Who likes to shop at Walmart?

[KarenAylwood]

To answer the OP's question- yes, I shop at Walmart. I'm not going to say I "love" it because now that I've moved to a city I have to drive 20 minutes to get to Walmart and the one I go to now is FAR more crowded and dirty than the one I used to go to, but honestly- my income doesn't allow me to do much shopping elsewhere. I'm a graduate student on a stipend living an hour and a half from school. Walmart has given me the opportunity to eat healthier foods and furnish my apartment in a very stylish and tasteful way due to having lower prices.

The Walmart near where I used to live was clean, well-organized and the employees were pretty knowledgable- it does depend on which store you go to.

Yes, I hate shopping there sometimes, but their prices can't be beat where I live. Just yesterday I went to a grocery store around the corner to get more taco sauce. 99 cents at walmart, $1.60 at this nearby grocery store.

And no, their employees aren't the greatest, but what do you expect? They get horrible pay and benefits My favorite Walmart story was when DBF was looking for hummus and asked about four people. Each one sent him to someone else, the third told him to go to the head of the foods area or something like that... he went up to him and asked "where's the hummus?" and the guy just stared blankly and said "whattus?"




Oh and to answer the questions most of you are probably asking in your heads- yes I'm trash and sometimes I even pick up dirty little kids off the street just so they can follow me around and block the aisles. Because, of course everyone who shops at Walmart is trash.

 

[Hermosa11]

Gee, isn't this like a worn topic? I've seen the Same discussion before.
some like it and some don't.
I like it. It is one mile from the house.
I DON'T socialize with fellow-shoppers or store keepers, I just shop.
I go in , then I go out. Shopping done.
I will let you know how Hawaii's WalMart is. I'll bet you anything there will be lots of "hawaiian's" there.........and TOUISTS too.......oooohhhhhh
I will see some there and probably a shopper too (out of uniform)....I will bet for sure I will see some there too getting items...OH and I will will at least ONE .....I will see some people in weird outfits too .....
But, before I know it I will be (gone) and outta there !
But, I especially love how the greeters are so happy to see me and me into their store.

 

[S. C.]

It sure it. To comment on the clutter in a store, rude people, etc is fine, but when it turns into a racial issue that is quite another matter. The fact of the matter is that rude people come in all races, all socio-economic levels, and all ethnic origins.

ITA

 

[barkley]

the walmart (super after a couple of years) has not caused any of our local buisnesses to go out-it has in fact brought customers from a couple of adjacent towns into our city who now use our restaurants and other local buisnesses with regularity (those bsns owners are profiting from walmart's presence).

but more importantly, it has created a need for our 2 preexisting grocery to stop price gouging and other internal practices lest they be forced out of bsns. for years we have had 2 stores to choose from-1 an independant is located (by intent) within short walking distance of lower income residents (mostly seniors and those who do not make the 80,000.00 average yearly income our town residents make on average). the independant has sub standard meats and produce, dry goods and canned that are quadruple the price any chain would charge, limited selction (they purposly carry higher cost to the customer items)...they take advantage of the lack of transportation/choices their customer base faces. the other-safeway-takes advantage of being the only "good supermarket in town"-while their meats and produce are nice, they charge twice as much as safeways 10 miles down the road. this particular safeway-although union, has a nasty practice of hiring individuals at just shy of the number of hours required for union protection and benefits.
both stores have lost staff to walmart as well as tremendous amounts of customers (walmart is very easily accessable to all residents). the indi-continues to price gouge the nearby "locked in" residents, safeway on the otherhand is now selling foods at rates current with fair market value.

when our walmart was simply a proposed walmart city/resident public meetings were held for comment and input. security issues were hard written into the contract (ours has outstanding exterior lighting, security that roams the parking lot, and does not permit overnight rv parking). the super portion of the store was not permitted to open for a few years and then it could only open after an impact study was done to show any negative impact walmart had caused local bsns. (local bsns actualy reported an increase in customer base from shoppers from the 2 adjacent towns without walmarts). there was an impact study on how carrying groceries would impact the 2 existing stores-city leaders were surprised to learn that many woman chose to travel to the adjacent cities rather than be overcharged in town.

as for employees-walmarts starting wage is 1.00-2.00 higher than the local bsns. that use california's minimum wage. many never opted (if it was even available to them at their previous job) to participate in health coverage (their share was often as much as 25% of their take home wages)-so not having health coverage is simply a wash. the bulk of their workforce is college kids from the nearby university, older people desiring a part time job, and a good number of "undereducated" locals who welcome an opportunity to work in an environment that exposes them to various job tasks and skills-skills they can develop and untilize to move on to another job.

