Do you shop at Walmart?

Susan - posted on 08/17/2010

You know it is really funny how people are so quick to down grade a store that has really developed and expanded. I have not worked at Walmart, but i worked at a dept store in Phoenix. There will always be pressure. I was told that I would have to always appear busy even if I was not. I would have to be rearranging the displays, dusting or wiping down the counters. They could fire you on the spot just saying that you were not working, but on the clock. I have gone into Target (not often because I live about 2 hours from the nearest one) and I was not impressed. We live about an hour from 4 Walmarts. We are like in the middle. We have some small mom and pop stores in our town, but they do not have the variety that Walmart gives.

A - posted on 08/17/2010

I still have to shop there. I live in a small town and its either there or IGA. IGA is too expensive. They do have better and cheaper meat at IGA so I get that there, but otherwise I just can't afford to shop anywhere else. Yes, they probably do have crappy tactics but really all employers I've worked for do things I don't agree with. Places are owned by others, and if you start digging in to what companies do you probably wouldn't shop anywhere. I do try to shop organic and healthy to encourage them to supply such products. I get diapers somewhere else that are organic.

Angela - posted on 08/17/2010

i try to do as much of my shopping at Aldi's as possible. if you haven't shopped there, you really should. i am kicking myself for not shopping there sooner as i would have saved a ton of money!

Teresa - posted on 08/17/2010

I wonder how Walmart bosses sleep knowing their employees are in bad condition because of their abuse. I'd spend buying elsewhere than patronizing these kind of establishments. I believe products and prices shouldn't be the sole basis of patronizing. Customer service and good faith of company should also be considered.



-from Teresa, writer of
Best Moms’ Rule Number 1: Anticipate System Down
at http://blog.clariity.com

Shanon - posted on 08/17/2010

Our WalMart her is a decent enough store. I have family and friends that work there. I usually find what I need for a fair price. We just got a new store at the other end of town and I have heard nothing but good things about it. The produce at the new one is top rate quality and everyone that I have talked to also love the meat department. Our old WalMart doesn't have the fresh food department. We also don't have Target here so we don't have that as an option.

Cheri - posted on 08/17/2010

Target all the way
!!!

Tiffany - posted on 08/17/2010

For the remarks about formula.......they have to put it behind the counter because people were stealing it to sell on the streets or to mix in with cocaine. It is a serious issue, but if you had to wait that long (20 to 30 minutes is ridiculous) you should say something to the store manager. You don't have to go to that one line...you can go to any line and they can get the formula for you. Just so you know if you ever have to go there again. =)

Tiffany - posted on 08/17/2010

I worked at walmart off and on for over 6 years. It depends what store you are at. They used to be about family values, but they are really out of touch with their workers now a day. I will be going back soon part time, but that is only because I have a great store manager who is willing to work around the hours I need. To each their own about shopping there, I can't say I blame you. I definitely don't go there as often because the lines are always ridiculous but we need to save money where we can so we do go there for certain items. I have found myself going to our local farmers market for produce, and to Stop and Shop for other items.

Lindsay - posted on 08/17/2010

I feel the same way! I've been avoiding Walmart as much as I can for years.

Kathy - posted on 08/17/2010

I only shop there when I really need something that I know I simply cannot find, it's an odd hour, or if I just can't go anywhere else. And I have a brother in another state who is a store manager!



I hate the parking situation - it's horrible - their produce is OK, but Kroger's is better, and I'd rather buy at the local Farmer's Market in season.



Last time we were there was because we had to get school supplies and they have all the school lists. No decent sales, that's for sure!

Bridget - posted on 08/17/2010

I agree. We no long shop at walmart (only if we are in a hurry for a bday). We started this since walmart puts formula behind the counter and we would wait 20-30 minutes sometimes longer to get up there and tell them we needed it and they would tell us they did not have any. Dont feel bad

Angie - posted on 08/17/2010

I agree with you 100% Britney -- It was the only resolution I made this year... A year without Wal Mart. I watched a documentary and couldn't believe the way they conduct their business and treat their employees and suppliers. I haven't even missed it.

Jennifer - posted on 08/17/2010

seriously? I dont live near anywhere near a target..I live in canada!
I love walmart!

