Anybody else HATE Walmart?!

Ugh, I just went grocery shopping at Wal Mart and they are horrible! Fresh produce? Yeah, let's charge twice what we should for bad product. Grapes at 2.79 a lb when almost have the bag is moldy - this is ridiculous!

Also, I tried to find Laughing Cow Cheese as I've seen so many people rave about it. Did I find it? Noooooo. I'm sorry, we don't carry that.

I was going to buy a roast for my tiny crockpot. Just needed a real small one cause it's only me. 12 bucks. I wanted to cry.

Finally, I ended up buying 18 items...and spent 41 dollars. I want to do this. I want to lose weight and eat healthier. But I can't drop 40 bucks everytime I need a few items. This is ridiculous.

ME!!  Can't stand the place.  Am fortunate enough that I can pay slightly more to shop elsewhere.  Would probably choose mild starvation over having to go into a Walmart.

I hate WalMart with a burning passion. I only go there to buy my windshield wipers (only place around that stocks the particular size I need).

Where I live, I have a couple smaller farmers markets- they have the best produce and the best prices... much to my surprise. It so much nicer to pay less and then STILL have the food last longer than when buying from a typical grocer- MUCH fresher. Look around, shop around!

Also, buy what's in season. Want something that's not in season? Turned to FROZEN goods (NOT CANNED- the canning process eliminates almost all nutritional value). For example, I buy frozen bell pepper strips in the winter, much cheaper than fresh! And there is not too much of a difference in my fajitas, you know?

Something I do to make my dollars stretch a little farther, take the bell pepper strips for example, one night I make the fajitas, the next I use them in a stir fry and if there are any left over I cut up for a spaghetti sauce. Meal planning can be a good friend of yours- I hope this helps get the wheels turning :-)

I recently went to one b/c it was Sun. night and I needed shells (long story). I hadn't been in one in like 2 years. I was horrified and saddened. I, too, am fortunate that I can pay more to shop elsewhere. If you want meat for a crock pot, I'd just hawkeye the weekly grocery circulars for cheap deals on a cut.

Sadly, in my world, 18 items for $41 isn't too much of a rip-off, but it depends on what you're getting for that. With grapes, they aren't in season in this hemisphere, so anything you'd buy now would be flown from a jillion miles away, so you're paying for that too. If it's mostly produce, see what you can use from the frozen section-- it is usually cheaper and often picked when it was freshest, so it tastes better than anemic-looking bananas that were picked 6 weeks ago.

Are there ethnic groceries of any kind where you live? I find that fresh food and spices are often much, much cheaper in ethnic markets than conventional ones.  And you're not supporting the biggest abusive employer in the lower 48. :)

Original Post by blue12087:

Ugh, I just went grocery shopping at Wal Mart and they are horrible! Fresh produce? Yeah, let's charge twice what we should for bad product. Grapes at 2.79 a lb when almost have the bag is moldy - this is ridiculous!

Also, I tried to find Laughing Cow Cheese as I've seen so many people rave about it. Did I find it? Noooooo. I'm sorry, we don't carry that.

I was going to buy a roast for my tiny crockpot. Just needed a real small one cause it's only me. 12 bucks. I wanted to cry.

Finally, I ended up buying 18 items...and spent 41 dollars. I want to do this. I want to lose weight and eat healthier. But I can't drop 40 bucks everytime I need a few items. This is ridiculous.

Okay - I love Walmart.

That said, Ive never had a problem with produce - always quality and consistantly better on pricing. The only better prices Ive found is a Fiesta (previously a Sack N Sav) which isnt as dependable on quality but I do go there go their specifically for their killer produce special buys. 

Laughing Cow Cheese at my Walmart is $2.88.  Its in a special cheese kiosk outside the Deli. Imagine when I ran in a Tom Thumb and saw it at practically $5.

Granted I hit a Walmart in the city I used to live in recently and the whole place seemed like a morgue. I was going to electronics so never checked out grocery but I really appreciated the difference between them. Theres a second one in my city and its just as great as the one down the road - brightly lit, helpful employees and theyre regular grocery pricing typically matches or beats local grocery sales. 

All walmarts arent created equal.

yes walmart is the evil empire. unfortunately I do have to go there for some things but not all.  I take all local grocery ads( we have 2 in town and one in town 15 miles away) and make my list from the sale ads. I try to buy these items at these stores if I can, but if not I stick it to walmart with the sale price match deal they have.  however, I will not buy meat there and don't really like their produce either.  one of the other grocers we have in town is a texas chain and is pretty decent prices, the other also a chain but smaller one concentrated in east texas, it is out of sight on prices. I try to spread the money around by buying the sale items at whichever store . I only buy meat on sale. period. it is twice the price it was 2 yrs ago. ugh.

No, I don't hate Walmart - those $2.79 grapes are $3.89 at my local AG market, and they are just as bad.  This time of year sucks for any produce anywhere.   And my Walmart does have Laughing Cow.     EVERYTHING at the local AG is at least 20% higher than Walmart.   I just cannot afford to shop there on a regular basis. The ONLY thing I buy at the AG is the meats, because they aren't quite as much higher, and the quality is a little bit better.  And on the roasts, that's just a fact of life.  I can't even find them small enough for a family of 3.  So you just got to suck it up and buy the bigger ones and cut it down to the portions you need and freeze them.  

