shopping at walmart

[Maluco]

ok, I just stuck it to Walmart an hour ago! I went to my local Dollar Store and stocked up on some Gatorade and almonds. Two things I go through like crazy on a weekly basis. I saved aprox $7 compared to what I would have spent at Walmart. Those $7 saved buy the next round...

I believe they're 64oz bottles. $2 at Wal-mart. I also save about $1 on a pound of almonds.

Wherever inexpensive is nearest, I'm there. I could give a flying fuck less if someone at a Wal-Mart, grocery store, gas station or the like even acknowledges me. If they're not overcharging me or ringing shit up incorrectly, I thank them for their service.

Furthermore, I don't even give anyone the chance. I always greet whoever makes eye contact with me. If at that point they don't respond, I could still care less...

[Dave]

Ted,

You are incorrect. THere are hundreds of companies that make a "WalMart" line of cheaper products that they do not sell elsewhere.

One need only look at the tire selections at Sams and WM. GoodYear makes tires that are only sold at WalMart stores. They are NOT the same as what you would get elsewhere.

Hanes does the same with underwear.

[FL318is]

i dont really give a fuck what color people are or where they hail from. but if you choose to work with the public then learn the fucking language and put a smile on your face and treat customers as if they are your friends. i want to reach across the cash register and choke a bitch out next time she acts like shes doing me a favor taking my money and then grunting at me instead of smiling and saying thank you.

LOL! First let me say. I have been to the twin Wal-Mart here in Orlando and it sux ass. I have also been to one acorss town and it is decent.

Now for my point and this is not meant to be antagonistic but simply my first hand experiences.

I will work seasonally at costco. Great source of mod money no one can bitch me out about. It is not my career (even though some employees driving forklifts make 80K).

Let me alienate the world with this comment. It is MY experience that 80% of the shopping public are self centered, rude, VULGAR, trashy and in general have an attitude that you, the employee should kiss their ass.

Trust me, I see how employees get treated and man, a street dog shouldn't be exposed to this.

Example 1: FL state law requires the engine be shut off while fueling. Customer A refused to shut it off. After several requests from the fuel attendant and informing the customer that the company policy requires the shut down of the pump. Long and short of it, the pump was shut down. Guess what this "treat me like a friend customer did?" He f###ing SPIT on the attendant.

Example 2: A cashier who has a noticeable eye "alignment" problem/medical thing was told by another " customer friend", "hey why don't you take some of that BIG money you make here and get that s##t fixed? I don't see why they let you work with the public. You look hideous. Get a position where we don't have to look at you!"

Example 3: Quotes- "Is this the best you can do with your life?"
"you are pathetic." "you minimum wage moron!" (last I checked min wage is about $6.50 and costco starts you at $11.00) "are you that stupid?" These employees are pre-med, pre-law and a pilot.

These are all direct quotes unsolicited when these "customer friends" were asked for their membership card. How hard is that?

I believe in customer service and think it is sadly in high demand but lacking in availabilty everywhere. We could learn to treat everyone out there a little better. We would probably live longer.

[uofom3]

Cheaper goods for the community, but fewer jobs and very troubling trade imbalance, and the loss of variety or quality available.

I'd rather see buying power distributed among few large than one juggernaut buyer. I don't want Sam Walton determining if I can find Rubbermaid or their Sterile or whatever brand.

Sure, prices are low, but quality is plummeting. I try to avoid Walmart as much as possible if I can. What good is a $20 fan if it is just going to break every year unlike a good quality $50 at Target that last several years.

80% of goods come from China. Will you buy your kids someday cheap toys there covered in lead-based paint? Dog food dangerous to your pet's health? The use of buyer power for low prices with little to no concern to quality is what you are approving when you shop at Wal-Mart.

And it's not like there cannot be multiple always low price retailers - like in Germany. Walmart tried there and failed greatly. I hope Target picks up their game or someone else. Discount retailers can co-exist and counterbalance each other while still having buyer power against suppliers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mighty-walmart-admits-defeat-in-germany-409706.html

I miss Sainsbury's... which along with Tesco give Walmart's Asda solid competition.

Variety is not lacking in a wal mart store. They have a more comprehensive product line than Target, K-Mart, etc.

Sam Walton does not determine that - you have free choice to shop wherever you like.

Wal-Mart sells the same products as Target (see previous statement), or a Safeway, etc. If you buy a bottle of Gatorade at wal-mart it is no different than one from Target other than it costs a lot less. Same goes for consumer electronics, etc.

Again, Wal-mart sells much of the same toys that other specialty retailers like Toys-R-Us does. You're not going to be able to scare me into thinking that Wal-mart is the only store that sells chi-com made toys and if I shop at target the problem will be solved.

There are other low cost retailers - Costco? WinCo foods?

People make a huge mistake in thinking that Target and Wal-Mart serve the same market segment - they don't. Target tried to out Wal-Mart Wal-Mart and they failed big time. Target then made an effort to change its brand image by moving to moderately priced goods; below bed bath and beyond but above wal-mart. This was a great move because it differentiated them from Wal-Mart, and allowed them to charge their slightly higher prices. People who are brand loyal to Target will not go to a Wal-Mart in general - they have the money to be able to make the decision that they won't go to a Wal-Mart, but can't justify going to something on the pricing scale of a BBandB or a Piere 1. This is why you see a lot of college girls in a Target store, and why they cater to them.

