Who likes to shop at Walmart?

[kydisneyfans]

Going to add here-I don't really care for Wal Mart OR Target.

Thanks goodness for Meijer.

Here in our town-I went inside WalMart and my wife stayed in the car--the contest was the first person to see a woman in a nightgown with curlers in her hair and carpet slippers on--we would take a picture and sent it to the other via cel phone--I won within 30 seconds.

I just don't see the draw to Wal Mart-we are ad shoppers-if it isn't on sale-we don't buy it. Between double coupons and ads, we can get 99% of our food less elsewhere. Clothing quality is poor-buying things on clearance at Kohl's and Macy's is actually less expensive with better quality.

I do not hesitate to go to Wal mart though as needed-I work at 3 AM throughout eastern KY and Wal Mart is the only store often open early in the day. It's good to grab a quart of oil, mouse traps or furnace filters--but to buy everything there--no thanks.

PS: The Wal mart on 535 in much better than the one on 192 near Disney IMO.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

I love to shop at Walmart. We dont see any wacky things at our store and its not exactly in the best of neighborhoods either. Even though we have to drive to get to it....we have stores closer.....we do because of the prices and its really not too far away. We just started shopping there for food and all I can say is WOW what a difference in prices between there....Publix....and Albertsons. The quality is as good or better than the other two stores. I shopped for 10 days worth of dinners, lunches, snacks, and breakfasts and only spent 100.00. Now at Publix or Albertsons I would have spent closer to 150.00 for the same stuff. I have made several meals from what we bought and the meat quality was excellent. We wont shop for food now anywhere other than Walmart. Its worth the time in line to check out to save that kind of money and get the quality of food we get there.

 

[quiteblonde]

I really meant no disrespect for your area or level of jobs. Where I live, Walmart pays less than Mickie D's as a starting wage, has no benies, ect.

I understand that many areas think that their pay is helpful, but, as I wrote in my lyrics to the song, "Saving a buck costs too much"....

I cannot fathom someone promoting a company that takes good paying jobs away. I understand that people in this country do not make a lot, we can thank our Pres for that, but shopping at walmart will NOT get jobs back...the corporation heads make money while the working class suffers.

I personally would rather pay more at another store. That is not meant as being snobby, as I understand that many people do NOT have that option. I am very lucky...but, in the same token, until people realize that saving two cents at walmart costs the entire nation a LOT of money, it won't change.

Walmart will keep getting tax breaks, and americans will keep being put out of jobs..it's the american (the way Bush sees it) way...

No disrespect taken, I took it in the spirit intended, my area is rural and pretty underdeveloped and I love it anyway.

Here, the "good" jobs are few and far between if you want to work where you live. In this area, Wal-Mart is one of the 'better' jobs...it's actually pretty hard to get hired on in most cases; once people have a job there, they don't let go of it easily. Totally the opposite of McDonald's, which is a transitional job for the teenagers who are saving for cars or the college students who need extra cash.

In regards to your last statement, it's a sad fact that Wal-Mart isn't the only big business that is getting tax breaks and changing the face of the American work force. The days of getting out of school then starting the job you will retire from are swiftly coming to an end (it's still possible here, can't speak for other areas), there is less job security and less incentive to be loyal to a company that will end up shipping your job somewhere else for a better bottom line.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I don't necessarily like Walmart, but if I want to go to any other store, I have to drive at least 45 minutes into the next state. Walmart is basically it here. We have a Kmart that is terribly nasty and a lot more expensive that I have never liked to go to, and we have Aldi but that's pretty much it. We do use a lot of their store brand things and have been fine with that.

I hate living in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Marseeya]

I hate shopping at Walmart, but we don't have many other options. The town I live in has two grocery stores, but they're not very well stocked, so we just use them like convenience stores when we run out of something. Also, the only department store we had in our town was an Ames and they went out of business. We have FOUR dollar stores. There's not one place in our town to buy kids' clothes, nowhere to buy CDs or DVDs, nowhere to buy office supplies or computer supplies. We live in a very rural area.

We have a SuperWalmart 30 miles north of us, so we try to shop there every week or every other week to do our bulk shopping. The store is well-maintained and very clean, but I hate the crowds. It's not "low-class" the way a lot of you seem to see it where you live, but you do get a different attitude from the customers -- probably more out of frustration from it being so crowded and people being rude.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I don't like our Walmart. It's dirty and the isles are way to small. I'm a Target girl

 

[Marseeya]

Interesting questioning,,,Both are equally evil...walmart has promoted it's sales by in the areas you speak of aftrer stripping them of the options that could help the community. Walmart strips communities of both options IMO....they keep the poor thinking they have good jobs because they work at a place that 'everyone in powdunkville'' shops at, yet they don't tell the community that they have stripped their town and their fathers good paying jobs and future while doing it.

