was having a bad trip.:scared:

I, too, get that the prices afford some people things they ordinarily might not be able to afford...I've been poor....I understand why it exists...I'm just grateful as all get out I now have the choice to shop elsewhere.

[minicoopercraig]

Hmm, I don't know what to think. The only time I ever step into a WM is late at night when I'm working on something around the house that we've been remodeling and we've run out of time to wait until the next day. I'm not happy about them, they did take alot of little friendly stores out of the area I'm in, and they've also caused the customer service industry to backslide to the time before we even knew what the word was. Them and Best Buy, but that's a whole OTHER thread. LOL.

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

ICK! I hate Wal-Mart!:scared:

DH was in the grocery business for 17 years with a locally owned company. Super WalMart basically stomped them out of business. Out of an 80-some-odd store chain there are maybe 20 left, and they are the prong of stores branded specifically to target the Hispanic community. Luckily DH got out and now he works for a supplier instead of a retailer. A supplier with a 100% rating from HRC, thank you very much.

DH interviewed with WalMart about 6 years ago. Their health insurance is so bad we would have had to get private insurance on the side. He found that out because his friend's DW was a store manager and showed him the new hire packet before he accepted a job - otherwise he wouldn't have known until it was too late.

Our local stores are gross. Dirty, sloppy, gross. I did go there to look for some of DS's hard to find school supplies, but it was scary and I got out as fast as I could.

[minicoopercraig]

Our local stores are gross. Dirty, sloppy, gross. I did go there to look for some of DS's hard to find school supplies, but it was scary and I got out as fast as I could.
Yes, but they do sell cereal there, even though I'm scared as H*$L to buy it, that was the first place I saw the new round Trix one night. I ran out of there and over to my local grocery store and bought the biggest box I could and ate them all in like 3 hours. I LOVE ROUND TRIX!! (Even if they don't taste the same as the old ones.):cool1: :banana: :dance3:

[TuckandStuiesMom]

it was horrible...I truly felt as if I had taken acid and was having a bad trip.:scared:
OMG, you're right. :eek:

[merryweather20]

I love Wal-Mart in all its Grey and Blue splendour! The ones near me are always reasonably clean, and I honestly can't think of any stores that closed because of the Wal-Mart, although I'm sure there are plenty that must be suffering on the bottom line.

Now that I use a wheel-chair Wal-Mart is one of the few places i can roll in without feeling inconvenient. I love going in and knowing there are TWO accessible washrooms at hand (with the doors facing the correct way too :) ). There are only two privately owned stores I shop in, one keeps there aisles so clutter free I can get to 90% of the store, and for the other the store owner is such a sweety and so uber helpful I really feel like I'm not bothering her.

Long live Wal-Mart!

[donald...really]

Walmart is the devil. Check this out:

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

[fairycat]

Walmart is the devil!!!!!!!!!!

I have one within 5 minutes of my house but instead I save up my errands and drive across town 15mins to Trader Joe's.

I love that so many people still think that Walmart has the best prices. Studies have shown that Walmart came in with the cheapest prices and as people started to assume that they had the best prices they started to raise them in fact on many items they are more expensive then other stores (but still to cheap for many small stores to keep up but not always). I have seen it with my own eyes when I still shopped there. Others have told me they noticed it too.

I also can not deal with them after learning if they raised prices on some of their items as little as .05 and paid it to the workers who make much of their merchandise many workers could actually make a liveable wage. But instead they work to undercut workers and laws and lead people to work in sweat shops and make below substandard wages (we aren't talking no playstations here we are talking, fourteen hour days, eating only rice with no protein, fruits or vegetables and living in tiny shacks and happy to have that poor wages). Worse they have taught us Americans (and other westerners) that we can't possibly spend any more money or our families will suffer (most of the time it would work out to less then $10-$20 a year), instead of us thinking about helping others instead of living of their backs for a deal.

I am sorry for ranting but this so gets under my skin, I know other companies aren't much better but I try to spend my dollars with companies who have better principles. Its my choice.

