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.

Hate Walmart? I'll just pretend I didn't hear that.

Walmart is cheap...  and convenient... but very closely associated with the devil.

Have you seen "The high cost of low prices"? it is a walmart documentary and exposes the evil.

I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that if you play the walmart chant backwards there are some scary messages.

jk

Ty

I saw a documentary I think called 'Wal-mart Nation' (I believe it was Canadian) - it was interesting the claims of a glass ceiling for women. There were actually cities that protested against them building a store in their area.

They did talk about the low prices and the impact it had on other stores and the local economy. There were also a couple of stores in Quebec that were profiled that had been unionized ... seems crazy that a store clerking job would need a union. Weird ... don't get me started on unions ... lol!

Personally - I hate shopping there, but there are just some things that I need to go there for a couple times a year. It's a terrible experience <shudders>. I'll pay more at the local store just to avoid having to deal with the other customers, long lines and poor service.

I love Wal~Mart and I shop there every Saturday.  It's a lot cheaper to get my laundry soap and stuff there then at the grocery store and I can get most of my groceries there.  I've never had any problems with the produce, and I always wash it before I use it.  I don't buy my meat there very often except for frozen burger patties (and Boca burgers for me), hot dogs, and lunch meat.  Fish and other meat I get at a regular grocery store.

I used to work in a Wal-Mart.

Quite honestly - I do not reccommend grocery shopping there. At least in my store - every day customers would come through the check out with more things than they (or their welfare checks/WIC) could pay for, so many food items would often have to put back. Most often - these things go to into a bin behind the customer service desk and sit there until someone is free to put them back. Some employees do try to to be quick with things like milk or eggs - but not everyone who works there is always so inclined to do their job. Sometimes when I was doing night shift and had to put all the returns away - I'd find packaged meats, cheese, cookie dough, frozen meals, sitting in the bin. ::shudders:: Not good.

some of us love Walmart

Constructively, though, please let your feelings and suggestion known to the store manager - it may provide dividends for you.  They won't change things unless they know that there is a problem

Good Luck

I used to live in a small town and the only places to get groceries was a food lion or the wal mart.

I had bad luck with both places produce sections.

I'd have to buy 4 avocados to get 1 that wasn't bruised all to hell and completely brown inside (even thought the exterior appeared to be ok and the right amount of ripeness)

I think the main lesson is that when you live somewhere with less competition, you get worse products and services, because they know you can't go anywhere else.  When you live in a city where there are more competitors, stores have to do a better job to persuade you to shop there.

I will not comment on wal-mart's effect on global trade and the u.s. trade defecit.

Walmart owns the ASDA chain in the UK and I work for one of their fresh produce suppliers....  They have by far the lowest quality standards in the business and only pay money to match.  So they're often the cheapest on the high street (and gaining shoppers now that the recession is biting) but I don't believe they represent good value for money at least in the produce department because what they're selling is rubbish.   Every week I go around a big selection of supermarkets seeing what's happening, what's on sale, what the prices are...  ASDA is my least favourite place to visit.

I hate to admit but I do like walmart. To me their prices are wonderful!! I save $20 or more every time I go there then if I went to our local grocery store Giant Eagle.  I just wish Walmart had more organic products. I've never had a bad produce experience at our Walmart and they have laughing cow cheese and tofu and tons of other stuff I like. Sorry to admit it lol

i've never even seen a walmart that sells any kind of produce at all :\

Original Post by eerica:

i've never even seen a walmart that sells any kind of produce at all :\

Same :/

I haven't shopped in a Wal-mart for four years now.  Just prefer a better shopping experience, period. I know they save folks a lot of money, but they are not the lowest game in town on every item.

Personally, I read the grocery sale papers and use coupons. I save anywhere from 30 - 60% according to my receipts each week. It's like a sport for me!

Never liked the produce department of Wal-mart.... of course, there was that time 7+ years ago I slipped on a grape and fell. My adorable young children kept walking like they didn't know me, too embarrassed apparently! hahaha  we all still giggle about that.

We all have our reasons for liking or hating wal mart. As for me I HATE all 'big box stores'.

And please forgive me if this had been said already since I didn't read the entire thread.

I believe these stores are killing the American dream.  No mom and pop store can compete with the pricing, but always knocks things out of the park when it comes to quality and service.

So buy local (usually the price is cheaper), support you neighbors and friends by shopping the smaller stores.  Don't forget to watch ads (most smaller stores will price match advertised prices to get you as a customer.  As my neighbor says he makes more selling you that fridge at lowest price then it sitting in his stockroom.) and coupons add up very quickly. 

Okay its a little off the point...

