Shopping at Walmart

[sarah]

I've noticed that several members shop at WalMart. I have very mixed feelings about this. I know that they have very good prices. Many people say that they are an anti poverty force by forcing prices down. Others argue that they increase poverty by lowering pay scales and hurting local businesses. I am very torn. I was wondering what other people on this site think about this issue.

[gopher]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of big box retailers of any kind and choose to give my money, whenever possible, to independent local businesses. It's really the only real power we have. Granted, I live in an urban environment where there are many alternatives so this is easier for me than someone more rural with Walmart as their only choice but that in and of itself is disturbing. The lack of diversity. I say spend your money elsewhere.

[disneysteve]

I also live in an urban area and Wal-Mart is great for local businesses. For example, the newest Wal-Mart around here opened in what had been a nearly abandoned shopping center. The whole property got leveled. They built Wal-Mart, a strip of about 8 stores and restaurants, another strip with a Post Office, a salon and a couple of other stores, an Applebee's, an Arby's, a Staples and an Old Country Buffet. And this is in a working class neighborhood that didn't have a whole lot of shopping options close by. The new center employees a couple hundred people and provides affordable shopping for probably several thousand people. None of that development would have happened if the Wal-Mart wasn't part of that center. I don't hear anyone complaining.

We shop at Wal-Mart occasionally, but are much more frequent visitors to Target primarily because it is closer.

[Marcymox]

I shop at whoever had the cheapest prices and who is the closest to me. Right now that's wal-mart and Kroger. I know alot of people are anti-wal-mart, but honestly I'm too poor to shop for political reasons. maybe one day I'll be able to shop according to my values and shop organic markets like Sprouts and such. Right now, I'm doing good to be able to afford wal-mart and the dented can and bread thrift stores.

[yummy64]

I avoid walmart other than for inexpensive clothes as it takes too long to get and and out quickly. I prefer smaller places where I can get what I want without taking ages at the cash.

[kealina]

we don't avoid it but we don't shop there in general either... we don't buy much but if there is something we need that is there and nowhere else near us we will buy it there...

[cschin4]

I shop at Walmart because I like the store and the prices. They are more successful than other businesses because they give people what they want. And, I can easily return items I do not want without a hassle. I do try to avoid shopping there because I always spend too much money whenever I go in there!

[cschin4]

And, when I shop, I want a shopping cart! For some reason, the mall doesn't get that I would buy alot more stuff and shop longer if I had a shopping cart. I hate shopping at the mall because carrying around the merchandise, my purse, jacket, etc is annoying. So, I pretty much buy everything I can at Walmart. They did get some chintzy little carts in some of the mall stores but they are pretty useless. When they get the nice sturdy metal ones, I would be happy to shop in the mall. But, I would like to be able to take the cart from one end to the other as well. Big Lots is the only other store around with shopping carts.

[LuxLiving]

I hate Walmart because I'm WORN PLUMB OUT walking from one end of the monster to the other. WAY Too many people, ugh!!!

I do shop there occasionally as my bank's only presence in the neighborhood is inside the Walmart. But it's a rarity that I shop in there. YUCK!! Almost have to place a loaded gun to my own temple to make me go to that place.

And PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE - get out of your pj's & scruffy houseshoes to go in there would you please?????? I'm amazed at the attire of some of our locals who are in there shopping! Just get off your lazy bum & get dressed for goodness sake!!! HAVE MERCY!!

[Ima saver]

I go there 3-4 times a year. It is 25 miles away, so I only go when I really need something. I shop locally but there are some things you just can't find in a little town. There is talk that we may get one here, I almost hope not. I am afraid I would go all the time and spend too much money!

[Dixiechick]

I shop at WalMart - because of their prices. If there's a better deal somewhere else, I'll shop there for it. I know WalMart's prices and they are my basis for deals/no deals at other stores. I try to go when it's least crowded so as not to have to put up with so many people, but sometimes that's hard to do. Also, we have 4 Super WalMarts within range of me and some are better than others. I drive about 5-8 miles further than the closest one because the atmosphere is better - cleaner, shelves stocked, friendlier people, etc. I do vote with my pocket book. If independent stores want my business, they need to provide me with products and goods I'm willing to pay for. Why would I pay $4.29 (local independent grocer) for cereal when WalMart has it for $2.50? And vise versa if applicable... All that said, I'm not exclusive to WalMart. I shop pretty much every store in town for whatever the best deals are. I collect all store ads and compare prices. Our local Star Super Market (I think they are independent, but not entirely positive) has better prices on their meats than other places, but their non-parishable goods are sky high. That's where I use WalMart...

[sarah]

One of the issues i I keep hearing about with regards to shopping at Walmart is how they allegedly treat their employees. Forcing them to work unpaid overtime and the limited health care coverage. Their prices sure are nice though. As I stated earlier I am very torn about this issue.

[Ima saver]

The few people that I ever knew that worked at wal marts, said they were treated fine.

[asmom]

I don't shop at Wal-Mart for all the political reasons you may have heard of but also because it is an unpleasant experience. It is always crowded with entire families shopping as though it were a social outing, they rarely have enough cashiers to check me out in a timely fashion and they sell tons of cheap, plastic crap which is usually packed on shelves lining crowded, narrow aisles. I have found that by shopping sales and using coupons, I am able to avoid WalMart altogether and I have not shopped there in 3 years.

[mom-from-missouri]

Now that I have moved, the nearest Walmart is 25 miles away. I have discovered, I really do better without it! I use the dollar store, Pimidias, and have also found a couple of very nice 2nd hand stores. Since June, I have only gone to Walmart 2 times-and neither one was a special trip-I had to go to that town for something else and stopped in-the last time the only reason I stopped was because they had their tent sale going on--and even then I didn't buy anything.

[Ima saver]

I do like to christmas shop at wal marts When i went last week, I noticed the store was much nicer, wider isles and all new bathrooms.

[cschin4]

Frankly, I think all the "hype" about Walmart is a bunch of bunk. They treat their employees as well or better than anyone else. And, isn't having a job better than not having one? How hard is it to work a few OT hours at Walmart? The political machine can't stand to see anything successful so it tries to create bad press to shut it down. Viva la Walmart! Because of all the press, I go out of my way to shop there.

[Dixiechick]

My sister worked at WalMart for 3 years in FL. She never had any problems about any overtime. She liked it OK as the type of job it was. But it wasn't something she planned on retiring from.

When I have to work overtime, I don't get double or even straight time. I get about 80-85% of my regular hourly pay. It's with the government, but I don't see anyone (even me) complaining about that or boycotting anything. If I have to work over, I try and get comp time. It's worth more to me that way...

Dixie

[lrjohnson]

I have never shopped at a Wal-Mart. I have yet to see Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Price, and look forward to seeing it. I read a great story in a Harper's a long time back but didn't save it. I belive that Wal-Mart is possibly doing long term harm to the world economy, not just local economies, but am notwhere near educated enough on the subject; I could be wrong, obviously. I prefer shopping local in general. Thrift stores are cheaper than regular. The couple of things My Guy bought at Wal-Mart fell apart right away; pure crud.

[shengmei]

Believe it or not, I have now officially trained myself and my husband to ONLY look at clearance racks, which are actually cheaper than Wal-Mart.

Since Wal-Mart usually doesn't have anything "on sale", it would be cheaper for us to shop elsewhere. Besides, I hate crowds and my husband does also.