as far as walmarts "practices" of using inappropriate out of country labor sources-where do you think other chains get their supplies? walmart carries garanimal, carters, dockers, faded glory, white stag, ben davis, wrangler and many other brands that every clothier in our area carries (at much greater profit level).

i think before you bash walmart overall you have to consider what they are doing and how they are affecting individual communties.

p.s. our local target for years supposedly gave a percentage of their profits to local children's programs-walmart came in and set up a similar program. when walmart's contribution well outweighed targets, target hemmed and hawed and them fessed up to an "accounting" error that had underreported their profits for years resulting in tens of thousand lost to these chairites. they soon stepped up and began accuratly contributing.

accountablity-if it's good for one bsns. it's good for them all.

 

[Skywalker]

It's sorta like my kids and Santa Claus, although they've never seen him they still believe, and although I've never seen a nice Walmart I believe they are out there somewhere....... Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to see one.

'Kay, that's pretty funny.

You should come up to Canada. Seriously, I have never seen a trashy Wal-Mart like you all talk about. Any one I have ever been in around here are all big, bright, clean (and yes I, too, know what clean is), well organized, cheerful employees, etc. etc... And no they are not new stores either.

Maybe we've just been lucky so far.

 

[disneysteve]

i think before you bash walmart overall you have to consider what they are doing and how they are affecting individual communties.

ITA. The Wal-Mart that recently opened near my office totally transformed what had been a nearly deserted shopping center. The center used to have a Bradlee's, Penney's, Radio Shack, Blockbuster, Chinese buffet and a few other stores. All of them had been closed, some for many years, before Wal-Mart came in. The whole center was really an eyesore. Along comes Wal-Mart and demolishes the whole place. Now along with Wal-Mart is a whole strip of brand new stores as well as a Staples, an Applebee's and an Old Country Buffet. This center has created hundreds of jobs in a very economically depressed area. It has also created an affordable place for folks in the area to shop rather than the little mom and pop stores that charged top dollar. It is absolutely a great thing for this community.

If anybody wants to complain about that, I have to seriously question what they are thinking.

 

[Poohbear123]

Going in my Neighborhood, within 4-6 miles of each other! And yes, there will be other stores built "around" it. However, my neighborhood is an area that some folks have said is "blighted" but Walmart hopes to change that. There is a Chili's and Startbucks going in too, not too far from the Walmart closest to me. (Across the street from my Publix where I work).

 

[disneysteve]

Going in my Neighborhood, within 4-6 miles of each other!

Don't be confused by that. We have 2 within a few miles of each other, both relatively new. From my house, there are at least 6 Wal-Marts that I can think of within a 15-20 minute drive (probably more than 6). They all do quite well and draw from different areas.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

The WalMart Neighborhood Market has markedly changed the grocery shopping in my neighborhood. I live in an eclectic area and, although the local Albertson's still has business, their unbelievable price-gouging (cereal was $2 a box more than WM) has lost them the majority of the market share they once enjoyed. Pigs get fat; hogs go to slaughter. Retailers need to understand that.

Sharon

 

[PixieDust32]

I don't waste my time cutting cupons and then driving to one store so out of my way and then to another store for the other coupons when I can get all my stuff in one place and for a low price. I've seen cary things everywhere, from the mall to the gas station, but I don't care, I go there and shop and go home. I don't buy clothes there because they are expensive compare to the clothes in Ross, TJ Max, Marshalls etc.

But Crafts, my film, pix developing, groceries, dvd's, my digital camera was about 50 bucks less than Wolf Camera and Target, I put in in Lawaway it was almost 450.00 bucks since we don't use credit cards, if we have the money we buy if not we don't, our only debt is our house and Van, so I paid it off in a couple months and never had an issue. I don't care what other people wear, do or act, I got my own life and my own and more important things to worry about, I don't like to talk about race or non sense like that.

 

[disney50fam]

I LOVED Walmart ( the super stores) when I lived in Utah and Louisana. But Now that I live back in Cally, I can't stand them. They take no pride in them. they are always messy and eveything is always in the wrong spots. I still go to them sometimes But I am more of a target shopper now.
But if I ever visit Utah or my aunt I am Heading to wally world....

 

[S. C.]

On Dateline they did a story called supermarket sweep. They rated the stores from 1-10 on safety with food, with 10 being the best and 1 being the worst. Walmart & save a lot were tied at #9. Sams club and Costco are tied for #8, Food lion rated the best at #10 with safeway the worst at #1

The story is on their website. They got there ratings from health inspecter reports.