I hate them and still shop there. I wish I could afford to never shop there, but the amount of money I save on toiletries, clothes, cleaners, pantry foods, etc, is..well ridiculous. If I can buy something locally, I will. If I can buy something somewhere else for a comprable price, I will. But here in Georgia, wal-mart has the market cornered on pretty much everything.

I never buy meat or produce there, because I think they have magic produce dust where I can buy it looking good, and as soon as it leaves the store it starts to decay. The local food lion is much better, and the farmer's market is great too. And I find other grocery stores much more likely to have good sales on meat.

If I could afford to, I would do most of my grocery shopping at The Fresh Market, or Earth Fare Market, but I have to drop half my grocery budget to cook one meal from there.

My biggest wal-mart pet peeve is waiting in line. I hate running in for two items, and then having to wait for 20 minutes. I've dropped my stuff on the floor and walked out a couple times.

I hate Walmart for their ridiculously overpriced produce items.... 2.08 for one red bell pepper while its .68 per red bell pepper at my local Hy-Vee... Though, I have to admit like Minda said- tolietries, clothes, cleaners and pantry foods are cheaper at Walmart. I also really like Aldi for some cheaper produce as well, bacon, some meat but their bread *gags*

I hear ya on the waiting-in-line peeve, Minda!

I sort of hate it, but it's the cheapest available to me.  It is also one of the only choices open when I need to go--5, 6, 7 a.m.  The local grocery store charges so much--like a pack of pudding cups is $5--and everything is like that.  You go there and end up spending $70 for a day's worth of food.  At Wal-mart, I can get a week's worth of food for that much.  I do hate some things, like how they are always stocking or cleaning crap and in the way, or how when you check out they don't put the bags in your cart or help you with that and then before you're done they start checking out the next person.  That is my biggest pet peeve about the place.

I HATE HATE HATE (did I mention HATE?!) Wal-Mart.  I grew up right outside Philadelphia and had never seen Walmart madness until going to college in Tampa.  The place is insane, their merchandise is CRAPOLA, and I'm sorry but the whole checking the receipt on the way out thing is obnoxious.

and I agree with the poster who commented on the bags. they put like 1 item in every freaking bag.  dumb.  not to mention there are crackheads there at every second of the day, creepo's in the parking lot, and millions of dirty, disgustng hands touching everything.  I do honestly think their clientele is the big problem.  Did anyone see that last year in New York on black friday an employee was trampled and killed by customers who couuldnt wait to get their welfare hands on tvs?!?!

When I moved back home after college and saw Wal-Marts creeping into the Northeast I was majorly bummed.  Get that crap outta here.  it IS killing off small businesses, and they treat their employees terribly, their suppliers as well.  I read a book about the crazy **** walmwart does to its suppliers to get those "low" prices.  Goods have a certain cost to be made, so if you aren't paying for that, believe me, SOEMONE IS.  Wal-Mart sucks.

Go to Trader Joe's if you want reasonably priced, quality food. 

Not everyone has a Trader Joe's, I live in the mountains of North Carolina, and unless I want to drive to be 90 minutes to two hours to Asheville or the outskirts, I drive to the Wal Mart which is only45 minutes away.  I don't generally shop at Wal-Mart for groceries because the closest one doesn't have a grocery store, but I do buy a  a lot of clothes, personal items and school supplies.  I would love to spend the little bit more at Target, but it is an hour and a half away.  When I have the money and the location to make Wal-Mart a ghost of the past I will, but right now, they are the only game in town, for far to many things.

hswee6473 - I live in NC too and used to live in Boone.

Anyways, I don't much like Walmart usually, but compared to Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, and Food Lion (and Aldi occasionally), I have found some of the best produce at Walmart, and for the cheapest.  Taste Harris Teeter's fresh kiwi (2/$1 on sale), and then taste Walmart's ($0.38/ea).  I swear to you, Walmart wins.

I am a reduced-price-convenience kind of girl.  I check out the ads every wednesday, and wherever I can find the cheapest price without going out of my way, I'll grab it.  And half the time, Walmart beats all.  Food Lion has gotten a few $$ out of my pocket for their kidney beans (which are high in fiber and protein AND low in fat), which are 59 cents per can.  I neglected to comparison shop when I had to run into Walmart to find fresh mozzarella (the large balls of it, you have to grate yourself).  Food Lion doesn't have it.  You can get it at Harris Teeter for $6 or $7.  Or Walmart for... I think it was $3.47.

When you don't have a lot of choice, Walmart can save your ass.  But it is the necessary evil in America.  And as I said, I don't usually like Walmart.

hswee, I am sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone.  I guess I am lucky to live in a city and have access to many options for my groceries (and everything else!).  In more rural communities I know Wal-Mart is pretty much the only option and I just think thats sad, and I hate how many local businesses go under b/c they can't compete with them.