Kimberly - posted on 08/17/2010

I love shopping at my Wal-Mart. I also live in Mich and Mejiers is a joke. Have a friend that works for them and is union, and when I was working for wal-mart I made more then her even though I had not worked in 13 years, also my insurance is better then what she gets and I find that Wal-marts policies towards their employees are a bit better. When we lost our son they gave us a 1000 grant to help cover monthly bills and even gave me the 3 days for bereavement even though I was already on LOA. My husband still works for them and I stay home with our 8mo old.

In todays world there are very few stores that do not carry items from over seas manufacturing, and it is not because of wal-mart, it is because as consumers we want it now and we want it cheap. Meijers sells items from China as does Target, Wal-mart, etc.

Ellen - posted on 08/17/2010

I absolutely hate Walmart. There is nothing I like about. I don't think their selection is good and the prices aren't that great either. Their employees act like they are doing you some big favor by checking your merchandise out for you. Heaven help you if you don't know what your looking for.

Anne - posted on 08/17/2010

WOW, Hot topic, I live in Canada and worked at Walmart for 2 years while going to university. They were great! I was paid above minimum wage $7.34 at the time and had discounts- they worked around my schedule and cashiers NEVER stocked shelves. I understand about the staff not being so helpful- what company has great business practises... the grass is not always greener just watered down a bit more. I try to shop locally- we just moved into a community with walmart after 11 years of no big box stores. I probably go there once a month for toilet paper and cleaning products. It really is not any cheaper on other things. As for guilt about where you shop- Guilt is useless it makes you feel bad. Concentrate on the products you buy and where they come from. In this economy saving $$$ is what it is about.

Kelly - posted on 08/17/2010

I shop wherever is convenient - and Walmart happens to be just so. Plus, I can rarely ever find clothes for my boys at Target, yet Walmart has tons to choose from ,and at great prices. When shopping for 4 little kids, It makes a big difference. I have a neighbor who works at Walmart - it isn't the greatest place to work, but she doesn't complain much. I don't really see any of what people are saying here, and our walmart is very clean and nice. I also go to Target, but for different things, I guess!

Laura - posted on 08/17/2010

Well, I have to say I am a loyal Wal-mart customer. I love the low prices and it is really the only store in our town except for a grocery store. I didn't really know too much about their unethical business practices. In Texas there are a lot of smaller towns and people don't have too much of a choice, especially if your on a limited budget. I really do not like Target because all there stuff is the same just more expensive. Also Target is french owned and has refused to fly the American flag before. They also have refused to donate to military organizations. So, I don't shop there but to each there own.

Susan - posted on 08/17/2010

I have no choice either, there is no Target close to where I live and I love Target! They recently remodeled our Wal-Mart and since then the prices have been going up! I wish I had another option.....

Susan

Susan - posted on 08/17/2010

I also have had run ins with KMart and other stores that have been less than desirable. KMART refused to sell my at a reduced rate a cabnet that was damaged, they had it on the floor at full price and management refused to lower the price. It is also up to management to make sure their employees treat the customers right. If you do not tell them that you are being treated rudely they may not know. This goes for any store.

Susan - posted on 08/17/2010

If you do not like the treatment you get from any store go to the manager. It may be that the salesperson is having a bad day, etc. We shop at Walmart all the time. We also shop at Lowes for some stuff. We live in Arkansas, and have gone to the managers of the stores that we frequent and they have been very gracious. Every small and large businesses are hurting now and no matter where you go you will not find very much that you can buy that is not made outside the USA. You have to look carefully but you will find distributed by """ USA but made in China, Taiwan, etc.

Krystle - posted on 08/17/2010

Like most other comments, I hate walmart too! They treat their employees like crap, they are terrible to "mom and pop" stores (as the saying goes "Shop Small-mart, not Wal-mart" lol) and terrible to those they do buisness with.

But sometimes, I admit it, I shop there because I don't know where else to find something.

Jennifer - posted on 08/17/2010

I shop at Walmart. It is a corperation and corp. america is totally crazy. I do NOT shop at Target however because they don't support the United States Military at all! I would rather shop where there is a bunch of stuck up corp pricks, then somewhere that the people that fight for our freedom aren't supported!

