Walmart

[asiancivicmaniac]

Quote:
How often do you go to Walmart?


I go there pretty much for whatever I need unless I know I can find it cheaper else where. Exceptions though would be for meats, deli, and produce. I go to Publix (Southern grocery chain) for those and lately I've been going to Aldi's for basic stuff.

Quote:
Why do you shop there? (I personally despise going to Walmart as it's usually located in a very crime-infested part of town.)


The closest Walmart is a regular one without produce or fresh meats and it is located in a lower income part of town. It seems ghetto but its where the school is located so I'm living close to the area anyways so no reason not to shop there. I prefer to go to the Supercenter which is a 12 mile drive away though. Located in a nicer area and has pretty much everything I need. Can't stand the lines though.

In my hometown there are 3 Supercenters within 10-15 miles of each other. They're in decent/commercial areas of town. The one closest to my home actually have nice people working there the last few times I've went. Two of them were only recently built so they're clean.



Quote:
Why do you find the minor price savings to be worth the added hassles of the Walmart shopping experience? (Lousy service, tough to find parking, rude customers, etc)


A penny saved is a penny earned (Ben Franklin, I think). Most of the time my experience isn't negative. Even with the people working at the ghetto Walmart even though the people are less than stellar to be there I haven't been treated badly. You have to learn how to deal with the stuff you listed. It's just life. Some people feel they should do their best with everything and provide good service at work but most are there just so they can put food on the table. They do their job still.

 

[Tempest]

I shop there as often as possible. Everything in one place with generally very good prices.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Me,I`m in there almost every day. I buy all of my groceries there. They`re cheap,have almost everything under the sun,and save me money,so they always get my business.

 

[PandaBear]

How often do you go to Walmart?

When I'm bored during lunch time, probably 2x per month.




Why do you shop there? (I personally despise going to Walmart as it's usually located in a very crime-infested part of town.)

Don't really shop there, just price check and see if my Target or Safeway is really gouging me or not. Unless I found myself saving $4 or there is no line (unlikely) I just drop my shopping car in the middle of the lane because of the long line, not worth buying anything waiting 20 mins in line.




Why do you find the minor price savings to be worth the added hassles of the Walmart shopping experience? (Lousy service, tough to find parking, rude customers, etc)

They are not cheaper than other store by much here, and their line is long, the employees stupid (no offense, but always make mistakes in my returns and often miss a bag with my merchandise in it, slow, etc). Other customers rude, inventories are all over the place, low quality, etc.

 

[DragRace]

We go there EVERY week to buy groceries,and when it's time to change oil,we'll buy oil for the girlfriends Crown Vic and because quite simply,with todays economy,saving money has never been more important.

Some people love to hate on Walmart,which is quite hilarious.IF you dont like it,dont shop there! Pretty simple!

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
How often do you go to Walmart?


I stop by once a year to check out the greeter and to say "Howdy" to Tiny. I don't buy anything, tho.'

 

[rpn453]

I probably go once a month. They have a decent selection of common items at good prices and I don't have to talk to anyone when I go there. They're open late, they have plenty of parking lot space, they're clean and consistent, and there are two locations that are both convenient for me and in good areas of town (there is also one in the bad area of town, but it seems okay too). Besides, it's the only place I can get 0w30 for $5 a liter without going to some weekday-business-hours-only bulk dealer way over in the industrial area. Canadian Tire and Future Shop are right across the street so, between the three stores, I can usually get two "bids" on whatever I'm looking for.

 

[ViragoBry]

While there's no arguing the price difference (sometimes quite substantial), my local WM seems to do everything they can to make for a miserable shopping experience. Their employees are rude and most of the people that shop there are too. I can actually watch the checkers purposely moving as slow as they can, and they never have enough lines open.

I go as little as possible and instead try to support my local grocery and auto parts stores (with the exception of Pep Boys...they've become the WalMart of auto parts). Most of the time, my local grocery stores actually have better prices on some food items, but I was shocked one day to find that a Hartz flea collar that sells for $3.29 at WalMart was for sale at Tom Thumb for over $8. I bought all my groceries there and stopped by WM on the way home for a flea collar.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Wal Mart is a store of last resort for me, generally only because I can't find an item anywhere else, and because they are next door to a nearby Lowes that I am in often anyway.