The teens that are now employed by walmart are usually living with an out of work parent that had a GOOD job, but, Walmart screwed em out of it. Why do we need people to make pants for $20 an hour when we can send that same job overseas for less than .05 cents an hour?

I would LOVE to hear from ONE person that lost a job that went on to get the same benefits, retiremenent ect at walmart and went on to make more than 30K a year (which is about poverty range...above in some places)

For the most part, I agree with your arguments, but where I live I think it's different. Our town has been working on getting a Super Walmart here for a couple of years now. The unemployment rate in my town is pretty high, and our main source of income here are the coal mines. Right in town, we have a few specialty shops, but they are higher end shops that most average income earners can't afford to shop there anyway (dress "shoppes" that sell designer labels and one-of-a-kinds), so I can't really see a Walmart putting them out of business, as they'll keep their exclusive customer base. It might put our two grocery stores out of business, but I say good. They've kept their prices unreasonably high for years, taking advantage of the poor community, especially those on welfare who might not be able to get out of town to shop where they can save a buck or two. If people in those stores lose their jobs, they won't be losing anything by transferring to Walmart. Also, a Walmart is going to bring a whole strip mall with them, which might make people come off the highway to eat in those restaurants, and shop in those stores.

Sorry for rambling. I'm just having a hard time seeing how a Walmart would be a bad thing in towns like mine, but I can certainly see why it would damage the economy in others.

 

[Ranatra]

I presently don't have a Walmart close to me. I'd have to drive about 40 minutes to get to one, not worth it to me. I've heard rumors they're going to build one in our area. Actually, I hope they don't.

 

[JerryMoCricketsGal]

For the most part, I agree with your arguments, but where I live I think it's different. Our town has been working on getting a Super Walmart here for a couple of years now. The unemployment rate in my town is pretty high, and our main source of income here are the coal mines. Right in town, we have a few specialty shops, but they are higher end shops that most average income earners can't afford to shop there anyway (dress "shoppes" that sell designer labels and one-of-a-kinds), so I can't really see a Walmart putting them out of business, as they'll keep their exclusive customer base. It might put our two grocery stores out of business, but I say good. They've kept their prices unreasonably high for years, taking advantage of the poor community, especially those on welfare who might not be able to get out of town to shop where they can save a buck or two. If people in those stores lose their jobs, they won't be losing anything by transferring to Walmart. Also, a Walmart is going to bring a whole strip mall with them, which might make people come off the highway to eat in those restaurants, and shop in those stores.

Sorry for rambling. I'm just having a hard time seeing how a Walmart would be a bad thing in towns like mine, but I can certainly see why it would damage the economy in others.

I totally see what you are saying, and if the local grocers have been gouging for years, then, I don't blame you. It's a shame that they felt they needed to do that IMO!!!

I DO NOT put anyone who shops/works at walmart down...heck...my best friend is an accountant for them...lol...she helped me with my rap video....her daughter is my Darwin (we don't do the god thing) daughter...

It just saddens me to see so many failing communities when there are so many other options than walmart to make them profitable again....

 

[Marseeya]

I totally see what you are saying, and if the local grocers have been gouging for years, then, I don't blame you. It's a shame that they felt they needed to do that IMO!!!

I DO NOT put anyone who shops/works at walmart down...heck...my best friend is an accountant for them...lol...she helped me with my rap video....her daughter is my Darwin (we don't do the god thing) daughter...

It just saddens me to see so many failing communities when there are so many other options than walmart to make them profitable again....

I know what you mean! Our town just keeps making the wrong decisions (IMHO, of course).

Several years ago, they were talking about putting in a big technology park, and that would have been GREAT for the community. What did they do instead? Put in a maximum security prison. It was supposed to bring in SO many jobs, but what it brought in instead was even more low-income families of the prisoners. The jobs were practically non-existent because they transferred in employees from other prisons.

Then they talked about putting in an outlet mall. I think that may have been a decent thing for the town, although a lot of the residents wouldn't be able to afford to shop there. It still would have provided jobs, and brought a boost to the economy with out-of-town shoppers.

I like that "Darwin daughter" thing.

 

[Hygiene99]

I really meant no disrespect for your area or level of jobs. Where I live, Walmart pays less than Mickie D's as a starting wage, has no benies, ect.

I understand that many areas think that their pay is helpful, but, as I wrote in my lyrics to the song, "Saving a buck costs too much"....

