I'm Boycotting Walmart
I’ve decided to no longer shop at Walmart. My wife and daughters laugh, saying my little protest will hardly impact the bottom line of this mega-monster. But I continue to protest, and notice some progress. My family now tends to go to Target, and an acquaintance today told me she was intentionally seeking to shop elsewhere. So, who knows, but in two or fifty-two years Walmart may change its ways.
I used to proclaim Walmart the greatest store in the world, but that was before they tore down the smaller marts and replaced them with giant mega-stores. I would brag that, whatever one may need, Walmart was sure to have it at a lower price. And those facts are still true. But, I find the shopping experience to no longer be worth the savings. Instead I will travel further to go to Target, the local Walmart wannabe with half the selection and none of the crowd. Or I will travel to three or four smaller stores to gladly spend more money to avoid the Walmart experience. I’ll even go to the mall and at least avoid the hubris of Sam Walton’s creature.
What’s wrong with Walmart? Perhaps it is a victim of its own success. I am convinced they think the American consumer is so focused upon the bottom line that he is willing to sell his soul to save a few dollars. Apparently, most are so inclined. But I am not going to take it anymore. Negotiating the parking lot is equivalent to driving in a third-world country. The aisles are so atrociously crowded one must wait in line to select almost any product. The check-out lines have more delay than the Atlanta rush hour. And, I despise the self check-out counters. The electronic eyes are hit-and-miss, card readers erratic, and why does the computer have such difficulty registering that your item is indeed in the bag? Finally, it is humiliating to be searched by the security guard as I exit, just to make sure I did not steal an extra pair of underwear. Also, have you ever tried to register a complaint with these guys? They smile and listen, but it is so obvious that you are just an insignificant drop in the ocean.
So, I will tilt at the windmill; I am declaring a boycott of Walmart. Put down that Sam’s Cola and join me.
08.07.05 (8:00 pm) [
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posted by:
senguthewolf (
reply)
post date:
08.07.05 (5:21 pm)
jesus christ dave, we learned this in high school. see, if it was not so that big businesses put the little ones out of business, then everyone would have ALOT more competition. with competition, the prices would soar and we, the consumers, would be forced to pay FAR more than we do now. big companies like walmart take those out necessarily, so that we pay a steady low price. with too much competion, everyone would have to raise prices due to the losses they suffer.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.07.05 (5:27 pm)
I understand, and I like to save money. But I just feel cheapened the way I am herded around in such an impersonal way.
Small businesses really make up a greater percentage of the economy than the large guys. But a small business just cannot compete on price alone. They offer better and more personalized service. I am finding their product to be worth more, all things considered.
posted by:
hippielunatic (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (3:35 am)
Hmmm... I tend to use the local-ish place that is like Walmart, and I have none of the problems with it.
Given that I actually own stock in Walmart, perhaps I should change my ways, but I feel pretty much the same way. The service I get at the other mega-store is about 1000 times better, the aisles aren't as crowded usually, and the parking lot is never as full.
posted by:
Fairmoon (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (6:04 am)
i don't shop at walmart either. for the resaons to mention and for the reason that they are so big that they can tell magazines to wirte as they want or they won't carry them. There are 'walmart' issues of Cosmo (not that I read it a whole lot) and there are 'regular' issues of Cosmo. Cenorship of that kind, any kind, is wrong and i won't support that.
I was very proud the day that the City of Vancouver managed to stop Walmart form building a mega-store just on the outeredge of the city. It would have killed a lot of the smaller businesses and I'm happy it was stopped.
There are a number of Walmarts in the lowermainland, but i stick to Sears and Zellers. smaller department stores and just as good prices.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (6:20 am)
Reply to: hippielunatic
I am looking to be challenged by free-market thinkers, who tend to also be conservative in their faith. I do not want the government to mettle with Walmart. I choose to use my freedom of choice to shop elsewhere, and encourage others to consider the same.
I'm Pro-Choice when it comes to choosing to shop other than Walmart.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (6:22 am)
Reply to: Fairmoon
I did not know that. Do you have a link where I could read more about Walmart's interference with the magazine industry?
posted by:
LeananSidhe (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (6:52 am)
I went to Walmart yesterday.
Parking - an nightmare
Photo Lab - lost a roll of my film and charged me for another that empty.
Crowds - always.
Aisles - also crowded. What's with people who stop to gab in the middle of them so no one else can get by?
Prices - indeed they are good!
Customer Service - What customer service?
Checkout - Fantastic if you love to wait, and wait, and wait...
Bathrooms - Absoultely atrocious.
Leaving Walmart - A sigh of relief.
Why do I go you ask? Because I live in a small city that gives you a choice, Walmart or Zellers, the latter of which is worse (if you can even imagine that) than the former.
I must say though, they are the only store that gives you the option of Lay-away...something every family can use.
Good news - A Canadian Superstore is being built across the street from Walmart! That should give them a good run for their money :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (7:58 am)
Reply to: LeananSidhe
Take the plunge- make a concerted effort to shop somewhere else. You'll feel better about yourself.
posted by:
Fairmoon (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (12:10 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
sorry. i don't know of aspecific site. When the wlamart in vancouver batte was being fought there were lots of articles in the paper and I remember reading about it in one of those aritcles. sorry.
FM
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (1:31 pm)
Good for you! Choosing among alternatives in a capitalist marketplace... My only question would be, "What's the problem here?" Wal-Mart has to balance growth, customer service and customer perception of value. Other stores, like Target, have to either beat them at their own game -- very unlikely -- or differentiate themselves by providing a different value mix. Target has down that very well and the new Sears/K-Mart merger may emerge a stealth success in the mega-mart race. The only place I take issue with your campaign against Wal-Mart is when you infer Wal-Mart is doing something wrong or un-American rather than simply being a great business competitor adding value to the American economy. No store is for "everybody" -- Wal-Mart included :-)
The growing Wal-Mart populist backlash is very intriguing. The negative media about Wal-Mart reminds me of the media campaigns waged against the so-called "robber barons" in the early 20th century.
posted by:
TrinaBinaBear (
reply)
post date:
08.08.05 (8:56 pm)
At first, I thought, "Where does he live because I have never been to a Walmart like that." I soon realized that I was thinking about the newly unpopular 'K-mart'. Walmart is a madhouse. About two years ago, a new one was build off of the interstate, and at first, it seemed like a great idea, being that this town has absolutely no stores, but soon, it became a battle of wits. Who could move the most merchandise into the incorrect locations? How many whining kids and screaming parents could I run into before I got to isle three? The list goes on and on.
I have to say that your post was rather humorous, considering you are protesting an "impersonal" store, but you never know. One day, they may be checking through the customers identity numbers, and yours will pop up, then maybe, just maybe, they will look to the clouds and say in unison, "Whatever happened to number 286639083764373893?" Stay assertive.
-TBB
posted by:
Longshot (
reply)
post date:
08.19.05 (2:43 pm)
My problem with Walmart is that my tax dollars pay for the health care of their employees and the welfare that many of the employees are on.
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/articles_2004/costco_employee_benefits_walmart.html
posted by:
shelly (
reply)
post date:
02.04.07 (8:53 am)
Why are the ailes so crouded? Why are the parking lots so full? Why are people visiting in the aisles? Why are the check out lines so long? Apparently some of these people like shopping there.
