Am I the Only One Who Likes Walmart?

[Chicago526]

With one exception, every WM I've been in has been dirty, disorganized, crowded (meaning too much merchandise cramed in the aisles), and understaffed by indifferent employees at best and rude ones at worst. I don't find the prices to be any better than what I can get at Target or Meijers, who both have clean, well organized stores that are less croweded with junk in the aisles, and have much friendlier employees.

I honestly don't know how the WM's around here are still in business. I'm in a huge suburban area, every retailer known to man have stores here, so it's certainly not lack of options.

 

[C.Ann]

ITA! It's AMAZING to me that WM is the ONLY retailer that sells things made in China

-----------------------

How much Disney merchandise is made in China - or elsewhere outside of the U.S.? Have people stopped shopping through Disney? Nope..

 

[luvmyfam444]

As far as dirty - it does matter hugely who shops there (of course I'm not meaning the lighting) but if you're in an area where people care about their shops they're gonna be clean - but if you're in an area where people don't care then anyplace you're gonna go will be NASTY - that includes fastfood restaurants, gastations & WM. I think of how nasty the stores in Montgomery,AL always are the WM was gross - but so were other stores with clothes in disarry, on the floor, etc. The people that work there don't take pride in their stores.

 

[CPT Tripss]

The point about China is that in it's quest for competative advantage, Walmart has literally forced its vendors to go to China. Not encougaed, forced. it always find someone else to blame.

Ironically, this is the same company that used the American flag in its advertising, even as its clothing lines (claimed to be American) were being made "off shore". Walmart used "illegal"workers and hid behind shell contractors. Walmart exploits its entry level and other employees by "allowing" them to "voluntarily" work off the clock.

 

[CPT Tripss]

As far as dirty - it does matter hugely who shops there (of course I'm not meaning the lighting) but if you're in an area where people care about their shops they're gonna be clean - but if you're in an area where people don't care then anyplace you're gonna go will be NASTY - that includes fastfood restaurants, gastations & WM. I think of how nasty the stores in Montgomery,AL always are the WM was gross - but so were other stores with clothes in disarry, on the floor, etc. The people that work there don't take pride in their stores.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "who shops there." Care to clarify what you mean by that?

How do you explain the filthy Walmart just a mile of so from the upscale,trendy Promanade and an immaculate discount retailer?

 

[TwinsinCA]

I am in the 'hate walmart' camp. In our house is it not just called walmart, it is The DREADED Walmart. I will shop there if I can't find something at Target, but I only ever buy a few things. I can count on one hand how many times I bought enough stuff to require a cart.

The walmarts near here are almost always messy. Some departments are ok but the toys, clothes, and shoes are always ALWAYS a mess. And I hate the displays in the main aisles. It always makes the store look cluttered and cramped. Some of the people that shop there? There is almost always a line to check out. And there are often people outside trying to get your money. I don't enjoy the experience at all. I cannot get out of the store fast enough.

One walmart near us has recently gone through a massive renovation and it is better than before, but that will not keep me from my first love, a brand spanking new SUPERTARGET I have always preferred Target though. All those things that bother me about walmart are not a problem in Target. And I grew up in Minneapolis where Target is based so I have been shopping there ever since I can remember.

We don't have any Walmart supercenters that close to us. But I have to say that I don't really mind the ones I've been in.

 

[KSchwagg86]

their produce sucks

 

[mushumadness]

we love it lol, so much choice, not like our boring shops here

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

My wife and I avoid Walmart because we don't like the merchandise there, among many other reasons but that is a primary one.

Where at all possible we support independently owned businesses. That's pretty difficult with regard to some products, so in those cases we'll look at corporate policies and try to make the best informed decisions that we can. We don't purchase Citgo gas, for example. We prefer Whole Foods over the larger chains...

We also do not shop in KMart, or Big Lots, Kohl's, or places of that ilk. We just don't like them.

 

[MoniqueU]

Every issue I am sure has been listed plus more are why it is on my do not shop list. I won't even sit in the parking lot of that place while someone runs in. The customers are insane and I get extremly annoyed disgusted at seeing babies dressed in nothing but a daper also which is common here in the summer months. Dress your kids folks, totally trashy. There is no money worth saving that is worth shopping there for me. I can't even imagine buying their clothes. Just no. I will go without before I shop there. There is always ross for clothes often at better prices and definetly higher quality. Almost all theit products are cheap crap. Is it much better at Target? No but at least people dress theit kids there and you can make it down the aisles. I also see less child abuse and neglect there too. SHUDDER, just even thinking about that place upsets me.

 

[dizluvah]

I frequently shop at Walmart, weekly on average. The prices are lower on many items than I can get elsewhere. Like some others have stated I have my personal preferences about what NOT to buy at Walmart; I never buy produce (poor quality and not usually the lowest produce prices in my area), same with deli meats, etc. I rarely if ever buy meat from the meat department because I can get better deals, price-wise by watching sales at other local grocery stores (same with ice cream).