[TuckandStuiesMom]

I love Wal-Mart in all its Grey and Blue splendour! The ones near me are always reasonably clean, and I honestly can't think of any stores that closed because of the Wal-Mart, although I'm sure there are plenty that must be suffering on the bottom line.

Now that I use a wheel-chair Wal-Mart is one of the few places i can roll in without feeling inconvenient. I love going in and knowing there are TWO accessible washrooms at hand (with the doors facing the correct way too :) ). There are only two privately owned stores I shop in, one keeps there aisles so clutter free I can get to 90% of the store, and for the other the store owner is such a sweety and so uber helpful I really feel like I'm not bothering her.

Long live Wal-Mart!

They do have nice wide aisles.:scratchin I noticed when our Safeway was remodeled last year, that it was opened up a lot too. I sorta suspect that move might be more to enable pallet jack traffic than anything else but hey, if it makes somebody's life better, thats great too. :thumbsup2

[talulabelle]

It takes a thread on Walmart to lure me over to the Gay board.......;)

We had a regular Walmart, and it quickly started looking congested, messy, Not really dirty, just messy racks and overwhelming to shop there. It also drew a not-so desirable looking crowd. I never really liked their products and only went there for a few products that their prices just couldn't be beat on, ( They also sold cheap dance shoes for my little girl, and she grows out of them so fast, it didn't make sense to buy them at the dance shop for 3 times as much.) However, I still avoided it for the most part and went to Target (which is always neat and clean).

BUUUTTTTT.... a few days ago the SUPERWALMART opened in my town. I went to just see what this place was about and OMG....my life has changed. I know that this place has sucked the life out of small shops and towns. I feel terrible about it, I know they don't have the best business practices...it truly is a shame. But the quality in the higher end stores like Macy's has gone down, while the quality in places like Target and Walmart has gone up (I know- thanks to slave like labor in foreign countries) but I can buy all 4 of my kids NICE jeans for the same price as one pair in Macy's. 2 pairs in Target. And the stock at Target is always picked over. They always only have the smallest and the largest sizes left and nothing inbetween. Walmart was totally stocked (hopefully this won't change as they age in the location) Basic things like sweatshirts and pants $2, jeans $7, turtlenecks @2.99, t-shirts $2.99. Shoes (which, I gotta say are just as nice as Striderite that you can't find for under $45,) $7.00 at walmart. I will still buy the occasional more fasionable pieces elsewhere, but for the basics...this place is awesome. The food....so cheap. The cereal my DH loves is $5.50 ish in our supermarket, it was $3.00 not on sale.
I fully stocked my kids fall wardrobes for $45. I am not a rich woman. I'm sorry, but I have to go there , I don't have a choice. I can do so much more for my kids there. And my kids come before being politically correct.

When I was a kid, my mom took us to the local ma and pa shop and put down several months of paychecks to get us our school clothes (6 kids). We were less than middle class (upper-lower class?) and it financially devasted her to do it. But back then the gap in quality between the k-marts etc and the regular clothing stores was so huge, that we would have been teased for shopping in a thrift store. Ugly cheap clothes. My mother wanted us to have nice quality. The local ma-and pa shop was absolutely price gauging by the way and there was no other place to go. If my mother had this as an option, well , her life would have been so much easier. Really as a PP said , it's hard to see how families can afford NOT to shop there.

Walmart is seen as the poster-boy of "Huge store puts all other out of business", but it has been happening in our town WAY before Walmart ever hit town. The big fancy grocery stores put the little family owned ones out of business. The new malls shut down the places like the ma and pop clothing store my mom used to take us to. Change happens. I really don't see this new Walmart having a huge effect on the surrounding stores. It is an upscale, higher income area, and the people around here will still shop other places too. I think this store will be more of a destination shopping trip for people on the outskirts of the wealthier neighborhoods. I would never desert my Target entirely for ANY store.;) I will still probably do a huge amount of my grocery shopping at my local market, just because the parking is easy and I can run in for a quick jug of milk or a few items fast. But once in a while , for a big shopping trip, I'll brave the parking at Walmart to save some $$$. Oh, and the HUGE wide aisles are so nice when you have 4 monkeys playing tag around the cart and Mom is base.