Yeah - I hate Walmart. I flat out do not shop there, at all, unless I absolutely have to (like being on vacation and there is no other store for miles around). Any time I have gone there, at least half of my shopping list is out of stock and the stores looks like a junk yard. There are other reasons I despise Walmart, too, but generally it's not a pleasurable experience to shop there. No matter which one I go to.

Original Post by sun123:

Original Post by blue12087:

Ugh, I just went grocery shopping at Wal Mart and they are horrible! Fresh produce? Yeah, let's charge twice what we should for bad product. Grapes at 2.79 a lb when almost have the bag is moldy - this is ridiculous!

Also, I tried to find Laughing Cow Cheese as I've seen so many people rave about it. Did I find it? Noooooo. I'm sorry, we don't carry that.

I was going to buy a roast for my tiny crockpot. Just needed a real small one cause it's only me. 12 bucks. I wanted to cry.

Finally, I ended up buying 18 items...and spent 41 dollars. I want to do this. I want to lose weight and eat healthier. But I can't drop 40 bucks everytime I need a few items. This is ridiculous.

Okay - I love Walmart.

That said, Ive never had a problem with produce - always quality and consistantly better on pricing. The only better prices Ive found is a Fiesta (previously a Sack N Sav) which isnt as dependable on quality but I do go there go their specifically for their killer produce special buys. 

Laughing Cow Cheese at my Walmart is $2.88.  Its in a special cheese kiosk outside the Deli. Imagine when I ran in a Tom Thumb and saw it at practically $5.

Granted I hit a Walmart in the city I used to live in recently and the whole place seemed like a morgue. I was going to electronics so never checked out grocery but I really appreciated the difference between them. Theres a second one in my city and its just as great as the one down the road - brightly lit, helpful employees and theyre regular grocery pricing typically matches or beats local grocery sales. 

All walmarts arent created equal.

 wow $2.88 and $5! The most I've ever spent on it was $2.50,  I can usually get it on sale for $2.

Do NOT... I repeat Do Not buy fresh produce from Walmart.  Cheap prices = crappy fruit and veggies.  Also, have you seen some of the people touching the stuff and putting it back for the next person... that makes it worse.  "Here let me lick that and see if it's any good before I buy it..."  NO THANKS!

for me it's better to spend a bit more to keep money in the community. buying locally is something i try to do as often as possible, better for the environment and the economy!

BUT i have more choices than others, if wal-mart is your only option then it's your only option.

Absolutely... nothing is better than buying from local growers!  Good point!!

Wal-mart gives me a headache. I almost need a shot of strong liquor before I enter. I haven't been to a Walmart in years. I really don't think it saves you much money.

My sister loves it and goes in daily for the price match policy.

I get anxiety attacks whenever I shop at Walmart.  Not kidding.  Doesn't happen anywhere else, either.

Don't particularly care to shop at Wal Mart, but it has nothing to do with their produce.  It's only recently that the one near me has started carrying produce, but I have a reasonably priced supermarket much closer to me, so I'd just assume not drive the extra 10 minutes.  

I HATE walmart!!!! Sometimes it is the best place to go for certain things and I'll go, but I end up saying "I hate Walmart!" at least 3 times before I leave the store.  None of the employees know where merchandise is, they don't have things that they definitely should, and so much of their stuff is crap! They do have some good deals and good things, but is it worth it? I don't know. *sigh*

I also really hate how they put nearly each item in it's own bag! They give you so many bags! I once bought a gallon of milk at my local walmart and I had to argue with the cashier to let me leave without a plastic bag! It has a handle on it! But nooo she says "they might think you stole it when you try to leave!" So give me a receipt! jeez.

That was my anti-Walmart rant...calm now

I'm sort of torn. I used to LOATHE Walmart. Big corporation bull **** and all that. But, now I'm employed by their eyeglass center.

They've been GREAT to me as an employee. Plus, as a company they're actually not as bad as I had imagined. They're working hard to become more "green" with regards to the products they stock, and how they build and manage their stores. They're working towards being able to buy more things locally (country-wise) and still keep costs down.

I think what I dislike most about Walmart is the stereotypical person who shops there. And believe me, there are tons of them.

Ever heard of Walmart Bingo?

I hate Walmart, but where else is there to shop, you know? Like you really have a choice anymore. They kind of have the market cornered.

<----- See? They already built one right in this post.

I actually found Laughing Cow cheese in their deli section here in NC. It was priced $7.98 for 8 ounces! I had a coupon for 75 cents off, which I promtly threw away. No Laughing Cow for me. *Groan* I have to go there tomorrow.

Ever heard of Walmart Bingo?

Heard of it, but too scared to play it for fear I will find myself described in one of the squares...

walmart gave me a horrible migraine, i think the isles are to condensed or something, maybe it was coincidence....but won't go there now.

Original Post by go_lucky:

I get anxiety attacks whenever I shop at Walmart.  Not kidding.  Doesn't happen anywhere else, either.

 No joke...I get the same way!!!  I think it's the combo of the bright lights, the screaming kids, and the barking mothers or something...but I HAAAATE Walmart!

Cali is nice because I buy all my fruit and veggies at the local stand in the country on my way home :)...anything else I need, I pick up at O'Briens grocery store...great organic and healthier selections there!  Otherwise Savemart is my other option.