I do find Peanut Butter, Jelly, spaghetti sauce and canned goods to be lower priced at Walmart. I buy all paper products at Walmart (now that I let my warehouse club store membership expire): bath tissue, kleenex, paper towels, and laundry soap. Frequently major soda brands are on sale at Walmart, we drink an obscene amount of Diet Coke in my house. I buy all our vitamins, supplements at Walmart - much less expensive than CVS and yes I do love CVS extra care bucks. I get our wood chunks for the smoker when we BBQ in the garden center at Walmart. I love love, love the donuts at the Walmart bakery - Bavarian Cream filled.

I don't think I'm better than other people who shop at Walmart, I don't care what my fellow shoppers look like or dress their children in. I dont' find our store too dingy (even before the recent remodel) Is it busy? Sure - can it be ridiculously busy - yes. Are staff and other customers sometimes cranky - sure, so am I sometimes. If I find it too busy or aggravating then I leave and try shopping another day when I am not so cranky/sensitive myself.

I like Target, but I only shop there when there is something specific in the weekly ad that I want. For me that usually means around holiday time when they have all those great electronic deals. Once in awhile I go in Target and wander around, but I don't shop there on a regular basis.

I used to say I loved Walmart....now my store has almost completed a remodel - I don't know where anything is, the layout seems confusing to me and not to make a lot of sense so the last few trips my love has begun to fade. For those who like the self-check lines (I never use them) they are removed in remodelled stores because of a problem with theft (at least that was the reason I was given).

Sorry so long....I guess add me to the minority of ghetto folks who accept that we live in a global market society and things are manufactured in countries that we may not agree with on a political, social, humanitarian, regilious basis and whether I like it or not, my family budget requires me to shop by price not priniciples.

 

[tinatark]

I like Wal Mart. I have a few friends who work there - they have for many years, and are well taken care of by the company. Wal Mart usually hires people other companies won't - the "elderly", and the one near me has several mentally-challenged adults there, too.

As far as "corporate bullying" - the description I have seen of that shows that it helps the consumers. WM has a certain price point for its items and sticks to it. Sorry to the vendors who think they can just keep increasing their wholesale prices and the retailers will pass it along - Wal Mart doesn't, and that's a good thing, IMO.

 

[threecrazykids]

Every issue I am sure has been listed plus more are why it is on my do not shop list. I won't even sit in the parking lot of that place while someone runs in. The customers are insane and I get extremly annoyed disgusted at seeing babies dressed in nothing but a daper also which is common here in the summer months. Dress your kids folks, totally trashy. There is no money worth saving that is worth shopping there for me. I can't even imagine buying their clothes. Just no. I will go without before I shop there. There is always ross for clothes often at better prices and definetly higher quality. Almost all theit products are cheap crap. Is it much better at Target? No but at least people dress theit kids there and you can make it down the aisles. I also see less child abuse and neglect there too. SHUDDER, just even thinking about that place upsets me.

this cracks me up...sounds like you have lots of trashy PEOPLE in your area more than Wal-Mart being the problem. You think Wal-Mart is the reason those people act like that? If Wal-Mart wasn't there it would be the Target that got this reputation as well...

Come on...it's not Wal-Marts fault those people dress their kids in a diaper and abuse them.

 

[MoniqueU]

this cracks me up...sounds like you have lots of trashy PEOPLE in your area more than Wal-Mart being the problem. You think Wal-Mart is the reason those people act like that? If Wal-Mart wasn't there it would be the Target that got this reputation as well...

Come on...it's not Wal-Marts fault those people dress their kids in a diaper and abuse them.

I get your point, but it is at both the walmarts in town. Both are in different areas then where I live and you are right the people there are trashy. But walmart does have crappy merchandise, crowded aisles, stuff all over the place etc etc. Just not my cup of tea.

 

[threecrazykids]

When you say crappy merchandise though I assume you are referring to their store brand, or the brands they carry for clothing (which I don't know much about).

Because Tide is Tide whether you buy it on Rodeo Drive or at your local Dollar Store. It's just a matter of how much you choose to spend on it. Same thing with the majority of the items I purchase there...which are exclusively groceries and cleaning supplies (in general).

When I say I like Wal-Mart I guess I'm referring to items that are identical that I would spend more on if I went to Target. And the fact that Target won't price match just about sets me over the edge and makes me avoid it at all costs. It's like telling me "I know you can get it cheaper but we don't care whether you buy it here or not...if you want to buy it here you're going to pay more for the same item."

I do get what you're saying though...I do see more trashy people at Wal-Mart, I'll agree with you...

 

[MoniqueU]

When you say crappy merchandise though I assume you are referring to their store brand, or the brands they carry for clothing (which I don't know much about).

Because Tide is Tide whether you buy it on Rodeo Drive or at your local Dollar Store. It's just a matter of how much you choose to spend on it. Same thing with the majority of the items I purchase there...which are exclusively groceries and cleaning supplies (in general).