I cannot fathom someone promoting a company that takes good paying jobs away. I understand that people in this country do not make a lot, we can thank our Pres for that, but shopping at walmart will NOT get jobs back...the corporation heads make money while the working class suffers.

I personally would rather pay more at another store. That is not meant as being snobby, as I understand that many people do NOT have that option. I am very lucky...but, in the same token, until people realize that saving two cents at walmart costs the entire nation a LOT of money, it won't change.Walmart will keep getting tax breaks, and americans will keep being put out of jobs..it's the american (the way Bush sees it) way...

I Also do not shop at Walmart ..

for me it is a Construction sort of Thing..

Member of an International Union, The I.U.O.E.
LOCAL 4

Before you can shop it has to be built !

They will have nothing to do with unions in this part of the Country..


Peter

 

[stemikger]

I have only been to Walmart once. However, I work with people who always talk about how great the place.

My Boss is from Alabama and he was always talking about how the Walmart Superstore is the place where is parents go to shop and socialize.

When I went to the Walmart in New Jersey I couldn't believe this was the place I heard so much about. It was dirty and the stuff seemed to just be thrown in with no care at all. Even many of the items they sold were crap.

To be fair this was not a superstore, so I don't know if it is fair to base my opinion on this. I personally like Target. There is no comparasion between the Walmart I went to and the Targets I always go to.

 

[cruiserkaren]

Interesting direction this thread is taking

I avoid Walmart like the plague. I'll only go in there if I have to. It's just not the store that bothers me, it's the crowds. It's always crowded, like it's the last store on earth selling things!

...Anyway back to the OP, the above statement is totally me. I hate Wal Mart b/c you can never just run in and pick something up. It takes at least 30 minutes to get 1 thing! It's ridiculous. Unfortunately, Wal Mart is our only 'store' here. No Targets or Meijers. Just Wal Mart or Kroger(where I get groceries, it's also union ). I love Target and will drive the 20 minutes to get there when I can be at Wal Mart in 5. Nothing to do with Wal Marts 'clientele', just their less than efficient workforce.

 

[dvcgirl]

I'm not sure they're safe anywhere. Read about stuff in their parking lots way more than other stores. DH won't let me go by myself to one. I also go to save money but prefer other places.

Well, here in Orlando, and really many parts of Central Florida we have a sort of "checkerboard" with respect to crime. Nice area with nice homes can be directly adjacent to a not so nice area, with lots of crime. And so within say 10 sq miles here we have people living below the poverty level, and in that same 10 sq miles we have Isleworth, where Shaquille O'Neal and Tiger Woods have homes. So our Walmart draws a lot of folks who are from the lower income area, and in that group there are obviously some really bad apples. Whether it's due to drugs, loss of hope or despartion....the end result is violent crime.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

her daughter is my Darwin (we don't do the god thing) daughter

Just wondering how you can be a godparent if you don't believe in god? Both when I chose godparents for my own children and on the two occasions I agreed to be godparent to others' children, it was made very clear that the purpose of being a godparent is to carry on the teachings of god and religion to the child if the parents cannot.

 

[KathyTX]

A note to everyone:

Regardless of another posters' political or religious views, you MUST speak to each other respectfully on the DISboards.

I believe this thread asked whether you like shopping at Walmart. Could we let it continue in that vein and not hijack it into a political rant and insult-fest?

 

[mommaU4]

no, I do not like Wal-mart.

We have a Wal-mart and a Target right across the street from each other and I will always prefer Target. It's brighter, cleaner, the shelves are better organized, the merchandise (especially clothing) is cuter, the lines are shorter, the staff is more helpful, the aisles are less crowded so it's easier to manuever, etc.

That is true for all of the Walmarts that I have ever been in. However my aunt in TN has a Super Walmart near her that she loves and says is quite nice. So I believe that somewhere out there perhaps there are Walmarts that are nice places to shop. 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.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Wow, that's really sad.

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.

 

[lissawynn]

I used to be a Wal-Mart shopper, but I would rather shop Target. Their selection is much better and their stores are MUCH cleaner than most Wal-Marts.

 

[lilostitch]

I worked at Wal-Mart for a few years in college. IMO, the rap early in the thread has it right. They hire a lot of part-time employees and didn't have enough people working at once to help customers. They were always pulling people out of their departments to run the registers, that is why customers could never find anyone to help them.

When they are first built, they are nice and new, but a few years down the road, they are neglected and disgusting. Wal-Mart closes it's doors when it gets really bad, then opens a newer/bigger one down the road, which also stays nice for a few years.

When a new one opens near me, I go to it for awhile (unless I'm in a hurry, then forget it!). Target is my absolute favorite! I'm with the others. Kmart isn't even an option...gross!