Along with the reasons already listed, a huge turnoff is the small aisles blocked by huge people who don't know about parking a basket.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: AcuraTech
How often do you go to Walmart?

Almost never. Hate that place.

Why do you shop there? (I personally despise going to Walmart as it's usually located in a very crime-infested part of town.)

Why don't I shop there? Sketchy parking lot after dark, messy stores, the "leave your soul at the door" vibe, the fact that Wal-Mart 1. destroys family owned businesses and 2. treats "associates" like garbage, and 3. employs union busting tactics, having only 2 checkout lines open when the store is busy, can I stop there?


Why do you find the minor price savings to be worth the added hassles of the Walmart shopping experience? (Lousy service, tough to find parking, rude customers, etc)

I don't. The USA would be a better place if Wal-Mart went out of business.

+1
I don't find that anyone is rude in ours, but I just don't like the corporate philosophy of moving the higher volumes of cheaper imported [censored]. It's wrecking the environment and creating a whole class of people that can only afford to shop at walmart...
Something like 1 in 75 working people in the U.S. work at Walmart, kind of scary!
Ian

 

[demarpaint]

I'll shop there to save some cash. I'm all for Mom and Pop businesses, I own one, but I get tired of hearing about saving the Mom and Pop stores. Around here the Mom and Pop stores price gouge too, and in this economy its all about saving money for me.

Recently I needed a GFI outlet, I saw the same brand outlet same exact specs in HD but didn't get it at the time. My wife started nagging me to replace it so I went to the local Hardware Store that has been around for over 60 years. He had the same exact outlet HD had for over two times the cost. I mentioned it to him, and he copped an attitude. I went to HD and bought it. What is ironic is he has a sign at the back counter that says something like just say no to Home Depot, support the local Independent Hardware Retailer. I support Mom and Pop, Mom is my wife, and I'm Pop. I'll save where ever I can.

I'm shopping for fan belts and a PS hose, Rock Auto vs. local auto parts store (Mom and Pop), vs AAP. I can save over $25 with shipping factored in shopping at Rock, Rock got the business unless the others want to price match. JMO

 

[Benzadmiral]

Miss Linda drags me there three Sunday mornings out of four. If I refuse to bring her she gets quiet (even more than usual) and looks mournful. I can just drop her off, but then the local grocery I prefer is another five miles away.

Last week I finally said, "Hey, what do *I* get out of this? I hate this store with the passion of a hundred burning suns."

So, last Sunday, she got up early (I didn't think she knew there were *two* six o'clocks in the day), she sprang for breakfast at our favorite local diner, and then I took her to Sino-Mart.

That said, I still hate it with the passion of a hundred burning suns.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Just a little survey about Walmart since it appears to be the BITOG store-of-choice.

How often do you go to Walmart?


Several times each week.
Originally Posted By: The Critic


Why do you shop there? (I personally despise going to Walmart as it's usually located in a very crime-infested part of town.)


Both stores here are newer stores or recently remodeled. We have a Sams Club and Wal*Mart blocks from each other, and another one also near SAFB.
Originally Posted By: The Critic


Why do you find the minor price savings to be worth the added hassles of the Walmart shopping experience? (Lousy service, tough to find parking, rude customers, etc)


It's mostly about saving time. They have most everything I need. Aldi is near by as well and we often get produce there.

Most of the stuff we buy is made in USA, so I really don't get the China Mart references. They have no more or no less Made in China stuff compared to Target or K-Mart. The Target stores here are nice, three new stores in the past 6 years.

Now the local K-Marts, you can't pay me to shop there. What some of you are describing about your local Wal*Marts describes the local K-Marts.

However, I prefer to visit Wal*Mart early in the day, before everything is picked over. Stopping there after 9pm is likely frustration, as the shelves are no longer stocked and it seems the folks on public aid have their kids out late at night buying their Milk, Juice, Bread, etc on the WIC vouchers or Link cards while the kid is poorly behaved. Sometimes I just want to slap those folks and ask why they are tormenting the child by bringing him/her out well after bedtime and why are they subjecting everyone else to such drama?

