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.

 

[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.

 

[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.....

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

 

[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?

 

[L107ANGEL]

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

Are you feeling OK?

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

 

[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.

 

[L107ANGEL]

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

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

 

[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

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.

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.