[DarkWing6]

We live in a free-market, capitalist society.

While I agree with the point you were making, this comment is a bit of a stretch.

[Ryan Stewart]

I think everyone posting in this thread should have to post where THEY work.

I work for a software company in Shawnee that has a tube slide, dodgeball court, and beautiful womens.

[Ryan Stewart]

ive never stepped foot in a walmart except once to buy Mobil1 15/50 on sale.
recently i transferred some prescriptions for my wifes asthma and some gonorrhea medicine for myself to walmart because of 4 dollar prescriptions . i have to drive 12 miles outside the comfort and security of gods country to get to a walmart. once there i felt like i was walking into a 3rd world country. the fucking place was filthy and the employees snarl at me like the filthy infidel i am. it cant be just this one walmart can it? im not sure i am up for this task once a month.

If you are up to it you are a bigger man than I. The only time I step foot in the Wal-Mart is if its 3am, everything else is closed and I need something in a hurry (like first aid for goat kick). Usually a trip to Wal-Mart includes considerable vomiting.

Target is about all of the humanity I can stomach in a single day.

I dont avoid Wal-Mart for any holier than thou reason. Fuck the planet, its here to serve me. I avoid it because its always dirty, they stack shit in the aisles and the average weight of the Wal-Mart customer is about 350lbs.

[myinfernalbmw]

the clap is no laughing matter...

[Jean]

How is wal-mart good for economy when US was all about "small businesses", a giant like wal-mart just works against that.


my 2 cents.

[1991 318is]

They have great fringe benefits - workshops where the employees are taught how to apply for government subsidized healthcare because their wages are so low they qualify for it. They also walk their suppliers through out sourcing to China. Why it's almost like you're family. I like to think of it as corporate feudalism without the Magna Carta. The reason the employees are all so pissed off is that management gets first first crack at the bride on her wedding night! Cheer up. The equinox has passed and the cabin fever will soon be breaking.

[rwh11385]

Yeah... unless there are specials to draw people in with loss leader, I don't see a big difference usually.

http://www.target.com/Sunpentown-Remote-Control-Tower-Fan/dp/B000HGYANK/sr=1-11/qid=1206595490/ref=sr_1_11/602-8006344-7394242?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Afan&page=1

Sunpentown 32" Remote Control Tower Fan
$69.99

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5799331

Sunpentown LCD Tower Fan With Ionizer
$69.64

oh no, 35 cents... let's go with the evil giant

[Jand3rson]

Wealthy people don't get wealthy by pissing money away - I know plenty of Dr's/lawyers/accountants that shop at wal-mart because they can't justify wasting money at another store simply for an image.

This is very true. They say that 75% of millionaires never buy a brand new car.

Heeter, using your example of the fan, here's a question. I know that both Target and Wal-Mart have their own house brand of home products, things like fans, small appliances, etc. But say they both carry Honeywell, a well known name in small appliances, and both have the same model fan. If the fan is $29.99 at Target, but Wal-Mart has it for $19.99, would you not buy it there?

We shop at both Target and Wal-Mart pretty frequently, living about an equal distance from both. I know that if I had bought the fan at Target, because I happened to be there for $29.99, and then saw it at Wal-Mart the next day while I was on that end of town for $19.99, I'd be kind of miffed that I paid $10 more for it just because I was at Target, but I know that Wal-Mart usually has better prices on that kind of stuff.

Not trying to continue an argument with you here, I just want to know what your thoughts are on a situation such as this.

[rwh11385]

You're talking about buyer power... which wal mart has more of then any other operation on earth.


It's good for the economy, ultimately. Net benefit from a loss of a few small businesses in region vs. the amount of savings for the consumer and ultimate residual spending inthe community nets down to a healthy positive for the economy.

Cheaper goods for the community, but fewer jobs and very troubling trade imbalance, and the loss of variety or quality available.

I'd rather see buying power distributed among few large than one juggernaut buyer. I don't want Sam Walton determining if I can find Rubbermaid or their Sterile or whatever brand.

Sure, prices are low, but quality is plummeting. I try to avoid Walmart as much as possible if I can. What good is a $20 fan if it is just going to break every year unlike a good quality $50 at Target that last several years.

80% of goods come from China. Will you buy your kids someday cheap toys there covered in lead-based paint? Dog food dangerous to your pet's health? The use of buyer power for low prices with little to no concern to quality is what you are approving when you shop at Wal-Mart.

And it's not like there cannot be multiple always low price retailers - like in Germany. Walmart tried there and failed greatly. I hope Target picks up their game or someone else. Discount retailers can co-exist and counterbalance each other while still having buyer power against suppliers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mighty-walmart-admits-defeat-in-germany-409706.html

I miss Sainsbury's... which along with Tesco give Walmart's Asda solid competition.

[smonkbmw]

You're talking about buyer power... which wal mart has more of then any other operation on earth.

true

It's good for the economy, ultimately.

ok yeah but whos? and more important whos work force does it benefit more?

[uofom3]

Also, I can afford to shop at target, shopko, walgreens, rite aid, safeway, etc. I choose not to because it makes poor financial sense to piss money away at one of the other stores when I can get it for a great deal cheaper at wal mart. Wealthy people don't get wealthy by pissing money away - I know plenty of Dr's/lawyers/accountants that shop at wal-mart because they can't justify wasting money at another store simply for an image.