Hollie - posted on 08/17/2010

I usually shop at WalMart, but just this week, my hubby and I thought we'd try to stick to our budget without going there so today I went to a different grocery store. I cringed at some of the prices but all in all it wasn't that much more. I think I'll be able to say bye bye to WalMart! Yay!

Claudia - posted on 08/17/2010

You place your vote for every item that you buy and that includes WHERE you buy it! Sometimes it's out of convenience, but whenever possible I try to avoid it. I've started to do a LOT more online shopping. I am able to save more money in fact with one company I even get paid to shop with them! and YES there are businesses that are 100% made in the USA and I try to always support them!

Amanda - posted on 08/17/2010

i only go there if i absolutly need to but its not so much for what you said but because a lady in a town close to where we live who worked cashier got fired for tryin to stop a person from steelin a tv she confronted them they hit her and ran out without the bigscreen but she got fired for puttin ppl in danger because only a csm manager or security person should have tried to stop them,,, she had worked there over 15 years :(

Lynn - posted on 08/17/2010

Only on occasion to get items they don't have at other area stores.

Alicia - posted on 08/17/2010

i'm a die hard walmart er er. I'm married, and have two children,and our third on the way. as far as food goes, my husband is in the army soi shop at the commisary on post. lots cheaper. food a cost of production vs. making money off of it. but for everything else, i go to walmart. i agree with the previous post about the sweeper. no matter what chain store you go to, whether it be walmart, kmart, target, sear, whatever, they almost always carry the same brands. for electronic and appliacnes especially. and they are all ade in teh same place. walmart doesnt get its sony tvs from china, while target gets theirs from the good ole usa. as far as clothes, bedding, and others tings concerned, if you look at stuff from other stores, they aer ALSO made over seas. i just got up and looked at clothes i bought for my kids at target. china and indonesia. clothes from walmart: china. honestly,while i'm not proud to admit it, thats how our country became so great, is by "exploiting" workers in other countries. no matter what store you go to, everything is made somewhere else. now to the exploiting employess, that happens everywhere, in every major corpration. there are just as many exploited employees at a target or kmartas there are at walmart. the only reason walmart has been brought into the spotlight is because they are the largest one. they are a multi bilion dollar a year corporation with more money at their disposal than our countrys government. but if they didnt exploit their employees, then how would they make their money??? and as for not shopping there, its like somoene else said. my mom worked at walmart when the economy crashed a few years ago, and i remember what the sudden lack of shopping did to her hours. she went from 40 hours per weeks to barely 20. and she didnt have a choice but to wrork there. it was pretty much the only place in our little town she was qualified to work at that normally did any significant hiring. it was totally devastating. so i really chooses the lesser of what i think is two evils. no i DONT like the fact that walmart exploits workers from other countries, and no i DONT like that walmart exploits their OWN employees, but there is NOTHING I can do to stop it. it going to happen no matter where i shop. so if i can save a little bit of money over a target, or i can save a little bit of money over a kmart (which both are more expensive where we live) AND i can help with keeping people their hours when they don't have a CHOICE but to work there, then i'm going to.

Jennifer - posted on 08/17/2010

Ive had no problems going to walmart i dont go there a lot and when i do its just to do my food shoppin cux its a lot cheaper then the local grocery stores in my town and food last me longer when i buy it from walmart. im a single mom so cheap is good for me

Angela - posted on 08/17/2010

i dont like the walmart by us its very dirty messy and the people are rude. so we are bug target fans especailly since target takes coupons from the manufacter and couponss from target . so u can get things cheaper at Target anyways. it seems the people at Target are friendly. thats just the way i feel.

Myriah - posted on 08/17/2010

Yeah, I don't know too much about them but I have shopped there. I have one practically in my backyard so it is so convenient. I would love to hear more about their business tactics so I can make a better decision if I will continue shopping there or not. I will say I do also shop at Aldis which I love but they don't have all the items I usually need which means I need to then go to another store. I love Target but they are much more expensive than the regular grocery store.

Amy - posted on 08/17/2010

I shop at walmart ALL THE TIME. I don't see how they are any different as anyother store out there. Their prices are better than most stores out there and at this point I'd rather spend less $.

Holly - posted on 08/17/2010

I don't shop at Walmart at all.. We don't have alot of extra money, but I would rather spend my money at a place that has higher standards. Even if that does mean I pay alittle bit more!