But I keep my mouth shut and am thankful I'm not in their situation. I let the almighty deal with it, it's not my place to judge.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I should shop there more often. Even the lowest compensated people must pay and cannot avoid Social Security and Medicare taxes.

I'll need these people to continue to work to help fund my retirement. People on welfare cannot help me.

 

[wavinwayne]

I visit W-M at least once per week, to buy groceries and various household necessities. I hate the shopping experience at W-M, but the competing grocery store in town has considerably higher prices. If I just need a few items, I go to the small grocery store close to my house. If I need more than a few items, it's off to W-M.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

I try not to step foot into a Wal-Mart unless I have no choice. I stop by a local Wal-Mart perhaps once every 3-4 months and am usually sorry that I did.

The local Wal-Mart stores, while all relatively new or recently remodeled, appear to specialize in pitiable customer service, 20 minute lines at the checkouts and mediocre produce. Teenage employees with tattoos, piercings and nasty attitudes seem to be the norm.

We have a local grocery chain that emphasizes customer service and friendly employees. They have great produce and their prices are usually the same as Wal-Mart or, at most, slightly higher. The local chain also uses the NuVal scoring system so I know at a glance how my selection stacks up. The employees are clean cut decent looking.

I can choose to go into a business where my patronage isn't highly valued and I'm treated poorly, or I can patronize a business where I'm valued as a customer, helped by competent staff and can purchase higher quality goods. I don't have to rely on the tatted up dregs of society to ring up my purchase while I look at their tongue, lip or nose ring.

It's pretty easy choice.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Two of them were only recently built so they're clean.



I've noticed this too and it's pretty sad. They have to build a new building to clean the place!!

You'd think every five years they could buff the tile floors and put some shine back in 'em.

 

[ViragoBry]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit

I can choose to go into a business where my patronage isn't highly valued and I'm treated poorly, or I can patronize a business where I'm valued as a customer, helped by competent staff and can purchase higher quality goods. I don't have to rely on the tatted up dregs of society to ring up my purchase while I look at their tongue, lip or nose ring.

It's pretty easy choice.


I have a similar experinece at my local Tom Thumb. The store is immaculate, never crowded, everyone's nice and helpful, the lines are quick and I leave a very happy and satisfied customer. But this experience comes at a price. Unless Tom Thumb is having some sort of blow-out sale, you don't get out as cheaply as a visit to WalMart. I do take advantage of thier 10 for $10 sales on things that I think I may use. I got 10lbs of avacados for $10 a couple of weeks ago, which is a killer price. Over all, after a hard day of work, it's worth it to not face WM aggravation and just hit the grocery store.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
I try not to step foot into a Wal-Mart unless I have no choice. I stop by a local Wal-Mart perhaps once every 3-4 months and am usually sorry that I did.

The local Wal-Mart stores, while all relatively new or recently remodeled, appear to specialize in pitiable customer service, 20 minute lines at the checkouts and mediocre produce. Teenage employees with tattoos, piercings and nasty attitudes seem to be the norm.

We have a local grocery chain that emphasizes customer service and friendly employees. They have great produce and their prices are usually the same as Wal-Mart or, at most, slightly higher. The local chain also uses the NuVal scoring system so I know at a glance how my selection stacks up. The employees are clean cut decent looking.

I can choose to go into a business where my patronage isn't highly valued and I'm treated poorly, or I can patronize a business where I'm valued as a customer, helped by competent staff and can purchase higher quality goods. I don't have to rely on the tatted up dregs of society to ring up my purchase while I look at their tongue, lip or nose ring.

It's pretty easy choice.

You could be talking about the Sino-Marts in my area vs. the local grocery chains.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Two of them were only recently built so they're clean.



I've noticed this too and it's pretty sad. They have to build a new building to clean the place!!

You'd think every five years they could buff the tile floors and put some shine back in 'em.


Actually, one was built to replace a regular Walmart that looked to be from the 80s. I used to call that red neck Walmart because everything inside looked dated and the selection sucked, oh and most of the people that shopped there looked red necked. The other one was just built. The third one was built sometime in the 90s if I remember correctly. First Supercenter in town and it replaced an older one. This one sucks to shop at unless it's in the morning. The place looks clean enough. Certainly in better shape than the sad looking K-mart that is probably dieing a slow death.