 

[jbdreamer]

Every Walmart is different. Some are trashy, but others are very nice. The newer one by me even has wood floors in the entrance and is always clean. I prefer Target - but then I have been to a few trashy Targets too. It's all about location.

 

[C.Ann]

I cannot fathom someone promoting a company that takes good paying jobs away....

-----------------------------------
Then people need to stop shopping completely.. Clothing; vehicles; appliances; toys; - you name it.. There is very, very little available in this country anymore that isn't outsourced or hasn't put the Mom & Pop stores out of business.. (Just as one small example, does Home Depot ring a bell? They have probably put more hardware stores out of business than you could shake a stick at..)

I shop at Walmart and have no problems with that at all.. The stores I shop are clean, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the prices are reasonable.. My first obligation is to my own family and if that means shopping where the best prices are, then that's where I'll shop..

As for the quality of the meats in the Super Walmarts and what they're injected with? You'll find that in any supermarket.. While working for a child psychologist who was writing a book in regards to how our food supply impacts our children, my job involved researching various foods and meats to determine what was added to them.. The results were quite surprising - to say the least.. The only way you can avoid all additives is to raise your own animals for slaughter or find a meat market that uses only organic feed and NO injections of any sort.. When my adult children were kids we made a point of purchasing our meat at a special meat market.. If you're truly concerned about the quality of your meats and avoiding additives, I suggest you do the same..

 

[disneysteve]

My first obligation is to my own family and if that means shopping where the best prices are, then that's where I'll shop.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[PixieDust32]

Originally Posted by C.Ann
My first obligation is to my own family and if that means shopping where the best prices are, then that's where I'll shop.

AMEN!!!!!

 

[disneymom3]

Thank you!!! I just can't imagine spending a dime at a store that I know puts more and more people out of jobs in this country.

I guess it's really become a 'me me" country...sad...maybe that's why I believe in evolution so much...we are not progressing with a 'me me' society, we are degressing...we have gone back to the basics of doing only what's best for ourselves (ie saving money at places like walmart even if it means people losing jobs then getting rehired for far less money at a new walmart in their area) and just not caring who their decisions hurt. It's a revolving evololution.

I personally find supporting companies that promote selling to poor people repulsive, but, to each their own.

For those that support walmart, i hope you sleep well while there is an underage child oversees making your child's clothes. Oh..tomorrow is Sunday, you can go say 'sorry' and be forgiven...my bad

Hmmm, comments like this always are so bizarre to me. In our town, Walmart has not put anyone out of business. Before Walmart came, we had a large grocery store--also a chain--and a Target to shop at. Prior to them, you pretty much had to drive about 15 miles away to shop. So, now people (and their money) can stay in town to do their shopping. I also notice when I do shop at Walmart, that they employ many many people with special needs. Where were they working before Walmart came to town? Since many of them walk there or ride the city bus, I will tell you that they were not working anywhere. Okay, they may not have benefits, but DH worked at Target for a spell and their PT benefits are not a pretty picture either, nor do they pay significantly higher than Walmart as far as salary.

As for my kids clothes, I shop at garage sales and Goodwill as well as having a thriving clothes trading circle amongst my friend's so I am sleeping just fine thanks. I might not be sleeping fine if I had to up my grocery and essentials budget by not shopping at Walmart. (Although I do get most of my groceries from Aldi--you want to talk no frills!!!)

 

[RitaZ.]

Do I like to shop at Walmart? Not really. The one near my house is very clean and organized, no problems there. The staff is usually foul though. Their prices are lower, but that's not even a big draw for me anymore. The last time I went to Walmart was in November, Publix is only 2 minutes from my house. Their prices are higher, but I'd rather shop at Publix for several reasons. I also prefer Target.

Since Walmart came to our city, Winn-Dixie closed down. ToysRus is also going out of business, I'm sure that Walmart's lower prices had to affect their sales.

 

[Micca]

I avoid Wal-mart, but when I go I always feel like I should take a hot shower afterwards.

 

[Poohbear123]

Do I like to shop at Walmart? Not really. The one near my house is very clean and organized, no problems there. The staff is usually foul though. Their prices are lower, but that's not even a big draw for me anymore. The last time I went to Walmart was in November, Publix is only 2 minutes from my house. Their prices are higher, but I'd rather shop at Publix for several reasons. I also prefer Target.

Since Walmart came to our city, Winn-Dixie closed down. ToysRus is also going out of business, I'm sure that Walmart's lower prices had to affect their sales.

Thanks for the Publix quote. As for Winn-Dixie and ToysRus, I believe these company's have downsized, and closed a few stores that aren't doing too well, but I don't think Walmart has anything to do with it, they were going to close them anyway.