NIcholle - posted on 08/17/2010

I worked at wal-mart while I was going to college and they were great to me! I worked part time but still got benefits and they were very flexible with my changing class schedule. I will always shop there. People say they are an evil giant, but I don't believe it. They have the exact same items Reasors, Target or anyone else has, just a little cheaper. My husband wouldn't walk in there until I convinced him about how good they were to me and now he will go in there too. Every franchise has their "bad manager" of a store here and there, that doesn't mean they are all bad and all treat their employees badly.

Brandy - posted on 08/17/2010

I banned them in out house about 5 years ago. Recently a friend who doesn't LIKE them but does still shop there told me about their organic baby clothes line. About the same time my sister-in-law sent me a gift that didn't fit for my 1 year old daughter with a gift receipt from Wal-Mart. So I thought, let's see if anything has changed. NOPE! The 2 outfits I had returned for sold for $3 each regular price (please know that the price tag judgment is on Wal-Mart - NOT my s-i-l, I am an excellent "cheap" gift buyer!) and all the organic clothes were $5 each piece and LOADED with dyes. These prices are not reasonable to pay the fabric person and the makers of these clothes, not to mention all the other points involved in clothing. The people who worked there were silently unhappy with their plot. To top it off on our way out the door my 3 year old had to use the potty - EVERY SINGE toilet was broke and had been for A WHILE! It was horrible and I will never go back! I did find this article I thought I would share with you. It's not exactly pro-WM but it is more so then I am. I was initially shocked at what all they are doing for the environment but then I realized that is where the money is right now and that is all they care about. I realized that I cannot shop at WM b/c they are trying to make changes here or there no more then I can smoke a cigarette anymore b/c I like the social aspect. Both acts are horribly wrong for MY moral beliefs and I don't intend to budge on that . Good luck in all that you do!
Brandy
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/2006...

Jillian - posted on 08/17/2010

I don't shop there after I almost got mugged in a walmart parking lot. I thought about it, their clientele could be buying, guns and beer...I do not fit that profile. I shop at target now and pay a little extra, but I feel safer. They even have surveillance cameras in their parking lots. (not to mention a starbucks inside!) I don't knock people who shop at walmart though, you have to do what you have to do to move forward.

Kitty - posted on 08/17/2010

I love Walmart!!! that is my 2nd home I dont like Zellars much i do shop there but walmart i like it...

Toni - posted on 08/17/2010

I shop there, but only because there isn't another place around that has the things I buy there. I wish we would get a Target, then I don't think that I would ever step foot in Walmart again. They are the reason we don't have a target. They "won't let" them come to town. :(

Ave - posted on 08/17/2010

in Estonia we don't have Walmart :)

Sitka - posted on 08/17/2010

First of all, I try to avoid Walmart like the plague. Their produce is crap, so is their meat, and GV cheese doesn't even melt! I feel like they are some big communist giant shoving every one out of town. Also YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! Cheap=Cheap. The only things I buy there are diapers and cleaning supplies. I do shop at Sam's for some things also. I hate Target too. They have cuter stuff, but it's still cheap and they charge twice as much for it!
I don't know much about the way they run their company, but I do believe people do what they'd rather do. They DO have a choice if they work there... - and does low pay automatically make you behave like an ignoramous? Come on! Maybe if they'd work a little better they MIGHT get a raise!
My favorite store is Fred Meyers! Besides that, my only other choice is Safeway and they're expensive.

Rachael - posted on 08/16/2010

I have worked there before so I am just as familiar with their shady practices as many of the others have stated. I do not shop there and I do not go in the store at all.

Amie - posted on 08/16/2010

I worked at walmart for almost 2 years in the craft department almost 8 years ago... when i told my boss i was pregnant with my son they still continued to tell me to climb the ladder to take bikes down for the customer ... i refused ... and when they did they screwed with my hours ... because when i was hired i put in saying i could work any day except thurdays and low and behold i piss them off and the only day i was on the schedule was you guessed it thursday the day i had to baby sit my god daughter because it was the only day she couldn't get a sitter for. oh i stormed out of there throwing my smock at them.... later when i had my son i was shopping and my son ran outside so i ran out after him and he had one of those 88 cent gumball toys that they put out for stocking stuffers in his hand and on my way bringing him back into the store they stopped me and told me i was stealing never mind i ran to get him and my purse was still in the carriage so i boycotted them after that along with many of my friends and family

Loni - posted on 08/16/2010

I do. I get half my shopping there, I also shop at Winco.