When I say I like Wal-Mart I guess I'm referring to items that are identical that I would spend more on if I went to Target. And the fact that Target won't price match just about sets me over the edge and makes me avoid it at all costs. It's like telling me "I know you can get it cheaper but we don't care whether you buy it here or not...if you want to buy it here you're going to pay more for the same item."

I do get what you're saying though...I do see more trashy people at Wal-Mart, I'll agree with you...

Yes I am talking about their clothign, shoes, socks, purses etc. Also some of their housewares are lower end models. I have only been in there I think 5 times in the last couple of years finally the last time waiting in the parking lot for my teen son who was followed through the store by a drunk guy trying to sell him a football jersey. My DH was with him so he was safe. You can walk from that wa mart to the target. Same area of town totally different clientail and home goods. I am not much of a fan of the look of target clothes either but what I have bought has held up. I am not much of a snob and love a bargain as much as the next person but on quality goods and in an non disgusting enviornment.

 

[CPT Tripss]

When you say crappy merchandise though I assume you are referring to their store brand, or the brands they carry for clothing (which I don't know much about).

Because Tide is Tide whether you buy it on Rodeo Drive or at your local Dollar Store. It's just a matter of how much you choose to spend on it. Same thing with the majority of the items I purchase there...which are exclusively groceries and cleaning supplies (in general).
snip

Tide may or may not be Tide as sold in other stores. Walmart is so big that manufacurers can set up production lines just to shave a few cents off the price. It is certainly done for clothing . . . smaller garments, lower quality materials etc. Tide laundry detergent . . . who knows?

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I keep seeing "why pay more for the same item?". That one just dont hold water. Sorry. It dont. It's NOT the same item. PERIOD. When you can buy something made in a quality country vs a cheap knockoff in China, I'm sorry, but that's NOT the same item!!!
Corporate stores have been doing this for years. They sell the same *brand* but it's created DIFFERENT. It may be created in China vs a more reputable manufacturing country. When I used to work in sales at a local plumbing company we sold a particular brand of valve. The company started sending ones made in China in with the order. They looked cheaper. They felt cheaper. They weighed less. The packing nut was thin. The angle was all wrong. It just looked "cheap". The manager refused the Chinese valves. He told the rep to the company that he would switch companies if they continued to send those valves. They stopped sending the China valves. They were still making them in USA as well. They sent us the U.S. made valves for many many years after that.
So the question is... WHY were they making the same "model" of valve in BOTH USA and China? The answer was the bigger chain stores would rather pay less for the cheap valve. The bigger chain stores don't give a crap if it splits and floods your house. They just want to be able to say "We have cheaper prices". They were selling them by the tens of thousands to Lowes and Home Depot. It took us a while to sell off the China valves. The plumbers didn't want them; AT ANY PRICE! You can't argue value/price with people who are only looking at price. Its like looking at a 3-D movie with the red and blue glasses and closing one eye.
The items Walmart sells are NOT the same as what I buy at the stores I shop at. It's like trying to compare a Mercedes with a Kia and then saying the Kia is better because it's cheaper. No, it's NOT better, and it's NOT the same thing. It's cheaper. It will NOT give the same service. In some cases the cheaper item may be what you are after, and there are some really good legitimate examples of that, but you can't make generalizations and say Walmart sells the same item, because that's just not true.

Walmart does sell some good items as well, but overall, the merchandise is more cheaply made.
As far as the "I can't afford to pay more" comments... that might be true. BUT can you afford to buy things that break and are poorly designed?
In my "dumpster diving" days of flea marketing we had a local chain store that sold fans. They sold a large variety of window fans. The best seller was one called "The Wind Machine" (because it was the cheapest). There would be a defective Wind Machine in the dumpster at almost any given week. Sometimes there would be 2 or 3. You never seen one of the other models, only the Wind Machine. I have to wonder how many people kept buying the same piece of crap fan every year, and in turn paid a LOT more than they would have if they had just bought a good one and been done with it.

 

[elizke]

I love Super Walmart. There are two in my area, and they are both clean and orderly. One is actually "fancy", with lots of wood surfaces inside and a cobblestone drive out front. That one always has cashiers waiting out in front of registers asking if you're ready to check out too.

I love steady prices that are in general far cheaper without studying sales, and I love being able to get everything there. I pick and choose clothing there too and have been wearing it for years with no falling apart problems whatsoever. (Clothing is incredibly marked up in high end stores! I see cheap thin material used there too; it's "trendy". Talk about greedy-profit making!)

As far as corporate policies, if I studied them for all stores available to me there would probably be few options. Walmart is just a large specimen of the retail trends of the past 40+ years. There are no mom and pop grocery stores anywhere around here to frequent, as they were mostly pushed out by Kroger and the like years ago.

It's a shame, but I just can't afford to take a stand for the little guy.

 

[Tikitoi]

I've encountered rude employees as well as bad products at places like Target, Price Chopper, IHOP as well as Wallyworld. Point being they are at all places. Nothing stands out more at one place than another. So yes, I like Wallyworld.