My semi-annual trip to Walmart
I have already outlined several reasons why I hate Walmart, the last time I went there in August. I only a couple of times a year, because it takes many months to build enough optimism to return.
It does NOT save time! and it does NOT save money!
I don't know why I bother. Today I thought I would go, because it's supposed to be super cheap, and Christmas needs to be super cheap right now. So I loaded up with a list of various cookie-making, homemade-present making, and household supplies, and headed out to Walmart. I also thought it be would more convenient to go there since I needed grocery items and non-grocery items.
When I was in highschool, my friend Krista and I used to go to Walmart, get a bag of popcorn and wander around the store munching away. I thought to myself as I entered the store today, "I'm going to have a good attitude about this. I'll my popcorn and munch relaxedly through the store." Just getting a bag of popcorn is complicated. Of course, I wanted warm, fresh popcorn, so I went up to the counter. The lady in front of me took forever, because the woman behind the counter was making her order unnecessarily uncomplicated (they were out of hamburgers). After awhile it was finally my turn. I calmly asked for a bag of popcorn, and the woman asked if I wanted to taste it first. This seemed odd. Is there a reason I should want to taste it? She said, "It's sweet popcorn." I tasted a kernel. Sure enough. Gross. Not at all my ideal of the perfect snack. I did not like it. I wanted buttery and salty. Crushed and deflated and popcornless, I had to face shopping alone.
And, after wandering and wandering and wandering, I still come away with items on my list unfulfilled. They are so often OUT of things or just don't stock some things. After about 20 mins devoted just to finding the Christmas lights, I found a small corner with the few remaining strands of lights. Folks! It's the middle of December! It's time to have Christmas lights!! Not everybody buys theirs in October! I also couldn't find instant espresso powder (not too surprised), Andes mints, or Hershey's kisses wrapped in red and green foil.
All told, I spent well over an hour...probably close to 2 wandering around that horrid store. It does not save time. Especially when one is fervently looking for items they don't have.
It also does not save money. I usually do my grocery shopping at Whole Foods. It has a reputation for being pricey. Yea, some things cost a bit more. But I find, if you shop right (and cook right), you can be just as economical. I was surprised how some things weren't cheaper at Walmart. Now given the choice: would you rather buy something organic and all natural or something plastic and processed when they're the same price!? Walmart bills itself as being a total price saver. It's not. I could find the same value at Target--which is more organized, better stocked, cleaner, and friendlier.
Here ends my rant of the day.
Comments
I totally agree; I refuse to go to Walmart basically because I feel like I am in a wharehouse. I will only shop in Target. However, the only thing that Walmart has cheaper then everyone else is Aloe Vera juice - $7/gallon. It is $30/gallon everywhere else.
Posted by: beth | December 14, 2004 5:47 PM
The only reason I go to Wal-Mart is that they have a craft section, and Wal-Mart is a lot closer than Michael's or any other craft place. I know right where the yarn and things are, so I can get in and out without much trouble (ignoring for a moment the length of the checkout lines, which I know was part of your previous tirade). But for real money-saving food or school-supply shopping, I always head for Target. Sounds like it's a good choice for you too!
Posted by: Erica | December 14, 2004 6:48 PM
not to be a defender of wally-world, but it certainly helps to go during the day on a weekday, and NOT on a night as Christmas approaches.
and yes, we've saved LOTS of money there (Michelle did a comparison spreadsheet), and therefore didnt add to any of our debts this year, so I for one am thankful for the place.
but I'm sorry you had a bad time. there's a nice new one off brainerd here where you'd probably have a better experience :-)
Posted by: bobw | December 14, 2004 10:08 PM
I will concede, bob, that our Walmart is particularly odious, and I have had some good experiences (like in high school) with Wally-world.
Posted by: Jeannette | December 15, 2004 11:13 AM
Amen! I have vowed never to shop at Wal-Mart again. The one closest to me here in COlumbus is very dirty, cluttered and the sales people have never been helpful or friendly. Doesn't matter what time of year. I won't go there anymore! I'm a Target girl!
Posted by: austina | December 15, 2004 12:09 PM
walmart is from the devil. i just am getting more and more tired of going to the obvious places to get the stuff I need. I got Xmas lights at my friendly neighborhood--thrift store!! And to quote Joel,"Why would you give perectly good Xmas lights to the thrift store?" That's a good question...so I can find them there!! I found cheap wrapping paper (which I usually make my own with brown shipping paper) at Lowe's! Lowe's also has that groovy shipping paper, with some potato stamps it makes beautiful paper. Once your kid gets big enough (ie Josiah's age) they can make the paper with markers and crayon drawings!! My family loves me for my paper contributions. I also agree with Whole Foods. I usually get Xmas goodies there, like cheeses, fruit, coffee, jam and the occassional present like Burt's Bees lip balm. I am blessed that the closet Walmart to me is like 30 minutes away so Kroger and Target do the trick for me. Oh!! need I mention Big Lots? That's Cat's favorite place for all her novelty shopping.
Posted by: katiek | December 16, 2004 2:00 PM
Ok I see Bob and I are the only ones who will come to Walmart's defense. One thing I need to say, we lack nice stores like Whole Foods in Chattanooga. I know we have GreenLife and Fresh Market, but I HAVE compared prices and there's just no comparison. Bob is right, I made a spreadsheet and compared prices of things I regularly buy and Walmart and Sams always came up cheapest. We live on a very strict budget due to mucho debt-o from college-o! But another big plus for me is that I can find everything I need at Walmart, most of the time. I went pants hunting recently and try to find size LONG pants for an affordable price (sure the Gap has them but...) where did I find them? Walmart! Try to find the cheapest place to buy Soy Formula--Walmart! Try to find some cool presents for Bob at good prices--Walmart. I know I'm going to get some flack for this, but Walmart is my answer. Also with painful body and baby in tow a one stop shop is exactly what I need to keep my sanity and health. Have I said enough? :) Oh wait I do have to say I love Target. They actually have style. So for picture frames, baby clothes, cool cards, and house stuff I go there. But it is more expensive there in general.
Posted by: michellew | December 17, 2004 10:02 AM
this is a bit of a tangent but:
apparently wally world has a much better P.R. team than target. target kicked out the salvation army bell ringers, so what did wally do? they're matching all contributions for this week, and it'll apparently be about a million bucks. genious.
so is target intentionally becoming the place for the blue state folks?
Posted by: bobw | December 17, 2004 10:14 AM
I blogged about Walmart a while back, so I won't say it all over again here, but overall I do not like the place. It's enormous and I feel like a little ant in an overwhelming and messy city when I'm in there. However, they have incredibly cheap baby clothes and accessories there. They carry more items for baby girls than Target does, so when I'm in the neighborhood and feel like contending with an army of shoppers and merchandise, Walmart isn't so bad.
Posted by: Rebecca | December 17, 2004 10:43 AM
Well, I really think the success of a given Walmart is regional. And here, it's terrible.
And here, there's Salvation Army ringers at Target, but not Walmart.
Walmart IS an overwhelmingly messy city. And I just can't take it. Our particular Walmart is the LAST place I'd take my kid.
Posted by: Jeannette | December 17, 2004 5:05 PM