Amber - posted on 08/16/2010

I don't anymore but that is because we live in Guam now and there is no walmart on island.

Mandy - posted on 08/16/2010

Stores like Target and Shopko have similar practices as Walmart. I have some issues with the way the workworld in the US is set up, but I shop at Walmart all the time. I need to be able to buy stuff at a cheap price and the quality is not worse than Target. I don't but everything there, but household supplies, children's clothing, etc, I could live without them.

Shantelle - posted on 08/16/2010

I'm assuming alot of you are from the USA. I Love shopping at Walmart ( we dont have Target..we have walmart) however I know few people that have worked at Walmart and they have never had an issue. My sister in law had a fire and lost everything, my aunt talked to her manager and they gave her everything from clothes to kitchen stuff. A friend worked there for 6 months and never had a problem with there secudle They always worked it around her! `I dont know maybe its just the walmart i live by..maybe they just have good mangagers, because I have heard all this kinda stuff before! I dont know, I enjoy shopping there, however I dont shop often, because i hate shopping!!

Michelle - posted on 08/16/2010

Unfortunately, around were I live we have only a Kmart or Walmart to coose from unless we want to go to the next county over. We have some small stores that can't beat the prices we can get Walmart or Kmart. My mom worked at Kmart for 21 years they didn't give her raises when the min wage went up in Cali because she was paid more than min wage. 21 years and when she retired she was making under $14 a hour for 21 years of loyal service, she worked every position but Manager. We shopped there for our school clothes and supplies, Chrismas, birthdays and any other holiday gifts. How I wish we had a Target or something that we didn't have to go to the city to find.

Winnie Takyiwah - posted on 08/16/2010

I use to hate wal-mart. But I shop there now. Moved into a new neighborhood and it was the closest. I got all the stuff I needed before my baby came from their online store and picked it up when it was ready in the store. I found the same things other chains offer cheaper there. If you are on a budget like I am, you will be grateful for their lower prices. Its sad to hear what happens there. But I guess those that still work there need their hours and income. I think we have saved quite a bit since I started shopping there about a year ago.

Ashley - posted on 08/16/2010

I work at wal mart and although they may have not been the best to their associates in the past I see nothing wrong with them. I have had nothing but a great experience since I have been there. I just started working there 1 1/2 yrs ago and have been promoted twice. Its not Wal Mart as a whole that treats the associates badly its the managers most the time. I read in someones reply that they wouldnt work around the persons college schedule. Well that is the store manager , that doesnt mean Wal Mart as a whole is like that. A lot of people have a bad store manager or assistant manager and they think all of Wal Mart is like that but that is not true at all. A lot of times all you have to do is have the courage to go to someone above their head and things will get taken care of. Just because a person has a bad experience at one store doesnt mean all stores are like that. THe store I currently work at has a lot of people that have worked at that same store for many years and have seen many managers. SOme good and some not so good. Wal mart will make an effort to do whats best for an associate, but just because your store doesnt treat you well doesnt mean that all of wla mart is like that. AT my old store we worked around lots of peoples schedules all the time and we were constantly rewarding our associates for their hard work. Wal Mart has changed a lot for the better over the years and just because you have one bad experience doesnt mean its going to stay that way.

Bridgette - posted on 08/15/2010

I do but where we are from (originally) the people are fine, the workers and management are awesome. There's rarely a complaint, but it is also "small town" Arkansas. This is where everyone knows everyone type of place....there's a saying in the local cafe "If you dont' know what you're doing, ask someone in town...they will know" The bigger walmarts are a huge difference though. Rude and poor customer service.

My conflict is that I work for myself. (www.momsgetfreegroceries.com) and one way I get paid is with a $200 walmart gift card. So I take that gift card go to walmart and buy a visa gift card then I do my shopping at the commissary with the visa gift card.

Walmart is a yes and no for me. I buy somethings there and other items I get elsewhere