Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I rarely go to Wal-Mart anymore. I used to think saving a few dollars on some items was worth dealing with very poor employees, strange and often disturbingly hideous looking customers, annoying vendors on the facade/sidewalk out front, and crowded parking lot. No thanks. To me, they represent the bottom side of capitalism. And while being a proponent of a laissez-faire attitude regarding our system, I'll also choose to do one other aspect that this concept includes.....not shopping at such a place.
It's more than a few dollars in motor oil.
Why are you dealing with the associates? I seldom have any interaction with any of the associates. You cannot be let down if you don't expect too much. I get my Motorcraft filter(s), get my 5qt jug, maybe a Lego minifigure for my kid if he did well in school or a game or something and use the self check.
The hideous looking customers?
like a carnival.
The vendors? Usually Girl Scouts selling cookies or Cub Scouts selling popcorn. No problems with good kids selling stuff for their activities.
My problem is the quality of the other goods. I doubt SOPUS or Mobil has set up a unique sub-standard formulation just for WalMart. But there are things that have not panned out as well
Worth Sports. Typically pretty high end stuff. Except for the stuff they sell at WalMart.
This was done by a 9 year old hitting standard little league baseballs pitched by other 9-10 year olds.
His Wilson batting helmet from WalMart developed a crack on the side by his temple. Good thing I check his equipment.
Ok....$5 total difference in most of the brands of oils I purchase. Still not really worth it to me. I tend to buy Toyota synthetic now anyway. The associates? Every now and then I must ask them for assistance.....it's at that point I realize how poor they are at customer service. Not too often, true, but the cashier is just about as bad as the floor workers, and I can't avoid them.
As for the vendors outside on the sidewalk? Well, I don't have anything against them making a buck, but at the same time my shopping is done inside the store and I really don't enjoy being approached by some little girl selling cookies (and then feel guilty for saying 'no thank you' ) or the sometimes felon looking vendor stirring kettle corn. Just not my idea of a worthy shopping experience to save a little money.
Am I snob? Probably, in some folks minds. But I prefer to say that I am selective now where I shop....or do just about any activity. Life is short, and if a place makes me feel like I want to take a shower afterwards, I'd rather skip it.